Conversations with the Inspiring Mallory Robinson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Robinson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Mallory. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
A third-generation dog trainer, I began at the age of 8 years old showing my grandmother’s Boxers in the conformation ring as an AKC Junior Handler. As a teen, I began volunteering at my local county SPCA where I eventually became of age for employment as an adoption counselor. It has been a lifelong passion of mine to unlock the mysteries of the canine brain and how they perceive the world we give them to live in. What started as a hobby grew into who I am today: someone who speaks for the dogs. My emphasis on rescue and rehabilitation has taken me through all aspects of shelter operations, both the miraculous and the horrific. It has been my driving force to continue supporting shelter behavior efforts in order to boost a dog’s chances for adoption. I continue to volunteer with multiple rescue groups and organizations with the desire to give every dog a chance at having a loving forever family. This includes the nationally recognized Pets for Vets organization, where I have been fortunate enough to assess, save, train and place 6 rescued shelter dogs and successfully paired them with their Houston veterans thus far. I continue to volunteer with THANKS – The Homeless Animal Network of Kindness Society – as Lead Trainer/Program Director for the Behavior Department at Montgomery County Animal Shelter (when I’m not working full time for the Houston Dog Ranch.)

My most recent project is still in the works and seeking active volunteers, participants, and even trainer contestants. The MoCo Mutt Makeover is a 2-week training competition for positive reinforcement trainers to highlight their skills and promote the adoption of 14 shelter dogs. My hope is to have this event ready to run by Winter 2018, fingers and paws crossed!

Has it been a smooth road?
“It’s supposed to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. The hard is what makes it great,” from A League of Their Own, has gotten me through the rocky roads – of which there have been many. Keeping enthusiasm for a hobby-turned-career can be a challenge when facing burnout or compassion fatigue. When you work with animals, you’re working with lives that become a part of your own (even in small doses.) It can be difficult when lives are lost to the shelter system, or when adoptions fail and dogs are returned (sometimes, worse than when they first left), and especially holding true to my own convictions.

Being a positive-reinforcement trainer is a slowly growing movement in the dog training industry. Where dominance theory once reigned supreme and only recently debunked, it makes paving the way for new, science=based methods tricky when combating decades of indoctrination. Thankfully, the results speak for themselves and even the most hardened, unyielding owners and handlers have stood in awe at the immediate turn-around positive reinforcement methods can create for dogs that were once evasive or uncooperative. Giving these dogs a chance to shine and seeing the ‘WOW!’ factor from their people is what most often overshadows the hardships along the way.

My best advice is to those starting out is to continue educating yourself in your field; new science is emerging every day in every industry. After that, pay attention to your gut and hold fast to your standards and ethics. There will be competitors and haters who may have something to say about your business but never forget: it’s the empty cans that rattle the loudest. Stay the course.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into OAK9 Academy Canine Behavior Center story. Tell us more about the business.
In my formative canine career years, my passion for scent detection has crossed many fields, where I have titled multiple hunting dogs in both AKC and NAVHDA hunting tests then went on to certify as an IBBMA Detection Handler, providing cimex detection K9 services for the largest pest control company in Texas.

As a Shelter Behavior Affiliate with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, I enjoy contributing to the IAABC Journal, a peer-reviewed publication for behavior consultants. I am also pleased to provide certifications for Canine Good Citizens, Trick Dogs, and Therapy Prep as a licensed AKC Evaluator. This has aided in my desire to support veterans in my work with Pets for Vets, having assessed, selected, trained, and matched 6 veteran/assistance K9 teams thus far.

Above all, I am most proud to be a founding member of the Pet Professional’s Guild, as a Professional Dog Trainer pledged to provide positive reinforcement training without the use of physical force, emotional intimidation, choke chains, prong collars, or electronic shock collars. A project within the PPG includes the Shock Free Coalition, of which I am also a Regional Coordinator.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Absolutely! My family was heavily involved with dogs well before I was born. My paternal grandmother bred and showed champion conformation Standard Poodles prior to my birth and had transitioned to Boxers by the time I became of age to join her in the ring. At the age of 8-years-old, I began showing Boxers in conformation as an AKC Junior Handler. My parents always had Australian Shepherds growing up, and I cannot recall a single childhood memory where we didn’t have at least 3 dogs at any given time.

Growing up in a multi-dog, show/working dog family gave me the push I needed to know where my heart truly would lead me to my work.

Pricing:

• Private Training Sessions – $85 to $125
• Home Boarding Packages – $75 per night
• Stay & Train Packages – Starting at $1400 for 2 Weeks
• Group Classes – $200 for 6 Weeks

Contact Info:

• Address: Two turns off of I45 at Wilson Exit, just 5 minutes from downtown Conroe
• Website: www.OAK9training.com
• Phone: 936-235-5269
• Email: info@OAK9training.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/oak9academy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/oak9academy

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.