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Laurie & Nanuk
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The fascination with animals, and dogs in particular started at a very young age for Laurie. Whether it was saying “hi” to other dogs, or having stuffed animals or calendars with a dog theme, she always wanted a puppy of her own. Laurie also had a strong interest in teaching - whether it was helping her sister learn a piece on the piano, or coaching a friend in a school subject. Finally, during high school, she wore down her parents enough and a Golden Retriever puppy who became known as Buddy came home. Buddy was a beautiful, well-behaved dog and provided the family with an excellent experience in first dog ownership.
Fast forward to post-college, where Laurie decided to rescue an 8 month old female Samoyed named Nanuk. Nanuk was anything but the well-behaved dog Laurie had become accustomed to…she was: nicely natured but, not housebroken, extremely destructive (carpet eaten off of the stairs and out of the hallway, towels eaten, gloves eaten, holes created in backpacks, corners of mattresses disappeared, cabinetry became sawdust with teeth marks), dog-aggressive, unwilling to come, unwilling to be held for an exam or have her toenails clipped. For four months, Nanuk and Laurie struggled to learn how to live with one another. And while Laurie continued to research ways of helping 'fix' these issues, she was under the impression that training would only teach 'heal, sit, stay' types of commands, and not address the larger behavioral issues that were apparent and labeled Separation Anxiety.
Fortuitously, Laurie met Gina at Clearwater Dog Training and embarked on a learning journey that still continues today. She learned that behaviors and problems could be addressed through dog training by learning how to better communicate expectations and leadership with methods that a dog can understand. By better understanding dog behavior, Laurie was able to help Nanuk turn a corner, and become a model canine citizen. It was a powerful change and a 180 degree turnaround that occurred within a couple of weeks of undertaking a formal training effort with Nanuk. Today, Nanuk is a happy, healthy 11 year old who continues to be a role model for dogs. As a result of the changes, and Laurie's interest in both teaching and dog behavior, she pursued an apprenticeship with Gina to become a dog trainer in her own right.
Laurie desires to share her knowledge and the powerful positive changes that can come about through effective dog training and addressing behavior issues. She feels that we can change dog and owner relationships for the better - one dog, and one owner at a time at Clearwater Dog Training.
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