Gabriel the Great Pyrenees Goes to Gonzales Grade School

On Wednesday April 28th, Gabriel, my totally gregarious Great Pyrenees escorted me to Gonzales Community School in the heart of Santa Fe, for this grade's school annual Careers and Curiosity program. As the clock struck Nine AM Gabriel and I were in the throws of presenting ourselves. Every half hour a new grade would appear. We started with Kindergartners who swarmed like a school of fish around Gabriel grasping at his fur and asking countless questions and moved on to the 5th graders one time period at a time.

The calvalcade of questions came like this: Did I like being a dog trainer? what kind of Dog was Gabriel? How Old was Gabriel? How much does he weigh? After the initial introduction, I called to the group to form a circle around Gabriel and myself. I demonstrated Gabriel's training acumen. "Sit" I called Gabriel happily sat. "Gabriel, Come" Gabriel jogged several strides toward me with mouth affixed in a wide mouthed smile. I then asked Gabriel to perform the most challenging of all of his basic behaviors, "Gabriel Down," and Gabriel generously mobilized his enormous frame down into a perfect down with haunches and elbows fully resting on the floor. That earned him a few liver treats between his front paws and a few "ahhhhhhhhs" from the school children. Teachers and students alike faces registered sparks of genuine joy and discovery as they met Gabriel, felt his magnificent coat and experienced Gabe's friendly and fearless presence. I was there to present my career, that of Dog Trainer, and yet, through the experience, I was reintroduced to the very reason for my career choice......when I am with Dogs, whether it be simply spending time with them, or teaching them and humans how to communicate with one another, I feel joy. If it had not been for the challenges I faced when I first adopted Gabriel it is doubtful I would have embarked upon becoming a dog trainer. Our communication challenges had lead to my education as to how to best communicate with canines. That was Gabriel's gift to me, which I now gratefully share with other humans and dogs, the gift of communication and refined relationship.