Artie, A DogWish Success Story
DogWish Trainer School Transforming Lives!

He drove up in his black low rider Chevy, his dad next to him in the front seat, and his dog in the back seat.   Artie was completely crippled and used a wheel chair, from an accident where a car filled with unknown gang members came driving down the street where Artie was washing his car, and shot him in the back.  Since then his changed life was drastically and horrifically altered from its’ previous state of being. 

It had taken some years to put the pieces together, as best he could, and he came to realize he needed a Service Dog for mobility, anxiety, PTSD, and protection, as he was definitely disabled in all those areas.  He got out of the car, and wheeled himself over to where I sat.  As the group approached we said our “hellos”, and then Artie told me he had run into a family with one of my dogs who told him to contact and come to me.  “I was wondering if you could train my dog to be a Service Dog,” he asked, very politely.  “Nope”, I said, looking him right in the eye.  He sat there looking at me to finish, and I said nothing.  Finally he said, “why not”?  “Because,” I said, “that’s the last thing you need.” 

Artie was perplexed and said, “Why not, are you prejudiced?”   “Yes,” I said,” very”.  “What, you don’t like Mexicans,” he asked.  “No”, I said, “ don’t like to see a man like you come to me with his heart in his hand, asking for help, when he needs to do the job himself, more than anything in his life.  I want YOU to train your dog.  I want you to be the man.  I want you to see that you can do whatever you want, that you ARE somebody, and you are capable and worth it all, Artie.”  Artie’s dad gave me a wink, and stood there smiling. 

“OK”, Artie said, “where do we start”.  “Right here, right now”, I said, and we did.  Artie three times a week for some months, and learned everything he could about training.  He started training dogs from his community, and took some of the dogs I was raising home to work with.  He did a SUPER job, and became quite a trainer.  He became the man, became more than he thought he could become.  I love Artie, and I’m sure he loves what his dogs became. 

Artie owns American Pit Bull Terriers, and his dogs are SUPER.  He takes them everywhere he goes, and you can’t find a better dog.  They are loving, obedient, and good for seizure alert, anxiety, PTSD, mobility, and Protection.    He trains all breeds, and ages of dogs, for people who are disabled and need help.

Artie’s specialty is teaching those who think they can’t to realize they can, those who feel lost and unwanted to feel connected, capable, and loved, just like him.  Artie is VERY special, a wonderful man who has had to overcome the world.  He will ALWAYS be my friend.