A lot of people are fond of dogs, but Jennifer Digate -- the owner of the dog training business "Wild Canine" -- has a special connection with these four-legged friends.
"What I appreciate the most about dogs is that we co-evolved with them and that makes us more similar than different," says Digate, 37. "I love that they are born able to read our body language and watch our faces for cues. I appreciate how forgiving they are of our mistakes."
Wild Canine’s tagline is "training the canine brain" which accurately describes Digate’s work.
"All my training practices are based completely in sound learning theory /science," she says. "I have an extensive knowledge of canine ethology -- body language and behavior -- and have 10 years experience helping dogs learn new ways to interact with their environment."
Digate teaches puppy classes at Central Bark in Mequon and she makes in-home behavior consultations for fearful, reactive and aggressive dogs. She also offers professional help for caregivers with new puppies, advice for dog selection and temperament testing for shelters an rescue groups.
Group classes range from $105 to $205, depending on the length of the class. The duration of the classes range, too, from 30 to 55 minutes.
In-home, 70-minute behavior consultations are $125 or $150 for aggression prevention training. In many situations, in-home training is more successful and / or convenient for pets and their caregivers.
"Anxious or fearful animals often learn better in their own environments," says Digate. "Sometimes people with busy schedules simply want someone to come in-home to work at their convenience."
In 1997, Digate started training her family dogs. Later, she started working for the Wisconsin Humane Society in multiple roles, including as a class instructor. In 2004, Digate started Wild Canine. It was difficult for her to juggle both jobs.
"I was so busy I had to make a choice about which path I wanted to continue on, so I chose training / behavior, although it was a difficult choice," she says.
Digate adopted her first dog at the age of 9. She researched breeds and picked a cairn terrier named "Mac" for her family, which ended up being a great fit. Today, she often brings her dog -- 6-year-old cattle/corgi mix, Piper -- with her on location.
Today, Digate has years of success under her belt and she feels fortunate to be able to work in a field that she truly loves.
"I adore all animals and do train other species, but the bond between people and their dogs is unique - emotionally and biologically," says Digate. "This has been my passion and my only job for the last seven years."
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
