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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2015)
LIFESTYLES Autumn upon Eagle Creek/10C Theatre opens with comedy/3C WEEKEND, NOVEMBER 7-8, 2015 Thanksgiving cheat sheet/4C Staff photo by E.J. Harris Group leader Julie Wunderlich shows Coalton Herrera, 10, how to train his seven-month-old miniature heeler, Angus, to lay down recently during a meeting of the Round-Up City Barkers 4-H group in Pendleton. A TIME OF HEELING Kids trained to keep dogs in line While little could be heard except the sound of padded paws on hardwood and the gentle admonishments from young dog owners, a Given that it was brimming with untrained four-year-old dog named Kiah would occa- dogs, the banquet hall at the Episcopal Church sionally break the quiet with barks directed at of the Redeemer in Pendleton was surprisingly her classmates. When the barking failed to cease, Wunder- civil. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Before the Round-Up City Barkers 4-H Dog lich took the leash from owner Clare Durant, Clare Durant, 13, pets the head of the four-year-old border collie, Kiah, while Club started class, instructor Julie Wunderlich ¿UPO\WROG.LDQWRVWRSEHIRUHVZLWFKLQJWRQHV working on obedience training with the Round-Up City Barkers 4-H group recently had the kids and their dogs warm up by walking to praise her when she went quiet. in Pendleton. Positive reinforcement following strict in a circle. discipline became a theme for the night as of obedience like sitting, coming when called Wunderlich ran through the basics of sitting, and accepting a friendly stranger. Many club members want to start showing walking and heeling. “If they don’t get their ‘good girls,’ then it’s their dogs, but kids and parents alike were eager a bad thing,” she told the class. “Unless they’re to turn their gregarious companions into better behaving animals. boys and then they get their ‘atta boys.’” Two-year-old Tobv is one of the largest Wunderlich said the hardest part of teaching these classes was resisting the urge to take the participants in the class, but it’s hard to say the leash herself. And besides the earlier incident same for his owner, Sarah Tachalla. Her mother, Michelle, was originally with Kiah, Wunderlich stayed mostly hands-off concerned Toby would be too much for the with the canines. As a teenager and young adult, Wunderlich diminutive Sarah, but her fears haven’t materi- alized yet and she’s already seen some progress. showed dogs in obedience competitions. “We’re looking forward to having an After putting aside dog training to raise a IDPLO\VKHJRWUHLQYROYHGLQLWDIWHU+RI¿ obedient dog,” Michelle said. Throughout the beginners class, L’Rissa cials asked her to take over the Round-Up City Sohappy helps some of the younger kids with Barkers after several years without a leader. Six years later, Wunderlich said her greatest the basics. At 16 years old, Sohappy has been a satisfaction is seeing the incremental improve- ment kids make each year from sticking with member of the Barkers for years. Working with the younger children reminds her of how far the program. While one of the main goals is to have the she’s come since she started participating in kids show their dogs in obedience competi- 4-H. She recently retired her previous dog from tions, another goal is to have the dogs pass the showing and is introducing a new dog, Shy, to American Kennel Club Good Canine Citizen Staff photo by E.J. Harris obedience training. Boone, a two-year-old lab, comes to her owner Macy Rosselle, 13, while practicing test. While Shy may be new, he certainly doesn’t The exam measures dogs on various tenets long recalls. look it. During the expert portion of the class, Wunderlich tries her best to distract Shy, rolling around a toy duck and waving a plastic bag. Shy barely budges, which is a victory for the dog and his owner. Running the Barkers isn’t always easy. After the Pendleton School District started renovating its facilities as a part of its bond project, Wunderlich was forced to move the Barkers to the smaller banquet hall at the Church of the Redeemer. Without a consistent source of income, Wunderlich is also in constant fundraising mode so that club members have the right leashes and collars to train with. But when dogs from the Barkers score better at obedience competitions or on the canine citizen test, Wunderlich said it makes it worth all the effort. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Staff photo by E.J. Harris ——— Asia Tachella, 12, scratches the belly of her four-month-old Callie, 3, a border collie-Walker hound mix, stares up at her Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastore- Brittany spaniel, Nyxie, during obedience training. owner Parker Feller, 10. gonian.com or 541-966-0836. By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian