Mighty Mutt K9 College

08/10/2024

05/31/2024

Thank you all! GOAL REACHED!!!!!! We are so thankful for your support!!!

Hello Supporters! After conducting an inventory of our personal protection equipment at the shelter, we've noticed that many items are aging, wearing out, or damaged. It's highly stressful and dangerous for our staff to face hazardous situations with unreliable equipment. Most of the animals at CCHS that come in are friendly or not dangerous but there are times when we do get dangerous animals and we need the equipment to safely handle them. Can you help us with our Animal Safety Equipment Fundraiser? We need to replace our bite gloves, which are worn and punctured, requiring four new pairs of different sizes and function. Additionally, we're seeking a new squeeze cage to reduce stress during vaccinations or treatments for feral cats, an extendable catch pole for aggressive dogs, a snappy snare for dogs that resist leashing, allowing us to leash them from a safer distance, new animal graspers to replace our worn-out ones, and a protective shield for handling fractious and feral cats. In order to acquire all of these supplies and pay for shipping, we need to raise $998.09. Our supporters are always fantastic at helping us reach our goals for animals or supplies and we hope to be able to raise enough money to order these supplies! Please share and donate if you can! Even the smallest donation will help us reach our goal and we are forever grateful for the help! Thank you! ** This wish list is from Tomahawk Live Trap Company. Their equipment is always of the highest quality!** Any money raised above what is needed will be directed to our general fund to help the animals in our care.

05/29/2024

Duncan. Listening to his owners and Trainer, Susan, chatting after his training session. He's too cute!

05/28/2024

Done both. The former beats the hell out of the latter.

04/10/2024

Long time client Melissa lost her precious Shiloh recently. She was 17! Shiloh was basically a semi-feral puppy that came to the shelter. We did a lot of confidence building with her which included soft mouth retrieval and tracking! Shiloh had the best life because of the efforts of her owners. So sorry for your loss Melissa!

04/09/2024

Duncan. A CCHS alumni.
He's being trained in on and offleash obedience and curbing leash reactivity. He also loves belly rubs, tennis balls and the place command. This is his recharging pose. ;)

02/24/2024

My condolences go out to my training clients who lost their best buddy, Beau. Always sad to hear!

02/07/2024

Long post alert! We get asked a lot of questions about stray holds in Wisconsin. Please read for some good information in summary. All statutes are available online.
What does the stray hold in Wisconsin mean?
There are two stray holds recognized in Wisconsin. The 4 day live -release stray hold and the 7 day stray hold for animals not leaving the system as a live release.
Per Wisconsin State Statute 173.21, the Columbia County Humane Society (CCHS) holds stray animals for a period of 4 days, plus 1 for the day of intake which equals 5 days total. After the hold has lapsed, ownership of the animal is transferred to the CCHS, and the animal can begin the process of getting ready for adoption. If the animal cannot be placed, the animal is held for 7 days, plus 1 day for the day of intake which equals 8 days total. Then ownership is transferred to CCHS. Should there be a federal holiday or Sunday at some point during the stay, that day doesn't count as a day in the stray hold count. An extra day is added on.
There are instances where 173.23(4) applies before a stray hold can be fully completed. A political subdivision or person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) who has custody of an animal may have the animal euthanized if there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the following applies:
(a) The animal is hopelessly injured beyond any reasonable chance of recovery.
(b) The animal poses an imminent threat to public health or safety.
(c) The animal poses an imminent threat to the health or safety of itself or its custodian.

Can I keep the animal for the duration of the stray hold and take ownership of the animal in Wisconsin?
The answer to that question is NO. It is illegal for anyone other than the contracting shelter to hold an animal on a legally recognized stray hold. Finders, rescues, or shelters without the contracts for holding strays with municipalities are not able to hold stray animals. Animals must go to the facility that holds the contract for stray animals in order to serve a valid, legal stray hold. This allows a centralized location for strays to be brought for owners to search for their lost pets. (Wis. State Statue 173.13(9)c)

What do I have to do if my animal is brought to a shelter contracting with a municipality?

Wisconsin State Statute 173.23 Disposition of animals.
(1) Claim and return. Except as provided in sub. (4) or s. 173.21 (1), a political subdivision or person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) shall return an animal described in s. 173.13 (1) (a) 1., 3., 4., 6., 8. or 9. to its owner upon the happening of all of the following:
(a) The owner claims the animal and provides reasonable evidence of ownership.
(b) If licensure is required by statute or ordinance, the animal is licensed or assurance of licensure by prepayment is given.
(c) If vaccination is required by statute or ordinance, the animal is vaccinated or assurance of vaccination by prepayment is given.
173.23(1)(d)(d) All charges for custody, care, vaccination and treatment are paid.

Does it cost to get my animal back if it's brought in as a stray or impounded?
Wisconsin State Statute 173.23(1)(d)(d) All charges for custody, care, vaccination and treatment are paid.
CCHS does charge for the custody, care, vaccination and treatment of animals brought to CCHS. We will collect deposits if your animal is not current on its rabies vaccination and is not licensed as required by law. Deposits will be returned once the requirements are fulfilled for rabies vaccinations and licensure. If your animal is at large and subject to impoundment, there will be a charge to redeem your animal. If you are involved in an accident, arrested or for any other reason have to be separated from your animal(s) because your animal(s) is with you, CCHS will be dispatched by the Sheriff's Department and there will be charged incurred for our services. This situation is similar to if your car is towed and impounded. You must cover costs to get your property back. We know at least once a week we will be dispatched to an accident or to a scene where someone was driving under the influence, and we will have to take custody of an animal. Our charges must be paid to redeem your animal.

If you have any questions about this subject, please reach out to us or review the Wisconsin State Statutes involved.

We hope this post helps you understand the requirements in Wisconsin if you find a stray and the requirements to reclaim should your animal be brought to the shelter.

10/25/2023

Meet Bernie! He started classes because he's smart, can open doors and he's a runner. Working on building a solid foundation and recall will be my top priority with him! Happy Training!

09/13/2023

Sully! Love this boy. He's doing well with his on leash and off leash obedience. He's taking a break to go with his family to Florida but his mom is so happy because he's easy to walk, knows commands and he's doing well with his recall. See you in November, Sully!

08/16/2023

When you're a ball crazy Golden Retriever but have been to training classes and have learned patience, and a good, solid down command, you focus on your mom rather than grabbing the ball. Good boy Sully! You've come a long way boy! Happy Training!

08/10/2023

Luna is all tuckered out after her session today. Tired dogs are happy dogs! Happy Training!

08/07/2023

If you struggle with off leash freedom with your dog, seek help. Doc loves to go out to the fields and woods to explore. His life is way better because of quality e-collar training. He has been trained to check in, respond to recall and watch where his handler is. He's always within about 200 ft of me and if he thinks he needs to, he comes back to check in on his own. He's learned to make good choices and be aware of where his handler is. He's a dog that was a runner and animal control frequent flyer before coming to live with us. You can see in this video, right before I call him back, he's already looking for me to make sure he knows where I am and he responds immediately to voice command. Imagine having this freedom to enjoy your dog with off leash control. Even if other trainers said it's not possible, it can be!

07/10/2023

Just a boy and his dog! This is Tali and her kid Tristan. She is proof that if you put in the work and work hard, you can enjoy the rewards very quickly. Tali is the young Chesapeake Bay Retriever that started classes and I forgot to get a picture of her. She, and her owners are pretty amazing! In 4 classes, she went from a dog who likes to run off, chase poultry and play keep away, to a dog that is fully offleash e-collar trained! Her owners put in the homework, follow protocols and all training suggestions. Tristan has been an amazing help during this process! Keep up the good work with Tali! They are still attending training classes to expand Tali's training but that's all bonus because their goal was reached! Offleash obedience and freedom for Tali and her family. They can now play fetch, call her off distractions and away from the busy Hwy they live on. FREEDOM! :)

07/06/2023

Preach, Sean. Preach!

Answers are out there, but like all things valuable, they require sacrifice.

06/09/2023

New client started last night. Tali is an 8 month old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. I really like Tali! She came to class like a bull in a China shop. She was all over the place. Tali is my kind of dog. Enthusiastic and ready to work! My kind of dog! She was frustrating her owner to the point the family had considered returning her to the breeder and this is a family that has experience with the breed. I Introduced Tali to the E-collar and pinch collar because Tali pulled so hard when walking her, she would kill your hand. I started teaching her a structured walk and introduced her to let's go. Tali did really well! She picked up on it instantly and seemed very happy to have a job! The reason for this post is that I received a text from her owner this morning and it said that she did some work with her this morning and she's doing great and that she's actually enjoying her dog! That made my day! She is also purchasing a better-quality E-collar. The Mini Educator by E-Collar Technologies at my suggestion. I love this collar and the technology that has gone into making it is amazing. I can't wait until next week's session with Tali. The sky's the limit with this dog! I am very happy that Tali's owner is enjoying her now. Such a good feeling and that's after one session.
Picture of my dog Doc for attention since I was so into training with Tali, I forgot to get a picture! Happy Training you all!

06/08/2023

When your training comes into play with your own dog and they perform exactly how trained, no matter the distraction, you're winning. This morning Doc, Sava and I were walking out in our hay field. Doc was ahead of us, as usual, exploring. He kicked up a momma deer and fawn. Momma was defensive at first and then decided to run with her baby. Doc went to pursue, but I called him back with a "No! LET'S GO! " Doc's immediate reaction, without skipping a beat, was to turn around and return to my side. He had his e-collar on but he never needed a reminder. We've practiced enough, so his reaction under distraction, was well-versed. Proof that Balanced training makes a reliable dog! Good boy Doc. A reliable recall is necessary! Sava never left my side. She's 13 and she knows Deer are not for chasing. ;) Picture of Doc for attention.

06/06/2023

One of the easiest mistakes to make, and understandably so, is to assume that after your dog completes a board and train program that you guys are ready to rock. 😉

What’s easy to forget is that your dog has been immersed in a program with professionals, with years of experience. Professionals who’ve not only brought your dog to the amazing level they’re likely now at, but who’ve also mastered reading dogs, seeing small moments for the big ones they are, know when to reward (and how) and know when to punish (and how), who understand which human behaviors cause regression, how to effortlessly use the tools, utilize impeccable timing, share zero hesitation due to the certainty experience brings, and have mastered their emotions to ensure the best responses from dogs.

Do you see where I’m headed with this? 🙂

I haven’t even touched on dismantling the past associations your dog has with you and your environment, the lifestyle shifts (which are deeply entrenched and largely unconscious) which you’ll need to adjust or overhaul, and the mindset of being a leader...without guilt or apology or hesitation.

And as they say, many, many more.

So take it easy. You’ve got a lot of work to do. You’ve got a lot of catching up to do. And while you don’t need to become a professional dog trainer, you DO need to acquire the skills and experience which match the goals you have for you and your dog. The good news? They’ll come, but like anything worth having, they’ll take time and effort.

Be sure you don’t forget this “little piece of the training puzzle” when your newly trained dog returns home. You’re way behind the curve. And while we won’t tell your dog, you can be sure that he or she will know precisely what you do and don’t have together. ❤️

05/26/2023

Sully is a handsome 8 month old Golden Retriever that is starting off with basic obedience and then moving to some advanced off leash obedience. Very excited to mold this pup into an obedient adult. Sully is a bit on the lazy side so motivation is key with him! He has the sweetest personality. Happy Training!

05/16/2023

Even the small and Mighty need some K9 College! Layla is in training! Stay tuned for updates.

05/11/2023

Dog enrichment is very important! Are any of my followers here in the fencing business? If so, please contact CCHS!

Good afternoon supporters! We are currently looking for a company in our area to help us with a fencing project to expand our dog play yards. We need quotes! Please contact us at 608-742-3666, Facebook messenger or at our Executive Director Susan's email at [email protected] Whichever is easiest for you! Please share! Thank you!

04/27/2023

I get that having a well trained dog is a lot of work. I won’t sit here and try to sell you some easy-breazy fantasy, because it wouldn’t be true. Yep, it’s a bunch of work, and the dog you have and the goals you have determine how much.

But as someone who’s tried “both options” with soft, medium, and very hard dogs, I’m keenly aware of the cost of not doing anything, and also the benefits of diving in. Even with the easy ones, the pain point might be lower, but the freedom and inclusion they won’t get to enjoy—if you honestly look at it—isn’t just hard, it’s sad. And when you get to the harder ones, man, the pain point is extreme (destruction, chaos, danger, stress, etc.), and you also get the lack of freedom and inclusion. So it’s a compounded loss.

I look back at how I lived with my dogs for the first 5 years of their lives and how we lived the next 10 or so, and it breaks my heart. So much unnecessary stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, limitations, and just an extremely poorer quality of life. Instead of enjoying life together, we got through life together. And that’s a monumental difference.

My point is simple. We all know good things require work and sacrifice. And if we’re going to share much of our lives with our dogs, it only seems logical to put in the work (the “hard”) that yields the the least stress, the smallest amounts of anxiety, the largest degrees of safety, the most enjoyment and connection and inclusion and freedom.

Of course it’s your choice either way, but even though doing nothing might seem like the easier “hard” I would posit that that perception is absolutely wrong. It simply means you don’t have to be proactive, only reactive. But it’s a mirage—and one made up by the lazy, rationalizing, excuse-making human mind. Reacting to problems rather than beating them to the punch and heading them off at the pass is always more painful.

We all know it. It just depends how honest we want to be with ourselves, and how much beauty, connection, joy, fun, and freedom we prefer to the other stuff—and the work we’re willing to put in to get it.

04/21/2023

This is the humane society where I work and do my training classes at! If you're interested in adding a dog to your home, please consider a CCHS dog! If you adopt, please contact me to help with training! I love training dogs that were adopted from CCHS! I get to see and be a part of their journey!

We can't seem to shake this funk! Our adoptions for dogs have been the lowest the past few months than they have been in the last few years. We usually have a good adoption flow, and we can help many dogs from other shelters, owner surrenders and have room for the strays from Columbia Co. However, we are at capacity! Puppies are staying longer than they ever have. We are worried! If you're thinking about adoption, please head to our website to see our wonderful dogs for adoption. www.cchswi.org If you are unsure about adopting but may consider fostering a dog, please contact us! We would love to discuss our foster program! Please share!!!!

04/19/2023

When you want to get a good picture, but the dogs have different ideas.....

03/15/2023

Offleash obedience offers your dog a new level of freedom! I adopted Doc from the Columbia County Humane Society. He was from Alabama where he was an animal control regular for jumping the fence, running off and harassing the neighbors. You know, bored Malinois things. He is now the King of an 80 acre farm where he gets to enjoy a new level of freedom due to his training. Message me to discuss training options!

02/04/2023

Please read. Pets are not service dogs. Emotional Support Dogs are not service dogs!

I see SO MANY “service dogs” that are untrained, disruptive pets in a vest, simply because the owner does not want to leave the dog at home.

Not only are those owners being unethical and dishonest, they could potentially disrupt the work of an actual task-trained service dog, or even cause that dog to lose thousands of dollars and months or years or training with a bad interaction.

***************

Service Dogs are more than just any dog wearing a vest purchased online.

If your dog has not been specifically obedience and task trained and you do not have an ADA qualifying disability, then your dog does NOT fall under the protection of ADA law.

ESA (Emotional Support Animals) are NOT Service Dogs and fall under the guidance of the Fair Housing and Air Carrier acts and are welcome in your home with proper documentation and authorization.

Pets are NOT Service Dogs.

Puppies are NOT Service Dogs.

Dogs riding in grocery carts are NOT Service Dogs.

Buying an online "certificate" that your dog is a Service Dog, does NOT make it a Service Dog.

Dogs off leash and out of the control of their owner, are NOT Service Dogs.

Dogs trained for protection are NOT Service Dogs

Representing your dog to a business as a Service Dog and LYING, is FRAUD.

Educate yourself, do it well and do it right if you need a legitimate Service Dog!

Reference: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html

(shared from Raden Dog Obedience)

11/29/2022

Please donate if you can!

Today is . Today is the global day of giving and we ask that you consider giving to our small, private non-profit. Remember, Facebook doesn't charge any fees on Fundraisers for non-profits so when you donate through Facebook, we will receive 100% of your donation. This year, to date, we have taken in 394 dogs and 694 cats at our shelter. That's a lot of animals that needed our facility and care! We are asking, if you can, donate to our cause. We appreciate anything you can spare to help us with our mission and to continue the work you appreciate every day. Please share so that others can help us too. Thank you for your support and generosity. It means the world to us.

11/19/2022

100 percent!

Owners: like anything else in life you desire which you don’t currently possess, it’s going to take constant effort, the development of new skills, and enough discipline to keep you on track even when you’re overwhelmed or simply would prefer the easy way out.

Trainers: like anything else in life, you can’t want something for someone more than they want it for themselves. Give your clients and their dogs 110%, and then allow them to be adults who are responsible for their own actions and choices.

Owners who won’t do the work, don’t get results. Trainers who can’t let go, don’t get any peace.

It’s really that simple.