Obedience training and problem resolution for all breeds

This reference is from Christine the lady who adopted Charleigh from us. Charliegh was a trainers worst night mare when we got her. She had failed 3 previous obedience classes and would pee every time you looked at her. This was obvious signs of lack of training  and effort on the owners part. This dog would jump, bite and was very unruly. No one could handle her. The owners gave her up and we took her and trained her. After a few month with use she went to live with Christine and her family and this is what Christine has to say about Charleigh now!

"First, I have to say Charleigh ROCKS! and is the most amazing dog ever!

Charleigh came to us from Swissridge Kennels on October 19th 2009 at the age of 17 months. We found her on Swissridge Kennels website - Adult Dog link. She is a Bernedoodle. We were a bit hesitant to get an older dog but with the training Lucas provided Charleigh it was the best decision we ever did. She is so sweet natured and so well behaved. She loves to work and always wants to please. I know Sherry mentioned that Charleigh arrived back at Swissridge Kennels with some behavioral issues...but I have to say we have not seen any of them. What ever issues Charleigh had they were gone. Charleigh quickly and easily fit into our routine and has adjusted so well. She has been with us only 4 months but it seems like she has been with us forever. Lucas has provided great advise over the telephone with regards to Charleigh's training and what we need to do and I know he is just a phone call away if we have any problems.

Charleigh easily follows the basic commands of sit, down, stay, heal and come. In fact she loves to please so much that sometimes it seems like she knows what I am going to say before I even say it...I just have to look at her! :) She knows all the hand commands. The thing I was so shocked with was how easily Charleigh transferred over to us. I thought maybe she would resort back to some old ways with a new owner...not so.

She is so sweet and good with our 2 year old daughter...she is incredibly patient!!!!

Lucas and Sherry were honest with us and advised that Charleigh was an active dog and needed a lot of exercise. I very much appreciate their honesty as it is very important to Charleigh that she gets her daily exercise. This makes her so happy! Charleigh is an absolute perfect match for us and I thank Sherry for that!  

We go to the dog park every day and everyone always comments on what a great well behaved dog she is. When people hear we have only had her a short time...they can't believe how well she listens to me! All I have to say is "Charleigh come" as my daughter and I are leaving the dog park and no matter what she is doing she heads our way. She walks great off leash or on leash. She hangs close to home and is so loyal!! I run with her every morning off leash, she roams around but always comes back when I yell "come" and will heal close when I say "heal". Our yard is only currently half fenced in...we can let Charleigh out in the morning, she does her business and comes right back to the door. She quickly learned the saying "stay in the back"! :) She then patiently waits while I wipe her paws. She sits and waits while we enter or go outside, then she follows once we say "come". I really could go on and on. She is perfect. She continues to surprise us everyday. When we are at the cabin the forest is her backyard...but she always hangs close by and comes whenever she hears her name. Of course we can not take credit for any of the training...Lucas did it all. Charleigh is who she is today because of Lucas. Everyone who meets Charleigh wants a dog like Charleigh!!!

Lucas did an amazing job! Charleigh is amazing! I am open to talking to anyone if they would like a recommendation on hiring Lucas as a trainer for their dog.

We love Charleigh so much and so happy that she is a part of our family. Getting Charleigh from Swissridge Kennels was a perfect decision...we would not hesitate in the future to get another dog from them...of course we would definitely first have it trained by Lucas!!

Thanks to you both for making Charleigh such a wonderful family pet!!!!

ok I better go!

take care

thanks again for a great dog!

Christine, Iain, Mary Anne and Charleigh

If you would like to email Christine her email is christinemcauley@shaw.ca

Fritz came to us us an older puppy (7 months).  He was a very sweet puppy right away with a hilarious personality but was having a lot of trouble adapting to his new life in the city.  He was going through an intense fear period (he was scared of people, kids, his crate, almost everything) and also having some extreme separation anxiety.

After about a month, it seemed to be getting worse instead of better despite the fact that we were trying everything that we knew or read to do. The breeder and I had been discussing how we should deal with this best and she decided to come and visit us with Lucas (the Trainer). 

Lucas immediately figured out Fritz’s personality – what makes him happy, what makes him scared, what body postures and actions we should look out for and how we should react in all of the above instances. 

He explained everything so clearly (makes it seem very easy) and taught us how to react to different types of situations and more importantly how NOT to react in others.  He taught us to coach Fritz through these fears and to trust him.  He took me and Fritz out and showed me how exactly to socialize him and how to know when I’ve reached his limits.  He spent only one afternoon with us and when he left Fritz was a literally a completely different puppy.  I had taken him to the pet store earlier that day to try to socialize him and he was scared, running from the people at the counter, hiding behind my legs and not taking any treats.  After Lucas left, I took him back to the same store.  I did everything Lucas had showed me and Fritz took treats from the people behind the counter and let them pet him – he even laid down at someone’s feet for a belly rub!  I was amazed.  We have been practicing every day since and we’re so happy to say that he now enjoys letting the kids in the neighbourhood feed and pet him and often goes up to strangers to say hello. The instructors at our obedience classes quickly noticed the change as well.  We are continuing to practice what Lucas showed us and he only gets better every day. 

Lucas also showed us how to properly walk him and he walks with so much pride now and is so much more confident and brave in everything he does. 

Before Lucas came he used to growl at anyone that came in our house.  By using the techniques Lucas showed us, he has gotten so much better at this and now trusts people that we allow in.  He even has a dog walker come in once a day while we are working and they have become quick friends.

We also asked Lucas for some tips on the separation anxiety.  His suggestions helped immensely and due to the confidence he built from the other things Lucas showed us – Fritz conquered this only a week after Lucas’s visit.  He rarely barks and never urinates when alone now, and we no longer have a fear of him hurting himself when we are gone or asleep.

We are so incredibly thankful to Lucas as we are certain that if he had not had come we would still be struggling with the same issues and that they would likely still be getting worse.  He is truly an expert. I have been telling everyone I talk to how amazing our experience was.  We would recommend Lucas to anyone that would like to train their dog for behavioural issues or would just like to  learn more about their dog and how to make them a better behaved member of the family and the community. We are still in amazement at how much of a difference that one short afternoon made in Fritz.   We have been able to enjoy him so much more now.  He is an amazing puppy! Thank you thank you thank you!

Kristen, Gary and Fritz

Feel free to email Kristen if you have any questions about the training at kristenleighevans@yahoo.ca

We have had two training sessions with Lucas.  For our first session Lucas did an in-home visit and that session changed our lives.  We were having a lot of difficulties with crate training and early obedience issues and Lucas gave us some amazing ideas and things to do that have made our lives with Maggie, our puppy a lot better.  Our second session was an obedience lesson and Lucas was able to explain to us in simple terms how to handle difficult situations like barking at people or jumping on people.  His training was clear and concise and we have had amazing results.  We can't wait for Maggie's 3 week in home training session with Lucas.  Thank you for all your help Lucas, we have told all our friends who complement us on Maggie's behaviour about you!

We’d like to start by thanking you both for the great care that you took of Cash during his stay with you for the 3-week training program.  It was wonderful to go on vacation knowing that he was in excellent hands.  We knew he would have a great time playing with the other dogs, our only concern was if he would remember us and if he would want to come home! LOL!  We didn’t need to worry, he definitely remembered us and seemed to settle right back in at home without any issues!

Cash has always been a good dog, wanting to please, but there were some things we just couldn’t seem to teach him.  Cash completed his training with Lucas and has now been home for a couple of weeks.  We are SO thrilled with his progress!  All of the things that we asked he be trained on were done.  He now lies down on command (even in the midst of excitement) and stays until we release him, stays off leash outside, comes when called (every time!), he no longer nips or chews on hands, he no longer jumps up on us or our guests and his walking is fantastic - he stays beside us with the leash nice and loose.  An added bonus of Cash being around the other dogs is that he is much more polite with other dogs we meet J he learned doggy etiquette!

We have had many compliments from neighbours and other dog owners at the dog park who can’t get over how well behaved and trained he is for only 7 months old!  Our close neighbours are amazed at his transformation.  It was money well spent, such a good investment in his future as a well-balanced, well-behaved dog. 

Lastly, thank you to Lucas for spending so much time to show us the necessary techniques to continue Cash’s training...  we’re working at home to continue Lucas’ good work. 

Thank you so much for everything!  We’ll definitely send him up for boarding when we take our next vacation!

Suzanne, Paul, Emily & Cash