Where it Began

I had always known that I wanted to work with animals. In 1993 I was accepted to the Veterinary Technologist program at St Lawrence College in Kingston. The summer before I left for college I was walking dogs at the Ontario Veterinary College. There was a dog there named Sadie. Sadie was a collie mix who was terrified of absolutely everything. No one could get her to go outside or anywhere for that matter. I always wondered why. I asked the technicians there if I could put Sadie on my list of dogs to walk. The lead tech laughed and agreed with a 'good luck' snickered under her breathe. I remember the first meeting with Sadie did not go well. She hid in the corner of her run and wouldn't even look my way. So I just sat there and stared at the wall. I figured even if I just spent the time with her it was better than nothing. The next day was the same, and the next. Then one day another tech walked by with another dog and I saw a slight glimmer in Sadie's eye. It soon went away as the other dog just passed by. And there is was. I needed to find Sadie a friend. I searched the other rooms until I found what I thought was the perfect match. I brought the new dog to Sadie's run and suddenly I got a wag. Just one wag but it made my heart soar. So the next few days I would enlist the help of other dogs on my walk list to get to know Sadie. It was a little crowded in that run with the 3 of us but eventually we made it to the hallway and then finally outside. The other techs were so happy to see Sadie enjoying the sunshine and so was I. By the end of summer, I was preparing to leave for college, Sadie was happily going outside for her walks, tail wagging, nose sniffing. It was going to be hard to say goodbye, but I had already taken the time to introduce her to her new dog walker Kelly and she was doing just fine. The day I left the lead technician pulled me aside and talked about how impressed she was that Sadie was doing so well. They were considering euthanizing her as she was not coping well but now she was full of life and she has me to thank for that. I was flattered of course but the true hero was the other dogs I used to help me bring her out of her shell. It was at that moment I realized how powerfully healing dogs are not only to humans but to other dogs as well. This knowledge would later help me when I started rescuing dogs and rehabilitating in my home, with the help of my other dogs that is. But it all started with a little dog named Sadie.

Welcome To Beyond Obedience.... Introduction

My name is Tracy Franken.... and for as long as I can remember, I have had dogs in my life. Growing up I was always told I had "a way" with dogs. I never really truly understood why. But my dogs did "get " me and I "got " them. We had incredible relationships. But if someone asked why or how.... the answer was always "I dunno, they just like me". My interested peaked in highschool when I began studing canine behaviour. I read book after book on behaviour and training. How the dog mind works, why they do the things they do. I was facinated. I continued my studies into college where I took the veterinary technology course, in Kingston Ontario. After college I continued on... taking canine aggression seminars put on by PABA, TTouch seminars for canines, taking obedience course after course. It was also at that time I received a phone call about an abused bullmastiff and asked if I could take him in. I of course said yes and this began a journey of rescue and rehabilitation for dogs in my home in downtown Guelph. I took in abused dogs and dogs from research facilities worked with them and when they were ready, adopted them out. At any given time I had on average 7-8 dogs living with me in my 800 square ft home. It was quite the pack, and always changing.
After the birth of my first child we relocated to the Ottawa Valley. We bought a horse farm and started a horse boarding facility. I started working with horses, which lead me on a the path of natural horsemanship.Through that I had my 'AHA' moment. There it was. Parelli's "Love, Language and Leadership." I took to it like a duck in water. Shortly after I went to work part time at a dog kennel in Dunrobin and re-realized my passion for dogs. I completed a professional pet grooming course and started grooming dogs. I realized my skill and way with dogs would help those dogs who don't enjoy and tolerate the grooming procedure. It was at this time and through talking with owners I could see, the love people have for their dogs but yet, most still had some complaint about their dogs behaviour. Jumping up, barking, pulling on the leash. So it got me thinking Perhaps the idea of Love, Language and Leadership but on a canine level... with one exception: ORDER CHANGE : LEADERSHIP,LANGUAGE AND LOVE. I can help people with problems they have with their dogs. Help owners to better understand their dogs. To achieve a relationship with their dogs that is beyond the normal expectations...a relationship beyond obedience.