Big shade trees, livestock grazing in the pastures and dogs at work 
are some of the sights and sounds you'll find a Possum Hollow.   

Our Trainers. All of the trainers at Possum Hollow are trained in the methods and techniques used by Possum Hollow.  Trainers are carefully screened and continued education is required.  We have found that some dogs work better with one trainer while other dogs work better with a different trainer.  The personalities of dogs and trainers is taken into consideration when assigning any dog to a trainer.  The photos and information below are in no particular order. Vicki Hughes Owner / Master Trainer Vicki began professional training in 1995 and has worked with a variety of breeds both large and small.  She teaches several canine classes offered by Isothermal Community College and provides special herding dog presentations to local and out of state organizations.  Vicki specializes in training dogs for working with livestock and competes with her Border Collies in sheep and cattle herding.  She also raises and trains Border Collies and Anatolian Shepherd Dogs.  She has authored many training articles and a book on training livestock guardian dogs.  Vicki has a B.S. in Science Education and is a former high school biology teacher.   Robin Taylor Master Trainer  Robin has been with Possum Hollow since it began.  She is especially good with smaller breeds.  She has trained many dogs both large and small and is a very successful and competent trainer.  She is an excellent teacher with dog owners also.  Robin has a firm but gentle hand is excellent when teaching even the tiniest small breed puppies how be good citizens and family members.   Robin competes in sheep herding with her Border Collies and enjoys her Papillion, Corgi and Rottweiler companions.  Robin has a B.S. in Mathematics and teaches all levels of math at a local high school. Lauren Hohensee Master Trainer / Shepherdess Lauren joined the Possum Hollow staff  in the Fall of 2006 and is an extremely accomplished trainer.  As former horse trainer she is well acquainted with the variety of disciplines involved in working with animals.  Lauren is a quiet handler and works well with any type of dog.  She is also one of our herding trainers.  Lauren competes with her Border Collies and Australian Cattle Dogs in sheep herding and enjoys her Anatolian Shepherd mix and rescued Austrialian Sheepdog mix companions.  Lauren is an accomplished equestrian and also a server at the Korner Kitchen in Asheville's Biltmore Village. Desi Topping Master Trainer Desi has been with Possum Hollow since the Spring of 2006 and is excellent with large and small dogs.  She is a firm trainer, full of kindness and has a nice ability to read her dogs.  Desi's natural talent gives her a training edge with all sizes and breeds.  She excels with dogs presenting special emotional problems.  She is a friendly and enjoyable teacher and works well with her clients and their dogs.  Desi enjoys her Border Collie companions.  Desi is a Certified Nursing Assistant I & II and works mornings at a local physician's office. Joe Hughes Cattleman,  Go-To Guy Joe is the man to find if you need something fixed, a dog taken out for a potty break, new pens built, livestock doctored, and a million other tasks that are all part of a busy farm.  Joe has been breeding registered polled Herefords for over 35 years and has developed the exclusive Possum Hollow line.  He is good kind to the dogs and occasionally takes a dog to train.  Joe is a full-time farmer and part-time tax preparer.  He has a degree in economics from Harvard.

OUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

"The Nature & Psychology Combo"

 
Former Student "Nittany" Higgins.

CANINE COMMUNICATION & CANINE PSYCHOLOGY
 ARE COMBINED FOR WELL-BALANCED TRAINING.

Our methods combine the natural communication methods used by your dogs with a knowledge of the psychology of how dogs learn to give us the edge in helping your dog understand and improve. 

We communicate with your dog in the same way a mother dog communicates with her pup or a pack member communicates with its leader.   Your dog understands what we are asking because he has learned from his canine family and his canine friends what certain sounds and movements mean.  

We use our knowledge of the latest theories of canine psychology and specifically canine learning to develop trust and obedience through accessing as many avenues of learning as possible.  We access as much of the learning pie as possible.

We are kind but firm in our training requirements and we encourage the participation of owners in the development of their dog's new behavior patterns.  

 Natural Canine Communication 

All dogs are descended from wolves and other wild canine species.  
In wild canine families each animal has a specific place of status.  The dominant animals control the behaviors of the submissive animals.  Pups learn to respect adults, lower members of the pack learn to obey the leaders and communication is by mostly through contact.  The behaviors your dog exhibits are the same as those a wolf pup or member of a wolf pack would exhibit to their fellow wolves.  Behaviors that may be acceptable in a wolf pack may not be appropriate when the pack includes humans.

  Some pack behaviors may be acceptable ... 

     
(Submissive behavior)

...and some pack behaviors may be unacceptable.

   
(Dominant behavior)

If you are the leader, the pack will RESPECT you, TRUST you and OBEY you. 
If your dog is the leader, he will require that you respect him, trust him and OBEY him!   You need to establish yourself in the role of pack leader in order to decide which behaviors are acceptable and which behaviors are unacceptable.    

The leader of the pack usually assumes a higher position (literally their head is usually higher than the other members of the pack)...

    
(Dominant individual stands while submissive individual lies down.)

To be the pack leader you must establish the RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with your dog.  Dogs who respect their owners do not jump on them, do not bite them, do not run away from them and do not present behaviors that are unacceptable.

   
(In a well ordered pack there is no fighting.)

As the leader of your pack, you must require respect ALL OF THE TIME that your dog is in your presence.  It is YOUR choice to allow the dog to play, to sit in your lap, to eat, to lick you, to be petted, to fight, etc.   YOU control the behaviors of your dog, not the other way around.  

 Dog Psychology and Learning 

Dogs learn best through applying of  ALL OF THE WAYS ANIMALS LEARN (refer to the illustration below).  Many "positive" trainers use only bait and reward methods (treats and bribes) and therefore are using only 25% of the available learning pie.  No one, including a dog, learns from only rewards. 

THE DRIVING SCHOOL ANALOGY.  
"A good analogy was told of the driving instructor and the student.  If a driving instructor was teaching a student to drive a car and only told the student when he was driving correctly, there would be a lot of crashes and it would take a very long time for the student to learn how to drive a car.  The same can be said of training dogs.  We feel it is best to access every possible training method available to most effectively and efficiently train dogs."

THE LEARNING PIE
(Ways Animals Learn)

THE FOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR LEARNING

1. "Respect"

Dogs have evolved to live in packs based upon respect.  Therefore it is very important that the dog develops respect for the trainer and for its owners.  Without respect there will be no obedience.  

2. "Trust"

Respect is often followed directly by trust.  Dogs base their trust on their ability to release responsibility to a superior.  Therefore when they find that they can respect their handler, they also feel that they can trust the handler to take care of them and any events that may arise.  

3. "Will to Please"

The dog must want to please his master.  This is a natural result of respect and trust and is gained by small successes and enjoyable learning interactions.  

4. "Confidence"

The dog gains confidence through accomplishing the tasks given to it by a respected and trusted handler.  Through development of obedience there is a development of confidence.

BOARDING AT POSSUM HOLLOW

A Place to Stay and A Place to Play!

The Possum Hollow Personal Touch

So much more than just a place to sleep!

 
A good morning kiss.

Each dog is handled in the morning and in the evening to give them a bit of 
homestyle loving while they're here.  They are only handled by professional trainers 
and our own highly qualified professional canine caretaker.

 
Jack inside his favorite "den."

Dogs are brought in for the night around 9:00 p.m. to sleep in their personal crates 
in a quiet, climate controlled room where they feel safe and secure.  Doors are locked
and the hum of the air conditioner or heater fans lull the dogs into a peaceful sleep. 

 
The BIG pups at play with an older "supervisor" on hand.

Mornings start with a smile and a quick walk to each dog's exercise pen to play.  Dogs whose owners have signed them up for companion play with other dogs are allowed to play all day with their new friend or friends.  

Exercise areas are cleaned out, buckets are filled with fresh water, dogs are fed separately, and crates are cleaned and sanitized and made ready for the evening.   

Dogs are fed Blue Seal "Krunchies" kibble once daily for adults and twice daily for puppies.  You are welcome to bring your own food and we'll see to it that your dog receives your special diet.  Krunchies are the favorite of all our dogs and provide good nutrition for healthy dogs.
(Prices are the same with our without your own food.)

 
Livestock guardian dog, Abraham, enjoys his goat friend.

It's Down-on-the-Farm at Possum Hollow and your dog will love it!

 
Dudley and Sweet herding the sheep.

We have sheep, goats, cattle and horses on the farm and your dog will 
get to see all kinds of interesting and exciting activities.

 
Brick checks out one of the cows.

Dogs enjoy seeing all the new and exciting animals and being in the country so much that they get excited in the car just turning onto CC Lovelace Road on their way here!

SOCIALIZATION

A WELL-ROUNDED DOG IS A HAPPY DOG.

What's Bad About Dog Parks?

Dog parks were originally intended as much needed places where owners who didn't have yards could take their dogs for exercise.  Now dog parks are used more as a location for socialization by owners who do not understand the ways of dogs.

In dog parks your dog is subjected to all kinds of people (including children) 
who have very little understanding about appropriate behavior with dogs. 

In dog parks your dog is subjected to all kinds of dogs 
who are poorly behaved, may or may not be healthy and most often are out of control.

Fights occur in dog parks all the time because dogs evolved to be members of a small pack.
The pack evolved to promote its members and destroy intruders.

In dog parks your dog is thrust into a sea of intruders.

Separating the Pack from the Intruders

Your dog's "pack" is...

your family and the other dogs (and sometimes cats) that live with you...

 
Isaac with cat TC and dog Moses.

"Intruders" are...

Any people or animals that do not live in your home...

 
Dogs fighting at Dog Park.

Dogs do not view other dogs that do not live with them as members of their pack.

In order for your dog to willingly accept and be friendly with strange dogs 
they must be exposed to each other in controlled situations in which they can have 
time to accept each other as extended pack members and not threats.

Prevent the damage before it happens.

At a dog SCHOOL (as opposed to dog baby-sitting facilities) dogs are acquainted 
with each other under professional supervision and in such as that they can become friends 
without the risks of emotional, psychological and physical damage.

Keeping it Simple and Safe.

The Playmates System (as opposed to play-crowds) put dogs in pairs 
to avoid pack behaviors involving "ganging up."

 
Playmates Eve and Rachel.

A person who has never left their home, never been away from their parents, 
or has been incarcerated will find it difficult and frightening 
to deal with "life on the outside."  

 
"Prisoner of No Time, a Haiku"
T. Beth Kinsey

HANDLED BY PROFESSIONALS

 
Lauren soothing "Fan" in the back of a car.

Dogs are handled only by professionals accustomed to dealing with 
fears and complex personalities.

ACTIVE SURROUNDINGS

 
Vicki and guests at a Possum Hollow herding clinic.

There is always something going on at Possum Hollow.

PLEASANT EXPERIENCES

 
Robin plays Frisbee with Mia.

Dogs enjoy coming to Possum Hollow.  
They bounce and get all excited when their owners turn onto our road.

MENTAL STIMULATION

Dogs need something to do with their day.

 
Desi and Lauren with Rachel, Zack, Cooper and Potter.

Dogs need to have their minds stimulated.

 
Snowy Gil performing lie down and stay.

School is the most exciting gift you can give your dog.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

What are My Responsibilities?

 
Snowy Gil came to use with a lot of aggression and a "make my day" attitude.  His owners kept him with us until we said he was ready to go.  This was several years ago and we still hear comments from local pet stores about how wonderfully behaved Snowy still is.  

Commitment

When you send your son or daughter off to college you expect them to complete their education before they quit.  You are aware that quitting before they are finished would be a waste of your money.  The same applies to your dog.  Your dog's education is an investment.  You are investing money and time in a program to establish a relationship with your dog that will give you the most return.  We do not believe in a "quick fix" to dog obedience.  We have found that if the owner allows us the time their dog needs to complete its education, the training will last.   Dogs that go home early, usually end up returning later and having to start from scratch.  The money and time invested in their training before has been wasted.

 
Investing in Your Dog's Future

Payments

Fees for each month are due at the beginning of the specified month period.  Your dog's first training payment for the entire month's training is due when you drop it off for the first day.  The next month's fee is due on that same date of the following month.  Our trainers must be paid up front  and we ask that you bring your fist month's fee with you when you drop off your dog its first day.  We accept cash or checks at the office.  If you wish to use a credit card, please send your payment through PayPal to info@possumhollowfarms.com  before you arrive for the first day drop off.

 
Sparkie Hughes and Owner working with Robin.

Your Education

We expect you to be ready to learn how to handle your dog.  We will train your dog so that it knows the commands and what they mean.  However, since dogs are living and thinking beings it is important that you learn how to make your dog do the commands it learns.   Just like a horse that works beautifully for the trainer and then rears up with its  novice owner, your dog will test you to see if you really are going to be the boss.  Therefore we encourage you to come at least  once a week, even for just a few minutes to work with your dog and your trainer so you can learn how to properly handle your new well-behaved dog.  Sometime it is best for the owner to come for a 1/2 hour session once a week and sometimes it is better for them to come for shorter 10-15 minute sessions several times a week.  A good example is an owner who works with the trainer two or three times a week when the dog is picked up or dropped off.

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