Betty's History: I started training dogs at the age of nine with positive reinforcement. I grew up two doors down from the original Potter League for Animals on Harrington Street in Newport. I spent each and everyday at the shelter working with and walking dogs. Joan DeMello opened the doors to the Potter League For Animals in 1962. Unbeknownst to Joan, she would be responsible, for shelter dogs to be my natural mentors, for many, many years to follow! As a five year old child, I walked amongst dog packs of 20-30 dogs in 3 separate community pens, all though my childhood years, feeding, caring, training and loving shelter dogs. When they say that "experience is your best teacher", it's a fact. Surrounded by 20-30 dogs in community pens allowed me, at a very early age, to unintentionally learn and absorb natural canine behavior/s. As a child, I was always drawn to dogs or perhaps they were drawn to me. No matter where I went there were always dogs beside me. Needless to say, I have been a natural pack leader for many, many years and owe it all to those wonderful shelter dogs who taught me how to lead lovingly and naturally! When the Potter League on Harrington Street in Newport closed their doors and reopened a new facility on Oliphant Lane in Middletown, I followed. I became a fixture as a volunteer once again, teaching staff and volunteers how to work with and train their shelter dogs. Through my years of previous experience training shelter dogs, I was successful at helping the Potter League, and their new staff, once again place shelter dogs with basic training into new loving homes. In the late 90's the Potter League hired me to develop and instruct their very first dog obedience classes. My position required training staff and volunteers to handle and train shelter dogs each and every Saturday along with the implementation of Potter's first Puppy Kindergarten Classes. The programs were very successful and many more dogs were adopted lowering the rate of euthanasia in the shelter. I left the Potter League in 1999 because it was too difficult to work for the Potter League and conduct my own Training and Behavior Consulting at the same time. I decided to help other shelters incorporate training programs in their facilities and teach them how to properly evaluate dogs for adoption. I worked with the West Warwick Shelter in 2008. I instructed volunteers and staff at the Animal Rescue League of Southern RI in 2009 and I continue to work with shelters to evaluate dogs and set up proactive training programs upon request. I also offer my services to potential adopters who wish to adopt the right dogs for their families. 1979 Betty's TLC Dog Training Evolves! I started my dog training business in 1979 with my partner, Dusty, a wonderful and irreplaceable Golden Retriever that I adopted at the age of 4 months! Dusty and I worked in fields all over Aquidneck Island and Jamestown, teaching people to train their dogs. When Dusty retired at the age of 14, it was time to get a new working dog so off to the Potter League I went. I acquired a 3 year old Doberman who was on the list for euthanasia due to her very serious aggression problem. My new, untrained, aggressive Doberman named Alexis would be my next top obedience dog within a year of behavior modification and training. Alexis took Dusty's position on the field like a natural and assisted me in all of my classes until she retired. After Alexis' retirement, 3 more adoptions followed and all turned into "working dogs", assisting me on the field. All of my working dogs came off the list of "unadoptables" due to their serious behavioral issues. Ashley, another female Doberman, Jake, a Doberman/Shepherd/Lab mix and my 135 pound, male German Shepherd named Dakota. With each passing year, I owe all my success to these wonderful dogs who proved over and over again that "training" done properly, will change a dog's negative behavior into outstanding behavior! Many dogs and many years later, through careful thought and consideration, I decided for the first time to purchase a new working dog from a professional breeder. I purchased my new working dog in January of 2009, a female Golden Retriever named Telcey. I brought my new bundle of joy home on January 11, 2009 at the age of 7 weeks. I will never replace my past working dogs but I am hoping that Telcey will walk gently in their paw prints! Telcey will be my new working dog on the field at the Middletown High School, helping YOU to train YOUR dogs this coming year! I hope you come and join us! Find Adoptable Dog Below at the following web sites! Courtesy Betty's TLC Dog Training LLC www.petfinder.com (All Breeds) www.arlsri.org (All Breeds) www.labs4rescue.org (Labrador Rescue) www.secondchanceboxer.com (Boxer Rescue www.ygrr.org (Golden Retriever Rescue) www.foreverpaws.com (All Breeds) www.warrenanimalshelter.com (All Breeds) Bristol Animal Shelter 10 Minturn Farm Rd. Bristol , RI 02809 Phone: (401)253-4834 Are you looking for an AKC Registered Breed? www.twinbeaudgoldens.com Golden Retriever Pups www.akc.org for a list of reputable breeders for all AKC Breeds! If you need an evaluation of a potential adoption, please e-mail Betty at: goldsalvage@verizon.net Betty's TLC Dog Training LLC Copyright 2010 |