Dog training book aims to broaden emotional horizons of students while connecting with their pets

LAGRANGE COUNTY, Ind. -- “Lessons from Lad” isn’t your traditional dog training book. Christine Ferris created it to train and uplift both dogs and their owners from her journey and loss of her Rough Collie, Lad.

Lad passed at 16 months old due a tumor and now she leads a program that’s turned into a book and opportunities for connection.

LAD Lessons has touched hundreds of students in local schools.

Through interactive teaching with classes or school assemblies, junior honor students like Mira Miller are able to learn to connect with their pets on a deeper level as they navigate their own challenges.

“They showed me a lot, like with dog training, you have to take into the spectrum of the dog, it’s not how you see it, it’s how they see it," said Miller.

Legend, Lad’s nephew, interacts in classroom discussions, which creates an engaging learning environment for students.

Ferris offers these courses after learning Legend wasn't misbehaving like she suspected, but that his actions were unintentional due to brain problems.

The challenges Legend faces illustrate what is possible even when you have obstacles to overcome. Addy Cauffman, an honor student, learned how they can apply these lessons to their daily lives.

“When you get to know him and then try to apply like the things that Christine had told us and how it has helped him become like a more good behavior dog, and then he started to open up and he started to let us pet him and it was a really cool experience,” said Cauffman.

Learning the importance of perspective has allowed owners to better connect with their animals and prevent continuous behavior issues keeping strays off the streets and shelter under capacity.

“Lessons from Lad” has grown from grief and is now a gift to all who hear her speak or read her book that focuses on life, love, leadership, and loss.

Ferris hopes the lessons can expand their emotional horizons and cause them to be more receptive to all people, pets, and in life.

I spoke with some of the students after they learned from Lad and Ferris’s current companion, Legend. They tell me they learned how stepping into someone else’s shoes or paws can benefit them as a trainer but most importantly as a growing adult.

If you are interested in learning some of these “Lessons from Lad” the book is sold on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles, to keep the purchase local you can visit Fables Books or Neighbors Mercantile.