A2
Hood River News, Saturday, July 18, 2015
M ATT
Continued from Page A1
page, have proven highly
successful. F rom puppy
training to dealing with ag-
gressive dogs, Luchsinger
states on NW Balanced Dog
Training’s website: “There’s
no dog that we can’t handle,”
but reminds owners that,
“…it’s up to you to make the
change!”
Luchsinger hasn’t been a
full-time dog trainer for long,
but he’s owned and been
around since he was a kid
growing up in the hilly re-
gion of Central New York.
His wife, Sarah Breeze, also
works with animals as a cer-
tified vet technician at the
All Animal Care Clinic in
Hood River and the Tanas-
bourne Veterinary Emer-
gency clinic in Beaverton.
“I grew up on a large farm
in Tully, (N.Y.) so we always
had a dog, if not two, and
horses and cows, so I kind of
grew up with them,” he says.
After graduating Tully
High School in 2003,
Luchsinger moved out to
Hood River to ski, although
he grew up playing lacrosse
and passed up opportunities
to play at the collegiate level.
Lacrosse, he notes, is a
lifestyle back east, where
“kids are literally raised
with a stick in their hand.”
(Side note: while dog train-
ing is his full-time job,
Luchsinger also serves as the
head coach for the Hood
River Valley High School
boys lacrosse team, who saw
success this year with the
team’s first-ever Cascade
Cup championship win.)
Luchsinger spent his time
skiing and working at vari-
ous board shops around
town such as Second Wind
and Big Winds. His path to
dog training began, however,
in 2010, when he went to the
Hukari Animal Shelter and
adopted Buck, a 7-month-old
pit bull/American bulldog
mix.
“I started getting into
training with him right away
because I wanted him to be a
good ambassador for the
breed and I knew with that
breed being so powerful that
I had to train him,” he says.
But Luchsinger needed
help, as he says Buck
“missed a prime age in his
socialization,” and had is-
sues with aggression and
getting along with other
do gs. Luchsing er went
through multiple trainers
and while their instruction
helped some, Luchsinger felt
L ILA
Continued from Page A1
p.m. and running until 8 p.m.
The Halls are planning a
party that will be part birth-
day, part prom, part Cin-
derella ball, part wedding
day
People are encouraged to
show up in ball gowns and
formal wear. Lila wants this
to be the best princess ball
ever,” Lorenzen said. (Kids
must be present with a par-
ent.)
Lila will arrive in a horse
and carriage and walk down
a red carpet.
“It will be an event not to
miss with food, games, real
princesses, music, dancing,
photo booths and more,” said
family friend Jenny Loren-
zen, who is organizing the
party.
Third Street (between
he “never got the results I
wanted,” and didn’t agree
with their methods. Instead,
Luchsinger did his own re-
search, reviewing trainers
from all different parts of
the country, found trainers
he liked, and took classes
from them to help learn how
to train Buck.
For Luchsinger, he felt the
problem was the improper
focus on treats.
“A lot of trainers, they
want to use treats to get the
dogs really excited and away
from the situation, where I
focus on a state of mind,” he
explains. “Especially when a
dog is aggressive or dog-reac-
tive, we want to get that dog
to get calmed down, we don’t
want to get that dog jacked
up. I felt like a lot of the
training was, ‘Oh, we have to
give them treats! Give them
treats! Give them treats!’
And what I found was that
every time we were doing
that, we were rewarding a
bad behavior, even if that
dog turned away from that
other dog, we’re still reward-
ing that state of mind where
they’re excited and adrenal-
ized, where I wanted him to
be calm and relaxed.”
Luchsinger found success
with Buck, able to resolve or
ameliorate many of his is-
sues, and began helping
friends with their dogs as
well. Eventually, he felt like
he could train dogs full time
and “took a leap” by deciding
to open his own business,
noting that he felt like “there
were enough people who
wanted help… and there
were certainly enough dogs”
in the Gorge. The business
has grown by leaps and
bounds, with clients coming
from as far away as Eugene,
he says.
Luchsinger employs a va-
riety of methods to train his
animals — far too many to go
into here — but notes that
you “have to find what moti-
vates the dog to be success-
ful,” whether its toys or food
or something else. He only
has to teach a few styles of
commands (down, sit, place,
recall) and stresses the im-
portance of leaving emotion
out of training, noting that a
“calm dog is a great dog.”
When teaching a new com-
mand, Luchsinger says he
doesn’t use his voice at all,
but rather body language or
pressure, appealing to dogs’
natural communication
methods. When a dog begins
to lear n a command,
Luchsinger will then gradu-
ally add more and more dis-
tractions, simulating real-
world scenarios, and teach-
ing the dog to stay calm
F AIR
Continued from Page A1
Photo by Ben Mitchell
DOGPILE: Three of Matt
Luchsinger’s students play to-
gether at the conclusion of a
training session. From bottom to
top are Daisy, a 15-week-old
bloodhound, Jack, a 15-week-
old Australian shepherd, and
Capone, a year-and-a-half-old
Belgian Malinois.
amidst chaos. Oftentimes,
you can see Luchsinger
around town, doing his train-
ing right in public areas so
that the dogs can get used to
the distractions.
Most of his classes are
boot-camp style, where the
live
with
animals
Luchsinger 24/7 from any-
where from two weeks to five
weeks if it’s a special case.
And when the dog is reunit-
ed with its owner (after the
owner gets some instruction
from Luchsinger as well),
and both animal and human
are able to have a happy life
to g ether…
well,
for
Luchsinger, it doesn’t get
much better than that.
“Being able to transform
their dog from wanting to
take off and run away ner-
vous, fearful, to walking
great on a leash and improv-
ing not just the dog’s life, but
the human’s life — the re-
ward out of that is just amaz-
ing,” he says. “It’s an awe-
some, awesome feeling.”
Check out videos of
Luchsinger’s training in ac-
tion on NW Balanced Dog
Training’s Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/nwdogtr
aining.
HOOD RIVER NEWS (ISSN 07465823) is
published twice weekly, every Wednesday
and Saturday. Subscription rates: $42 per
year prepaid ($36 for senior citizens, 65 and
over) in Hood River County and western
Wasco County, Oregon; and Klickitat and
Skamania counties,Washington. Elsewhere,
$68 prepaid per year. Known office of pub-
lication, 419 State Ave., Hood River, OR
97031-2031. Periodicals postage paid at
Hood River, Oregon. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to HOOD RIVER NEWS,
P.O. Box 390, Hood River, OR 97031-0103.
night the 2043th Army Band
will perform.
For full schedule details,
the best resource is the Fair
Book, available at businesses
throughout the Gorge.
Also new this year: not one
but two golf carts to trans-
port those who need mobility
assistance. Griffith Motors
and Les Schwab Tires donat-
ed the vehicles to the Fair,
and they will make the
rounds between the fair of-
fice and parking and animal
barns and other far-flung
areas of the fair.
New to the fair is the first
50 Plus Expo on July 23.an
opportunity to learn about a
variety of services and pro-
grams for older adults in the
Gorge. Thursday is Senior
Citizens’ Day – seniors pay $5
to get in.
Expo vendors and partici-
pants will include massage
and acupuncture services,
senior and assistand living
centers,
home
care
providers, health and reha-
bilitation services, exercise
and recreation outlets, real-
tors, dentists, and more.
Columbia Cascade Hous-
ing Coproration is working
with Mid-Columbia Se nior
Cetner, Falstone Living, and
Mid-Columbia Medical
Cetner to put on the event.
OregonState University
Extension, Providence Hop-
sice of the Gorge, Mid Co-
lumbia Fire and Rescue and
Hood River Fire Department,
and the Veterans Services of-
fices of Hood River and
Wasco counties will be on
hand.
Learn about housing, life
planning, weight control,
services for disabled adults,
health diagnoses, caregiver
stress and other topics sur-
rounding aging.
■
Regular general admis-
sion prices to the fair are $7
per adult Wednesday, Thurs-
day and Friday, and $10 on
Saturday. Admission for chil-
dren aged 6-12 is $2. Children
under 6 admitted free. Sea-
son tickets are available ($24
adults, $5 ages 6-12 inclu-
sive).
The fair opens each day at
noon; carnival rides begin at
1 p.m. Check the schedule, as
FFA and 4-H events begin
earlier. Many favorite dis-
plays have moved to the blue
gym this year from the gold.
Musical performances are
free with paid admission.
Friday evening, beginning
at 4:30 p.m., is the 4-H/FFA
Livestock Auction in the live-
stock arena — the all-impor-
tant culmination of a year’s
work for the 4-H and FFA
livestock exhibitors. Check
the schedule for all the 4-H
and FFA competitions and
activities.
Country music star trio
Gloriana performs Saturday
evening, July 25. Hood
River’s Ben Bonham will
open.
Musical entertainment be-
gins Wednesday evening on
the park stage at 8 p.m., with
a Patsy Cline impersonator.
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the
204th Army Band performs
on the main stage. On Friday,
it’s a full evening of Hispan-
ic music on the main stage,
with Oregon bands playing
from 7-9 p.m., and Califor-
nia’s Banda La Movida be-
ginning at 9 p.m. Hood River
Supply, Juanita’s Fine Foods,
and Hood River Taqueria are
sponsors.
Gloriana debuted at No. 2
on the Billboard Country Al-
bums chart, becoming the
best-selling debut country
act of 2009. They performed
as Taylor Swift’s opening act
during her Fearless Tour,
and have also opened for
Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson,
Brooks & Dunn, and the Zac
Brown Band. Awards have
continued to be come to the
group, and in June 2015 they
released their latest album —
Gloriana THREE —which
bolsters their signature har-
monies with new musical
styles. Brothers Tom and
Mike Gossen and Rachel
Reinert make up the trio.
Also free with fair admis-
sion are many other great at-
tractions — many found in
Entry schedule for Adult
baked goods, clothing food
preservation, fruits and
vegetables, textiles and
youth baked goods
(in Community Building) —
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday
and 8 to 10:30 a.m.
on Tuesday.
For Commercial exhibits, art,
hobbies and handicrafts,
photography and ceramics
(Blue Gym) — 11 a.m. to
7 p.m. Monday and
8 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Open Class exhibits judging
will be Tuesday from 1-7 p.m.
and for Flowers, Wednesday
noon to 4:30 p.m.
the park area, or around the
fairgrounds. Kidz Dental is
sponsoring many of the park
activities.
In the park, the “Walk on
the Wild Side” exotic animal
show displays a wide range
of exotic animals and rep-
tiles in a jungle atmosphere,
and Godfrey the Magician
serves up award-winning
comedy and levitation tricks.
Professor Bamboozle’s Road
Show brings laughs and fun
— and balloons — to the park
and fairgrounds. And look
for Dr. Solar’s Good Time,
Traveling Medicine Show’s
unique magical and educa-
tional family-friendly enter-
tainment.
“Wool Busting!” is back.
Kids up to 55 pounds and
younger than 12 can try their
hand at riding sheep. It’s a
start for the next generation
of rodeo stars. Shows daily!
There’s fun for bigger kids,
too, including the Buck-A-
Ewe mechanical sheep, and
“Just for Fun” Roping Clin-
ics. Kids can also enjoy more
sedate pony rides in the
park.
$ONT GET 4!+%.
Moe Dixon
RETURNS!
#ALL *EFF FOR HIS VERY
PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS
July 8 th , 15 th ,
22 nd , 29 th
6:00 pm
(OME 0URCHASES s 2ElNANCES s %QUITY ,INES
JEFF SACRE
3R -ORTGAGE 3PECIALIST
NMLS-140302, MLO-140302
/FFICE
(541)
#ELL
$25 Buffet & Concert
on the Patio
541-386-3940
Stonehedge Gardens
State and Oak) will be closed
off for food, games, and
more.
People are welcome to
bring gifts, although gift
cards are a highly recom-
mended idea. A donation jar
will be available as well.
Blake Hall, Lila’s stepfa-
ther, said his friends and fel-
low Marines made her an
honorary Marine. “She’s so
proud of that,” he said in a
segment aired on KOIN-TV
this week.
“We want to make number
5 her wedding, her prom, her
Prince Char ming, every-
thing she won’t get,” Heidi
told KOIN.
SCHEDULE DETAILS
For additional information
about the Hood River County
Fair, call the fair office at
541/354-2865, or check the
website at hoodriverfair.org.
This is not a committment to lend. Information deemed reliable but subject
to change without notice. Consumer Loan License NMLS-3240, CL-3240
Wild Columbia Salmon
FRESH SALMON CAUGHT DAILY
King Salmon
Whole
Steelhead
or
Blue Black
Fillet
Sockeye
NEW CEDAR SMOKER
“FREE”
Alder
Samples
Smoked
■
If you cannot make the
party you may send cards:
Lila May, PO Box 125, Hood
River, OR 97031
Parking will be available
at Hood River News, located
three blocks away at 6th and
State streets.
108 Hwy 35, Hood River Next to
Lampoei’s in Windance parking lot.
Spring Hours Daily 9am-7pm
509-961-3260 We accept VISA & MC
APPLE VALLEY BBQ
HOOD RIVER RESTAURANT
RIVERSIDE AT THE HOOD RIVER INN
Cherry wood smoked pulled pork, meatloaf, pork ribs, chick-
en, burgers, awesome salads & vegetarian options. Smoked
Prime Rib on Friday & Saturday night! Local draft beers, wine
and hard cider. Full service catering available! Full menu
online!
Open Wed-Sun: 11-8
4956 Baseline Dr, Parkdale
541-352-3554 • AppleValleyBBQ.com
Chinese and American dishes. Golden Rose Lounge with our
Famous Scorpion! Try our lunch specials and great dinner
combinations! Banquet facilities available.
Open Every Day: 11:30 am to 10 pm
108 Second St., Hood River;
541-386-3966 • VISA, MasterCard
Enjoy panoramic river views and casual dining from Chef
Mark DeResta’s menus featuring fresh, all-natural ingredi-
ents for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Live weekend enter-
tainment and happiest hours in town, Mon. - Fri., 4-6pm at
Cebu Lounge.
BEST WESTERN PLUS Hood River Inn
1108 E. Marina Way, Hood River
541-386-4410
Open every day 6 am to 9 pm
GRACE SU’S
CHINA GORGE RESTAURANT
HOOD RIVER TAQUERIA
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
VINTAGE GRILLE
Serving the best Szechuan and Hunan Chinese food in the
Gorge. Healthy dining. All food prepared fresh, no MSG
added. Lunch and dinner. Dine in or take out. Beautiful view
& convenient parking.
2680 Old Columbia River Dr, Hood River
541-386-5331
Featuring fine authentic Mexican food and cocktails.
Spacious outdoor seating.
Open seven days a week:
Sun. - Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
Fri. - Sat. 9:30 am to 11 pm
1210 13th St., on the Heights, Hood River
541-387-3300
Combining Southern soul food and Northwest cuisine.
Whether it is craw-fish etouffee or fresh local salmon, it will
not disappoint. With a great martini bar and some of the
best bread pudding in Hood River, we are quickly becoming
‘the place to go in the gorge.’
Open 11:30-9 pm Sun. & Tue.- Thurs
11:30-10 pm Fri. & Sat.
102 Oak St., Hood River, inside the Hood River Hotel
541-288-8264