Page 52 - 2022-Spring Summer Magazine_FINAL Single_Neat

WORKING

(& PLAYING,

& TRAINING)

LIKE A DOG

DOG OWNERS LOVE TO REFER TO THEIR PET as
part of their families. It’s a charming concept—one
that could even be encouraged. Similar to raising
children however, there are a myriad of mistakes
even the most loving and well-intentioned owners
often make when welcoming their four-legged
bundles of joy. As it turns out, well behaved pups
require the same combination of consistency and
caring that babies do—and the earlier they receive
it, the better.

Despite housing upwards of 15 pooches at a time,
Rachel Williams’ home is hardly the raucous and
chaotic environment one would expect. Nearly 15
years of operating her DogSmith boarding and
training business from her Palm Beach Gardens
home has resulted in a calming, organized routine for
herself, seven trained staff members, and her charges.
Five days a week beginning at 8:00 a.m. sharp, Rachel
welcomes dogs of all ages and breeds—many of
whom she has trained since puppies. Throughout the
day, they’ll go through her regimen of enrichment,
socialization, grooming, play time, and training. This
consistency, ideally beginning as early as eight weeks
old, is imperative to achieving the behavior most
owners enjoy and expect.

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