CARRIEANN MONTELEON

From an early age, I developed a strong passion for dogs. As a child, I would often bring stray dogs home to play with. When I reached the age of 25, I made the decision to adopt my first rescue dog, Buddy. He was a wonderful black Lab/Shepherd mix, although his behavior presented some challenges. Despite his stubborn refusal to be housebroken and his destructive tendencies, I was determined to train him.

To address Buddy's behavior, I enrolled him in an obedience class. Through consistent practice and dedication, Buddy excelled in his training and even ranked first among his classmates. This achievement brought me great joy and satisfaction.

However, tragedy struck when Buddy was just 10 months old. Due to his training with treats, he had come to expect a reward every time he obeyed a command. One fateful day, Buddy ran into the street, and when I called him back, he hesitated, searching for a treat in my hands. Not finding one, he continued running and was tragically hit by a car, resulting in his untimely death. This heartbreaking incident served as a turning point in my life.

Determined to prevent any other dogs from suffering a similar fate due to treat training, I embarked on a journey to become an expert in dog training. I explored every avenue available to master this skill, dedicating myself to the well-being and education of dogs. In my 20s, I made the courageous decision to leave Corporate America behind and focus solely on training dogs.