I sat in homeroom and listened to the announcements, when I heard a cry for help I could not ignore.  A no-kill rescue organization needed help fostering a group of 10 week-old puppies.  After much cajoling and promising I would not want to keep the puppy, I convinced my mom to go along with the idea.  I picked up "the brown and white" puppy that day.  As he crawled out of the cat carrier he called home I desperately tried not to get too close.  Puppies are hard to resist in general, but he simply stopped my heart.  Two weeks and two near-adoptions later he was mine forever.  As we started growing up together we truly did become great friends communicating in a way I thought no one else did.  That was provided we did not go outside on a leash.  Amazingly off leash he behaved quite well, but on leash he terrorized the neighborhood.  Like a lot of owners I simply put up with all of his little behavioral problems because on a whole he behaved well enough.  Two years down the road I got the thrill of my life, when my best friend proposed to me.  However I had only completed one year of college, and he was about to start his senior year at West Point.   With his future so uncertain, I knew I needed to make a decision about my career path.  Despite having chosen my major I still did not know how I would utilize that degree.  Dog training had always been an appealing option, but I thought I needed a four year degree and then training.  After lots of research I found National K-9's School for Dog Trainers.  Their program seemed ideal for me; my dog got training right along with me, he just had to be my guinea pig.  The six week course taught me more than 3 semesters in college, and certainly was more intense and interesting.  The course taught me how to communicate with my dog, and how to pass that gift along to others.  Copper learned how to walk politely on the leash, and how to listen when I talked.  He passed his Canine Good Citizens Test with flying colors, and learned to be a reliable off leash companion.  I formed friendships as well as valuable connections.  After graduation I joined the IACP, an organization that furthered my network of helpful professionals.