RH - Romi Hirayama
LKG - Lysa Knight Goguen
Name: Lysa Knight Goguen
Occupation: Co-Owner of Wags & Wiggles Part Deux
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Current Location: Corona, CA
Current Dogs: Guinness - 12.5 year old Yellow Lab, Mischief - 5 year old Black Lab, Mayhem - 2 year old Black Lab, Fury - 1 year old Black Lab
RH: If you had to choose 3 words to describe each of your dogs what would they be?
LKG: Guiness - Goofy, Hungry, Deaf!, Mischief - Smart, Rockstar, Daddys Girl, Mayhem - Lover, Sweet, Fast, Fury - Selfish, Adorable, Mommas Girl
RH: What breed of dog would you love to own?
LKG: Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael)
RH: When you were a little girl, what did you want to be?
LKG: A Hairdresser!
RH: What is your guilty pleasure?
LKG: Chocolate!
RH: What is your favorite vacation spot?
LKG: Cabo San Lucas!
RH: What are the first 5 tricks you train a new puppy?
LKG: Name Game, Hand Touch, Sit, Come, High Five
RH: Is there any specific reason why you teach these tricks first?
LKG: The first 4 are important to any dog to understand to do what humans expect of them. Which is respond, come to me and be still. The fifth one is because all dogs should know tricks! Its fun for the dog and fun for the human!
RH: When did you know that working with dogs was what you wanted to do for a living?
LKG: When I got Guinness at 8 weeks, I had started a training class with Laurie when she just opened Wags & Wiggles in RSM. I enjoyed it so much, that when I saw a "help wanted" sign, I knew I had to be a part of her team. During that time, Laurie had me helping her with obedience classes and working in the daycare. How I knew I wanted to do this for a living was after I completed my Masters program, a work project took me away from working at Wags part-time and I was miserable. I realized that life is too short and that happiness does matter. Therefore, I quit my corporate america job, masters degree in my pocket and went to train dogs full-time!
RH: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
LKG: I have to pick one thing?! (thinking long and hard!)...Seeing the difference I can make in a dogs life - For example, improving communication between him and his owner. Improving his quality of life. Giving him a place to run and have fun safely.
RH: Has becoming a co-owner of a dog-related business changed your life?
LKG: I have grown so much in the last 5 years than I thought was possible! In terms of maturity, ability to handle all kinds of situations; emloyees to customer relations. I'm ten times the person I was 5 years ago!
RH: What fun things do you do with your dogs?
LKG: Agility, Dock Diving, Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Lure Coursing. Really anything and anywhere that will allow me to bring my dogs, I will go!
RH: What is one of the most naughty things one of your dogs have done?
LKG: Mischief learned how to open the kitchen cabinets and figured out how to take everything out and as a result, we now have child locks on our cabinets!
RH: Give one experience when you dogs have made you proud.
LKG: They make me proud everyday because they make me a better person. The most recent event would be Mischief winning Grand Prix in Agility because I never thought we could achieve such a goal!
RH: What do you do outside of your dog passion?
LKG: NOTHING! My whole life revolves around dogs! Call me the Crazy Dog Lady!
RH: What is the best training advice you could give?
LKG: Don't get frustrated with your dog!
RH: What made you become the crazy Lab lady?
LKG: It was an accident! I have had a German Shepherd Dog, Shetland Sheepdog, American Eskimo, and Schnauzer. Guinness was my first dog as an adult. And I just loved the silly way about him. Strong work ethic yet, cheeky and independent. And now i'm stuck! I do love all breeds though.
RH: I know you mentioned you do dog sports with your dogs, what are some of their accomplishments?
LKG: Mischiefs first ever Noseworks Trial, she received her NW1 Title with Top Overall. Guinness - whenever he finished an agility course without dropping a bar! Mischief - Being able to be competitive at National level Agility competitions. With all my dogs that they are happy to play the game with me!
RH: What is most rewarding about training dogs?
LKG: Watching the difference in their understanding of what we want from them. Thereby changing their response to us.
RH: What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Wags?
LKG: So while teaching an agility class of 8 people., I was dragging a tunnel to move it from one place to the next. I tripped and went flying across the room and landed on my face. They all gasped and all I could do was laugh!
RH: What non-dog activities do you enjoy?
LKG: Artsy Craftsy Stuff, like scrapbooking, amateur knitting, 4 wheeling with my hubby! But when it comes down to it, everything circles back to being dog related.
RH: Any Last words?
LKG: All I can say is I have the best job in the world. The best family and the best dogs a girl could ever ask for! I wouldn't have it any other way!
Big thanks to Lysa for taking the time to do this interview with me! Thanks for tuning in! Check back soon for my next interview victim :)
-Romi
