Photo: Captured by Bri
Becky Pawlaczek surrounded by her dogs German Shepherds Raiven and Balto with Stark, her Liver-Spotted Dalmatian in the barn south of Millbrook where she provides dog training programs.
For twenty minutes, Stark, a five-year-old purebred Dalmatian, sat gazing patiently at his owner Becky, wondering when the conversation she was in would be over and the fun would begin.
They were at a fun place after all, surrounded by parkland beside the Millpond, which he knew could be a source of endless entertainment. Despite his body almost vibrating with anticipation, his only attempt to gain the attention of his owner was an occasional quiet whine. Barely acknowledging his existence, she slipped him a small treats to reward his patience, but Stark understood what was expected of him: silent obedience. Finally, the wait was over and with a quick word and Stark was off, circling the area while keeping a constant eye on his owner. He understands that Becky is the alpha in their relationship and that concept is the foundation of their loving and easy relationship.
Becky Pawlaczek founded One Paw at a Time six years ago to provide dog obedience training to help dog owners manage the behaviour of their dogs. She specializes in puppy training, behaviour modification and off leash control. Primarily self-taught, Becky brings her own philosophy to her business, where she trains all breeds and all ages. A few training courses have equipped her to train psychiatric, PTSD and diabetic alert service dogs as well as family pets.
Her love of dogs began early in life, but her focus on training them began at home with the arrival of a small, out-of-control Shih-Poo puppy. She soon learned how frustrating it can be to be challenged by a small creature that could not listen or sit still and chewed everything. After conducting her own research, she soon found techniques that helped her establish boundaries and develop obedience in her pet. She took that experience to a job at Petsmart where she was eventually promoted to Head trainer. In 2017 she launched her own dog training business in order to make a bigger impact on dogs and their owners, confident that she could help dogs with behavioural issues such as fear or aggression. Apparently she was right. Last month, her business was selected as a Platinum winner as best in Dog Training by Peterborough Community Votes 2024.
Becky believes owners should select their canine companions carefully. When choosing a new family pet, Becky recommends researching different breeds to better understand their inherent temperament, including the energy level associated with different breeds. All breeds have certain characteristics that should be respected: people should not expect to change the nature of their dogs with a bit of affection and a few treats.
She does not pamper dogs, she demands their respect. It’s all about communication. Dogs aren’t mind-readers, she explains, so signals have to be consistent and timely to make an impact on their behaviour.
She understands the sentiment behind adopting rescue dogs, but warns that unless would-be owners understand the background of the animal’s past, they could be ill-equipped to manage the pet as it settles into a new home. She relates to the adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks: the older the adopted dog, the more challenging it is to alter its behaviour.
One Paw at a Time offers in-home private lessons, puppy training, day training programs where dogs learn social skills and obedience as well as a 14 day education course that relies on off leash communication and control using E-Collar technologies.
Becky is eager to help her customers build respectful relationships with their dogs that allow them to enjoy a long and happy life together.
To learn more, visit www.onepawdogtrainer.com. KG