Falkenhof Canines opens training facility

Photo by Pat Sunderland Marion Lewis has worked with dogs since she was a young girl growing up in Germany. She shares her extensive experience through private and group sessions at Falkenhof Canines.Marion Lewis, owner of Falkenhof Canines, is throwing a party to celebrate the grand opening of her new training facility on California Mesa west of Delta.

Refreshments, door prizes, demonstrations, displays and more are planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26.

Lewis has been training dogs in the Delta-Montrose area since 2003. She rented the Lions Club in Montrose while making plans to build a facility on property she purchased on Spring Creek. When a neighbor objected to that plan, she decided to buy acreage at 51511 Amber Road, where she erected a 3,000-square-foot training facility. There's plenty of parking and a fenced outdoor area measuring 100x100 feet. At an age when many people are thinking about retirement, Lewis wants to continue doing what she loves, not sit around twiddling her thumbs. She calls this project Phase I; Phase II will feature an office, kitchen, media room for workshops and seminars, and a grooming area. Although she doesn't plan to retire, Marion says she is definitely ready to give up grooming after 30 years. She'll make that space available to another groomer. In the past she's also offered boarding, but these days she's happy to focus on her true passion — training.

"I enjoy seeing the progress people make with their dogs," she said.

Dogs and their owners will enjoy the open, well-lit and warm space. To give everybody plenty of room to work, Lewis limits her classes to 10 participants.

She offers private and group sessions, with options both day and evening. Classes include puppy kindergarten, beginners I and II and novice, as well as workshops on demand. Dog show enthusiasts can learn about showmanship and conformation, while those who just want to have fun with their dogs can sign up for agility, herding, rally obedience and tracking. Your dog will love to trot alongside when you try biking, roller blading and skijoring. Looking for something different? Lewis is the only trainer in the area certified to teach "Treiball," a new dog sport from Germany.

Is your dog aggressive? Does it behave poorly around other people or animals? Marion provides individual assistance for problem dogs, using positive reinforcement and motivation to break bad habits.

"Dogs enrich my life," she said. "They are part of everything I do. I like to share my knowledge and teach dog owners to help their pets become good canine citizens — a pet that you and your neighbors will love and your vet and groomer will appreciate.

"It's not magic," she added. "You have to go home and work with your dogs."

Marion, an immigrant from Germany, says she comes from a long line of dog trainers. Her grandfather loved the sport of "schutzhund" and she remembers accompanying him every Sunday.

After breeding and showing her own dogs for many years, she opened Falkenhof Kennels & Training Center in Wisconsin on 1986. The name Falkenhof, she explains, comes from Schloss Falkenhof, the castle in which she was born. The castle served as a hospital during World War II. She continues to use that name at her new facility at 51511 Amber Road. Visitors are always welcome. Call 240-0263 or 874-1336 or visit delta-dogtraining.com for more information.

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