Horse Show Dogs Get a Little Training of Their Own From Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan

As illustrated by a past EC.com poll, “What’s the favorite dog breed of horse owners?,” our equine companions aren’t the only four-legged furry creatures that can be seen around the ring at horse shows.

Although the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Jack Russell Terrier, and Australian Shepherd rank among the most popular, the horse show dog is essentially a breed of its own. This great melting pot of mutts consists of all types and sizes ranging from the exotic Chinese Crested and spunky Pomeranian to the loyal Golden Retriever and valiant Great Dane.

While many of us have no trouble training a horse to pivot on one foot, complete a flying lead change, or jump a oxer, teaching a puppy not to destroy the interior of our living quarters trailer can prove to be infinitely more challenging. At every horse show, there’s bound to be one rogue canine streaker, who feels the competition isn’t nearly as important as we do and makes his feelings known as he interrupts a trail class or adds a bit of excitement to a horsemanship pattern.

As parents to three Boxers, all under the age of five, AQHA amateur Tiina Volmer and Tim “The Trail Man” Kimura were literally at their wits’ end trying to make their rambunctious crew behave as well as their World Champion horses. Hope came in the form of internationally-renown “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan.

But first, Volmer would like for you to meet her canine children, Coco Chanel, Gucci, and Bobbi Brown.

Caption: The Volmer/Kimura kids. Photo courtesy of Tiina Volmer.

“Coco Chanel is a 5-year-old, brindle, female Boxer,” Volmer says. “We rescued her from the Red Dirt Boxer Rescue in Oklahoma a couple of years ago when our old boxer, Oscar, passed away. Coco is very sweet, nurturing, and just wants to do the right thing. She does not cause any trouble.”

“Gucci is a 3.5-year-old, fawn and white, female boxer. We were given Gucci by a family in Mississippi who did not have the time to look after her. She is very shy, but when she determines you are a good person, she will be your best friend.”

When Gucci was a young pup, she committed the typical puppy chewing offenses. A very tragic moment for the family occurred when Gucci and Coco tore up the couch and mutilated poor Laker Monkey, Tim’s trusty stuffed animal sidekick.

 

Caption: Tim Kimura and Laker Monkey on their worldwide travels. Photo courtesy of Tim Kimura.

“That was the first and last night the girls spent in the barn,” she says. “Laker Monkey went to surgery and came out close to perfect thanks to our friends at Baylor Plano. I’m an operating room nurse at Baylor Plano.”

The newest addition to Volmerville, and the reason why Volmer and Kimura attended a recent Dallas-based seminar by Cesar Millan, is the one and only Bobbi Brown.

“In February, on a Monday night, I was contacted by a friend informing me of a Boxer that was going to be euthanized at a shelter in Arlington, Texas,” she says. “Tim and I arrived one hour before Bobbi Brown was going to the chair. He was my Valentine’s Day gift from Tim. He is approximately 1.5-2 years old. He is the happiest, friendliest, and most energetic puppy, but he has separation anxiety and we found out the hard way.”

Caption: It wasn’t me… Photo courtesy of Tiina Volmer.

“Bobbi went with Tim and I to the March To The Arch horse show. He tore up the mattress, blinds, and shelves in the living quarters and anything else that was in the trailer and not behind closed doors. When we came home, he tore up my brand new, king-size mattress and ate the back seat of my sister’s truck. He would chew through his muzzle, eat through his crates, and crawl over a five-foot dog yard fence. We didn’t know what to do, but we were super excited when Cesar came to town.”

Caption: Kimura and kids have a doggy barbeque. Photo courtesy of Tiina Volmer.

One of the most important lessons Volmer learned during Cesar’s seminar is the need to understand the canine language. If you’ve ever watched the hit tv show on National Geographic Wild, Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan, you might be familiar with the principle of developing a “Pack Leader” mentality.

“Cesar says we treat our dogs like kids and not like dogs,” she says. “We need to understand the canine language. Cesar says the three most important aspects of training your dog are exercise, discipline, and affection. Isn’t that the way we treat our horses?”

Now, Volmer, Bobbi, Coco, and Gucci go on a pack run three times a week. Bobbi is allowed to run and play on two acres with plenty of dog toys, as long as he is supervised. When the couple is away at work, Bobbi stays in his heavy duty dog house with welded reinforcements. The family also has a doggy sitter, who comes to the house to let the pack out to play during the day.

“Before the dogs are let outside to play they must sit calmly at the door,” she says. “Once we had a better understanding of how dogs interact and think, thanks to Cesar, Bobbi Brown is on the road to a happy, healthy, and non destructive life.”

Caption: As her Cesar Millan t-shirt proudly states, Volmer is now the leader of her pack. Photo courtesy of Tiina Volmer.