Dog whisperer opens doors

April 6, 2007

By SHARON McBRIDE

Frontiersman

WASILLA - If you have a pesky pet, she can turn it into a lovable creature. If you need a pet sitter, she can also accommodate your needs. If you want an orthopedic dog bed, she's got you covered.

Jenn Lewis, of Pandora Pet Services has a multi-faceted business in the Valley geared to solving a variety of pet problems.

Years ago, Lewis started out by studying behavioral problems with humans. After finishing school, she working as a therapist for the state, but she found that she just wasn't happy. So she decided to switch over and work with animals instead.

Coincidentally, a family pet was also having behavioral problems at the time.

&#8220My dog Abby was having problems when I left the house,” she said of her earlier inspiration to switch over. &#8220She would chew everything in sight.”

Using what she had learned from the study of humans as a base, Lewis began studying the social order of wolves.

&#8220Basically, I was treating her as a human,” she said. &#8220Dogs don't understand that, and it causes behavioral problems.”

Establishing herself as the alpha in her home brought about amazing results with her own pet, Lewis said. So she decided to use what she had learned to help others and in the process created her home-based business.

She developed a three-step approach that helps pet owners put things into perspective for their problem pets. It's all about establishing yourself, the pet owner, as the alpha.

&#8220First, you need to control the food,” she explained.

Don't leave food down at all times.

&#8220Second, when you return from being out, you shouldn't immediately greet your pets.”

This goes back to alpha behavior in the wolf pack, she explained.

&#8220When the alpha goes out, the pack doesn't know if and when they will return,” she said. &#8220When they do come back, they greet the rest of the pack when they are ready, not before.

&#8220Pet owners find this hard to do,” she said. &#8220As humans we want to love on our animals immediately.”

Wait about five minutes, she said, then greet your dog. \

And finally, dogs equate going on walks with hunting. In a wolf pack, the alpha always leads the hunt.

&#8220So you shouldn't let them pull ahead when they are on a leash,” she said. &#8220If you follow these three things, you can avoid all kinds of behavioral problems.”

She also offered other solutions for other behavioral problems, based on wolf pack mentality, as needed for her clients.

The pet sitting is a recent addition to her business. Lewis and her husband are licensed, bonded and insured up to $1 million through a professional pet sitter's association.

&#8220We offer in home pet sitting,” she said. &#8220Depending on what people want, we can stay in their homes or just visit a few times throughout the day.”

The couple also has an interactive Web site. Lewis can post blogs about her animal clients that lets their owners know how they are doing while their owners are away. Owners can also post any questions they might have.

&#8220We treat the pets like they are our own,” she said.

For more information about Pandora Pet Services, interested people may log onto www.pandoraspetservices.com.

Contact Sharon G. McBride at sharon.mcbride@frontiersman.com or 352-2250.