Ratchet, the Rottweiler who many said should be euthanized, proves that even the most difficult of dogs can be turned around by uncovering their true natures with the right care and training. 

Ratchet, a 7-year-old purebred Rottweiler, was bought from a breeder by a family who took care of him and gave him the exercise and play he needed for two years. They even took him to obedience training.

Then his family found out that Ratchet was deaf and they no longer paid any attention to him.  Ratchet’s once busy, active and “work-filled” days were now monotonous and inactive. He began to show aggressive behavior and nearly attacked the new baby.

It was at this point that he was surrendered to a rescue group in Ontario. 

The rescue group had some trouble with Ratchet, so they contacted Tracie Dawson, who began Dog Speed Animal Rescue in Ontario shortly after Hurricane Katrina.  Traci had made several trips to the states to help with disaster relief and even rescued dogs that were left homeless from the hurricane. Tracie agreed to take Ratchet.  Although it wasn’t easy at first, Tracie would eventually learn that great things come with hard work and perseverance.

In a short time, Ratchet attacked both Tracie’s husband and stepson and made two attempts at her.  Despite Ratchet’s aggression, Tracie realized there was something special about this dog.  She could “see it in his eyes,” and she began searching for a trainer who could work with them.  She contacted many trainers, but only one would prove to be Ratchet’s saving grace.

Rescuing Ratchet
Jim Tsitanidis, canine trainer and behavioral consultant of Spirit Ridge K9 Training & Rescue of Ontario,  agreed to meet Ratchet.  Says Jim, “Ratchet arrived in his full glory, full of himself with a body posture that spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E. The energy was just exuding from his body and the fact that I had a valuable tool (sound) taken away from me meant I had to be extra careful about my signals—I could not rely on sound at all.

“I showed Tracie a basic umbilical/tethering exercise where she continues to walk with him tied around her waist and change directions without making any eye contact.  He responded very well and I had her work him like this to drain some of that 'macho' energy he walked in with.” 
Tracie said she was near tears.  She couldn’t believe how Ratchet responded to the training and these “working walks” which involve a lot of twisting, turning, stopping, and starting.  This kind of walk forces a dog to pay attention to the person’s body language.  Jim also taught her how to watch Ratchet's body language so Tracie could see his triggers and how to distract him so his aggressive behavior wouldn't escalate. 


Since Ratachet can’t hear, Tracie communicates with him by the use of a vibrating collar and hand signals.  Tracie says Ratchet loves to be active and believes he truly is a working dog.  As long as he has proper exercise and something to do, he shows no signs of aggression. 

Tracie says the most important thing she realized is that it was her lack of leadership that was letting Ratchet down, as his previous owners had also done.  Once she began working with Jim, she realized that with proper guidance and leadership, Ratchet could be a fabulous dog. 

Jim says, “His transformation in one year has been remarkable.  Both he and Tracie have come a million miles since that day I met them.”

A True Working Dog
Ratchet does some remarkable things to stay active.  He runs alongside Tracie while she rides her bike for many miles.  They also take long walks on the trails, where he has a specific job to do—he actually has a knapsack on him to hold picked-up garbage.  He loves this “job” and will even stop on the trail when he sees a can, look at Tracie, and sit and wait while she places it in his knapsack.  In the winter, Ratchet runs indoors on a treadmill.

Tracie says, “He needs to be busy.  He needs to know he has a purpose and he loves to please.  He needs to run and needs to learn.  He is like a child learning a new game.  He is so enthusiastic when I take out his leash and put on my yellow gloves, then he knows its work time.  Be it picking up trash along the road or helping me find rocks for my garden. The minute he sees it, his back pack is a huge source of delight for him.  The worst thing I can do for Ratchet is to not do anything with him. Even if it’s just going out to play fetch, he needs to do an activity every day.”


A Rare Bond
When asked how Tracie feels about Ratchet, she responds,  “He has taught me more than I have taught him.  He has taught me how to be quiet, and how to convey emotions without language.  He has taught me that there are no limits to what can be done with eye contact.  Surprisingly, he is also a huge source of relaxation for me, even with all of his issues, when it’s just him and I on a walk or playing, he makes me laugh, out loud, and with the hectic lives we all live, it’s nice to have peace and quiet, not have to say any words, and to laugh out loud once and a while.

“Ratchet and Jim have both made me believe in myself, and that any limitations I feel I have are of my own doing.  I have had to learn to trust something that at first, I was very afraid of.  Ratchet and I are about the same weight, but I learned to get over my fears and he learned to trust me.

I adore him, for all that he is.  It is like watching your own child take the first steps, the pride and joy of watching him achieve even the smallest of goals is always close to tears for me.  He has come so far and I believe there is no limit to what he can learn and achieve.”

What’s next for Ratchet
A few weeks ago, Ratchet moved into the next phase of his training and Jim says he took Tracie along for the ride. “He started training in agility.  His class was initially all on leash (three dogs in the class) but gradually, as the dogs have focused on the fun stuff—the equipment—and their handlers (and not each other), the leashes have been dropped and occasionally taken off.  So far, Ratchet is getting 'hooked' and it is our dream that he eventually compete in agility.  This would be remarkable and would require Tracie to dig really deep down and draw on all her inner strength and not panic.”

Says Tracie, “He may never be an award winner, but the fun we both have doing it, and the joy in his eyes makes it worth everything.  I can't even begin to describe the feeling I had inside when he and I were doing the course off leash and he didn't have a care about any of the other people or dogs around.  It was just him and I, and all he cared about was me and having fun.”

It is Tracie’s hope that in two more years Ratchet will be an ambassador for the breed.  Tracie is teaching Ratchet how to communicate using laser lights now, as the vibrating collar is not allowed in competition. 

Another one of Tracie’s goals is for her and Ratchet to work together in rescue.  She thinks search and recovery would probably be the best job for him.  “Even if he never gets to the point of actually doing the job, the training will be enough to satisfy his need to work.”

With loyalty, patience, understanding, dedication, and a little love, Tracie and Jim are truly Ratchet’s saviors. Jim says “At the end of the day, I have done very little other than give Tracie the tools to create the gradual transformation that we have all seen right before our eyes.” 

But it’s unclear as to who has taught whom more—Tracie or Ratchet. 

Says Tracie, “Ratchet has taught me to never say never.”

For More Information

Read the Promises to My Dog resource tool.

Learn about the importance of exercise and keeping dogs healthy and happy.

Photos provided by Tracie Dawson.