Ash's Pack

Dolce, NTD, ITD, ATD. Born 11/2009. He's the inspiration for Ash's training in behavior modification, and the reason she no longer believes in punitive-based ideologies. She's a cross-over trainer, having first tried the correction-based methods; unfortunately, they not only didn't help, but started to make Dolce even more reactive. Dolce's history prior to her adopting him makes him a great example of dogs who needed adequate socialization as a puppy to counteract nervous tendencies, but did not receive it. He has come so far overcoming his fears in Ash's care, but will never get that socialization window back. He is what's called an "at-home service dog," where he helps Ash deal with night terrors and panic attacks.

Terra, BB, NTD. Born 2/17/2017. Terra was confiscated by the OC Sheriff when her family in Santa Ana was evicted. Ash adopted her in November of 2019 from the OC Animal Care Shelter. So far, Terra has shown great potential for service dog work now that Dolce is nearing retirement, interest in herding, high prey drive, aptitude for therapy dog work, and extreme intelligence with a natural eager-to-please attitude. The day after she came home, she was a neutral dog for the Behavior Therapy Pack Walk and assisted with the CGC Class. Terra continues to assist in private behavior cases now, too. Ash is looking forward to training her in tricks, barn hunt, obedience, and more!

Takoda, CGC, NTD, ITD, ATD, BB, BN, BI, BE, BCh. Born 7/7/2017. Takoda is a purebred golden retriever from a breeder in Santa Ana. Ash has rescued or adopted dogs her whole life, but wanted Takoda to be the service dog she takes in public with her. Maya began training for that role, but her track injuries forced Ash to wash her from service work. Takoda loves sports, is an eager and willing partner. He's taught Ash a lot about overcoming sound aversion/sensitivity; and has washed from interior public access work. He's helping with reactivity cases, and goes with Ash on the Behavior Therapy Pack Walks. Ash hopes to compete with him in rally obedience, disc, and musical freestyle. As a psychiatric service dog, he's trained to alert to Ash's nervous habits such as skin picking and stopping breathing, as well as grounding, DPT, and guiding out of a crowd.

Waiting just over the rainbow bridge...

Tasha's first 2 dogs were ex-racing greyhounds, Kibeth (black) and Jojo (black & white) helped many reactive dogs learn to be comfortable with other dogs. They also taught Tasha the value of dogs who are intelligent, but prefer not to do several repetitions. A notoriously difficult breed to train, Tasha has learned their quirks and how to motivate them properly. They are terribly missed, but I know we'll see each other again over the rainbow bridge.

Zenzi, NTD, ITD, ATD, BB, BN, BI, BE, BCh. Zenzi was Tasha's greatest teacher in the quirks of a herding breed, as well as the struggles of a dog with poor genetics and incurable brain diseases that cause severe aggression. Tasha made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize when behavior modification and medication eventually failed to treat her rage seizures. In her life, Zenzi was well-trained in obedience, tricks, agility, and disc; but her mind wouldn't allow her to happily or safely compete.

Maya, born 4/16/2011. Maya was adopted from the GAC in El Cajon, California. Her racing career in Mexico has caused severe, chronic pain. Maya's need for rehab veterinary care has taught Tasha a lot about how pain can affect behavior in dogs, how to manage it without medication. Maya loved everyone, and helped nearly 100 reactive dogs during her career as a neutral dog. She's the inspiration for Maya's List, a worldwide list of neutral dogs for people to make contact with and practice force-free methods of behavior modification. She'll be sorely missed, but never far from our hearts.