Happy Tails Success Stories at Dog on the Couch
More often than not a lot of effort, patience, time and commitment are required to help a dog reach its full potential as a companion. Here are some happy tails in the owner's own words.
Thank you for the great classes - I really enjoy them and have learnt a lot more about my dogs and their behaviour as well as mine ;-)
I love the Play Group and going there with Lilly. Always something I look forward to in the week. ~ Cristiane Ehebauer
The course in basic obedience forced me to spend more constructive time with Phoebe, which we both could enjoy. Whereas before we would just play for a few minutes, or go on short boring walks, then when we both had a goal to work on we bonded more and inevitably spent a lot more time together where we both had to think, play, and get rewarded (her with treats, me with a sense of accomplishment!
My main goal was developing her confidence, and obedience was secondary. Both were achieved.
I especially liked being paired up with one other dog in the class. I know now in retrospect that the small class with us 2 was more focussed on our unique needs, and less stressful for Phoebe as I think being with the boisterous young dogs from the beginning would have made it far more difficult for her (and me) to focus.
Thank you so much for all the help with Phoebe – both her and I have improved because of it! ~ Melony Campbell
The breed specific notes at the beginning of the course in basic obedience were helpful to understand what to expect and how the dogs in the class would most likely interact in a group. The follow up notes after each class reinforce the practical sessions and help with continued training at home.
The posters are excellent and the notes on especially "how to speak dog" are extremely useful and fun in observing and understanding the different actions and reactions of the dog.
The help with correct commands to elicit responsive behaviour gave me self-confidence when working with Tammi. Before the course I had a vision of a perfectly obedient dog by the end of the course. What I see now is a dog that listens relatively well, and keeps responding better as we continue with training.
What I found very useful were the tips for informal, continuous training at home, incorporating commands into everyday situations.
It has been an eye-opener to see that a dog can be trained without the military approach that I was used to in the past. Training has been FUN. It is reassuring to know you are at hand to correct and give me continuous guidance in the handling of Tammi.
Also the fact that Tammi and myself can make mistakes without it being the end of the world.
Thank you very much for teaching me that Tammi can just be a dog that enjoys life and is obedient enough to take almost anywhere as well as for your time, patience and positive reinforcement of the owner's, often clumsy, skills and behaviour. ~ Collette Page
I found the communication, resources and notes during the course in basic obedience excellent and beyond expectation. ~ Jennifer Snyman
My belewenis met die kursus in basiese gehoorsaamheid is dat elke ding wat jy vir jou hond leer julle band versterk. Dankie vir die moeite en goeie kursus. ~ Marius van Oordt
I got a lot more from the course material for the course in basic obedience than what I thought I would receive. Even on missing a class I could still follow up on the notes that were sent and thus did not fall behind. Now I understand why Murphy does his naughty habits and know how to work around them. Taking him for walks and keeping him busy keeps him out of mischief. A big thank you with a hug and a kiss to you from Murphy. ~ Matthew du Plessis
The course in basic obedience helped me to grow with my relationship and understanding of my dog, but also pinpoint issues that are broader in my daily life, which is never easy to hear. I completely achieved my goal with the training. Thank you for helping me to get the kind of dog I will appreciate for the next 15 year. ~ Marion Strong
Die kursus materiaal vir die kursus in basiese gehoorsaamheid was baie goed. Die inligting is insiggewend en verstaanbaar. Die kursus het my genoop om kwaliteit tyd saam jou hond te spandeer, en om elke dag bietjie te oefen. Dit doen wondere vir die verhouding veral as jy ŉ “moeilike” tipe hond het. My doel met die kursus was vir ŉ positiewe en opbouende ondervinding vir my en Xena, en ons het nog ŉ klomp goed geleer ook daarby. ~ Anton Martin
Die klasse was een van Gemmer se weeklikse hoogtepunte! ~ Karen van Rooyen
Baie dankie jy het my lewe en Wayne s’n gered! ~ Elrica Venter
Die kursus in basiese gehoorsaamheid het my en my hond se verhouding beslis verbeter. Ek het grootgeword met die beginsel dat kinders en diere pak gegee word - en, net soos met my kind, moes ek leer hoe om 'n hond se gedrag te beïnvloed sonder om te slaan. Ek het in my doel geslaag met die bywoning van die klasse. Domino reageer baie mooi, sou dit nie sonder jou leiding kon doen nie. ~ Melanie van Reenen
Met die kursus in basiese gehoorsaamheid het ek net weer besef ‘n mens word nooit te oud om nog iets te leer nie. ~ Kobus Basson
Ek en Kylie is minder gefrustreerd met mekaar – verstaan haar beter en kan haar met meer selfvertroue hanteer. Omdat ek nou weet hoe om haar gedrag aan te spreek praat ek kalm met haar en raak ek nie opgewerk en sy heeltemal verbouereerd nie. Ek besef nou sy is maar ŉ vreeslike sensitiewe sieletjie. My doel met die kursus in basiese gehoorsaamheid was om net te leer hoe om haar te hanteer – in ruil is sy nie net meer hanteerbaar nie maar ons verhouding het verdiep en dis of ons net ‘gekliek’ het. Ons is nou rustig in mekaar se teenwoordigheid. Ons het die kursus baie geniet. Jy hou ŉ ferm hand op beide hond en eienaar wat help om die dissipline te handhaaf en wat selfvertroue bevorder. Jy is baie konsekwent, daarvoor het ek waardering gehad. ~ Louise Visser
Baie dankie vir al die moeite en aandag wat jy insit. Ons het die lesse regtig baie geniet. ~ Christie Voigt
Die kursus het my verhouding met my hond totaal omgekeer en ek verstaan vir die eerste keer hoe my hond se kop werk. Voorheen het ek my hond verkeerd gedissiplineer en my hond was so bang vir my dat sy nie wou kom as ek haar roep nie. Nou is sy bo-oor my en luister sy pragtig. Sy is ook nie meer bang vir my nie. Ons twee is ook nou onafskeidbaar en ek voel nie meer skuldig oor my optrede teenoor haar nie. Ek sal die kursus in basiese gehoorsaamheid enige tyd by ander honde-eienaars aanbeveel. Ek kan maar net vir Mignon baie dankie sê vir al haar moeite en geduld. Dit was die moeite werd! ~ Johan Burger
Mignon het met groot sukses ons liewe Bull Terrier, Lucy, maniere geleer. Ons het gedink sy is dom, maar is binne minute verbaas deur haar gehoorsame gesit! Mignon het 'n ware slag om 'n hond se gedragsprobleme op te som en dadelik praktiese raad vir die eienaars te gee. Lucy het haar hondmaat Senta se been afgebyt/gebreek in 'n jaloerse geveg. Mignon het deeglike agtergrond inligting oor Lucy se gedrag verkry deur al die regte vrae te vra. Sy het toe die regte diagnose gemaak- Lucy moet vra vir alles waar sy voorheen vir niks moes werk of vra nie. Verder moes ons leer wegloop van enige konfrontasie situasies. Dit het dadelik resultate getoon, en ons het nou selde indien ooit enige grommige gedrag van Lucy en sy het nog nooit weer gebyt nie. Ek sal vir Mignon aanbeveel sonder voorbehoud. Sy is hoog professioneel en het uitstekende insig in honde se gedragsprobleme. ~ Mathilda Hornsveld.
Baie dankie Mignon, ek waardeer baie. Jy het regtig ‘n gift om met ons honde kinders te werk. Sover oefen ons elke dag en dit gaan goed. Aria is definitief rustiger van Sondag af. Dink dis definitief ook omdat ek nie so tekere gaan as sy so tekere gaan nie. Wys my net weer dat kennis is mag. Wel die regte kennis. ~ Rhoda