HAPPY CLIENTS AND THEIR DOGS …

The comments below are all genuine feedback from clients’ texts and emails, both from one to one training and from classes.  For more feedback please also see the ‘Testimonials’ page of my website.   Some owners have kindly given permission for their names to be published but others are kept anonymous – I value client confidentiality so even dogs’ names are withheld unless permission is given to use them.  I have also added some of my own comments on each case in red.

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Thank you very much, I did wonder when I took B out earlier if you had stolen him and left a much better behaved dog in his place.  And we just had a game of tug with the sock !
Border Collie (one to one training 2017)
This is on my ‘Testimonials’ page also but here I have a note about this case – I loved working with this clever Border Collie who needed some help with his general training, and to stop his barking in the car and prevent his car chasing behaviour when walked next to roads.  We also did some work on teaching this boy how to enjoy suitable games with him and his family, which always helps with training and behavior modification.  As ever, a combination of training and behaviour change methods led to the lovely feedback from the owner above.

Hi Sally, I have today received your newsletter and it prompted me to get in touch. If you recall, you spent some time with us at the end of 2015 with our new cocker spaniel puppy Fudge. I thought you would be interested to see what she looks like these days now she is approaching 2! I have to say that she is totally an utterly a massive part of our family and we woud all be lost without her.  She is a super friend and a new shadow for me during the day. Apart from getting cross with foxes, she is a super well behaved and very consistent with her behaviour. Thank you for all your help in the early days.
Cocker Spaniel (one to one training 2015 – message received 2017)
Cockers are lively and sometimes quite independent little souls and so early training as a puppy is really useful to ensure good habits are learned.  In particular, as spaniels love to use their noses even more than usual, teaching good walk on lead (without being hauled to every scent en route!) is really useful, as is a good recall to avoid your puppy disappearing off after the nearest wildlife.

Hi Sally, thank you for this end of class list, it really helps me know how to maintain the good training, and correct when things slip (such as rewarding too early on retrieve, just had the ‘aha’ moment from reading this, realising why retrieve item is being dropped as soon as she sees the hand has a treat in!)  Once again, thanks for the training, it has been just what I was looking for for Maya, so pleased to have got her to 5 months as a happy well mannered little dog, with confidence to behave like a dog outside. I’ll keep up the practice to keep it up!
Jack Russell x Chichuahua (classes spring 2017)
Maya is a brilliant little dog with a big heart who loved the outdoor classes and especially enjoyed her time doing off lead exercises (with a great recall and focus on her ‘mum’).

Thanks for all the lessons its helped massively and I have enjoyed learning.
Puppy and adolescent Labrador
I worked on a one-to-one basis from 8.5 weeks until 5 months old with this lovely black Labrador and the dedication to training has really paid off.  I look forward to welcoming him onto my next training walk to add more advanced training exercises and to continue with more positive socialisation experiences (really important through adolescence as well as puppyhood)

Many thanks for your wonderful help and advice and if it’s OK I’ll be in touch if and when for more training. Thanks again.
Adolescent Boxer
Help needed here with a young and exuberant dog, both to help with on-lead walking when excited and and some play-biting behaviour  in the home.  A happy ending with both issues sorted in one session.

S is doing really well and so much better now. We also know how to handle things and so he responds straight away. I came across the same dogs he had lunged at during our training session recently and he was as good as gold. It is a joy to take him out now.
Mastiff Cross (adult rescue dog)
This comment is on my main ‘testimonials’ page but as I met this lovely dog recently  (a few years after he came to classes and one to ones with me) I wanted to say again what a joy it is to help dogs with behaviour issues adjust successfully to allow them to enjoy a very happy and full life.  Thank you to the owners for giving this gentle giant rescue dog the life he deserves.

I thought I would just update you on B’s progress. We have had her off the lead a few times now up at [location suggested by trainer] and it’s ideal for her as she still has a tendency to get distracted, however, she always comes back!  Thanks so much for all your help with the training, I feel we’ve turned a bit of a corner with her.
Rescue Jack Russell (classes)
This is what makes being a trainer so rewarding – I loved seeing this little rescue dog off lead for the first time and belting around in fields and woods, enjoying her freedom, but coming back to check in with ‘mum and dad’ in between her adventures!

Thank you so much for you help today, I really feel I have gained the guidance I needed to improve L’s recall. We would like to come along to your organised dog walks.  Once again, thank you so much.
Cocker Spaniel (one to one)
This young Cocker needed to gain more focus on his owner so we experimented a bit until we found something suitable.  This, plus a few other training methods, kept him checking in with his owner of his own accord and consequently gaining a better recall.   This was achieved in one session but of course it takes continued training to maintain and improve a dog’s obedience and attention when off lead and there are rarely any quick fixes.

Just had a lovely walk round block with R.  Walk lovely on loose lead, came back when stopped and corrected for heel, the most relaxed stroll we’ve ever had!!
Adolescent Labrador (one to one)
Lead walking is one of the most common problems which I help with and there are many different ways to achieve this, so I use a variety of methods to suit you and your dogs.  I can show you the most effective equipment (and how to use it correctly) as well as also teaching dogs to come to ‘heel’ so that they understand what we would like them to do and so eventually do away with the necessity for headcollars or harnesses.

Thank you Sally. It was really very useful and invaluable input. I took M out today, he wore his muzzle and line and was off 90% of the time. We only met one dog, while he was loose. M was a bit on his toes, as in over-excited, but I kept walking and called him away after a few sniffs- he came straight away- Good Boy M!.      Yes please keep me on the list for your training walks, Sally, that would be very good.
Rescue Jack Russell (one to one)
Another little rescue JR who we were able to get off lead, having first checked on his reaction to other dogs.  As he could be a bit grumpy with the very occasional dog, we ensured we had control and safety measures if needed.  It was great to see him enjoying some freedom, having a good old sniff around, and playing with lots of other dogs.

Thank you for your email and useful reminders and tips.  I enjoyed the course and it’s given me confidence in handling R, as a first-time dog owner.  I know I have a lot more practising to do with R but she got very confident at the lessons and she gets better each day. We’re having a lot of fun. Thank you so much for all your help.  I’d like to know of future walks and look forward to more tips on R’s behaviour as well as joining in with other dogs and owners again.  Your course was just what I wanted – not too regimented and more about basic control skills and bringing up a well behaved pup.  I liked that it was outside *but found some of the fields were a bit *difficult for R, being quite small in the long grass.  However, the course was friendly and good fun and I, and R, enjoyed the lessons very much. I look forward to seeing you again on one of the walks next year.
Cockerpoo Puppy (classes)
*Classes are held outdoors to ensure you gain useful practical experience.  However, I do warn owners before signing up for the Outwood classes that they are held on a farm and grass may be unmown and so not suitable for small-breed puppies.  If you are thinking about coming to my classes, please be sure that your puppy will he happy to train in such conditions.

Thank you for all your help with the training – we’ve learned loads!  We will be joining you 100% for one of the walks.
Labrador Puppy (classes)
A happy little puppy, who progressed very nicely.  I bumped into this owner recently when her dog was about seven months old and she said that the training had really paid off and that her now ‘teenage’ dog was very good.

All of us really enjoyed the sessions. All in all, fantastic! In a world dominated by e-commerce it is refreshing to find someone who is passionate and professional about what they do. D is definitely now on the road to becoming a well trained dog.      Labradoodle puppy (classes)
Labradoodles are bright, very lively dogs and it is always a pleasure to see the energy channelled into positive play and training which help turn what could be an unruly dog into a great companion.

 Thank you so much for your excellent training.  We are very lucky to have you.
Lurcher
I love Lurchers – so many types – but usually affectionate and clever.  The main issue with this cross-breed is usually controlling their chase instinct so lots of work needed on recall and stop at a distance.

Sally’s training formed a solid foundation of B’s accomplishments to date. Since our puppy training class he’s gone on to pass the Kennel Club Bronze, Silver and Gold all in a year and a half which is fantastic. We couldn’t have achieved this without Sally’s help over the past couple of years, whether it was on his puppy training course or on the training walks we do every now and again. Sally’s knowledge and training style is exactly what we needed for our unruly little puppy who is now an absolute gem. Thanks Sally!
Labrador
Lovely comments and a pleasure always to work with owners who put in so much time and effort and then reap the rewards of their hard work – a well trained dog will also have a happier and fuller life as is a pleasure to take anywhere.