J. Jefferies

I was not sure what to expect on the first day of service dog training. Members of my family convinced me that I would benefit from having a service dog. There was one major issue that I shared when introducing myself to the rest of the individuals attending the first day, as well as the trainers. That issue was that I have never been a dog person, and one of the first things my service dog was going to have to do was change that. I was hesitant at first, not sure I was going to be able to handle my part of the training and even questioned if I was going to stick it out. Bella, my golden doodle, convinced me that the challenges were manageable, and the trainers reinforced that many times. Bella handled the challenges better than I did, and with the continued encouragement from the trainers, we found the confidence to complete the course. I would not say that I am now a dog person but I am a “Bella” person as the training has strengthened our bond. When Bella and I are out in public, we regularly get comments on how well she behaves and listens. I am so glad that Bella and I were part of and completed the Dogs4vets training. I am amazed at how far Bella and I have come.