K9 Spotlight: Chaleigh and Shilas

Chaleigh & Shilas
Dog Trainer // Cardiac Alert Dog

Instagram: @Shilasthedobermann

If you would have told me three years ago I would end up with a house full of the greatest multipurpose working dogs I know, I wouldn’t have believed you. I especially wouldn’t have believed that I was going to meet my souldog of a lifetime, Shilas. I had spent the prior years struggling with my health and finding a path in life. Little did I know Shilas would be the one to help me chase and catch those early dreams I had tucked away as a child; taking my training professional and thriving with the human-canine bond.

Now, at three years old, Shilas is a fully trained cardiac alert dog. He has a wide array of tasks he knows to assist me in everyday life such as retrieving items by name, alerts/responses, getting doors, and other useful assists. Not only did he thrive in this work, but he had such drive and desire to do more that it led us to explore other avenues. We started off learning some more tricks. A few years later, Shilas has all five AKC trick titles (Novice-Elite Performer), which has resulted in many funny performances and a Best of Breed win in the AKC National Trick Elite Performer Competition 2023. This enriched our bond and brought us even closer than I thought we could be!

Though this was all very fun, Shilas, a true athlete by nature, just needed more. We spent time training in several sports over the years such as UpDog, Dock Diving, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Scentwork, and his most favorite, FastCAT. Shilas finished as the 6th fastest Doberman in the nation for FastCAT in 2023, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

We started our social media for fun in 2020 and are amazed by how many people today adore my dogs and have fun watching our lives. Last April, Shilas was on the local news after he saved me and my other two dogs at the time from a pack of 5-6 coyotes that relentlessly chased us. Shi’s bravery had him running the coyotes off multiple times, allowing us time to get back to safety. Nothing I can do could ever repay him for this act.

Shilas got me so deeply involved in the K9 world that it has led me to professional training, helping others learn how to build strong relationships and achieve success with their canine partners. My dogs now get to demonstrate for the classes I teach every week, accompany me to private sessions, and help other dogs get their evaluations and new titles. Life is too sweet, and I thank Shilas every day for being “the dog who started it all” for me.

Their Gear: We LOVE our Icon Harness the most, also our handle collar.

Submit your K9 Spotlight here for a chance to win next week!

Find our previous K9 Spotlights here.