For the love of dogs
Perry Parks worked with the K-9 unit in the police department. Now retired, he continues his passion for pooches in his new role as owner of a dog training business.
by Scott Holden
The Central Record staff
The Central Record staff
I’ve had a lot of pets growing up and in my humble opinion, not one has ever compared to my dog. Fish are boring and hard to cuddle, birds beautiful but annoying, most reptiles are lazy and high maintenance, and cats too sneaky and egocentric for my tastes. I am a dog lover, plain and simple.
There is something about the unbridled, unconditional love and connection that exists between a dog and its owner — one that is unmatched by anything else in the world. Dogs are true friends, non-judging, dedicated loyal companions ready and willing to be a best friend without any hesitation.
As a dog person, I have always prided myself on raising docile, well trained dogs. When I was a boy, my beloved Trix — a statuesque, loving yet hopelessly dense mixed breed — never strayed too far from my side. I could walk him without a leash all over the neighborhood and with a little coercing
— OK a lot of coercing — I could even get him to come, sit down and roll over on command … sometimes.
It would only take about 15 minutes of calling, yelling then pleading before he would eventually decide to make his way back to me, tail wagging, tongue dripping, looking up at me with that inquisitive head tilt. Those of you who available for the clients that come out and he answers all of their questions.”
I visited their training facility on a recent sunny Saturday morning. With the serene 330-acre Peticote Farm as its backdrop, the facility, located off of Newbolds Corner Road in Southampton, includes an open four-acre lot complete with obstacles and a 3,600-square-foot indoor training facility.
I was greeted warmly by Parks and O’Brien, and watched as they worked with a small group from Animal Lifeline and a rescued puppy named Bear. O’Brien explained that Parks donates a lot of time working with shelters and kennels that save abused or abandoned dogs.
Absolute Control Dog Training is an equal opportunity obedience school, accepting all dogs, no matter their size, age or disposition.
“Everything I do to train a police dog, I can put in a pug,” laughed Parks. “I went from training dogs with flashy names like Bosco and Patton to ones named Lucy, Bailey and Benny. But from dogs like Odie to 3.8-pound Chihuahuas, the training is the same.”
The dogs are taught socialization with humans and other dogs. Parks and his eight-person staff teach owners how to teach their dogs. From the very basic rules to the advanced on and off leash skills, Parks helps dogs and their owners obtain the highest level of training while resolving any issues or conflicts between the dogs and owners.
Once signed up, dogs are eligible for training for life. Parks explained that it doesn’t matter if the dog is 5 years old or 6 weeks old, after starting, the lessons remain unlimited. People are always encouraged to participate in group lessons in order to keep their puppies on point.
of the training standards for canines in the state. Parks has also been deemed an expert witness by the state in the canine field and is called to testify in cases involving dog bites and dog behavior.
He has even trained a number of the other dog trainers in the area and is known as the trainer of the trainers.
Perry knows pooches.
I first witnessed Parks and his partner, Odie, in action during a Medford Township Council meeting in February, when the township formally retired the police dog and passed a resolution authorizing his sale to Parks for a dollar.
Throughout the meeting Odie, a 9-year-old German shepherd, sat, not moving an inch unless told otherwise by Parks. When council called them up to the front for the reading of the resolution, Odie responded to Park’s instructions like a soldier.
If Odie had saluted I wouldn’t have been surprised.
Odie remained at full attention, unperturbed by distractions that would have driven most other dogs wild.
To say I was impressed would be an understatement. Simply put Odie is the best behaved dog I have ever seen. But Odie’s high level social functioning isn’t the half of it.
Odie is a Renaissance dog of sorts; his impressive resume lists a wide array of skills invaluable to the police. When it comes to narcotics, evidence location and building and field search, Odie’s nose knows. In addition his serious sniffer, Odie has also been trained in criminal apprehension and handler protection from cop to business owner was a little difficult and he jokes that Odie adjusted to their new life faster than he did.
“It’s funny because it is very regimented being a cop and now, all of a sudden, I own a business and I am the chief of my department and at times I am like, ‘Uh, what do I do now’ because I was so used to taking orders,” he laughed.
Lately, however, Parks has had little time to reflect on his career as he finds himself in the midst of his newfound passion: training dogs and their owners.
Since June, his business, Absolute Control Dog Training, is responsible for training nearly 300 dogs and has been a continuing success, according to his significant other, Terri O’Brien.
“We are extremely busy,” she said. “I
have had dogs know exactly the look I am referring to: the one that melts you immediately no matter how frustrated or upset you were moments before.
Alright, so I admit it. Maybe I am not the best dog trainer, but in no way has my lackluster performance in the world of canine education lessened my love for pooches of all shapes and sizes.
In fact, my random successes and frequent failures raising dogs has provided me with a healthy respect for people who truly know what they are doing when it comes to understanding the finer points of muttly mannerisms.
People like Perry Parks.
Parks, a recent retiree from the Medford Township Police Department, served 25 years on the force, 16 of which as a SWAT member and canine unit officer.
In addition to his duties as a police officer, Parks trained and certified over 1,000 dogs (and handlers for that matter) for the state police, FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency and everyday dog owners.
Parks served as the U.S. Police Canine Association president for eight years and helped to develop a majority
ODIE, the German shepherd, is an expert at detecting narcotics and at search and rescue, but he is also as sociable as can be, especially with his beloved master, Perry Parks. The two former police force members are now business partners.
which was hard for me to believe at first, witnessing his placid, almost timid, nature during the meeting. I would find out later just how effective he is at that part of the job as I watched him latch onto Parks’ arm during a demonstration at his training facility.
Odie even understands commands in two different languages — Slavic and English — which is more than I can say for myself.
Talking with Parks a few days after the meeting, I learned the two also had a successful history participating in the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) competitions during their time on the force. “I loved it. I competed with all my dogs — Patton, Omar and Odie,” Parks said. “I turned it into my hobby.”
In his first competition, Odie took either first or second place prizes in every category out of a field of 52 dogs. In 2003, Parks and Odie competed nationally and Odie was ranked in the top 100 out of 15,000 dogs.
Now that the two are retired, they are no longer eligible for competition, but Parks still takes part as a judge for the USPCA competitions.
He admitted that at first, the transition
LINDA WALTON and her dog,Noel, negotiate an obstacle during
obedience training class.
tend to base that on Perry’s personality. He is very patient with people and very calm and approachable. He is always
“I don’t put any number on lessons,” Parks explained. “I don’t know when a dog is going to be done. They are all different.”
O’Brien explained that the business has evolved into quite the family affair, and even includes her daughter, who on the day I visited was putting a dog to be trained for bomb and narcotics location through its paces. Parks parents were also there, helping out around the office.
“Perry wants it to be a family-like atmosphere so everyone that comes here is treated like family,” she said. “We barbeque on the weekends after the last lesson on Saturday and we encourage everybody to stay and use the training facility.”
O’Brien said that the main goal of Absolute Dog Training is to help people raise well-trained family companion dogs and to provide a fun recreational experience for them and their dog.
“We want everybody to be as happy as we are with our dogs,” O’Brien said. “If you have a well-mannered, well-trained dog, it just fits better in the family.”
For more information visit www.absolutedogtraining.com.
