Piper has been an incredible blessing in my life over the last four and a half years. From the moment she came into my life, she mended my broken heart and filled a void I never knew I needed to fill. Having just lost my beloved malamute husky, Roscoe, I was heartbroken. Luckily, my daughter, who knows me all too well, rescued this adorable little puppy from a tough situation and brought her over for a long weekend. As fate would have it, my daughter had to tend to something else and asked me to watch the puppy for a week. I reluctantly agreed, firmly telling myself I was not ready for another puppy and absolutely would NOT keep this little furball—she was just not the right fit for me!
A week passed in the blink of an eye, and I was irresistibly reminded of the joys (and responsibilities) that come with a puppy! My experience as a veterinary technician provided a solid medical background, but I had always been curious about behavior and training. Initially, I doubted my ability to engage in that aspect of dog care, but Piper flipped that notion on its head! I started with simple training exercises, and to my surprise, she was eager to learn. We tackled basic simple training exercises like sit, down, and wait, and soon enough, we were having a blast mastering tricks together.
When my daughter returned to take Piper home, I saw the knowing glimmer in her eyes, of course she knew exactly what she was doing! I had completely fallen for this perfect little puppy who opened up a whole new world for me. I felt inspired to dive into the remarkable realm of dog behavior and training.
Eventually, Tonka joined our family. He spent his first eight months living with his mom and siblings at a truck stop, subsisting on corn from the nearby fields and kindness from passersby. At first, he was very timid and wary, barking at every little movement from my husband, making potty breaks quite a challenge! Fast forward a couple of years, and Tonka has fully blossomed into a beloved member of our family. Though he still exhibits his quirks, he has taught me invaluable lessons in patience and love. The wonderful differences between Tonka and Piper continually bring joy to my life—I genuinely can’t imagine my world without them!
Tonka came along and completed the pack!
Jill Kudera: Licensed Veterinary Technician
CPDT-KACertified, Licensed, and Insured
Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified
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