Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/60293
Training Day protection dogs to some of Hollywood's hottest stars and turns headstrong hounds into obedient and well-mannered pets you can take anywhere on—or off—a leash. By Andrew Conway A unique dog training center in Methuen provides personal T his is a tale of two dogs. The first, an adorable golden-haired dachshund called Bobo, walks con- fidently into the train- ing arena, head up, eyes locked onto his trainer, tail wagging furiously. At every command, Bobo sits, stands, waits, lies down, walks, jumps, and comes to heel in a flawless display of obedience and manners. As a reward, he receives a couple of treats, some enthusiastic patting, and words of encouragement, which clearly make Bobo feel like a Best in Show winner. With a photographs by christopher churchill pedigreed grin, the delighted dachshund departs to make way for a training session of an entirely different kind. Up next is a 90-pound, black-as-night, don't-mess-with-me German Shepherd called Eiko, which happens to be one of Hollywood actor Steven Seagal's pro- tection dogs and looks like he'd happily take down a couple of pesky paparazzi in the blink of an eye. Clearly, the train- ing manager, Jay Haley, who used to be a builder and has the muscles to prove it, has drawn the short straw. Dressed in a heavily padded protection suit and surrounded by plastic garbage bins, Haley prepares to confront Eiko as a potential assailant. On the command Protection Plan John Whittaker can turn your family pet or guard dog into an obed- ient, well-mannered best friend. "Attack!", the once-placid Eiko leaps like a hound from hell across the arena, smashes into the bins, takes Haley down in a matter of seconds, and clamps his jaws onto Haley's arm like it's dinner time. On the command "Heel!", Eiko immedi- ately releases Haley, returns to his trainer and sits panting with the same butter- wouldn't-melt-in-his-mouth look that Bobo had a few minutes ago. Welcome to Canine Solutions and Ca- nine Protection International (CPI), a du- al-purpose dog training center in Methuen that will take your beloved pet or protec- tion dog and train them to the highest levels of obedience and performance. The brainchild of Bradford resident, European dog importer, and veteran trainer John H. Whittaker, CPI launched in 1996 and May/June 2012 nshoremag.com 85