When trainer Andy Lloyd got her first dog at age six, she had little idea that her subsequent relationship with the Jack Russell Terrier mix would forever change the course of her life. But after a Dog Dress-Up Contest in which the duo earned the nickname 'Andy & Her Dandy Dog,' a seed was firmly planted. And some forty years and plenty of fortunate dogs later, Andy's canine training program in Yavapai County, Arizona – Dandy Dawgs – came into being.
As Andy recalls, her inclination towards dog training stemmed only partially from a desire to correct problem behavior. The real impetus was an exceptionally well-behaved, intuitive dog who was, as Andy describes, "the dog everyone dreams of. She tried diligently to understand humans, even English and was ever eager to learn to connect with me. She was my first real teacher in understanding canine due to her own insistence that we relate," Andy says. "Through her, I learned to read canine body language and have been continually motivated to increase that knowledge and skill."
'NO VALUE IN FORCE METHODS'
It may very well have been because of this early awareness of the intricately complex canine-human bond that Andy's training program has such an inherently positive, relational foundation. "I am a positive-reinforcement, reward based-trainer," Andy says. "I see no value in force methods; they represent nothing more than a dog fight to a canine. Respect comes from confidence, not force." Accordingly, Andy's training foundation stresses the importance of strong leadership. "Dogs respect leadership. In fact, they probably long for it and are quite relieved when they can trust someone else to be worthy so they can relax from the stress of it," she says. To create this sense of positive interdependence, Andy's courses often focus on "teaching the dog to want to please you, selling him on the fact that you are the best show in town is the idea," she says. "You are truly better than the rabbit racing across the field. That’s a hard ticket to sell, but that is the goal."
Following principles laid forth by such animal behaviorists as Patricia McConnell Ph.D., Andy's ideology consistently returns to the all-important bond between canine and person. In her training experience, Andy finds that more often than not, it's the 'person' who misreads key signals – a problem based in a classic misunderstanding of how dogs interact, perceive and communicate in the world. "People expect dogs to respond and think like we do and they don’t. We chat, coddle and reinforce the very behavior we want the dog to stop. We confuse attachment to bonding; they are not the same," Andy says. "It is tough to be a dog in a human environment. If we do not provide direction toward helping them acclimate, they will find their own course and we probably won’t like it."
Many folks resort to common mistakes when trying to correct problem behavior as well, which of course, often serve only to worsen the issue. "Humans talk and when we get frustrated we often raise our voices or yell. This translates as excitement to a dog and that will do nothing but increase his own," Andy believes. More important than vocal cues that may excite dogs are physical cues and timing. "People pull and jerk their dogs; they bend over rather than stand or sit straight, and they wait too long to reward," Andy says. "It is no wonder dogs just give up on us and it is sad that we call them dumb or give up on them when they do." In terms of her more difficult issues to help dogs and people overcome, Andy points to aggression. "Serious aggression toward other dogs and people requires the most continual focused attention. Some pooches are just born with a propensity toward this. It is not common, but it does happen," she says.
'LEAPS IN CONFIDENCE'
To help get her students off to the right start, Andy usually requires that people take their dogs out of familiar comfort zones. "I keep my classes diversified, believing dogs need to be able to demonstrate their obedience behaviors in various environments," Andy says. "All too often we trainers hear, 'Rufus does great at home.' Take Rufus to the park, town sidewalk, outdoor restaurant or store and he will not give even a 'sit' easily." Andy also stresses that there are two students in her classes: the dog and his human counterpart. And alongside positive reinforcement, Dandy Dawgs classes always feature stimulation or challenge for the dogs. All Andy's training programs aim to "give the dog some problem solving opportunities . . . Canines are smart; they need to use their wonderful canine brains. Exactly what type of activities vary but all dogs benefit from basic obedience skills and markedly show a leap in confidence and improved behaviors when offered them," she says.
In her many years as a trainer, Andy has come to appreciate herding dogs in particular, citing their intelligence and eagerness to work hard as traits that make them rewarding – and challenging – to work with. But what is perhaps most rewarding for Andy is her regular involvement with the local animal rescue community – a community she knows quite well in Yavapai County. "I grew up with 'mutts,'" she recalls. "When I was a kid, there wasn’t much spay and neutering. My first trip to a dog pound was quite an awakening. I was stunned to find out dogs were put to sleep regularly. I began to rescue and train dogs on my own, finding homes for them then rescuing another. I met United Animal Friends and fell into service with them, feeling as though ‘I was home at last.’" And once the Dandy Dawgs enterprise took off, Andy found the perfect opportunity to share her expertise with the local rescue community. "Rescue groups are usually quite careful who they place the dogs with, in hopes they are not once again returned and deemed unwanted. I love the dedication of the volunteers. I got involved with Lucky Club and Rescue a Golden, helping some of their foster dogs. I donate training to rescue groups because that often ensures the dog will be able to stay in the new home," Andy says.
'HOME AT LAST'
By donating her training expertise to newly adopted rescued dogs, Andy supports the No More Homeless Pets mission in Yavapai County. "People are well intentioned when adopting a dog and do not anticipate problems that come up with rescued dogs," she says. "Rescued dogs can have unexpected ‘issues’ that, when addressed, can be easily overcome." In addition to donating her training to rescue groups, Andy hosts regular events and fundraisers that dually promote the advantages of positive training and the life-saving importance of spay-neuter programs. "I am truly passionate about educating people on proper training, dog handling and the urgency of spaying and neutering," Andy says. "If I am asked to demonstrate at a community event, I will always do a brief educational chat on rescued dogs. As I [demonstrate with my own [dogs], I can share the quirks of each one and how I came to keep them. Thus, I hope to instill the notion that even the wildest on the ‘unwanted list’ can turn out to be a fine pooch, quirks and all."
No matter the 'quirks,' Andy Lloyd believes passionately in the ability of dogs to overcome and start anew. And proper, positive training is not only a keystone in this process – it's also the surest way to solidify the bond between human and canine. It's this bond that Andy values above all else. "There is a kinship between humans and canines that is sometimes spiritual and emotional, sometimes mental and physical," Andy says. "We work with them, we love them, we either anthropomorphize them or we connect with them realistically. Regardless, I believe humans and dogs need one another to survive." Fortunately for the dogs and humans of Yavapai County, it's this belief that keeps Andy Lloyd committed to preserving a bond unlike any other on the planet . . . a bond that – thanks to Andy – only grows stronger.
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