Today we’d like to introdu ce you to Natalie Ridge.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Natalie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My life with dogs began as a child. Growing up we always had a pet dog; my dad was a big lover of Artic breeds, and we always went to training classes and lessons together. When I reached middle school my dad got me my first dog, a Bernese mountain dog I named Miss Money Penny. Penny (for short) and O competed in some local conformation events, and my love for training was sparked.
I was dog less for college, as the dorms, and my hectic schedule didn’t allow for me to have a pup. After college I got my first dog as an adult, an American Pit Bull Terrier named Athena Marie. I took Athen through a group obedience class hosted by the Anti-Cruelty Society, and it was there that I learned about, then joined their dog trainer apprenticeship program.
During my time in this program I rescued my second dog, Guinness, another pit bull type dog. Guinness had come from an abusive, dog fighting situation, and I quickly realized I was in over my head. Guinness was both human and dog aggressive, and despite my best efforts, the methods I was learning from my mentors at Anti Cruelty were not working. I remember coming home crying, often, after long walks where my dog lunged and tried to kill everything that dared to move. I also recall with perfect clarity the day one of my mentors advised me to put my beloved dog to sleep, because for the betterment of a breed everyone already hates, we can’t keep the aggressive ones alive.
Finally, after asking anyone who would listen for help I was introduced to the woman who would become my business partner, Emily Stoddard. Emily did two private lessons with Guinness and myself, showed me some new training methods. I took these to heart, and got to work and slowly but surely Guinness got better! About three months after those private lessons, I called Emily and said “ I think I fixed my dog, now what’s next?” Emily came, and saw the progress Guinness and I had made, and offered me a job. Since that day Canine Sports Dog Training has grown from just us to having 4 employees and we have trained hundreds of dogs.
I have since added more dogs to my pack, but Athena and Guinness are still my original crew and yes Guinness is alive well, and generally a well behaved and polite companion. My next personal goal is to enter, and begin competing in the world of dog sports. My young Catahoula Lepord Dog, Mayhem, is working towards competing in Frisbee, and my even younger Dutch Shepherd, Anakin, is working towards competing in French Ring Sport.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t know if owning and operating a small business can ever be described as a smooth road! When I quit my full time job, to dedicate my time to Canine Sports it was terrifying! We certainly have had bumps, and growing pains along the way, but we are lucky to have a job we love and coworkers and clients who have become like family!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Canine Sports Dog Training – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Canine Sports Dog Training (CSDT for short) is a small dog training company, specifically specializing in giving family pets the off leash freedom they deserve! We love seeing our clients know that their dog will respond on or off leash, in any situation. It is truly a joy to get to see clients go for off leash hikes, paddle boarding, eating at our door patios and vacationing with their pups! Once they have the confidence that their dog will be a well mannered companion, they have the freedom to bring their dog to many new places, which is great for both the owner and the dog. Chicago is such a dog friendly city that once you can be confident that your pup will behave, there really isn’t much you cannot do with them. We have done horse carriage rides, boat tours, dining out, and tons of other super fun activities with our canine companions.
I think two things set us apart, one being the individual attention we give every client and dog, and two being our lifetime support program. We keep our group class size very small, so we can ensure each student receives the individual attention they need. Our private lessons are one on one sessions with one of our awesome trainers, myself included, so we can focus on the client’s specific training needs. Dogs that come in for our board and train programs are housed in my home, rather than a boarding facility, so that we can get real in home practice for manners and so that the dog is never left in a facility environment. With each of our training programs we offer a lifetime support package, so our trainers will go above and beyond to make sure we conquer any training issue, and our graduates can come to our twice a week polishing class for extra practice on obedience skills.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and each has its own unique identity. It’s so much fun to pick a new neighborhood and go explore, and enjoy it.
My least favorite thing is probably winter, I am not a huge fan of the cold or the snow.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.mycaninesports.com
- Phone: 312-203-7078
- Email: training@mycaninesports.com
- Instagram: @Caninesports
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caninesports/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
