About Me
About Me
Hello!
Hello!
My name is Abbigayle and I have been training dogs since I was about 8 years old. I started in my local 4-H club and quickly became quite involved with helping the leader and trained all my own dogs.
My name is Abbigayle and I have been training dogs since I was about 8 years old. I started in my local 4-H club and quickly became quite involved with helping the leader and trained all my own dogs.
As I grew in that club I helped the younger members and assisted the leader in many ways.
As I grew in that club I helped the younger members and assisted the leader in many ways.
In 2018 I got a Paws With a Cause service dog puppy to raise. This dog was a black Lab puppy named Solo and I trained him in advanced obedience and public access.
In 2018 I got a Paws With a Cause service dog puppy to raise. This dog was a black Lab puppy named Solo and I trained him in advanced obedience and public access.
I got to keep Solo due to the fact that he has elbow dysplasia (a form of genetic arthritis) and is disqualified from being a working dog.
I got to keep Solo due to the fact that he has elbow dysplasia (a form of genetic arthritis) and is disqualified from being a working dog.
In 2020 I got another Paws puppy named Jasper. He was an apricot Poodle and an absolute terror. He had terrible impulse control and prey drive. He was disqualified from the Paws program due to high prey drive and was picked up by K-9's for Warriors and became a PTSD emotional support dog.
In 2020 I got another Paws puppy named Jasper. He was an apricot Poodle and an absolute terror. He had terrible impulse control and prey drive. He was disqualified from the Paws program due to high prey drive and was picked up by K-9's for Warriors and became a PTSD emotional support dog.
In the fall of 2021 I attended National K-9 School for Dog Trainers and received my certification. When I came home I started Team Percy Training (Team Percy Pet Center's previous name) and started offering training and boarding for Oceana county and the surrounding area.
In the fall of 2021 I attended National K-9 School for Dog Trainers and received my certification. When I came home I started Team Percy Training (Team Percy Pet Center's previous name) and started offering training and boarding for Oceana county and the surrounding area.
I now have very good contacts with the local veterinarian and animal shelter and am fostering for the shelter. I am hoping in the future I can offer even more help to the shelter and be able to house and help more shelter dogs in need of training before they are adopted.
I now have very good contacts with the local veterinarian and animal shelter and am fostering for the shelter. I am hoping in the future I can offer even more help to the shelter and be able to house and help more shelter dogs in need of training before they are adopted.
My reactive dog journey started with Percy (my business's namesake). He is a 108 lb Cane Corso/German Shepherd. He came to me when I was searching for a dog to take to dog training school and when I adopted him the shelter told me that the county pound that picked him up off the street had seen dog aggression. The shelter I got him from had not.
My reactive dog journey started with Percy (my business's namesake). He is a 108 lb Cane Corso/German Shepherd. He came to me when I was searching for a dog to take to dog training school and when I adopted him the shelter told me that the county pound that picked him up off the street had seen dog aggression. The shelter I got him from had not.
I had no previous experience with a reactive dog. I spent 5 months managing him, he lived in his kennel and on a tie-out. He was happy but not fulfilled, and having other dogs in the home made it very hard. He barked every time our foster dog moved, it was a nightmare.
I had no previous experience with a reactive dog. I spent 5 months managing him, he lived in his kennel and on a tie-out. He was happy but not fulfilled, and having other dogs in the home made it very hard. He barked every time our foster dog moved, it was a nightmare.
When I left for school I had no idea how it would go, I wasn't sure if he would be kicked out of the program or if I would be able to complete my classes with him.
When I left for school I had no idea how it would go, I wasn't sure if he would be kicked out of the program or if I would be able to complete my classes with him.
When we started working with the dogs my teachers quickly saw that he was a reactive dog and his reactivity was stemming from fear, which, I now know, is where most reactivity comes from.
When we started working with the dogs my teachers quickly saw that he was a reactive dog and his reactivity was stemming from fear, which, I now know, is where most reactivity comes from.
While at school I learned to manage his reactivity and work him through triggers. He was still reactive at the end of classes but I had an arsenal of knowledge to use to help him.
While at school I learned to manage his reactivity and work him through triggers. He was still reactive at the end of classes but I had an arsenal of knowledge to use to help him.
After I came home I was able to build my business and I had no idea how he would do with my client dogs. I found out that the foundation that I had put on him at school was what he needed to be calm and secure when I was working with clients.
After I came home I was able to build my business and I had no idea how he would do with my client dogs. I found out that the foundation that I had put on him at school was what he needed to be calm and secure when I was working with clients.
He is now the face of my business and does everything with me. He does have days where he struggles but that is normal for a reactive dog.
He is now the face of my business and does everything with me. He does have days where he struggles but that is normal for a reactive dog.
With my client's dogs, he is amazing and everyone loves him, he even made friends with one of my client's dogs who is also a reactive dog.
With my client's dogs, he is amazing and everyone loves him, he even made friends with one of my client's dogs who is also a reactive dog.
I want anyone reading this who owns and reactive dog to know that there is hope, they do not have to live a life of solitude.
I want anyone reading this who owns and reactive dog to know that there is hope, they do not have to live a life of solitude.
