What would you do if you had the opportunity to learn from someone who you admire and respected? Would you daydream about it? Begin to visualize what that experience would be like? Start seeing more possibilities for your future?
Those were my responses when I read about Cesar Millan's Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training. My next reaction was that it must be outrageously expensive to be able to work with "The Dog Whisperer". But how do you put a price on being able to realize a dream, to make those dreams become a reality. So the registration form was filled out and submitted. Then the wait to see if I was accepted. Fortunately the wait not too long and I had the response - I was accepted and my trusty friend Cooper the Golden Retriever was approved to attend the training with me! Vet appointment made to make sure Cooper was in good health and had all the required vaccines and immunizations required by the Training Center.
At last, the dates for the training arrived, the suitcase was packed, food packed, crate packed Cooper was waiting in the back of my car and we were off! 16 hours, 45 minutes and we'll be there. Heading South. To Florida. South Florida. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first 100 miles ticked off quickly, then into city traffic, traffic jams, gas stop, potty stops, Cooper stops. Get me out of this car stops, sleep stops... And finally, we arrived. Ft. Lauderdale. We got out of the car and - HOT! For November it was unseasonably hot and humid, something I am familiar with but for November, my body wasn't ready for that shock. I located our hotel, did a test drive from the hotel to the training center to get familiar with the surroundings. Too early for check in, I searched for some options of something to do that would allow Cooper some freedom. Happy Tails Dog Park was one of the dog parks that came up and was only a 10 minute drive to the park. Cooper and I headed over to the park and got out of the car. What an amazing dog park! Double gated entry to the park to keep dogs safe as they enter and exit the park. Through the entrance and look around to see one section for the small dogs and a huge section for the big dogs. Cooper (who has been often mistaken for a horse) and I headed over to the big dog park. Excited? Yeah, he was excited. After an awkward and rushed entrance, Cooper was rushed and greeted by 4 dogs. A little growl, a bark but everything quieted down and Cooper was off and running around the park and I stood grinning, watching him run off energy that was pent up from the past 2 long days of driving. Within minutes, Cooper was back with not one but 2 tennis balls he had found on his romp around the park. We played ball for a while, taking breaks and cooling off in a water fountain built just for the dogs. Cooper found a puddle and added some nice Florida sand, mud and grit to his clean coat. Cooper wanted to play more, but the heat and humidity was high and I felt it best we take a break. Leaving the first set of gates, I saw the park had a dog wash! Hoses hooked up and a place to tether the dog while you washed them off was just what I was looking for, Cooper tried to avoid this, but for once, I won and he got cleaned up. We departed the park and took a little stroll to allow him to drip dry and then back into the car to look for a pet store to buy him a couple treats and a few bones that I had forgotten to pack. With that mission accomplished, I then looked for dog friendly places where I could eat and have Cooper with me. We found one and Cooper and I sat down on the patio and waited. A server appeared, with a big bowl of water for Cooper! I was impressed that they had dog bowl and made sure the dog had fresh clean water. I was really liking the mentality of Florida and their accommodations for dogs. I ate, people came over and greeted Cooper, questioned his size and told him what a beautiful dog he was.
We drove back to the hotel, checked in and arranged for some assistance getting up to the room. This proved to be a challenge, even though I thought I had worn off some of Cooper's energy, it was quickly replenished and when other dogs and people were spotted, it was more than a challenge to keep control of him and my patience! The next challenge was getting him on the elevator. Cooper does NOT like elevators! I've learned that dogs have hightened senses than humans and all of Cooper's senses were telling him to not get in that elevator. Eventually, he did and we went up to the third floor with Cooper crouching and clinging to the floor. Off the elevator and into the room, Cooper and I set up and relaxed until I would go to the welcome reception. At the reception, we were broken into small groups 8 and were introduced to our trainer that was hand picked by Cesar Millan. We were given goodie bags which included the training materials, Cesar's latest book and a shirt that we could wear to the training. Basic ground rules were reviewed and we were asked to carpool to the training center in the morning. After socializing for a while, I left to go back to the room, take Cooper for a little walk and get a good nights rest, apprehensive and excited for what the next day would bring!