A Ceresco couple is dedicating their lives to providing love and comfort to elderly dogs in need. No matter the age or health condition, each dog is guaranteed a forever home with Shawna Clement and her husband, Joshua Bomberger.
It all started five years ago when Clement and Bomberger moved onto a 10-acre property about 20 miles north of Lincoln and founded The Farm: Senior Dog Sanctuary. The couple, who have had dogs for most of their lives, had a soft spot for the older dogs who they say are often overlooked.
“There was an obvious need for it,” Bomberger said. “These dogs, they needed somewhere to go for the last little bits of their life and we wanted to provide them with something that was quiet and peaceful and very loved on instead of a shelter.”
But as pet owners know, it’s not a cheap endeavor. Last year, The Farm’s total expenses surpassed $30,000, with the majority going toward veterinary care. Over $23,000 came from donations with the rest coming from Clement and Bomberger’s pockets.
People are also reading…
![The Farm: Senior Dogs, 7.16](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/94/49455b32-43b9-11ef-8b03-2ba19e0f41a7/6696e436dfc89.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
Shawna Clement (left) and her husband Joshua Bomberger (right) with their rescue dogs on Tuesday in Ceresco. The couple founded The Farm: Senior Dog Sanctuary and will host a fundraiser at Lincoln's Off Leash Dog Bar this Saturday to help offset costs.
Currently, the youngest dog at The Farm is 8 years old, but the dogs typically range between 12 and 18 years old. When they began, the couple decided they wouldn’t have more than six dogs at a time, but that number has quickly risen to their current 13 calling the acreage their forever home.
As The Farm is licensed under the Department of Agriculture, they don’t necessarily have a numerical limit on how many dogs they can take in as long as the dogs are taken care of. However, Clement said they have their own personal limit based on the level of care they want the dogs to have while still providing a home environment rather than a kennel environment.
“There’s always adult and old and geriatric dogs that are at every shelter that need a home and I’m so glad that we’re able to do this, but there’s no shortage,” Clement said.
![The Farm: Senior Dogs, 7.16](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bb/6bb22e20-43b9-11ef-a55d-57fc9a6e73f6/6696e470a3a1f.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
Swifty, an approximately 13-year-old terrier mix, sits underneath a bench swing at The Farm: Senior Dog Sanctuary in Ceresco.
Most of the dogs come from the Capitol Humane Society and have been deemed unadoptable or are unlikely to be adopted because of their advanced age or health concerns. They also get dogs who outlive their owners and have nowhere else to go.
“Something I like to tell people is when you get a new dog or something, if something were to happen to you, who’s your ‘dogfather’ so to speak,” Bomberger said.
Instead of these older dogs living their remaining days in a shelter where Clement said it can be loud with bad smells, they aim to provide a less scary alternative.
“For these dogs that have been, in a lot of cases, living with one person their entire life or living with one family and now they’re in this scary place, it’s not a way to have your final days,” Clement said.
They also come with a variety of health issues such as heart failure, liver disease, kidney failure or a combination. Some are completely blind or have poor eyesight while others are deaf. Most of the dogs are also on a prescription diet.
![The Farm: Senior Dogs, 7.16](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=150%2C222 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=200%2C296 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=225%2C333 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=300%2C444 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=400%2C592 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=540%2C799 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=640%2C947 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=750%2C1110 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=990%2C1465 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C1532 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/04/504793aa-43b9-11ef-844a-23215e042d9c/6696e442a4fc7.image.jpg?resize=1183%2C1751 1200w)
Joshua Bomberger and Shawna Clement pose alongside their senior dogs at The Farm: Senior Dog Sanctuary in Ceresco.
“Old dogs have their own difficulties,” Bomberger said. “We have 13 dogs and we currently have six different foods.”
Clement, a vet tech, has several Excel sheets to keep track of the different illnesses, vaccine dates and bloodwork. Another sheet contains dog care information including the food and pills for each dog for the rare occasions when they leave their dogs with another caretaker.
No amount of time with the dogs is enough as Bomberger said they typically have a year or two with each.
“The euthanasians never gets easier,” Bomberger said. “You never become inured to it.”
After each euthanasia, Clement said they discuss with one another whether they want to keep adopting elderly dogs. Each time, no matter how hard it is, they both want to continue.
![The Farm: Senior Dogs, 7.16](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/05/605c8606-43b9-11ef-ac08-c38c7c4a188f/6696e45da27f4.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
The "Stairway to Heaven" is dedicated to the elderly dogs that have died at The Farm, the home of Shawna Clement and Joshua Bomberger, where they care for senior dogs.
“It is hard, it’s always hard losing them, but it’s absolutely worth it,” Clement said.
In the five years, they’ve had 35 dogs call The Farm home, 22 of which have since passed. They are far from forgotten as each dog gets a photo and sometimes a memento hung on the “Stairway to Heaven” along their staircase.
“I so hope that dog heaven is a real thing,” Clement said. “I want to go there, there’s going to be a horde of dogs waiting.”
Photos: Dog training at Lincoln's Tierra Park
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=150%2C108 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=200%2C144 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=225%2C162 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=300%2C217 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=400%2C289 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=540%2C390 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=640%2C462 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=750%2C541 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=990%2C715 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C747 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C866 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C962 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1066 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/e4/2e4eaab0-03fb-56bf-94fe-7f010a0042ab/65ef84f14c7ec.image.jpg?resize=1694%2C1223 2008w)
Aja the Belgian Shepard leaps over a jump during a training exercise with Prairie Skies dog training on Monday at Tierra Park. Aja participates in competition obedience training.
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=150%2C101 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=200%2C135 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=225%2C152 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=300%2C203 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=400%2C270 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=540%2C365 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=640%2C432 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=750%2C506 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=990%2C668 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C699 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C810 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C900 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C997 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/3c/53cec0a4-6a9d-5a5f-b446-a146bada23ef/65ef84ee81d6f.image.jpg?resize=1752%2C1183 2008w)
Allie Pachunka (left) praises her border collie, Prim, during a training class on Monday at Tierra Park. Pachunka and Prim participate in competition obedience training.
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=150%2C199 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=200%2C265 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=225%2C298 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=300%2C397 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=400%2C529 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=540%2C715 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=640%2C847 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=750%2C993 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=990%2C1311 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C1370 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1588 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/8e/58e83cc3-3cb3-59c1-bc90-8b283c3ddffb/65ef84e610391.image.jpg?resize=1251%2C1656 1333w)
Allie Pachunka (left) praises her border collie, Prim, during a training class at Tierra Park. Pachunka and Prim participate in competition obedience training.
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=150%2C123 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=200%2C164 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=225%2C184 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=300%2C245 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=400%2C327 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=540%2C442 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=640%2C523 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=750%2C613 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=990%2C810 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C846 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C981 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C1090 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1207 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/84/884b1289-6341-59f9-87c5-532ccc97a08d/65ef84eb06810.image.jpg?resize=1592%2C1302 2008w)
Prim the border collie waits to catch a ball during a training session on Monday at Tierra Park.
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=150%2C102 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=200%2C136 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=225%2C153 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=300%2C205 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=400%2C273 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=540%2C368 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=640%2C436 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=750%2C511 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=990%2C675 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C706 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C818 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C909 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1006 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/52/95224241-486b-5e55-864c-f36bab7e2e56/65ef84e839a5d.image.jpg 2008w)
Rufus, a Havanese, picks up an "article" that has his owner's scent on it during a scent discrimination training exercise.
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=150%2C106 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=200%2C142 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=225%2C160 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=300%2C213 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=400%2C284 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=540%2C383 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=640%2C454 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=750%2C532 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=990%2C703 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C735 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C852 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C946 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1048 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b2/9b2d1a0c-f77a-59ed-9943-491e9ab8b17f/65ef84ebbfa03.image.jpg?resize=1709%2C1213 2008w)
Allie Pachunka (right) holds up a toy for her border collie, Prim, during a Prairie Skies dog training class on Monday at Tierra Park. Pachunka and Prim participate in competition obedience training.
Dog training feature, 3.11
![Dog training feature, 3.11](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=150%2C246 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=200%2C328 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=225%2C369 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=300%2C493 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=400%2C657 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=540%2C887 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=640%2C1051 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=750%2C1232 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=990%2C1626 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C1700 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/journalstar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/b3/9b3b827b-162f-56d6-b5f3-3e10c6eadcc5/65ef84e9b19d1.image.jpg?resize=1123%2C1844 1200w)
Josie the Belgian Shepherd leaps over an obstacle during a training session.