Caledonia Argus

New dog training facility turns pets into pals

Posted: 7/29/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Marcie Jenson has always loved animals. To share that love with others, she founded K-9 Xpres Dog Training in rural Hokah this past June.

A certified dog trainer, Jenson has been teaching the fundamentals for 10 years, and her experience with animals started in childhood. ìAs a kid, my mom used to get so mad at me, because Iíd bring every stray animal home,î Jenson said.

K-9 Xpres aims to make better housemates of dogs by teaching them basic commands, and by teaching owners how to handle their petsí behavioral problems. Jensonís approach to teaching, she said, is similiar to an approach used in child rearing.

ìI always teach by rewarding good behavior, not by punishing bad behavior,î she said. ìAnd almost any problem that anybody has with their dog, I can take care of that problem.î

The result of the training, she added, makes for better pets and better owners. The basic commands are the cornerstone of this process. ìA lot of people get puppies,î she noted, ìbut three months later itís outside on a chain because it chewed up momís favorite dress. Wouldnít it be great to have a great canine friend in your house, rather than have it on a chain outside?

ìPeople that get an animal, they need to be able to live with that animal. We need to be able to let the dog know what we expect, and then itíll do it. If we donít have clear commands, the dogís going to be confused.î

Classes are held once a week for eight weeks. While Jenson sets no limit on the number of classes sheíll teach, she has limited the number of dogs in each class, so as to ensure that each canine receives the proper amount of individualized attention.

The individualized attention, she explained, is conducive to the goal of turning an animal into a housemate. What also helps in this process, she said, is socialization of the pet. Getting the dogs in public. Letting the dogs interact with each other. Teaching them manners. To this end, Jenson started an open dog park at her rural Hokah residence, held 1-5 p.m. each Sunday.

Jensonís passion for animals extends beyond K-9 Xpres. She has six dogs of her own. Sheís worked with the Humane Society, and sheís been a manager and dog trainer at PetCo. Sheís also involved in Root River Rescue, a new non-profit organization in Houston County that plans to offer educational programs, therapy dog visits for senior citizens, and home placement assistance for stray animals.

Running a dog training facility, helping to organize Root River Rescue, and caring for half a dozen dogs of her own seems like it might be overwhelming. But this, Jenson pointed out, is not the case. What drives her to care for animals is the same force that prompted her to bring home stray dogs as a child.

ìIíve just always been an animal person,î she said, ìand Iíve always loved it.î

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