Dog training classes

[John Thomson]

[Deborah Hamilton]

Okay. I'll be serious then.
John you have made a massive difference in the confidence that I have eg letting Mishka off the lead outside following her accident. Trusting her to come back has made a huge difference to her as well as us.
You have developed a little community with all the walks and especially with the forum. I don't think everyone actually realises the time and effort that you and Marcella put in to this.

All I can say on a personal level is THANK YOU x infinity to you and Marcella. I don't think I would have continued coming to the class without the encouragement given to myself and Robert.

[Deborah Hamilton]

[Enid]

Since starting classes, I have taken more responsibility for my dogs and, on our holiday over the last 2 weeks, this began to repay me in spades.

We had long walks each day in the arboretum and both dogs, off lead at all times, behaved really well. Consequently, they were a pleasure to walk and on most occasions they responded well to commands. More than one dog owner commented on how well behaved they were, and it was a great feeling!

This is definitely down to the club - thank you John!
_________________
"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet" - Edith Wharton

[marcella]

[Deborah Hamilton]

[kirsty]

john not ignoring your post - just too tired tonight to really consider my response- will post a reply over the next couple of days cause I feel your request deserves an considered answer.

What made you ask this big open question? what do you have in mind?

[John Thomson]

[kirsty]

Hi John

Cool!

There is so much I want to say and its all positive - just dont want it to sound like a ramble. Will come back to it tomorrow.

[brenda]

Well, where to start.... without the training classes and the very sociable walks we have with Kaiser and everyone else, John and Marcella; Kaiser would probably be in doggie heaven by now as the classes were a last resort. We have had dogs all our married lives but have never encountered a more stubborn or uninterested dog as our Kaiser. Brenda took a long time to warm to Kaiser at least eight or nine months and there was always the question of what do we do with him????? He is a very hard dog to train but thankfully he is very food orientated and will do anything for a treat ( I agree with Janis and Shirley about the treats though). Kaiser has a lot of energy and these walks are doing him the world of good, long may they continue. We love the long walks and they are doing both of us the world of good too, we have lost some weight and are getting fitter by the day: though you wouldn't think so the way Brenda lags behind at the end with Norma. So I give a big thank you to John and Marcella for your time, we all appreciate it. We have found the group walks very friendly and hopefully have made some new friends, I know Kaiser has.

Steven and Brenda

PS Oh and the Prong collar answered our prayers, somewhat controversial in certain circles, but all we can say is it changed our, and our dogs life.

[Deborah Hamilton]

[marcella]

Debbie ............ I do b*gger all other than waffle on this forum. John, on the other hand, inputs day in and day out behind the scenes that no one sees or is aware of to keep this on the go. He is the one who deserves the credit. I see him sit for hours on end looking for ways to improve things and with the help from yourself and the rest of the committee he has the backing.
He has the grit and determination to make CDTC a viable, prosperous and happy club.
He enjoys it and takes pride in it which is more than half the battle.

[kirsty]

Marcy your pm messages of support have perked me up.

where to start: at the beginning, the classes. Dodge came in growling at just about every dog in the waiting area, I could barely train him as I was so totally frazzled not knowing what to do with this dog I had had for months who would not hear me. Dodge was so wired that he would not even obey the sit command, that took a while, then when he would sit, it was only for two seconds to get his treat then he was back on his feet - watching everything that was going on and totally wired.

Within a week of coming to class I was emailing John for advice - some of it I did not take (I ended up keeping big bob). John's calm advice helped me get through some situations I did not think I could.

The advice did not stop at just dog training. I had been looking for a new way to feed my dogs, had been feeding them boiled meat out of grayshill knackers yard - I knew this was not what I wanted but saw it as a better alternative to commercial dog food. John helped me with advice on raw feeding and put me in touch with a supplier and now even helps me with picking up a food order, when it should be my turn

I could not control my two dogs, they were too strong for me - John introduced me to the prong collar - allaying my fears, giving me away a collar for a week to try it out and letting me keep it till my order arrived from the states. This was a two pronged attack. firstly I can control my dogs physically and that really was the start of my gaining leadership of them as pack leader, they started to listen to me and respect me.

I am not the most regular attender at classes. Whenever I feel the dogs disciplin is slipping, I know that a few weeks at class knocks them back into shape.

The Walks: What can I say! They have completely changed my life. They have cemented what the training started. I am not exaggerating when I say 'changed my life'. Untill that point, I had never really enjoyed walking the dogs, I was on edge, always terrified when I saw other dogs coming towards me - I always felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of my two dogs, by the time I got back to the car was soaked in sweat. My whole mood for the day would depend on whether we had met any other dogs and how many dodge had gone for, whether they had let me put them on the lead, and the extent of there pulling at the end of the lead to get to the other dog.

Before I left the house I had to fight with both of them to get them muzzled, had to constantly stop them rubbing against whatever they could to shuck their muzzles - then still had to get them back on to the lead when we seen other dogs as the muzzle did not stop dodge attacking the other dogs. My stomache would clench up at the very thought to taking them out and I would long for the week-ends when Lindsay was there to support me.

You have all seen my two boys - no problems at all now. The transformation was not instant and we still had a few incidents when walking on our own for a couple of months, but I can honestly say that dodge has not even had a snap at another dog in months and big bobs barking now is only when I let him out the car.

Little by little I am getting to know the other walkers and the more I know, the more I like - These people are a lifeline to me now - and I see them more that I see my friends.

Guys - you too are now my friends! -

I think John and Marcella have created something very unique and we are all building on the experience with doggy days out etc. I can't wait to see where it takes us next!

So John, I dont know if you were aware of the impact of your creation - but I hope the walks and the social side stay - they are what make us a word apart from any other dog training club, and thats not even saying that the training class on its own is superb.

[Janis]

[Enid]

When Jodie was a pup, we took her to a class on the south side of Glasgow, thinking it would help her to socialise with other dogs and learn at the same time. We lasted 3 weeks as it was so badly and chaotically run. In another life, years before that, I took dogs to classes in the east of Scotland - thinking about it now, I am appalled at the "brutality" which was used. I didn't last long there either.

In time, we realised that a lot of damage had been done to Jodie's progress - I would go so far as to say she never completely recovered. I wrote to dog magazines which listed the trainer in their recommendations - I got nowhere.

We never took Jodie back to any class, nor did we take Mandy when we got her.

Fortunately I met someone who told me about the forum - and the walks- and I began to take an interest. I decided it was worth a try. I began training Mandy "properly" at the club and, although Jodie doesn't come, I can work with her at other times using the same principles which I am learning myself. As I said in another post, they are doing well, and so am I.

Many folk will not have experienced anything other than this club and John's training methods. Believe me, other clubs don't even come close to this one. I know you are not looking for praise John, but we are very lucky to have you and Marcella with your commitment and enthusiasm.
_________________
"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet" - Edith Wharton