KRIS & SCOTT GILES
OWNERS OF A BETTER COMPANION

KRIS AND SCOTT GILES OPENED A BETTER COMPANION IN MAY 2001, WITH THE VISION OF CREATING A SAFE AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT FOR DOGS TO PLAY WHILE THEIR OWNERS ARE AT WORK.  AFTER 7 YEARS AT 20 TREMONT ST, KRIS AND SCOTT HAVE MOVED A BETTER COMPANION TO A BRAND NEW, STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, WITH MORE PLAYING SPACE TO 162 TREMONT ST. 

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE GILES FAMILY.

THE GILES FAMILY LOVES DOGS.  KRIS, SCOTT AND THEIR DAUGHTER TAYLOR HAVE OWNED GERMAN SHEPHERDS FOR OVER 12 YEARS.  WE, AS A FAMILY, OWN AND OPERATE A BETTER COMPANION, ALL FIVE OF US, KRIS, SCOTT, TAYLOR, BELLA BOO, AND KREUZ.  WE ALL HAVE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND ENJOY DOING OUR JOBS EVERY DAY.

KRIS GRADUATED FROM ESSEX AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN 1995, RECEIVING HER CERTIFICATE IN GROOMING & KENNEL MANAGEMENT.   SHE IS THE HEAD GROOMER IN OUR GROOMING SALON AND SPECIALIZES IN SCISSOR WORK, AND WORKING WITH OLDER DOGS AND PUPPIES.    

SCOTT LOVES HIS JOB AS THE FACILITY  MANAGER.  HE MAKES SURE THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS RUN SMOOTHLY,   ENSURING THE FACILITY IS IN TOP CONDITION SO IT IS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE FOR OUR CLIENTS TO PLAY.  TO SUM IT UP, SCOTT JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A HOWLING GOOD TIME.

TAYLOR IS OUR DAUGHTER, AND FUTURE GROOMER IN TRAINING.  TAYLOR HAS GROWN UP AT A BETTER COMPANION AND DEEPLY LOVES AND ENJOYS WORKING WITH DOGS.  MOST OF OUR LONGTIME CUSTOMERS HAVE KNOWN TAYLOR SINCE SHE WAS A BABY.   TAYLOR HELPS IN THE DAYCARE, PLAYING WITH HER “FRIENDS”.  

THE LAST TWO MEMBERS OF THE GILES FAMILY ARE BELLA BOO AND KREUZ.  THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB HERE AT A BETTER COMPANION, AS THE INTERVIEWING DOGS.  BELLA AND KREUZ MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DOG THAT COMES INTO A BETTER COMPANION IS WELL SOCIALIZED AND FRIENDLY TOWARDS DOGS OF ALL SIZES.

KROSS MONSTA    1/1/00 - 2/3/09
KROSS AND KRIS STARTED A BETTER COMPANION TOGETHER,
 “KROSS WILL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER”

 SHOEI    9/27/95 - 9/14/06
“SHOEI WAS OUR FIRST SHEPHERD, WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER”

Nancy DePasquale Smith
A DIARY OF DOGGIE BOOTCAMP
(AND HOW  HAVE A GOOD DOG!  CAME TO BE)

 As many of you know, I have been interested in dogs and dog training since I got my own Golden Retriever, Lennon, some 6 years ago. I decided, after spending a lot of time and effort training him to be a good dog (as well as a therapy dog), and after working locally in a kennel and training center, it was time to put my own skills to the ultimate test…so off to school I went.  After enduring a program complete with 16-hour days and rigid requirements and testing, I have returned from Triple Crown Academy in Texas (the world leader in pet education) and, what I refer to as, “doggie boot camp.” After battling it out in the “kennel” amidst plenty of dog pee and poop, I have emerged with what should be a Ph.d. in doggie psychology! Ok, a certificate as a “Canine Training Specialist” will have to do.

 My studies consisted of the science behind how dogs learn, clicker training, basic and advanced obedience, group classes, private lessons, in-home training, behavior evaluations, aggression, remote collar & various forms of training equipment, behavior modification, as well as puppy selection & sport protection training, narcotics detection, tracking (for police search & rescue sport), health care and kennel & business management. Considering exams took an average of 3 hours, this school was no joke.  I truly feel well equipped to take on any doggoned situation!

 Now what am I going to do with all this knowledge, you ask? Well, I have started a business called “Have A Good Dog!”  I call myself a “Personal Dog Trainer and Pet Educator”.  My goal is to teach people how to have a good dog by educating them on exactly how dogs learn, the phases of their learning and how to most effectively get the job done using proven positive methods.

 Have A Good Dog is conveniently located at A BETTER COMPANION, THE CANINE RECREATION CENTER, off the Lynnfells Parkway at 20 Tremont Street, Melrose, MA 02176.  Please call for all of your training needs whether it be small/semi-private group classes (5-dog limit), private lessons or behavior evaluations and much more.