Behavior Training Spotlight: Leah and Barley

Five years ago, Barley, a flatcoat retriever, was just a year old when she was surrendered by her owners to the Kentucky Humane Society for being "too boisterous." Fortunately, Leah Dienes had the patience and devotion to help Barley overcome her behavioral issues.

"Barley was quite the wild dog when I adopted her," said Leah. "She destroyed everything from shoes to clothes to the seatbelts in my car. My wardrobe was way out-of-date and my best friend told me how thankful she was for Barley forcing me to update my clothes!"

From the time she was adopted, Leah and Barley have taken Behavior Training classes at KHS. "I knew Barley was a smart dog and I needed to try and keep ahead of her and help her to become a good girl," said Leah. "The training was as much for me as it was for her."

The two started with Basic Obedience class, then onto Manners for Life, Manners II Outdoors, Tricks-for-Treats, Beginning Agility, Intermediate Agility, Rally Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, Tracking, Agility Games, Control Unleashed and How to Teach Your Dog Anything. Recently, Leah and Barley competed in Rally and received their first qualifying leg. So what's next for the pair?

"We'll keeping taking classes and trying new things," said Leah. "Barley is a dog who needs to keep busy and I think keeping her in classes is fun for her. It also helps me to be a better dog trainer and communicate with herLeah."

Leah definitely recommends Behavior Training classes, even if your dog doesn't necessarily have apparent behavioral issues. "I tell people all the time that they should give Agility or Rally a try," says Leah. "Only good things can come from taking a class: connecting with your dog, good exercise, makes you both use your brains and most of all, fun!"