Rachel Morgan moved from Oregon to Cedar Pass Ranch in 2009. Rachel, who is 13, bubbles with enthusiasm about many things, but she is especially enthusiastic about training dogs. After training Berkeley, their family’s golden retriever, she decided she wanted more of a dog training challenge. Her long term training goal is to get a dog and train it in agility and obedience. Rachel is strongly considering getting an Australian Shepherd. She likes shepherds because they are intelligent and athletic.
Rachel’s current canine training adventure is raising Moseley, a Golden Labrador and seeing eye dog in training. She has raised Moseley since he was 9 weeks old. Now that he is a year old, she is about to send him off to California for formal seeing eye dog training. Moseley will have to complete 10 phases of training before he is ready to work with the blind. Not all dogs that start out in the seeing eye dog program end up working with the blind due to their disposition. Some have what Rachel calls a “career change” where they are put to work that is more suitable for them such as a search and rescue dog, companion to a diabetic (they sniff low blood sugar and alert companion) handicap child companion, or pet.
Rachel has taught Moseley to follow all the basic commands and to walk well on a leash. In preparation for his work, he must learn to sit long periods of time, stand while his vest is put on, and not become distracted by people or things happening around him. Moseley has accompanied Rachel to school and many activities in order to lean these skills.
When asked how Rachel feels about raising a seeing eye dog for the blind she replied “You pay for the dog’s food and toys. You also spend your time training the dog. It’s a service to the blind.” When asked how she will feel to give this dog up “I think it’s very difficult for some people. I have bonded to Moseley and I really like him, but … I have always been in the mentality that he was not going to be mine.”
Below are some of Rachael’s dog training tips.
- Research dogs breeds and know their characteristics and make sure you can deal with their needs before you get them.
- Be in charge- show them who’s boss
- Spend time with them
- Start while they are puppies and keep training and reinforce until they have it
- Use positive reinforcements. Dogs love treats and will respond well to them.
Rachel is not only a talented dog trainer; she has a wonderful singing voice and plays the piano. She is the daughter of Bill and Beverly Morgan. She is the youngest of 5 children.
