Testimonials

We are pleased to be able to help all dog owners establish a lasting relationship with their dogs. Here are some letters and emails from our clients.

Dear Joan,
I wanted to thank you so much for spending time with us on Friday evening. I will definitely follow-up with you when I get back from Florida, but in the meantime I did want to let you know how my weekend went with Trouble. The whole weekend has been so much better. I took treats with me for all walks and it didn’t take him long to figure out that if he picked up something he shouldn’t have, and he dropped it that he would be getting a treat. He was soon even ignoring some interesting items as soon as I said uh uh. There was no growling and/or biting all weekend. He seems happier and I know that I am much happier. Frank was truly impressed with what you had to say and by witnessing the change in Trouble, he is a believer. Before, he did have a tendency to believe that animals need to be trained with a heavy hand and intimidation. Frank has been a totally different person with Trouble, speaking softer and quieter with him. Trouble now is coming up on his lap and has been giving him lots of kisses.
Thank you so much again.
Angela

Hi Gillian
I just read the latest Dogs In Canada mag and I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article. I have had the experience of being in a class when I've had to stand up for my dog and say "no, I will not do that to my dog". I will be sharing your article.
Thanks again
Caroline Kinloch
Firesong Aussies

Dear Joan,
It semed since your visit Ace is calmer. He tried jumping a few times in the park, but without biting. Also, he displayed an incredible behaviour this morning that caught me by surprise. He stole a glove and calmly returned it when I called him and took it away...this is very unusual...I really praised him. Ace is a sweetheart and you are right, very sensitive, and I am starting to recognize this.
Sincerly,
Rezi

Dear Joan,

It was a pleasure meeting you and hearing what you had to say. You seem like a terrific person...down to earth, genuine and friendly. It was comfortable, easy going, you made us laugh and we thought you brought to light many significant points (some of which we instinctively knew but lost sight of in the realm of misguided advice from not-so-worthy sources and the 'Caesar hype' of trying to make sure our dog was not dominant & "perfect") - again, thank you!!
Tanya

Bravo,
That was a great article in the Dogs In Canada Gillian. I applaud you for your article and wonder if I have your permission to submit it to our local paper that continually interviews and does features on trainers that use shock collars. Please let me know if you would mind the reprint.
Thank you again,
Ruth Courtney-Beck

Teddy,
Chico's (Now Zack's) new owner will be dong the class next week. She was going to a competitor around the corner from her. She LOVED your class.
Darlah Potechin
Breeder

Dear Joan,
You are an absolute godsend for your advice - we have never had more pleasant walks. I know it was probably a minor behavioural issue compared to what you're used to dealing with, but your advice has changed our lives. Thanks again for taking the time to send all that stuff off, you have no idea what you have done for us. Who knew the secret to happiness was hot dogs and salmon goo?
Take care!
Butch

Hi Gillian
I just wanted to say that I came to the Puppy Points Seminar last night and really enjoyed my time. Karen and Hilda recommended it to me as I am having problems with my 7 month black lab jumping up on the counter. I think all your staff are wonderful!!!! I really learned a lot from Teddy. She is a great speaker. I would recommend Who's Walking Who to anyone I know who needs to have their dog trained. Thanks for the great experience and I look forward to more training with your organization.
Nancy and Sage

Joan,
After the session, I felt so much better about the direction you gave me (and so much literature to follow up with too!). It is going to take time but I think that not using force will also help keep my stress down so we don't trigger each other upwards. Thank you so much and I will keep you posted.
Cheryl

Hi Joan,

By the way, just as an update, thanks to your training Duke's on-leash aggression is almost gone :) We've been able to go further and he's got a solid recall now and we've been training him to do a bunch of fun tricks. He's still a beagle though.
Andre

Hi Gillian,
I want to thank you and applaud everything you said in your article in the July Dogs In Canada (2008). I read your articles religiously but this one struck home with an inpact. I have been instructing with our local club for 20 years so have watched training methods come and go. After attending one of Ian Dunbar's seminars many moons ago and having worked with all the jerk and tug methods of training my own Malamutes I thought it was worth a try and NEVER looked back. My own dogs became happy to do everything asked of them, less argumentative within their own pack as well as with me. I therefore have been instructing that method ever since. There seems to be, however, a reversal to the "old" tough methods rearing it's ugly head again in the "newbies" of instruction. I do plan to hold my ground and place your article on the bulletin board for all to see and hopefully swing the pendulum back to a more constructive method again.  If only the newer instructors could really see what us "older and wiser" have seen happening with our dogs, they would be so much more inclined to learn. Thanks for the incentive you have given me with this article. It has renewed my faith in what I have been doing.
Evelyn Chisholm
Alaskan Malamutes and West Highland Terriers

Hi Teddy,
We took your Family Dog class in February. Stella is the rescued black lab mix. Anyway, we loved your class so much that we are looking to take another one with you. I think you are a great trainer.
Erin and Stella

Gillian
I just finished reading your article "Under Pressure - the Fallout of Heavy Handed Training". (Dogs In Canada July 08 issue) I'm a retired Special Education Professor whose current students are eight Labrador Retrievers. I really loved the line in your article "Learning theory generalizes among creatures with a brain stem". Two things I always teach my human subjects (future teachers) are 1) Punishment stops the behavior but doesn't change it. 2) Look for a near approximation of the desired response and stop. Then the next training session expect a little more.
Every other morning we (all eight) have "tea and toast". I drink tea while they do their sits and downs - one minute while the toast toasts and 3 minutes while the egg boils. Evo then takes the trash bag out to the garbage bins. On alternate mornings they walk/run along side the golf cart. Yes, my dogs have "Goals and Objectives" and I track the progress of the objectives each time we have schooling. All eight dogs have their CGC (Canine Good Citizen). Henna and Harley have their CKC and AKC CD title. Henna has 2 legs towards her CDX. Harley is the cheerleader. All the dogs start in conformation and then progress to the obedience ring.
Dr. Jean Hickam

Hi Joan,
We have implemented all of the advice you have given us and I have to say it's almost like we have a new dog! There have been no further incidents (knock on wood) and Trigger genuinely seems happier. We no longer give him "high value" items, which gives him less to be possesive over and he happily shares his toys with all the family members. I have even started adding treats to his food bowl while he is eating and he is now fine with me approaching his food bowl while he is eating. It is amazing what a few simple changes can do!