Dog Spelled Forward :: Dog training and behavior consulting services for Bergen County, New Jersey

Mocha is a Silky Terrier puppy in Northern New Jersey. Her Mom decided to start her out with training at the tender young age of 12 weeks, which is a great time for a puppy.

Mocha did wonderfully! She and her Mom did a wonderful job with clicker training and Mocha’s progress with “sit”, “down”, “wait”, “come when called”, “leave it” and even “stay” (an advanced behavior for a young puppy) would be impressive for an adult dog, let alone a young puppy.

Mocha also plays a great game of tug, and by the time she’s an adult there’s a chance she’ll be competing in the Olympic High Jump Competition.

Caffeine arrived at the Goebelbecker household first, at the tender age of 12 weeks. She rules the roost, she is the Queen of the Castle. She’s the boss.

She’s spoiled rotten, but don’t tell her I said that. She’d kill me.

Caffeine is a very quick learner. She’s been through several agility classes, where she’s proven to be very fast and very skillful. If her Dad ever takes some time off from training everyone’s else’s dog, he’ll take her to some trials.

With her permission, of course.

Gage is a rescue from Georgia. He arrived a few years ago and entered the Goebelbecker household originally as a foster. After some time it became apparent that he had serious fear and anxiety issues that made him unadoptable. He hates trucks and any vehicle with a loud engine, and he would like very much to never meet anyone new ever again. After three years he is just now able to handle being walked on a busy street.

So he never left, and he has fit in very well.

Gage worships the very ground that Caffeine the Princess, er, walks on. He is very fearful of strangers, but is very very affectionate with members of the household. After six months now, he and Buddha have established detente.

Gage is never going to join Mensa, and his career as a nuclear physicist was tragically cut short when it turned out he had to be able to recognize himself in a mirror. But we have heard that some airlines could use a new CEO. Hmmmm…maybe he’s overqualified.

The newest addition to the Goebelbecker household is Buddha, a Border Collie mix from Georgia. He arrived from rescue with several broken teeth and a bullet lodged in one shoulder.

Buddha is a very quiet, sweet, dog who likes to lie quietly with a friend, whether that friend is another dog or a person. He has proven to be a quick learner and very intuitive. He had an impressive sheep herding instinct test in December of 2007. You can see it here.

Buddha has recently passed his Delta Pet Partner Test and will begin visiting the nearby children’s wing of Hackensack University Medical Center, along with local nursing homes this year. He has already earned his Canine Good Citizen.