About

How it all started

“In 1983, I joined a dog training club in Chicago and was immediately hooked on the hobby. I became an assistant trainer and attended various clinics which help me acquire a broad spectrum of skills in the field. In 1994, my third dog, and first Border Collie spurred an interest in sheep herding, which (in on a strange and winding journey) led me to acquire a small farm in southern Wisconsin. Under my dog’s natural guidance, I honed my herding craft, and competed successfully in many trials. In a building on the property, I also held obedience classes, all while commuting 72 miles each way to my workplace. I christened the farm “DarnFar Ranch” because of it’s distance from my work! In 1998, I met Robert who graciously accommodated (and slowly assimilated) my passion for dog training.”

~Tammie Rogers

Our Passion

In 2002, Tammie ended a 20 year long career as a Biologist in Corporate America and she and Robert dedicated 100% of their efforts to dog training. In 2003, they trained their first Service Dog for a local disabled person. That venture spurred a Service Dog training program which they eventually branched off from DarnFar Ranch in 2011 and officially became their second business; Committed Canine.

Having worked with hundreds of dogs and their people, Robert & Tammie offer professional dog training services, including anti-social / aggressive dog rehabilitation. The experience required to appropriately accommodate the troubled cases sets DarnFar Ranch apart from most other dog training options. Nothing compares to years of hands-on experience with dogs and their people and a deep understanding of dogs as the amazing, unique species that they are.

Like many businesses experienced, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Rogers to pivot.  Public classes and workshops were suspended, while the Board & Train program was able to continue and meet personal space distance restrictions. When business-as-usual was reinstated, the couple completed a post-pandemic evaluation. It included the time dedication required for Service Dog training and the fact that, compared to group classes, the Board & Train program always resulted in a better trained dog and owner. The decision was made to focus on the highly successful Board & Train option.

The approach

Tammie’s 20 years of working as a professional scientist in a corporate setting along with Robert’s 10 years working as a Trainer in the United States Marine Corp and additional years operating his own small businesses further enhances their portfolio; providing reasonable, logical, common-sense approaches that people can understand and put to use with their companion dogs.

We know that a dog’s behavior is a direct reflection of his relationship with the people in his world. It doesn’t matter if a trainer can teach your dog to ride a bicycle, if the owner can’t get the dog to sit and stay or refrain from pulling on the leash or lunging at a cat, frustration and disappointment escalates and both the person and dog suffer. That is why owner instruction is as much a part of our programs as is working with your dog. It’s a process that has worked for hundreds of satisfied customers.