What's My Why?

Awhile back, someone within the dog world, who I highly respect, asked me, "What's my why?" And I've had that circling in my head ever since. What is my why as a breeder, trainer and owner? Can I sum up my why into a string of words to express my love and reasonings behind what I do, want to do and hope to do? I'm starting to think not... But what an extraordinary question to help move some thoughts around as I continue to plug forward.

First off, I think a more formal introduction is a good start. Hello, my name is Ashley and I am Iowa's first Karen Pryor Academy graduate (as of 2012) and have been training dogs for almost two decades! Throughout that time I have served as a Pet Partner evaluator, shelter dog evaluator and advocate, lead service dog trainer, volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for The Blind, AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, Scout Master for Dog Scouts of America, mentor for Animal Behavior College and much more! Over the past few years I have been busy with family, traveling the states and, most importantly, making memories with my loved ones... Human and four-legged.

My very first well-bred dog was a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Draco. He not only introduced me to the world of canine sports, he also introduced me to some of the most amazing breeders and mentors I've ever met. Draco helped shape me into the person I am today and although he taught me a lot of tough lessons, I wouldn't be where I am or who I am without him. He sadly passed away at 5 years of age.

Bowen was his successor, a gift from Draco's breeder and my second Rhodesian Ridgeback. Bowen, oh Bowen. Where do I even begin? After all I did with Draco, from learning how to show in conformation, obedience and rally, struggling to fit in at various training clubs and exploring the world of positive training, I decided that NO ONE needed to tell me I had a good dog. I didn't have to pay ANYONE, not a single judge, to tell me that I had the greatest dog on Earth. Bowen was my rebellion; my protector from an unkind world of dog training. And Bowen fit that role well. He unfortunately passed away in 2023 at the young age of 7. It still feels raw and I tear up as I type this... Funny though, because in all those years that we played in rally, pranced through obedience and sniffed our way through all sorts of nosework games, we never once trialed in them... Until 8 months before he passed. I think he knew what was coming and that was his way of sending me off down my next path. A path full of bravery with a little black Labrador named Cascade.

So here we are. Trialing in rally, obedience, nosework and more, diving into breeding with appropriate health testing, having our very own litter of puppies... All dreams I had with my beloved hound breed but instead, here I am doing them with my little black dog of wonder; Cascade!

Why #1: Why did I begin breeding Labradors? Because good people deserve a good dog. My goal is to produce Labrador that can do anything it's owner dreams of doing with a level head, health and longevity to do so.

Why #2: Why do I train the way I do? Because our dogs deserve better. There is absolutely no reason to train with outdated, abusive and confusing methods when our dogs can learn through relationship based training and positive techniques.

As I begin to share my "why's," I hope to spark new ideas with kind training methods to strengthen your relationship with your dog just as I have with mine. Afterall, our dogs are only with us for so long... Let them shine.

Ashanti's Dragonheart CD RE CGC (Draco)

Dragonheart's Knight Of The Old Code CGCU TKI (Bowen)

NV NI NE URO3 UCD Wright's Waterfalls 'n Wildflowers CA CGC TKN FITB SPOT-ON RN (Cascade)

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