Schanda Strawder grew up surrounded by animals, in a small Texas town where she always had a dog at her side. That love never faded, even after she and her husband moved to Florida more than 30 years ago. 

One of her first jobs here was with a veterinarian, where she earned her certification as a vet technician. She stayed in that field for seven years before moving into health care, but the pull of animals never left her.

“I was given the opportunity to go back to school to get certified to teach basic K9 obedience, and I knew I could make a difference in the lives of dogs and their owners while returning to what I love,” she says.

That love is easy to see when she talks about her own dogs. Roscoe, a rescue found behind a convenience store, arrived at her home full of fear and bad habits. 

“He trusted no one and it was not easy at first,” Schanda recalls. He had behavioral issues like urinating on every throw rug in the house, “We had to learn to trust each other. Over time we broke through, and now he loves us as much as we love him.”

Then came EmmaH, a Christmas Eve gift in 2022 after the heartbreaking loss of her Rottweiler, Ava. EmmaH had strong prey instincts and plenty of challenges, but she taught Schanda patience, an understanding of body language and respect for instinct.

“I am her person,” Schanda says. “One day I fell in the yard, and she came and laid on top of me as if she was protecting me. That’s the kind of bond I want others to experience with their dogs.”

Schanda has made that her mission in Weirsdale and across Central Florida, where she works one-on-one with clients to lay a foundation of obedience. Commands like sit, stay, down, heel and leave it are just the beginning.

“It’s not about the command, it’s about the relationship,” she says. “I want people to have a better quality of life with their dogs.”

The results speak for themselves. Ken and Arlene West of Summerfield turned to her for help with Buddy, a Shetland Sheepdog they hoped would one day be a service dog. Ken, a Vietnam veteran living with PTSD, was struggling with anxiety at medical appointments and daily challenges. Before Buddy could qualify for service dog training through the VA, he needed to pass basic obedience. Schanda volunteered six weeks of her time to make that happen.

“Buddy passed the course, and he’s now finishing his service training,” Schanda says proudly.

For the Wests, it has been life-changing.

“Ken realized he needed something he didn’t even know he needed,” Arlene says. “Now he takes Buddy everywhere, even to his doctors, and he’s calmer and more relaxed. It’s been a huge blessing.”

Teresa Moseley, another client, says the same of her Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, Katie.

“She was wonderful but very spirited, and I was having a hard time bonding with her,” Teresa says. “Schanda came to my house every week. Katie now follows my lead, looks to me for guidance, and has calmed down significantly. She changed our life together.”

For Schanda, that’s the reward.

“Sometimes people give up too soon, or they don’t know how to redirect behavior,” she says. “Dogs are part of the family, but they aren’t children. They have needs that are different from ours, and we need to understand them. When that happens, the bond is unbreakable.”

For more information, call 352-425-6451, email oldskooltoo@outlook.com or visit their Facebook page.

Photos: Nicole Hamel, provided.