Valentine Kennel

06/20/2024

STAR PUPPY class forming now!

Bring your pup, under 1 yr of age for socialization and training.
Call for cost and answers to questions: 217-840-1419.
I train in an air conditioned space in Georgetown IN.
Disremper and Parvo vaccines required for puppies.
This class will meet about once a week for 6 weeks and last about an hour.
Refer another pup that takes classes and receive 10% off fees.

06/17/2024

06/11/2024

Does this look legit? They ask for my password. Not going there.

06/09/2024

Today, I had the pleasure to pass two worthy pups on their CGCA and CGCU. They are both working towards being Therapy Dogs. I think they both have the perfect temperament and smarts to be hugely successful. They also both have great owner/handlers that will make for terrific therapy teams. Go make the world a happier place.

05/24/2024

Finn got his first bird today. Pounced on a baby Sparrow in the rocks. Probably saved him from starvation. No idea how he got where he was. No trees or shrubs nearby and he was feathered out, but really small. Poor baby.

05/14/2024

Sunny’s Big Adventure Begins!

My heart is full and hurting at the same time. Sunny set off with Kaiden today for their life together. Kaiden is a great young man with a promising future and endless potential. And he’s getting a special dog to help him live a healthier life as his service dog. We spent this morning training, swimming and walking in the rain, and bonding. Two unusual things happened. Sunny curled up next to Kaiden last evening when watching T.V., when he’d typically lay on the floor alone. He slept curled in his arm at night instead of at the foot of Terrys bed. How do they know? I have no clue, but dogs seem to understand their purpose.
I feel really good about these two as a service team and life-long buddies. That made it easier to say our goodbyes. I was fine until I took Tessa and brother, Finn out to watch him get in the car to leave. I didn’t want them searching all over for him. I did NOT anticipate Finn chasing the car down the driveway! (Cue the water-works).
Breeding service dogs is rewarding and tough rolled up together.
Call me sappy, but it’ll be a sad evening. But tomorrow I’ll see clearly (like Sunny did) that this was the goal. This is what he was born to do. I’m very proud of that gorgeous, smart, confident, sweet dog. “He’s a good dog!”
Oh, and I’ll see him in 2 weeks when I show him at Purina. Hopefully, to get the last major he needs for his conformation title. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻

05/04/2024

Over and over I’ve seen owners struggling with the same issue. The early phases of the reactivity sequence seem benign, or at the very least so mild that it would be unfair to correct them for it.

Unfortunately, these early phases or stages are anything but benign. They’re the required initial steps your dog must go through to get to the dreaded big stuff that all of you struggling with seriously reactive dogs know so well.

Which is why if you your dog has reactivity issues, the very best practice you can get into is requiring your dog to simply keep their mind—and eyes—on their own business. Scanning for trouble and “mad-dogging” other dogs has to be removed from the menu.

If you learn to correct your dog for any untoward looking, and you do so with tools your dog cares enough about to actually stop the looking, you can actually stop this terribly predictable reactivity sequence in its tracks.

After all, that’s what most great dog trainers do, and it’s what most amazed owners think of as “magical” timing. Alas, there is no magic, just a keen awareness of how all this plays out.

04/30/2024

CGC classes starting MAY 7, 2024 at 11:00 am.

IF YOURE ONE THE FENCE ABOUT TRAINING…jump off and jump in. There’s no time like the present to get started molding your dog into the “best dog ever!”

Call me at (217) 840-1419 Theresa Swift

04/24/2024

Now, I’ve seen it all! And I love it.

04/23/2024

CONGRATULATIONS to Lucie, the miniature Ausie and her handler Leigh Ann on passing both CGCA and CGCU. On to Therapy dog work. Woohoo.

04/21/2024

DOG TRAINING CLASSES FORMING NOW!

This time around classes will be during the day between 10-4 on Tuesday, Wed or Thurs.

Pups under 1 year will be entered in Kindergarten AKC STAR classes. 6, 1 hour classes will include play with other puppies, socializing with people and very beginner obedience and manners.
Completion leads to an AKC certificate and ribbon.

Pups 1 yr and older will be entered in CGC (Canine Good Citizen) classes. 6, 1 hour classes will include how to train your best friend using “marker” training and positive reinforcement. The final class is for evaluation and successful testing earns your pup an AKC Title on CGC. 10 skills are tested, ranging from-having ID on your dog to staying in place. The classes are designed to be low stress and fun for you and your dog.

Please, call to enroll today: 217.840.1419. Ask about reasonable cost. We will find the best time and day for each group.

04/15/2024

Just read this at my vets office. So perfect. I love cats and dogs, but they really are unique creatures.

03/14/2024

Stressed out travelers. Boys sharing a crate and mom is on top of them.

03/04/2024

Big day at Purina!
Our 6 month and 1 week old puppies made us proud. And I had a blast showing 2 new owners how to show for the very first time this weekend. They should be very proud of themselves also.
Today, Terry showed Sunny to a 3 point major win. He was awarded: WD, BOW and BOS (over a nice special). WOW!
Tessa was Select both days and needs only 3 more points for her Grand CH. Title.
I’m exhausted and happy.

03/04/2024

Sequoia is looking for her family!! She’ll be 9 weeks tomorrow. In TN.

She has great depth of chest, her shoulders have good angles, her stifle & hock also have proper angles.
She is a laid-back girl. She will perform if properly motivated. 🫣

03/02/2024

A friend has a show quality, sweet boy available. He’ll be 9 weeks on Mon.

02/25/2024

Practicing our 15 min “climbs” in “The Good Dog Way” program. Learning a bit of impulse control and doggie meditation.

01/17/2024

OMG…we’ve had our challenges with locks this trip. Stopped in Rocky Top, TN for coffee and to let the puppies potty and play in the front seat. It’s 10 degrees raw temp.
I got out to get pups some water out of the back. LOCKED US OUT! Spare key was inside the truck.

Police and fire dispatcher wouldn’t send anyone.
AAA said they’d be there in 5-7 hours.
A lady with a “long juvie record” (according to her), went home to get a lock out kit.
Vol Fire pulls up by coincidence with a lock out kit.

BEFORE ANYONE WENT TO WORK, WE GOT THE PUPPIES TO STAND ON THE WINDOW BUTTON AND THEY ROLLED NOT 1 BUT 2 WINDOWS DOWN.

Do you think our guardian angels sent enough help?

We will be getting that spare key outside the truck.

01/14/2024

So, who needs a key? Locked out of the trailer with 3 puppies locked inside. That’s my man! lol.

01/10/2024

Struggling with your dog? Spend some time examining this concept and honestly evaluating where you stand.

Doing what feels good in the moment, even if it causes fallout later, is chosen by most humans, in most circumstances. When it comes to dogs, “most” is an understatement.

Do what’s hard now, so you can avoid disaster later. Your life, and your dog will thank you.

12/24/2023

Merry Christmas! And a blessed 2024.

12/19/2023

We have two new AKC STAR puppy graduates! Way to go Oli and Gravy the Aussiedoodles.
As always we all had great times at play and meeting new friends.

12/12/2023

This is Charlie and he’s looking for his furever home!! He’s a senior boy and housebroken. I’m not sure if his breed, as he has no distinguishable features of any particular breed. I’m sure he has bully in him because of his muzzle shape, but he looks nothing like our two pitties.

He’s:
-Housebroken
-Quiet
-Not One for toys
-sleeps in his bed
-can sit
-Loves to snuggle and gives kisses

Charlie is a senior dog that’s been wandering around by himself for likely 3 years. I saw an old 3 year old post with him on a lost and found pets group. He walked all the way from Salem to Pekin.

He was rescued in Pekin, IN. My grandparents are currently fostering him and they’re in Salem. It’s been almost 3 weeks since he was rescued. He has no microchip, he’s unaltered (but will be altered soon), and no one has come forward to claim him or even know who his owner is, even though numerous posts have been posted for him.

We cannot keep him, as much as we want to, because we have two dogs. One gets along fine with him, and the other is too rough with him as he’s still young and much bigger than him.

My grandparents cannot keep him because they’re often gone from their house, and it’s not fair to leave him alone.

My fiend has him and will be picky about who he goes too. She wants to make sure he lives out the rest of his days in peace and in a great home! He whines at fixed females, trying to mate, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he continues to exhibit those behaviors after being altered.

12/04/2023

Owners, thinking they’re being kind and loving avoiding sharing negative consequences for their dog’s behavior issues miss the fact that they’re setting their dogs up for either a lifetime behavior problems, OR the need for far more serious consequences down the line to stop them.

We don’t do our dogs any favors by allowing them to engage is poor behavior and to allow these behaviors and the attitudes which develop along with them to become deeply patterned.

We only guarantee one of two truly unpleasant outcomes.

The upshot? Choose mild immediate discomfort (for both of you) over far larger delayed discomfort later.

12/03/2023

Put us to bed, Mama. We’re tired.

11/28/2023

Tessa wants to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎂 to her brothers and sisters. She’s had a great year, becoming a mom. Hope your dogs have a great year in 2024.

11/18/2023

We’re getting ready for camping with two puppies. I didn’t want the floor congested with crates. We built a kennel under our double bunks. We don’t typically use the bottom bed.

11/18/2023

Down to two. Juno, now Annie flew home to FL today. Finn and Bodie are beginning to get suspicious that they could be next. Losing Annie made us sad. When we’ve kept these two for 3-4 more months, and then lose one, it’ll be even harder. Thankfully, one will stick around forever.

11/04/2023

Amen to that!

Every day countless conversations are occurring between yourself and your dog. These conversations tell your dog everything they need to know about you and the social landscape. They massively impact your dog’s attitude and demeanor, and inform their consequent decisions.

When you find you’re dealing with problem behavior, it’s just about guaranteed that you’ve inadvertently created the mindset capable of this undesired behavior by way of countless important conversations which have either been missed altogether, or have been insufficient in their delivery.

It’s extremely rare (understatement) to find a poorly behaved dog who was raised and/or currently lives with someone who sets firm standards, who clearly conveys what those standards are, and who enforces them in a believable fashion.

Do troubled dogs exist even with amazing owners? Of course—but they’re the extremely rare outliers. The vast majority—which almost certainly includes you and your dog—are the byproduct of the slow slide into disrespectful, disobedient, messy behavior that you’ve invited by way of allowance and omission.

As soon as you own it, you can change it.

11/03/2023

Service training -public access first time. All 4 pups were very good. Road in a bed in a cart. Looked around. Took treats from kids and adults. I love these guys!