There are few things I enjoy more in my life than helping to train a dog that a human loves dearly, and whose love is clearly returned.

Seeing the right dog together with the right person – rare in a world where most people get dogs in the wrong way and often for the wrong reasons – is precious to me.

My friend Scott Carrino, co-owner of the much-loved Round House Bakery (not takeout) really needed a dog. He has been mourning the loss of his sweet but fetchingly ugly dog Dio, a testament to the wonderful prism through which people see the dogs they love.

Dio was a lucky dog, in every way.

When I see Scott now, I realize the hole Dio’s death left inside of him. He really needed a dog, and he really needs this dog, Lou.

My heart lifts when I see the love and connection that already passes between them, and Lou has only been around for a week. He is a sheepadoodle, a hybrid, or “designer” dog, a cross between the Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle.

Scott has had a tough few years, struggling to make his Round House Cafe successful (he and his wife Lisa)  and then losing it to the pandemic. They are offering takeout from the farm and later, farm-to-table dinners and concerts.

Scott is happier than I’ve ever seen him.

Scott and Lisa now operate out of their Pompanuck Farm and they are home all day to care for a puppy, and 40 acres to walk on.

We began training with my 10-minute talk on how training a dog is a spiritual experience, it is not about obedience. It bonds the dog and human together, calms the dog, and helps it live safely in a world that is often hostile and confusing for dogs.

Scott wants a companion dog, sweet, smart, and friendly. Sheepadoodles are known for that. Scott is worn out for years of making the care work and also had open-heart surgery.

He needed a dog. Working in the cafe was too frantic for a dog, but Scott works at home enow.

I keep thinking Lou is an F.A.O. Schwart dog, one of those expensive stuffed dogs kid love. He is definitely a sweetheart and loved to cuddle.

The first session was a snap. I held a treat up high and waited for Lou to sit down and look up at it. When his but hit the floor I whooped, “good sit!” and gave him a treat.

I backed up, holding another treat in my hand and when he came toward me, I said “good come!” and offered another treat.

I took Lou just a few minutes to get both behaviors.

This will be a happy experience for all of us. We’ll do Round 2 later in the week or early next week. I think we got a great start with “sit” and “stay.” This is a smart dog who loves to learn.

I’m also bringing Scott a Pet Corrector spray to keep Lou from chewing on people or jumping upon them.

I recommend Pet Corrector highly for dogs that jump on people or gnaw on them or hound people at the dinner table.

One or two sprays along with the command  “off” are usually all it takes. I love training puppies.  Lou is just about housebroken.