Jan Echavarry

My love of training began 17 years ago when I began assisting at a local dog-rescue facility in South Texas. I learned that most of the dogs needed basic skills, just as much as they needed a permanent, loving home. Their inability to interact was a major reason that they were unwanted, through no fault of their own. On my weekly visits to local pet stores, I became interested and completed a training course that allowed me to train in the local PetSmart stores. After a time, I realized that there was a burning desire in me to share my knowledge and skills on a larger scale. I researched the available training schools and chose a nationally recognized program in California. I enrolled and completed the five-week, in person, course.Woman walking dogsIn 2007, I established 'A Better Dog Training' in San Antonio and have grown to include not only in-home training, but boarding (in my new facility), as well as board-and-train. My goal is and has always been to assist in making your pet, your pride! Jan has always been active in the community by volunteering for local events such as Career Day at May Elementary School, presenting a dog training lecture at the Bulverde Spring Branch Library, and hosting a booth at Spring Branch Veterinary Hospital's Open House.Career Day is usually a presentation on the different kinds of dog training, how to get into the business, and what education is needed. Jan brings Troy, a very large yellow lab, to these events so that he can demonstrate obedience to basic commands. Most importantly, Troy helps Jan to show the children the appropriate and safe way to meet a dog. Troy is not only a great ice breaker, but he helps to alleviate some children's fear of large dogs.Dog Training lectures cover the training methods that different trainers use and a discussion of leadership from a dog's point of view. Again, Troy is used in a demonstration of basic obedience and then the floor is opened up for general questions. Jan has fielded questions ranging from potty training to reading dog body language to dog aggression issues.At the Open House for Spring Branch Veterinary Hospital, Jan was available for training consultations and answering questions and used Troy to give obedience demonstrations. The Open House was also a fund raiser for the Canyon Lake Animal Shelter Society (CLASS). CLASS brought several adoptable animals and given Jan's soft spot for rescues, she offered a free training lesson for any dogs that were adopted that day!