Kiwi is now 16 years old and still his mama’s favorite (don't tell the others). Affectionately identified as a Petit New Zealand Bobtail Griffon, or PNZBG, Kiwi has been clicker trained since 12 weeks of age and over the years developed an increasingly impressive repertoire of behaviors. He was DogPACT's link with the general public as he performed at many public events over the years, demonstrating the power of positive reinforcement and clicker training specifically.
Kiwi retired from the public eye in 2014 when his eyesight deteriorated due to cataracts. Although cataract surgery improved his quality of day-to-day life, he never returned to the public spotlight, instead remaining a presence on Terry's Facebook page.
Many people's favorite tricks by Kiwi were when he did “his chores,” bringing in the two daily newspapers and shutting the door behind him, and cleaning and clearing the dishes twice daily: he first licks each of the four dog bowls spotless, then brings each one to the sink. When Buster was still with us, Kiwi finished doing the dishes with the grande finale of shaking out Buster’s “tablecloth” and presenting it in exchange for “dessert.”
Kiwi also competed in agility throughout the years, slowly rising through the agility ranks after a very scary bee sting at one of his first trials. His favorite sport, however, was always Musical Freestyle. How could you not enjoy dancing and eating treats. Too bad about Mom's two left feet. :)
Pretzel is all of 10 pounds soaking wet, but a 10-pound Rat Terrier doesn't know they are so small. She's a terrier afterall.
Terry met Pretzel when she was a 4-month-old pup, driving her owners crazy with puppy nipping/mouthing, peeing all over the house, and constant motion. Terry helped her original owners solve the housetraining and nipping problems, but Pretzel’s need for mental and physical stimulation were more than they had bargained for. When Pretzel was 6 ½ months old, Terry got the call to find Pretzel a better home where she would get the attention she craved.
Terry took Pretzel in as a foster (yeah, yeah, yeah) and after an agonizing month of evaluation and consideration (and still mourning Buster’s death less than a year before), made the leap and decided to keep her. Pretzel is a real pistol and the life of the party. Smart as a whip, with endless energy and love of tug toys, Pretzel had a great agility competition career before retiring in 2014.
Terry has gone from sharing her life with Great Danes to being repeatedly surprised at how much she loves this little pipsqueak of a dog who burrows under the covers at night and is the last one up in the morning.
Cooper is a Border Collie who came into Terry's family when he was 5 months old when his previous family realized what living with a Border Collie is like. These energetic herding dogs need a job or they will make up something to stay entertained. Cooper has been the beneficiary of Terry's behavior modification expertise and, now at four years of age, doesn't chase everything that moves (joggers, bicyclists, motorcycles, skateboards, etc.). He is athletic, smart as a whip, and loves to play, play, play. His middle name is Now What?
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