Jera a Dedicated Junior Farmdog Trainer

By Helene R. Petersen

Jera has been very dedicated to the training of Daphne. Even before he got Daphne, we talked about dog training. Jera and his Mother read books together about dog training. I.e. they read the book "Before and After Getting Your Puppy" by Ian Dunbar.

Jera and Kikka became such good friends right from the start; he was able to practice dog training with her, even before they got Daphne. We practiced the timing of praise, and when to give treats. Jera also helped me handle Kikka in a class in our training center one time. She was very responsive to him, and it was really impressive when she did a perfect re-call for him on his first "Kikka come" command.

When Jera got Daphne, he had already been to the dog training center, where he was going to take Daphne to puppy classes, and met with the trainer, Julie.  Jera and I were in the same puppy class, because I took Sussi at the same time. Jera did a really good job, and Daphne graduated her puppy class with honors. After the puppy classes were over, the two of them completed yet another set of more advanced classes, bringing them to intermediate obedience level.

The way Jera has learned from books, and in the training center to work with Daphne is with the techniques of positive re-enforcement and motivation, using treats, play with toys and praise for a job well done.  Jera takes the training very seriously, and even though it can be frustrating sometimes, and takes a lot of patience to get the response he is looking for, he is very patient with Daphne, and persistent about his goals. Daphne is very attentive to Jera, because she likes to learn from him, and wants to be a good girl, and because they are such close friends. I am so proud of all the work Jera has done with Daphne.

Jera and Daphne are really great together, and are a very popular duo at Canine Learning Center in Ft. Collins. I am looking forward to seeing the latest trick he has taught Daphne, which is to keep a balloon in the air.

Read more about Jera and Daphne in the Featured Farmdog Section...