A Q&A With Marge' Blair from Twin Cedar K9
(with Lisa Petersen of the Shelter Partners Newsletter)
LP: What is your educational background? How did you get into the field of working with dogs?
MB: I got hooked when my husband became a law enforcement canine handler. I worked with trainers and would train friends’ dogs as early as 1991. In 2003, I received my Master Dog Trainer certification from National K9 in Ohio. In addition to being a dog trainer, I have the Second Chance Rescue Program, and I do Search and Rescue with my dog, Vito. Vito is a German Shepherd, trained in multiple search and rescue activities: trailing, cadaver, evidence and gunshot residue. He even solved a homicide in 2010!
LP: How would you characterize your style of dog training?
MB: I consider my style of training as “balanced”. The training is tailored specifically to the dog and its owner. I will employ whatever methods are most appropriate in each situation. Not only do I train the dog, I train its owner, too.
LP: What are the most common mistakes owners makes when training a dog?
MB: Treating your dog as if it was a child – babying the dog. In most cases, the dog is showing affection to get affection. They are in it for themselves. Some dogs are just needier than others.
LP: What is the biggest challenge you see in dog training?
MB: The two biggest obstacles I run into are (1) separation anxiety and (2) aggression. If the problem is aggression, I work to determine the source: Is it fear? Or is the dog attempting to assert its dominance?
LP: What is your position on pit bulls – “nature” or “nurture”?
MB: It depends. If a pit bull has fighting in the bloodline, it’s hard to overcome that. Yet, there are a lot of great pit bulls out there doing wonderful stuff. I have seen them doing therapy work with senior citizens and children too!
LP: Tell us about Second Chance Dog Rescue. How many dogs have you saved since you started the program? Have they all been from Amador County animal shelter?
MB: I saw so many dogs euthanized every year just because they would not pass a temperament test. I have been professionally performing temperament testing for Amador County Animal Control and Calaveras Humane Society, and there have been a lot of dogs that were failing the test and being euthanized. With some of these dogs, I felt if I could provide the training, we may be able to save their lives. So I put together a program to give a few lucky candidates a second chance at life. I choose dogs from local shelters (Amador AC, Calaveras HS, and the Stockton City Shelter) that are in danger of being euthanized and bring them to Twin Cedar Ranch where they will stay and learn all the skills it takes to be a great pet. The dog, while under our care, receives training -- starting with basic manners and continuing to full obedience training. In addition to the training, each day includes lots of play and exercise. Socialization and behavior around other dogs is learned and practiced during the group classes held at Twin Cedar K9. When a Second Chance dog is adopted, the new owner will get a Go Home Lesson so they will know what their new dog has learned and how to maintain its training.
We started Second Chance in April of 2005. Since that time, 265 lives have been saved through the program. Between me and my team, I estimate we have personally donated over $300,000 in boarding/training/socialization and vet bills to our program. If you’d like to make a donation, you can call me at (209) 223-3194 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Note: To see all of the happy and very lucky graduates, go to the Twin Cedar K-9 Second Chance Alumni web page. Lucky grads, lucky people who have adopted Second Chance dogs; the feedback is good on both sides. Anyone interested in meeting the Second Chance kids, call us at 209.223.3194 or e-mail [email protected].
LP: What Second Chance Rescue dog was the most difficult dog to find a home for, and why?
MB: Bonnie sticks out in my mind -- not because she was a difficult dog, but because she kept coming back. Through no fault of her own, Bonnie was returned many times. So many times, in fact, that she earned the nickname, “Boomerang Bonnie”. It is Second Chance’s policy that a dog adopted from us can always be returned. Bonnie’s first owner died, the second one had to move, and so on. On one outing, Bonnie served as a certified service dog to an autistic boy. She was “finally” placed in her permanent, loving home on April 15, 2012.
Note: See more photos and Bonnie’s whole story here.
LP: Are you also a cat person?
MB: I have two cats. TC, which stood for Traffic Collision but now stands for Tubby Cat, was rescued after being found on Highway 88 in Amador County. The other is Gabby, who is a Savannah. The Savannah breed is a cross between a domestic cat and a Serval, which is a medium-sized African wild cat. Gabby is small, about 9 or 10 pounds, but very exotic. I love this breed and would get another Savannah if they were all as wonderful as Gabby.
LP: What is your educational background? How did you get into the field of working with dogs?
MB: I got hooked when my husband became a law enforcement canine handler. I worked with trainers and would train friends’ dogs as early as 1991. In 2003, I received my Master Dog Trainer certification from National K9 in Ohio. In addition to being a dog trainer, I have the Second Chance Rescue Program, and I do Search and Rescue with my dog, Vito. Vito is a German Shepherd, trained in multiple search and rescue activities: trailing, cadaver, evidence and gunshot residue. He even solved a homicide in 2010!
LP: How would you characterize your style of dog training?
MB: I consider my style of training as “balanced”. The training is tailored specifically to the dog and its owner. I will employ whatever methods are most appropriate in each situation. Not only do I train the dog, I train its owner, too.
LP: What are the most common mistakes owners makes when training a dog?
MB: Treating your dog as if it was a child – babying the dog. In most cases, the dog is showing affection to get affection. They are in it for themselves. Some dogs are just needier than others.
LP: What is the biggest challenge you see in dog training?
MB: The two biggest obstacles I run into are (1) separation anxiety and (2) aggression. If the problem is aggression, I work to determine the source: Is it fear? Or is the dog attempting to assert its dominance?
LP: What is your position on pit bulls – “nature” or “nurture”?
MB: It depends. If a pit bull has fighting in the bloodline, it’s hard to overcome that. Yet, there are a lot of great pit bulls out there doing wonderful stuff. I have seen them doing therapy work with senior citizens and children too!
LP: Tell us about Second Chance Dog Rescue. How many dogs have you saved since you started the program? Have they all been from Amador County animal shelter?
MB: I saw so many dogs euthanized every year just because they would not pass a temperament test. I have been professionally performing temperament testing for Amador County Animal Control and Calaveras Humane Society, and there have been a lot of dogs that were failing the test and being euthanized. With some of these dogs, I felt if I could provide the training, we may be able to save their lives. So I put together a program to give a few lucky candidates a second chance at life. I choose dogs from local shelters (Amador AC, Calaveras HS, and the Stockton City Shelter) that are in danger of being euthanized and bring them to Twin Cedar Ranch where they will stay and learn all the skills it takes to be a great pet. The dog, while under our care, receives training -- starting with basic manners and continuing to full obedience training. In addition to the training, each day includes lots of play and exercise. Socialization and behavior around other dogs is learned and practiced during the group classes held at Twin Cedar K9. When a Second Chance dog is adopted, the new owner will get a Go Home Lesson so they will know what their new dog has learned and how to maintain its training.
We started Second Chance in April of 2005. Since that time, 265 lives have been saved through the program. Between me and my team, I estimate we have personally donated over $300,000 in boarding/training/socialization and vet bills to our program. If you’d like to make a donation, you can call me at (209) 223-3194 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Note: To see all of the happy and very lucky graduates, go to the Twin Cedar K-9 Second Chance Alumni web page. Lucky grads, lucky people who have adopted Second Chance dogs; the feedback is good on both sides. Anyone interested in meeting the Second Chance kids, call us at 209.223.3194 or e-mail [email protected].
LP: What Second Chance Rescue dog was the most difficult dog to find a home for, and why?
MB: Bonnie sticks out in my mind -- not because she was a difficult dog, but because she kept coming back. Through no fault of her own, Bonnie was returned many times. So many times, in fact, that she earned the nickname, “Boomerang Bonnie”. It is Second Chance’s policy that a dog adopted from us can always be returned. Bonnie’s first owner died, the second one had to move, and so on. On one outing, Bonnie served as a certified service dog to an autistic boy. She was “finally” placed in her permanent, loving home on April 15, 2012.
Note: See more photos and Bonnie’s whole story here.
LP: Are you also a cat person?
MB: I have two cats. TC, which stood for Traffic Collision but now stands for Tubby Cat, was rescued after being found on Highway 88 in Amador County. The other is Gabby, who is a Savannah. The Savannah breed is a cross between a domestic cat and a Serval, which is a medium-sized African wild cat. Gabby is small, about 9 or 10 pounds, but very exotic. I love this breed and would get another Savannah if they were all as wonderful as Gabby.