My Mission to Train Heros

My mission to Train Heros

TASLEY WHEELER

“I was able to sleep for a few hours … for the first time in years!”

“My husband and I went out on a date for the first time since he got back! In public! We haven’t had a date since 2014!”

“I hate using that walker, it’s big and bulky and when I fall IT HURTS! Although my dog is big and bulky, I don’t fall as much and I have someone to help me get up, get around, and be active. I feel normal again!”

If these statements hit you right in the heart, you understand why I got into dog training. It surely isn’t for the glamour—they don’t spell poop, P-R-A-D-A do they? (Nope! At press time, they currently do not.) I got into it because it changes peoples’ lives.

I started with Upstate Guide Dog Training Academy at a young age scooping prada—I mean, poop—and worked my way up to my training certification. Now, after 20 years focused on behavior modification and rehabilitation, I’ve worked with a lot of challenged dogs; dogs that were afraid, dogs that were terrified, dogs that didn’t know any better—you name it. My clients and I talk about modifying their human behavior, as well as the dog’s, to better communicate, understand, and work together. We focus on the fear and needs of the dog to get them to a better place.

In September, 2016, I finally, got my own place to train and develop the next generation of training and dog enthusiasts. With my husband, Ryan, and my friends and staff by my side, we opened Homemade Hounds Bed & Biscuit. Jumping into the brand new world of kennel ownership was a dream come true! Life was good.

Then everything changed.

Four short months later, my husband was in a motorcycle accident, leaving him paralyzed. As you can imagine, the life change seemed insurmountable. As a previously extremely active guy, Ryan was thrown for the loop of a lifetime. Knowing that he wouldn’t stay “down” for long, I decided to help him get his independence back.

I went back to my roots in service dog training for him. Mag—aka, Magnet Scooby Do Anderson, if you’re feeling formal—came into our lives through a rescue, and I knew he would be perfect! The bond between Ryan and Mag was instant and the smiles were one-thousand watt. After seeing my honey happier and more independent, I had a new mission. With a long history in rescue, I pulled together a great group of people who were eager to both help save dog’s lives and do some good in the world, and we founded Helping Hounds Project.

The crew from Homemade Hounds Bed & Biscuit has developed not only a fantastic training plan, but also a dog training internship based around service dog training. Then, through Helping Hounds Project, we take that training and apply it to rescue dogs to help with needs such as walking/wheelchair mobility and psyche support. Our dogs and program participants are matched and work together to make amazing teams!

Homemade Hounds Bed & Biscuit and Helping Hounds project are now working together to change lives of both dogs and humans! We work with both veterans and civilians, and we’re helping dogs become heros. A trained service dog makes the world not just a little bit brighter and more independent for their handlers, but it makes all the difference in the world!

For more information: homemadehounds.com • helpinghoundsproject.info