The People
Robert Kerr, U-Dog’s founder, was born and raised on the West Coast of B.C., calling Vancouver home and living all over the province. In the first months of his life, he spent many days in the puppy box with 12 samoyed pups. He was raised by his mother, who was not only a single parent but blind. He always had family pet including dogs but unlike most children, he had a guide dog in the household. In his adult years, he tended to gravitate more towards outdoor pursuits. He became a professional skier and through his twenties, taught skiing, coached freestyle skiing, ski patrolled, managed sponsors and events and even dabbled in some filming. During the off season, he found a niche in helicopter logging and was involved with several different machines for nearly 6 years finishing his logging career with underwater log salvage. Through his years, he often noticed dogs would gravitate to him, watch him and even the most unlikely would play with him. Developing U-Dog gave Robert a unique opportunity to evolve his gifts into skills he not only shares with the dogs but with people.
Using terms like gifts and skills can often lead people to believe different things. What Robert wants to teach is there are definite differences between who are good with animals and who are not. The gap between them usually is simple; the Energy they project. He has found the most effective way of dealing with an animal is your presence of mind and how that affects everything. Your state of being is projected in your facial expression, posture, tone of voice, breathing and overall health. What he has found the best ways to communicate with an animal is body language. Visual signals are what dogs understand and naturally use but for some reason, most humans think they have a better method. He has practiced many different methods and has found that really there is a ‘way’. This way is something we all can practice with our dogs and live a more fulfilling life with them. It all starts with a healthy dose of exercise, good solid boundaries and, when all is said and done, love.
INFLUENCES:
- Bash Debra, Dog Training by Bash. My first read... I thought I was good with dogs until I adopted a wolf... thanks Bash.
- Ben Kersen, He has produced some of the better Certified trainers I have worked with.
- The Duncan SPCA and all their staff. If you've ever questioned the SPCA or how they work, this is one of the best example of how a shelter could be run. I wish Erica Paul, the shelter manager, the best in Victoria.
- Gary Jackson - The Dog father of Soul
- Deborah Wolfe - A pioneer of dog care.
- April Frost, Beyond Obedience - though not the best book in my opinion, it offers the reader insight into dog behavior and companionship development. It's about time.
- Cesar Milan - Way over-sold and little content to help the viewer at home. At least people are now able to see that cookies, collars and leashes have very little to do with your dogs behavior.
- Konrad Lorenz – Man Meets Dog. Referred to as the ‘Godfather of Animal Behavior’, Konrad Lorenz broke grounds with everything from Genetic Encoding to the evolution of domestic animals.
Cheryl Hughes:
I am so excited to have partnered up with Rob and U dog. I had been searching for that special something that I wanted to do with my life. I had a great career and enjoyed it, but was no longer passionate about it. I wanted to have something I loved to do everyday, not something I “had” to do. Knowing that since I was a kid some of my happiest times were spent with horses and dogs playing and training, I decided to pursue this interest with the hopes of turning it into a career. I became a certified dog trainer in 2006 and haven’t looked back. I found what I wanted to do!
Recently while I was exploring new areas of training and different methods that are used, I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Kerr. The services he offered were of great interest to me, especially his off leash hikes. I arranged to go on a hike with him and was instantly impressed. It was such a great experience to watch up to a dozen dogs running, playing and being in a pack doing what dogs are supposed to do, while obviously being attentive and responding to their human pack leader. What surprised me the most was the sense of calm that I came away with. I was instantly hooked and begging Rob for more information. I went on several hikes and shadowed one of his training sessions in which the owner had a dog aggressive pit bull. When I saw the incredibly quick results he got and more importantly the way that he got them I knew this was the missing piece of the puzzle I had been looking for.
In working with Rob I realized that while I was using body language I was not using it to its full benefit or potential. Dogs respond to body language first and foremost and then tone. As humans we seem to rely more on bribes, correction and the latest tools to get the results we seek. All of these have their place but can be overused sometimes weakening the relationship rather than creating a bond that is based on mutual respect.
I truly believe in Rob’s philosophies and he definitely has a gift in working with dogs. His services are based on what is best for the dog, starting with plenty of the right kind of exercise. The hikes also help dogs with “issues” very quickly. Dogs learn from each other and a stable group can have a positive impact on an unbalanced dog very quickly. This, along with his approach to creating leadership and boundaries in the home where the foundation must be solid helps people build a relationship that is fulfilling to both owner and dog. I am privileged to be a part of Rob’s team and am looking forward to continued growth and learning with U dog.
Dave Cocker has been involved with U-Dog for enough time now to have his own space here.
At U-Dog, we think of people who involve themselves with the business as members. We put a lot of training and time into those who work here and do not feel we can replace them easily.
Dave has worked in many outdoor fields from forestry to guiding. He is an avid kayaker, boat builder and if you can ever get him to play guitar, you’d wonder why he isn’t famous. We are lucky to have him. Dave handles the dogs both for hikes and shorter adventures. He is dedicated to his work and the dogs love his calm demeanor. He also has a sharp sense of humor and I am sure he can add a bit of comic relief to any group of dogs. Thanks Dave. Dave has retired from U-Dog but still lends a hand when needed. He is a true giving person and understands well what U-Dog is about.
The Clients are what makes the business. Without them, we’d have a hobby. We attract all kinds of different people from many walks of life. What they all share is one thing; Common Sense. It takes a lot of courage to let someone else care for your dog and an open mind to understand that dogs need more exercise than one human can offer. Most of our clients come to us from word of mouth or curiosity of what they’ve seen. A progressive approach to understanding dogs is something most of our clients strive for. In a business world full of varying opinions, it takes a clear mind and a little common sense to filter through all the jargon and find what is best for your dog. Our clients clearly understand the difference and appreciate our approach to both dog care and training.
Our Clients ‘Think Outside The Fence…’
U-Dog
Mobile Dog Care - Nanaimo BC
Vancouver
Island Canada
