Ryan Dew and his partner, Luke Hung, couldn’t decide on what type of dog they wanted.
Luke had experience with dogs, but Ryan didn’t.
Ryan wanted a Shibu Inu, while Luke had his heart set on a Husky.
“We were wandering around Philly one day and saw this huge, white fluffball,” Ryan shared. “It’s not a compromise per se, but it worked out nicely. The breed is super cute, and we both got what we wanted in a dog. She’s sassy, stubborn, and keeps us on our toes, but she’s also cute and fluffy.”
They brought home Momo, a Samoyed who turns one year old on September 8, naming her after the Japanese word for peach.
And they got her into training classes immediately. “We’d heard when we got a Sammy that they were stubborn, strong-willed dogs,” Ryan said. “We were warned to get training right off the bat.”
They found their training and socialization needs in Philly Unleashed, starting Puppy Club first at Northern Liberties, then moving along through Level 1 and Level 2. “We love the flexible schedule and the different locations,” Ryan said. “We always have fun with the trainers and other dogs.”
And they appreciated the patience of trainers like Lindsay and Collin. “We didn’t know anything,” Ryan admitted. “She was my first dog. We were always asking questions.”
While Momo might be a bit stubborn still, Ryan finds that training helped. “She’s a good girl,” he said. “She makes her wishes known, which is pretty funny to watch. She’s also very curious about everything.”
She was visiting the beach for the first time with Ryan and Luke recently, and her nose took her all over. “It’s been nonstop sniffing and dragging me places to check things out,” Ryan said.
When she’s reluctant, she has another go-to: refusing to move. “She sits to get what she wants,” Ryan shared. “The way she sits is super cute. She throws her butt on the ground make a show of doing it.”
Momo is working her way through Level 2 at the moment, working on “target”, “go say hello”, “paws up”, and “peekaboo”, which Ryan and Luke have found she responds to much more quickly than “come”. “Philly Unleashed was a great idea, and we recommend it to all people with dogs that could use a little work who ask.”
Momo also gets plenty of exercise, often going to daycare of getting several hour-long walks a day. Her manners help when they are out and about in Philadelphia. “She’s so well-behaved around other dogs and people,” Ryan said. “Momo is always so level-headed. Part of that is breed, and part is starting classes so early.”
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