Susan Garrett presents a good case for challenging the myth that dog owners mirror the behavior of their beloved pets.

Garrett and DeCaff, her Jack Russell terrier-border collie mix, took the bronze medal in the Sporting Dog Small Agility competition at the 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge. But competing in agility trials represents only a fraction of the hectic and demanding lifestyle of the talented 45-year-old Canadian.

	DeCaff, a Jack Russell terrier-border collie mix, took the bronze medal in the Small Agility competition at last year's Games.

Garrett is also recognized in the canine world as a leading educator of dog trainers. She is a much sought-after speaker throughout North America and across the seas to Japan, Australia and Europe. And, she is the author of the book "Ruff Love: A Relationship Building Program" that sold some 5,000 copies within months of publication. At home in Alberton, Ontario, she operates Say Yes Dog Training Inc. with fellow dog enthusiast John Blenkey.

Garrett, who has won 13 National Agility Championships, spends more days on the road than she does at home.

"It's all in a day's work, so to speak," says the hospitable Garrett. "It's my mission to help dog owners become better connected with their pets."

The Say Yes training theory applied by Garrett does just that.

"Our philosophy does not allow the use of physical or verbal corrections," she says. "We train owners to shape their dogs behaviors to create a 'thinking' dog."

Clicker training

To do that, Garrett and her staff apply clicker training, a science-based system for teaching behavior with positive reinforcement. Commands are sent from handler to dog using a marker signal, which is the sound of a toy clicker, to tell the animal when it's correctly following the order. The system was first widely used by dolphin trainers who needed a way to teach behavior without using physical force.

	“	Our philosophy does not allow the use of physical or verbal corrections. ”
		— Susan Garrett, on the Say Yes training theory

The Say Yes training camps are popular, with a full calendar on tap for this year, including the ever popular summer camp. The camps are serious business. Say Yes is located on 28 acres with a 13,450-square-foot indoor training arena. The arena is state-of-the-art with a unique air-cushioned floor. Outside are three fully equipped agility rings.

In keeping with the Say Yes training philosophy, all camp participants must be clicker-friendly. The curriculum is intense but well worth it. Say Yes students have collectively won more than 75 National Agility Championships.

The staff of 15 dog trainers includes seven of the sport's most popular seminar presenters. Distance work, jumping analysis and handling exercises are integrated into the program. Each day ends with a video analysis to detect areas needing improvement between dog and handler.

"Our focus is to create drive and precision on equipment while building behaviors using the clicker," says Garrett, whose interest in animal behavior originated at the University of Guelph in Ontario. It was there she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science.

It's no wonder that Garrett, a decorated road warrior, does a lot of sleeping on airplanes as she jets across the continent. And so does DeCaff, who travels with Garrett to competitions as carry-on baggage in a special carrier.

"We have no problem sleeping on planes," she confirms. It's no wonder why.