Billie Jean – Oklahoma Life TV’s Own Trick Dog

Where It All Began – Billie Jean’s Start

At the time, I already had a full-grown Rottweiler that I was trying to train as a farm dog. I had goats, horses, fish and was still living with my parents during my years of high school. A family member of ours came through our door holding Billie Jean in her arms, asking my mom to take her. To this day, I am still unsure of why my Mom took in one more animal that day – but I will never be more thankful that she did.

Unfortunately, Billie Jean was born in a litter that couldn’t be cared for because of her original family’s financial struggles. Things were not going to end well for her or her litter mates if they were unable to find new homes. I can remember simply asking that family member if I could “just play with her for a little while.” My mom must’ve seen the connection then (or she just couldn’t say no) because Billie became my dog for life that day.

Right before that family member had stopped by our house, she had visited an Aunt who lived just down the street – an Aunt who wanted Billie Jean just as much as I did when I saw her. As luck would have it, the long-haired, full grown German Shepard she had wouldn’t even let Billie (who was probably the size of a potato at the time) step through the front door. Things had seemed to fit perfectly together for Billie to end up in my arms.

Trick-Training Billie Jean

Training Billie was a breeze; she was perfect from the very start. Her kennel training took no time at all, potty training was easy for someone who had never trained a dog before. Her very first trick actually must have been to potty “on-cue”.

When I realized how easily she caught on to things like sit and down, I wondered what exactly she could be taught. After watching almost endless amounts of YouTube videos, I realized the possibilities were endless. We learned from channels and people like Zack George, Caesar Millan and Treatpouch.

My family grew closer and fonder of Billie Jean and soon started to help in Billie’s training. Mom would let me trail food and hide it in the living room so that Billie learned to scent trail treats (we haven’t made It much farther than that, though). She would help Billie Jean sit through a stay while I went and hid all over the house; then, she’d send Billie to find me by telling her to “hunt”. My brothers were volun-told to run and hide in our back pasture so that Billie could practice finding them. Eventually, it became voluntary (and fun, even).

Eventually, after teaching her many of the tricks she knows now, I took her to the Canine Sports Academy in Norman, Oklahoma, where she was able to receive both her novice and Intermediate certification in in trick-dog profession from the Do More With Your Dog Program. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country hard, Billie was in the process of becoming a certified Therapy dog – her last and final test supposed to be taken at Lowes in Lawton, Oklahoma. Days before the test, Lowes and several other stores in Lawton had closed their doors in order to begin the quarantining process for Lawton and Billie was unable to be certified.

Billie Jean’s Resume

One thing that I have always done with Billie Jean that I would encourage for ANYONE who wants their dog to look at them the way Billie looks at me is to INCLUDE YOUR DOG. Take them anywhere and everywhere you can. Instead of going out with your friends to a Chile’s or Applebees, find a restaurant that allows dogs. Do different activities and hobbies that you can take your dog to like hiking, fishing or visiting places like Medicine Park. While I was in high school, it was difficult for me to bring her to everything – but I took her when I could.

I performed as an acoustic singer during the summer and began bringing Billie Jean to my shows. At first, she had to stay tied to me or my family. Things were not always rainbows and sunshine when she first started learning how to behave in public; but, with time and a lot of hard work, she became one of the best dogs to have in almost ANY setting. She learned to adore people, to relax while bands played loud music, to enjoy large crowds of people and to NEVER jump out of a moving vehicle.

Once she was confident enough to feel comfortable in her surroundings, I started to practice our tricks while in public. She still has her days, but if there’s food – you’ve got 1,000% of her attention.

Billie’s Bright Future… And Another?

TO BE CONTINUED…

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