Max charges into an unfamiliar room and bellows out a deep hollow bark. An 18-month-old pit bull terrier weighing over 100 pounds, Max provokes a flurry of woofs from an unnerved beagle across the room..
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Holding Max’s leash is Jeffrey Kohn, his owner and a six-year Army veteran, who decided to visit the Dunes Dog Training Club in Hebron after stumbling across the place while browsing the Internet.
“I’ve procrastinated too long,” Kohn said. “You see how out of control he can get. I need to seriously get him trained.”
Kohn seeks to join the Pets N Vets program where military veterans suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI) get help with obedience training for their dogs. Earlier this month, the club was awarded $4,500 from the Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s community foundation, for the Pets N Vets program.
“Everything is a free,” said Sharon Sylvie, club president. “We give them leashes, collars, chains, cages, anything they might need during the training process.”
On this particular evening, Kohn and Max received a private introductory lesson. The standard Pets N Vets session, held every Thursday evening, typically has 10 to 12 veterans, who focus on their dogs but also chat about their military service.
“The vets have to take the time out to work with the dogs,” Sylvie said. “If they’re patient and work with their dogs every day, they’ll see results.”
It usually takes two years of training for a dog to become a certified service dog, she said..
Kyle Mote, whose Blue Heeler Trixie was recently certified, confirmed it takes persistence.
“You have to be dedicated to your dog,” said Mote, a former Marine. “I’ll continue coming here. These guys are great.”
Thomas Sergent, a retired Army master sergeant, said he really appreciates the dedication of the trainers.
“I really like coming here because the people here really care,” he said. “I mean you can tell. You can really tell.”
Sergent said there were a lot of growing pains when he first got Delilah, an 18-month-old German Shepherd Collie mix, from the animal shelter.
“Oh jeez, when we first started, she was terrible,” he said. “She wouldn’t listen. If I told her to sit, she would lie down; if I told her to lie down, she would sit.”
Now, Sergent said he couldn’t imagine his life without the recently certified service dog..
“She makes life a lot easier,” he said. Delilah is with him 24 hours a day, sleeping with him, exercising with him and recently flying to Las Vegas with him.
“You have to have patience with dogs,” Sergent said. “It’s like having little kids.” “Sometimes you might want to give up because you think they’re untrainable and all of a sudden, that light bulb goes off.”
Most of the veterans hope their dogs can attain the coveted service dog status, Sylvie said.
Kohn has that goal, especially in light of physical problems in developed in the service, but it’s only Max’s first day. For now, he’s learning the basics. Stay. Sit. Lie down.
When Max tries to go off course, a brief yank on his choker collar refocuses him. When Max listens and follows a command, he is promptly rewarded with small hot dog pieces that were microwaved for 10 seconds and a cheerful “good boy” from his owner.
“This is unbelievable,” Kohn said. “He’s just standing there and it’s awesome. He tries to walk away, one yank, and he’s back walking with me. This is going great!
“I have back problems,” he said. “My leg goes out one me sometimes and I would like for him to be there to hold me up. I just need him to be there if anything happens.”
The Pets N Vets program also can train dogs to become companion dogs or therapy dogs.
Reginald Murray, who spent seven years in the Army, said he got a dog for companionship and hopes he will learn to be more emotionally supportive.
“Its simply about dog and owner bonding and the dog learning to obey,” Sylvie said.
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If a veteran with PTSD or TBI doesn’t have a dog, the club will help find one.
“We work with local shelters and rescue groups to assist veterans in finding a compatible dog to train and form a healing team,” Sylvie said.
“It’s such gratification to see the way the dog bonds to them over the course of their training. It makes you want to cry. It’s so beautiful to see.”
Twitter @JavonteA