The Rescue Train’s
Unique Trained For Life Program

We believe that no dog should face euthanasia at a city shelter because of lack of basic obedience training!

DOGS HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEARN AND CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR!

Our Unique Program: We have learned a lot during the past six years of rescuing dogs from living on the streets and from our city shelters. We see the same scenarios over and over which sadly end with dogs that are being euthanized because of lack of dog training: 

a) Owners often surrender their dogs to the shelters because of lack of obedience training. Examples: Housebreaking, barking, jumping on people and children, chewing, separation anxiety, digging etc.

b) A dog that has spent their life on the street won't be adopted at the city shelter because they appear wild. If they are lucky enough to get out, transitioning a dog off the street into living in a home can be a challenge for the average pet owner and they end up right back at the pound.
Even with all the hard work and good intention of rescue groups, many of these of dogs are adopted only to be returned in a week or two for bad behavior and then end up sitting in a cage for months or even years because they are hard to adopt.
 
IN THESE CASES TRAINING THESE DOGS IS LITERALLY SAVING THEIR LIVES!
 
Since the Rescue Train takes on many of these of cases we started to do some of the training ourselves with dog trainer Julie Iles. When we saw the results we knew were on to something. It has been astonishing! Even the most unruly of dogs come out of the program well trained dogs. Dog training has completely changed the face of our rescue.
 
We have had a one hundred percent success rate from this program. As the director of this organization one of my favorite things is to watch a dog go into the program and come out a completely different dog. The confidence they gain is amazing and the transformation is unbelievable.

Types of Training:
We are one of the few rescue groups that spend the time; energy and money to obedience train the majority of our dogs. Depending on a dog's needs, the dog either goes through a six-week group class or an intensive three-week boot camp. During this time we get to learn a lot about the dog and what kind of home would be best suited for the animal.

Our philosophy is we would rather invest the money into a dog's training, so we can get him in to a home, than spend the money on months of boarding and having the dog sit in a cage hoping to get lucky.

Truths about dog Training:
Truth #1: Many beautiful dogs are turned into our shelters and face death because of lack of obedience training. 

Truth #2: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A DOG WHISPERER to train a dog. Dog training is easy with commitment and consistency. Once the basics are done working with your dog just 15 minutes a day will make all the difference.

Truth #3: Dogs want to please us and it's our job to show them what we want from them and how we'd like them to behave in our world.

Truth #4: If you spend the time to do basic training with your new pet in the beginning you will have a great dog for the rest of your life! 

Truth #5: You and your dog will form a deep bond through training.

Truth #6: Your friends and family will be at ease around your well-trained pet not to mention IMPRESSED!

Truth #7: Dog training is FUN!

Why do we do this? 
We have seen the results of training and how much a dog can learn! WE ARE BELIEVERS! We want to set our dogs up for successful adoptions. By teaching them and teaching you we are training a dog for life. Even dogs we have deemed as “difficult placements” have gone to loving homes as the result of this training. As a pet owner we will teach you how to make the transition of bringing a rescue dog into your home a smooth one. The Rescue Train team and our trainers are always on call to offer you support . 

If you adopt a dog from our Trained for Life Program you get a free hour private with our dog trainer:  Our final job is to teach you as the owner what commands the dog has learned and how to communicate with him or her. It will give you the confidence you need to bring your new pet home and know how to set things up for success. You can have the dog you've always dreamed of!

What we look for in a person or family adopting a dog from this program:  As you can see we put a lot into our rescues.  We have done a lot of the work for you by teaching these dogs the basics.  We love each and every one of them. We look for individual or families open to the training process and will continue down this path. 

Our trainer Julie Iles teaches both private and group classes open to the public. If you and your pet need training we highly recommend you call her!

Julie Iles @ www.lockwoodcanine.com  or call her @ : (818) 585-3237 or (661)245-3974

TESTIMONIALS

Nicole & Sugar

When I first saw Sugar the furthest thing from my mind was that I had to obedience train this dog.  I just fell in love with her face and her sweetness. 

Upon getting more involved with The Rescue Train's adoption process I learned that she was already trained.  In addition upon adoption my boyfriend and I would get an hour training session with Sugar so that we can reinforce what she already knows.  I have never heard of such a thing, but I thought to myself what a great idea (plus less work for me!) 

Well, I have to say to have a dog already house broken and trained has been a life savor for my boyfriend, our dog Sugar, and I.  During the first few months it had allowed Andrew and I to get to know Sugar and for Sugar to trust us.  I truly believe that the training allowed Sugar to become more relaxed and at ease when she was in unfamiliar and often new situation.  As time goes by she still listens to the commands that she was taught (and that we were taught to use with her) and she has great ground work if we want to go further with more training.  I am not sure I would go any other way when I rescue my next dog, in fact when people see how well Sugar obeys us and how well trained she is I do nothing but praise the efforts of the Rescue Train for taking the time to train the dog before she came to us. 

Thank you, The Rescue Train.  It is a great program!

Nicole & Sugar

Dollie & Scout

Scout is a very loving, affectionate big baby of a dog and I can’t start to tell you how well behave he is, thanks to the dedication of Lisa and her group.  Adopting a dog that has gone through training has helped Scout adjust to his new life with us, and vice versa.  He quickly got the reputation of the “most behaved (and handsome) dog in the neighborhood”.  Everybody loves him and our neighbors may not know our name, but they sure know Scout’s name!  Having been through the basic obedience training, Scout was very receptive to more advanced training.  Let us share with you a few of his more advanced learned routines that he picked up so quickly, beyond the basic obedience training ---

• he doesn’t get out of bed and bother us until he’s released
• he picks up the newspaper for us in the morning
• he picks up his own leash in preparation for a walk
• he picks up all his toys and puts them his toy box
• he has not touched any shoe, sock, couch or anything else in the house except for his toys
• he will not touch food that he’s not allowed to eat, even if it’s within his reach like a coffee table; even his own food, he will not eat until he’s been given the OK to do so
• he comes on command / he goes away on command
• his current vocabulary includes:  OK, NO, DOWN, SIT, STAY, STOP, HEEL, COME, WAIT, UP, OFF, JUMP, HOLD, BACK, WATCH IT, LEAVE IT, GO GET IT … (your toy, your leash, DON (my husband) , etc., COME BRING IT, GO TO YOUR MAT, GO TO YOUR BED, UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, SIT UP (BEG), FIX (fixing his leash so that he’s not straddling it).  He also knows all the negation – NO JUMP, NO BEG, NO PULL, etc.
• And of course, he’s house- and crate-trained

He is so well adjusted he is good with kids and other dogs, in fact he is most patient with the little ones.   Taking him on vacation and long trips has not been a problem.  And when we can’t take him with us, finding a sitter has not been a problem either – everybody enjoys Scout.

Impressed?  So are we.  And we truly believe that it wouldn’t have been this successful, that Scout wouldn’t have been this easy to train if it weren’t for The Rescue Train and their wonderful program for rescued animals.

Thanks Lisa!  Thanks Rescue Train!

Dollie & Scout