It’s July. Prime summertime. School is probably the last thing on your mind right now…
But, what about school for your pups?
It’s always a great time to train your dogs, and if you’ve been looking for the perfect place to enroll your fur babies, well, there’s a new spot in town to check out: Paw & Order!
John Rossakis (he/him), opened a Twin Cities branch of the small, family-owned Paw & Order dog training franchise after completing CATCH Canine Academy and interning with the Animal Humane Society. With only ten franchises in the entire country, this local, accessible dog training service meets your dog right where they are and provides top-notch service for every pet!
Paw & Order will help you train your dog—whether it’s a new puppy and you want to catch bad behavior early, or it’s a rescue who needs a little help re-adjusting to a new life, or it’s an older dog with hard-to-break habits! Rossakis started the Twin Cities franchise after researching tons of other franchises and facilities, and falling in love with the mission of Paw & Order, that every dog is unique and requires individualized training styles.
Rossakis has a long history with dogs. He says, “My husband and I started fostering dogs in 2007… Pardon my pun, but that’s how we got ‘bit by the dog craze.’” From growing up with pups (and tons of other animals) around the house, to his work now, it’s safe to say Rossakis is a pet person! He shared that he’d had cats for many years as a young adult, until his boyfriend at the time got a dog and something pulled him, telling him that fostering and caring for rescue dogs was something he always needed to do. Now, after fostering and rehoming more than 60 dogs, the couple has two adorable dogs together: Otis, a mix of (probably) lab, pit and husky, and Patsy, a mix of (probably) black lab and retriever! They’re Rossaskis’ favorite breeds: all American mutts!
So, how does Rossakis train dogs to be well-behaved, good dogs? Well, there’s isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Most of Rossakis’ work with his training dogs occurs at the dog’s house. He says that by working in the actual home of the dog and dog owner, ““You really get to see the environment that the dog operates in… how the person and family interact [with the dog].” This helps Rossakis meet each dog where they’re at, and foster a partnership with the dog owner. He puts something special and unique into each interaction with different dogs, and of course, the training is important for the dogs—but it’s equally important for the humans too. Giving tips and advice to dog owners can help them feel in control, and well-equipped to continue their lessons with their dogs around the clock, because, as Rossakis says, “Real training happens when I walk out the door.”
Rossakis shared a story of a client who graduated from Dog Rescue and hired him for basic obedience training. She started out very distressed, afraid there was nothing she could do to help her dog behave well. Her rescue dog was terrorizing her cat and nipping at her boyfriend’s child. But after just one lesson, giving the dog some structure and its owner some management techniques, “things turned around significantly.” Rossakis says he came back for their follow-up appointment, and his client was beaming. She told him after one lesson: “wow, this is WORKING!”
Surprisingly, Rossakis didn’t always work with dogs. His career actually began working as a pediatric occupational therapist, in which he worked with special needs children, age 3-21. He says about his work as an OT, “The work I do with dogs is informed by my work [as a therapist], in meeting someone where they’re at… I need to meet someone before ‘waving my therapy wand.’” In other words, Rossakis acknowledges that there’s no magical solution to training. Each individual dog is different, and requires a specialized, individual approach. That’s why his training is so successful: he really knows how to break through with a dog, and help it be the best it can be.
Rossakis also talks about the deep connection that the queer community has with dogs, especially rescue dogs. He says, in his time working with animals, he’s noticed a disproportionate amount of rescue dogs belonging to queer people. Maybe that says something about how we accept and love the ‘outcasts’ of society. Or that our love is deeply steeped in found-family and in opening our homes and hearts to those who need it most. Rossakis mentions that he doesn’t have children, but “my four-legged are my children… maybe that has something to do with it.” And his husband, John Medeiros, supports him 100% in all of his endeavors. (And even helps Rossakis with the technology aspect of the business, which is not his ‘forte’!) He also says, “The Twin Cities is a very rescue-friendly kind of town,” and he adds, “and it’s getting better.”
From a life of working with children to his dream job of working with and training dogs, Rossakis is a true inspiration that we can be anything we want to be in this world. And that it’s never too late to teach any dog some new tricks if they’re given the right love and support!
Learn more about Paw & Order and all their wonderful services on their website.
www.pawandorder.com/twin-cities
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