How One Man's Love For His Dog Shaped Canine Enrichment School

Some of you may remember Dennis and his faithful Vizsla, Rocky — or “Rockstar,” as I liked to call him — from our Clever Canine events. I first met them early in my dog training career, and over time, Dennis became much more than a client. He became a dear friend.

A few months ago, Dennis passed away, and I feel compelled to share a bit of his story — and how his presence helped shape the heart of what we do today at The Clever Canine.

Dennis was an outdoorsman through and through — always fishing, hunting, and exploring, with one of his loyal dogs by his side. Rocky had been trained as a bird dog, but as Dennis’ health began to decline, hunting trips became fewer. Still, he wanted Rocky’s life to remain full and meaningful, so he came to me for help refining Rocky’s obedience skills.

Together, Dennis and Rocky passed the Canine Good Citizen test with flying colors. Dennis dreamed of bringing Rocky to visit nursing homes, hoping to brighten others’ lives the way Rocky brightened his. Though his health made that difficult, he never stopped doing everything he could to give Rocky the best life possible.

Despite having 10 beautiful acres — with a pond and even a pool — Dennis knew Rocky needed more engagement. So he reached out again. On his way to doctor’s appointments or physical therapy, he’d drop Rocky off for training, play, and enrichment. We’d work on obedience, silly tricks, and anything to keep Rocky’s mind sharp. I’ll never forget the day Rocky opened the fridge and brought Dennis a water bottle — we laughed and joked that we might just have a service dog in the making.

As time went on and Dennis' health declined further, our visits became less frequent, but we stayed in touch. He was always kind and generous, sharing stories of his travels, his goals for recovery, and above all, his deep love for Rocky. At one point, he even let me park my camper on his property when I needed a place to stay — that was just who Dennis was.

Dennis had one simple but powerful need: to ensure his beloved dog was cared for, enriched, and happy. Meeting that need sparked the idea behind Clever Care and has evolved into Canine Enrichment School — our way of stepping in to help dogs live their best lives when their people need a little extra support.

In honor of Dennis, and in celebration of my 60th birthday, I’m inviting you to be part of something meaningful. Instead of gifts, I’m asking for donations to the Shelby County Animal Shelter — a cause that beautifully reflects Dennis’ spirit, his compassion, and his lifelong love for dogs.

As we celebrate 6 wonderful years of The Clever Canine and Jennifer’s 60th birthday, we also take time to honor the memory of our dear friend Dennis, whose love for dogs continues to inspire our work.

Please join us for this special gathering on Saturday, November 8, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at The Clever Canine.

My heart is forever grateful for the friendship, love, and joy that Dennis and Rocky brought into my life. Their story is part of our story — and I’m honored to share it with you.