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 Who is Tracy Lenderink

"She really has a gift that amazes people., WOW,  She is a Master at creating a bridge of knowledge between the animal and the human spirit. She really trains people.  Her in person seminars are fun and a delight. You walk away learning something and so does your dog. What a treat." Helen Flores, Bev Labs Veterinary Hospital Blue Island, IL

Tracy Lenderink Tracy has always had a love for animals. As a preteen she taught herself how to groom dogs. She started reading books on dog training and going to dog obedience training classes and that is how it all began. Later on, after many seminars, reading tons of dog obedience and behavior books, listing to tapes, watching video training tapes, and working with other trainers, she started her own dog obedience training school and started having classes and showing in Obedience and in Conformation.   Tracy has had many experiences and she can tell you what she knows that has worked for her, and for over 15,000 students and their dogs that she has had privilege of working with through seminars and group coaching and private one on one coaching.

Her first real job with dogs, in the late 1960's, was when she went to work for Robert (Bob) Martwick and Stuart Schroeder who owned "Stuart Kennels", a boarding and training facility, in Lombard, IL.

Bob did the Purina Pet Food commercials with the original "Morris" the cat. They also housed, handled, and traveled with "Lady Greyhound", owned by Greyhound bus. Bob also taught dog obedience classes at the facility.

Tracy had the privilege of knowing and caring for the original "Morris". She said that he was an awesome cat. Tracy's hubby, Jim, likes to try and embarras Tracy by telling people that she cleaned Morris's litter box. But Tracy just says, "I sure did and I'm not ashamed of that at all." as she smiles at her better half.

Bob was the major influence for Tracy in using food treats as rewards in motivational dog training along with lots of verbal praise, and toys. This is when she learned to make training fun for the dog and the handler.

Both Rocky and Fritz were second hand dogs. They were both around 15 months old when Tracy and Jim adopted them. First came Rocky, who had major fears of noises, and motion.  Fritz was adopted about two years later from a family who didn't have time for him and didn't want him anymore. Fritz had both major obedience and behavior issues.

They had Zed since he was 8 weeks old.  Zed was a handful until he was 17 months old. If he couldn't go under it, he would go over it, or through it! 

Tracy and Jim and their children were riding their horses a mile from there house one day, and looked around and saw Zed coming at full speed toward them. Just as they noticed him, he hit a hole in the ground and turned a full flip never loosing a stride. They had left him in the house and he decided to go through a screened window and to catch up to them. He ended up finishing the ride with them as if he was suppose to be there. He would get so far ahead then turn and look at them as if to say "what's taking you so long" and wait for them to catch up.

Tracy recalls one of the scariest moments in Zed's upbringing.  Zed was about 17 months old and he challenged her at the food bowl for the first and the last time! She can still remember the knots in her stomach, she said, as she stood her ground and met his challenge. 

When asked what did you do to meet Zed's challenge? She replied, "I held my position and didn't move an inch. I clenched my fist and in the most threathening low gutteral voice I could muster I said, "You want to bite me? Come on buddy and try it! Come on, go ahead and try it! I was prepared to ram my fist down Zed's throat if I had too."

Tracy recalls that only seconds passed but that it seemed like a life time before Zed backed down. "What a relief. Zed never did that again. Tracy said, with a smile and added, Once was enough to have to look at Zed's snarling lips and pearly white fangs in my face. That's something you never forget and don't want to experience again."

Tracy recalls another major problem they had with Zed is that he ate her hubby's Bible for the third and final time. Hubby Jim was so mad at Zed that he booted Zed down the three steps leading to the back door and booted him out of the house and ignored him for some time. 

She jokes that, "Zed literally ate the Word and got holy. I guess getting booted out of the house really made an impression on Zed for he never ate another Bible again. He loved Jim so much and couldn't stand to be ignored by him.  Obviously Jim's actions of making him leave the pack with you could say, a growl and fast action, made a huge impact on Zed, which was a good thing!"

Tracy, as a young teen, showed her Miniature Poodle, Panzy, in Obedience. Working together, they got Panzy's CD in her first three Obedience Trials. As a young adult, Tracy showed in Conformation, with Collies, but decided that Obedience was more fun.

She also got involved with behavioral reconditioning and found that very exciting. Tracy has combined obedience training and behavioral reconditioning in her training classes and seminars. She says that she really coaches people!  If people will change, then their dogs follow and change too! 

Later on, after her children were grown, she started showing again in Obedience with her German Shepherd, Rocky, and her Miniature Schnauzer, Fritzie. Once again she enjoyed going to dog shows and winning 1st places and trophies with both Rocky and Fritzie.

Rocky was retired shortly after he received his CD, due to hip problems. Fritzie earned his CD, and CDX titles, but didn't get to complete his Utility dog training due to bone cancer. 

Zed, Rocky, and Fritzie participated with Tracy in her training classes, with Fritzie being the star. He had such zest and really enjoyed working, and showing off! Fritz, of course, enjoyed all of the attention.

She has owned six Mixed breeds, three Poodles, two Collies, three Dobermans, five German Shepherds, and a Miniature Schnauzer, which have all pasted away.

She now has a mixed breed named "Orbit", who was Fritz's replacement. Orbit helps in the training classes and seminars. Like Fritz, she enjoys all of the attention and rewards! She enjoys seminars and showing off. 

When Tracy got Orbit she also took an interested in good nutrition for dogs. She started learning what was really in pet foods with guidance from two friends that worked for her, Tracy Sue and Dianne. They also introduced her to Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, NMD. 

Loosing two loved pets within in one year was tough. It was time to make some changes. Orbit has been on Flint River Ranch since a young pup, and hasn't been sick a day in all of her fourteen years. Now that's a testimony!

Orbit was a gift from the South Suburban Humane Society, Chicago Heights, IL where Tracy did seminars.  Zed at the age of 13 died from several strokes. The following year, Fritzie, at the young age of six, died of bone cancer eating his skull away. The following spring is when Orbit joined the family.

Orbit and her sister had been abandoned on a porch and ended up at the South Suburban Humane Society. Orbit was really soft in her temperament, as Tracy says, and needed special handling to develop her self-confidence. Rocky a year later, also at the age of 13, died.

Tracy and her husband moved to Missouri in the fall of 2005, to assist Tracy's Mom, who is elderly and had broken her leg. Tracy's Mom is doing great and is back to her job at Wal-Mart as head greeter.

Tracy also had some severe health issues that hit her hard in the fall of 2003. If she lived, the doctors told her, she would be immobile. Tracy didn't feel in her spirit it was her time to die. She cried out to God, whom she had been walking with since 1980. Her walk with God had dramatically changed her life for the better. She said, "I had developed a really close personal relationship with God and his Son, Jesus Christ.  I knew if I asked God for help that he would help me."

"I got even closer to God" remarked Tracy. "God led me all the way and verified everything to me in threes. From holistic doctors, testing, and confirmations from outside sources. The scriptures that literally came to life for me were amazing. The Bible is truly the living Word of God." she said.

"In James 4:8 we are told "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw night to you." is so true. God pointed out so many promises to me and showed me that my faith could grow in 2 Thessalonians 1;3.  Then he showed me in Isaiah 53:5 ...with his stripes I am healed (present tense) and then in 1 Peter 2:24 ...by whose stripes ye were healed. (past tense). That made a big impression on me."

"But what really got my attention is 15-17 times in Matthew Jesus relates to our faith or our belief actually happening to us.  When I read in Matthew 9:22...Daughter be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. I cried and realized for the first time I would be healed according to my faith."

Jim had given me a Message Bible in Feb of 2004 and in Psalm 55 God told me that he would get me out of here. I would have some peace and quiet I would live in a log cabin and walk in the country. That was something we always wanted. 

Then in Psalm 73 that he would take my hand and wisely and tenderly lead me and then bless me. Then in Isaiah 30 God pointed out to me that he is my teacher and will be right here local and on the job, urging me on whenever I wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road."  Oh, what a comfort God's word is to us.

Tracy and Jim felt the Lord leading them in this move. That is what prompted their move in 2005. Tracy remarked that there are just too many special things that happened to mention here. They haven't regretted it, but is has been tough at times. 

They both gave up successful businesses. Sold most of their belongings and up and left friends, family, business associates and professions that they both loved and enjoyed so much. 

"But God has been more then faithful! I had to make a choice to believe God or to believe my doctors. Now I know that God can't lie, so I chose to believe him. I had to grow, learn, and gain an understanding that I didn't have at the time."

"Yes, I had to make a lot of physical changes but it was the mental changes that were the hardest. I have grown so much, but I have a long way to go still. I think the day that I truly realized that I have control over my body and my situations is when I steped out in faith and told my pain to go away because I was healed in the name of Jesus.  I have to admit that I was both amazed and thrilled that the pain instantly left me. Not that it didn't challenge me again and again. 

"I kept praising God and thanking him for my healing every time I was challenged and now I can't remember when I was challenged last. We still live a different life in our eating habits, and the products that we use in our house and for us personally. No toxins and chemicles for us. Even the water we drink is pure, no chlorine or fluoride."

Tracy is totally healed and loves being closer to her Mom. She has broadened her life's passion to not only continuing to help people and their pets online, but to include helping people have a healthier, happier, more fufilling life in all areas of their lives. 

"I feel that is what God wants me to do, to reach out to people who are looking for, wanting, or need to change their lifestyles to be healthier and more content. I love every minute of it!"

Tracy and Jim share a love of animals and have enjoed trail riding and traveling with their horses, Kotton Kandy and Fancy. Tracy and Jim live in a rural area on the edge of the Ozarks near Truman Lake. Since they have some acreage they hve been able to keep their horses on the property.

What is so exciting to them is that they have access to 3900 acres of Army Corp Land to ride on, right behind their house. The Old Overland Butterfield Stage Coach Line route is right there too. They have ridden their horses right down to a cove on Truman Lake, just half a mile or so  behind their house through the woods. Tracy and Jim have fun making new trails to ride on. Truman Lake has 984 miles of shore line and is connected to Truman Dam.

Tracy and Jim also enjoy cats. They have had the pleasure of having six cats in their hearts. Now in Missouri they have been adopted by an older cat that use to live at the log house that they bought.

They were told the cat's name was "Smoke".  Smoke likes sitting and sleeping on their porch swing on her special pillow, with or without Tracy and Jim. Smoke is pretty bossy and demanding, but they love her! She comes to greet them when they come home. She also follows them around when they are working outside. She oversees everything!   

Tracy and Jim are sad to report that they lost Smoke to old age not long ago just before Thanksgiving Day. Smoke wasn't looking to well and one day she left and never came back.  "I think she came to say good by and then went off to die alone in the woods" said Tracy, "we sure miss her".

"Now just this last fall, 2009, we lost our Orbit. She had a good life and was a truly special dog and will always have a speical place in our hearts. It never gets any easier to loose a pet. She had a peaceful death. But there is an emptyness there. I'm sure we will get another dog in the future, but for now we are going to do more traveling for a while", remarked Tracy. 

They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.  This is a picture of their youngest Grandson Luke with his new puppy, Tanner. Tanner was abandonded with his litter mates in a yard and rescued by our son, Chandler, Luke's Dad. Tanner is one lucky puppy!