Loving a Unique Dog: Training Bronx von York

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Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by The Smetz Files

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A Dog Family

Jay and I have had dogs the entirety of our marriage; in fact we bought our first dog together our senior year of college (fun story on how our parents urged us NOT to buy a dog!).

Ace, our beloved min pin, was with us for 17 years. He saw us get engaged and get married; he was there when Jay came home from baseball and when we brought both kids home from the hospital. Ace was with us through four moves (that’s a whole other post!) and was always ready for a snuggle.

We got Berra von Brenner, our first German Shepherd in 2010. Jay grew up with shepherds, so when we decided to add another canine to our craziness we found our pretty lady, Berra von Brenner. She, too, welcomed both kids from the hospital and was a faithful sidekick during their midnight infant feedings; Berra laid at the threshold of the nursery each night as I rocked and nursed the human babies back to sleep. Berra loved us loyally until 2019 when she died suddenly and unexpectedly of a suspected stroke.  

We were devastated when we lost Berra and then Ace, but agreed we needed time to mourn, despite the kids’ immediate requests for a new dog. Admittedly, our house felt empty, like our family was missing an integral member without any dogs.

Logically I argued we had enough going on between schooling and working remotely, quarantining, buying a beach house, but by the fall of 2020 Jay started more frequently mentioning our next dog. The kids created lists of top choices for names. We visited some friends who had just adopted a German Shepherd and well, that sealed the deal…we were on the search for our next canine companion. 

Bringing Home Bronx

On March 10th, 2021 a sweet litter of German Shepherd puppies were born in South Carolina. Later that spring we brought one home…with the moniker Bronx von York.

Are you noticing a baseball theme with the dog names?! Bonus points if you caught the homage to the Yankees and of course, Ace, a nod to Jay’s pitching career! ***

We dearly love our Bronx von York, who is a mostly cuddly fella, but when he began demonstrating some extreme anxiety our vet recommended we consult with a trainer.

Triad friends, run, don’t walk to Cultured Canine for all your dog training needs! Bronx completed inboard training, in which he spent approximately six weeks at their training facility last summer. The facility is a 30+ acre farm with kennels, a groomer, training center, and plenty of natural space for canines to roam, practice their commands, and enjoy social time with other dogs.

Inboard Training

Annissia, co-owner and expert trainer, spent several days establishing a trusting relationship with Bronx, and worked through both her list of commands (basic obedience, off leash recall, etc…), as well as addressed Bronx specific behaviors (anxiety at the vet, a general distaste for anyone touching him, social awkwardness, and learning to tolerate basic grooming).

As he met specific benchmarks Jay and I went to the training facility for lessons with Bronx. We learned his newly acquired commands, we learned how to better understand his cues, and most importantly we learned how to best advocate for him, which ultimately meant we could ensure his safety in situations where he felt anxious or threatened.

The best part of our lessons (apart from visiting with our Bronxy boy!) was to see Bronx happy and thriving on the farm. Annissia helped us rethink some of his behaviors, gave us some strategies, and answered our endless questions with patience and grace. Who knew a dog trainer could double as a personal therapist?! She recreated situations where Bronx experienced anxiety and demonstrated how to troubleshoot and read his cues before his behaviors escalated.

The kids came for a few sessions and she worked through teaching them Bronx’s commands and what to expect from him to maximize his success once he returned home. Oh, added bonus, she texted us with updates frequently with skills worked on, mastered, and of course, photos of our pup living his best life while in training. 

Happy Dog

After six weeks of inboard training and once he met all his skills, Bronx was ready to come home and we were thrilled to have him back home with us!

An added bonus to being a client at Cultured Canine is the ability to use their boarding services. Once dogs are trained, they can return for boarding and while they’re there they get refresher training, work with dogs currently in training, and Bronx’s personal favorites, cuddle time with Annissia and running free on her farm! She and her team are all animal advocates and work with all kinds of dogs and owners with a variety of needs. 

Bronx has boarded at Cultured Canine several times when we’ve taken family vacations (not at the Diamond, he loves the beach!) and Annissia even took him the week of Christmas for a few days while we had a family medical emergency…she’s a saint! Each time we’ve gotten text updates, pictures, videos, and commentary on his daily activities and how much enjoys the farm. 

We have definitely learned the value of a well behaved dog is a happy dog, thanks to the hard work of Annissia and the team at Cultured Canine! 

Each of our dogs have had such unique personalities and we’ve cherished our time with them. Who are the furry creatures that complete your family? How do you involve your kids with caring for the family pets?

Footnote

***Ace, a common nickname for baseball pitchers. Berra von Brenner was named after two Yankee greats, the catcher, Yogi Berra and George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner who passed away in 2010. Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, New York, thus, Bronx von York.

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Bronx’s favorite toy

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