DOG WHISPERER

ness will grow in the Monroe County area so that he will not have to travel and so that other local residents can find the joys with their pets that she has.

“ He has been in business here several years,” said director of Monroe County Animal Control Becky Cleveland.“[ Animal control officer ] Alfred Taylor says if he can’ t settle a dog down, there is no hope. He uses no force or restrictions, just has a way with animals.”

“ He’ s really good. He trains, rescues, runs a tight ship,” said Taylor.“ He’ s a religious man. He does a lot of good. He can get them where they need to be.”

When asked if he had ever encountered dogs he could not train, Truett said there had been a few dogs from whom he did not get everything he wanted.“ With the right amount of time, it could be resolved,” he said.

“ Owners have to be patient and understanding.”

Truett works with every breed, size, and age of dog. But he breeds dogs usually known as protectors, like German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and pit bulls. He is proud of a breed he has developed from a combination of large breed companion dogs, which he calls the“ protege.” He is equally happy to work with small dogs, and his wife’ s favorite is the Yorkie.

Recently, he was working with a 16-month old Pressacanario named‘ Major’ who had arrived at Diamond Cut Kennels rambunctiously dragging his owner behind him on the chain. After two weeks, Major obeyed commands in English and German and was learning to obey voiceless hand signals. Major sat with Truett as he talked in his yard, even when one of Truett’ s

cats,‘ Hunter,’ came over to join the group, too. One could tell that it was difficult for Major to ignore his instincts on how to interact with a cat.

Truett said he has never formally trained to work with dogs but did learn from some individuals with legendary reputations in the field, such as Cigar Stephenson of Atlanta and Leroy Clark, who started one of the first canine units in Louisville, Ky. and trained dogs to jump from helicopters with their masters.

“ They encouraged me to trust my instincts,” said Truett.“ Every dog is different. You have to develop a bond and respect what he needs from you.”

Truett’ s older children love to spoil the dogs and to help him in socializing them and filling their down time from training with play. But Truett

said his youngest child, Alivia, 7, says she is the best trainer, and his grandson, Cameron, 6, is also active in training dogs. Truett’ s youngest son, Derrick, 16, a student at Mary Persons, relates to the dogs in his own way, taking them out and talking to them when he needs to gather his thoughts.

“ It has made me happy to see what I have been doing for so long has affected them in ways I didn’ t realize,” said Truett.

Truett demonstrated his work with dogs at career day at E. L. Miller Elementary in Atlanta the last two years and got an amazing response.

“ I would like to bring that into more homes,” he said.“ I would like to enhance the lives of young people.”

Kevin Truett can be contacted at 404-217-6322 or at dcutkennel @ gmail. com.