Southern Charm School for Dogs - About Us - Mississippi Dog Training

Suzanne began training animals as a young child working with the family pets, which included dogs, cats, horses, along with Jersey and Charlotte, pet cows. This love of animals eventually led Suzanne down the path of assisting others with their companion animals, originally due to a large number of companion animals being turned into the local shelters for simple, easy-to-correct behavioral problems.

After adopting two adult dogs with no prior training from shelters, Suzanne trained and loved both through their Therapy Dog certification, and has been actively making pet therapy visits to local area facilities for over fourteen years with her certified pet therapy dogs.

Over the past thirteen years, Suzanne has offered behavior modification and private lessons, and has taught puppy agility and obedience classes. Southern Charm School for Dogs was formed to assist loving pet owners with their problem pets and to provide a place for owners desiring Therapy Dog certification for their dog to come for appropriate therapy dog training.

Suzanne believes in finding what motivates the pet, then using the motivator as a positive method of training to teach your pet. There are times, however, when corrections are needed. Suzanne believes in administering fair corrections, but only when necessary.

In today's society, all dogs need obedience training. The dog deserves it, we deserve it, and our neighbors deserve it. It is a fact that a well trained dog is more fun to be around.

Suzanne works full time as a professional Web Developer and Graphic Designer, but her love of animals inspires her to assist others with pet behavioral problems, as well as Therapy Dog training and certification, and AKC CGC (American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certification) preparation. She serves as a certified AKC CGC and therapy dog evaluator.

In her spare time, Suzanne raises St. Croix sheep, enjoys herding cattle, sheep and ducks with her Bouvier des Flandres and Aussie, and volunteering with her therapy dogs. She and her husband Greg share 12 year old Casey (Bouvier des Flandres), 6 year old Trouble (Bouvier des Flandres), 3 year old Baker (Australian Shepherd), 8 month old Doc (Australian Labradoodle), 8 year old Mannix (Black and White Domestic Shorthair), 1 Grey Toulouse goose, and 30 sheep.

Also pictured below are three who have gone on to watch God's flock in Heaven; Suzanne's beloved Sissy, a Wheaten Terrier mix she rescued at the age of 2 years, dear sweet Magnolia, a Great Pyrenees rescued at the age of 10 months, and dear, dear Adam, an Australian Shepherd rescued at 15 months.

Suzanne and Greg lost Sissy in December 2001 at the age of 12.5 years. Suzanne credits Sissy with much of her knowledge regarding hard-to-handle dogs. Sissy and her sunshiny attitude are missed deeply by both Suzanne and Greg.

Adopted at the age of 10 months, after watching Suzanne and Greg's flock of sheep for almost 5 years, Magnolia of Three Dog Farm developed bone cancer in the Spring of 2006. Once diagnosed, Mags was retired as a Livestock Guardian Dog, moved inside where she was in heaven, and began visiting local rehabilitation center patients (some of whom she inspired to continue with their own rehab) and a library where children read to her. Mags lived for pet therapy days, and was on her way to earning her AKC CGC and therapy dog certification, when in early October, the pain began and Suzanne and Greg, with the help of their loving vet, sent her on to Heaven to be with Sissy. Suzanne, Greg and all the kids, (including the sheep) really miss the sweetness and lovingness Magnolia displayed to everyone and everything she met.

Adam, brought in to MARL (Mississippi Animal Rescue League) at the age of 12 months, appeared to have been abused and abandoned by his owners who had moved out of state. Adam taught everyone around him how to persevere, and went on to become an extraordinary Therapy Dog, helping start many of the therapy dog visitation programs in his community. Adam never met a stranger nor anyone he couldn't help with a little love, Australian Shepherd style. At almost 15 years of age, after acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and anything else to help ease the pain from arthritis, the pain became too much for Adam; Suzanne and Greg, again with the help of their loving vet, sent Adam to Heaven right after Thanksgiving 2006. Not only do their hearts grieve for him, but so do the countless others in the community whom Adam gave his all to each time he visited with them, from young children at the library, to patients recovering from accidents or strokes, to those living in retirement homes; Adam loved them all.

Heaven is most fortunate to have them, but we still grieve for them.

Collage of pets of Suzanne and Greg Vening