Well I am now living in Turks and Caicos now and my dog bit three men in the first 6 months that we were here. I am very lucky that I wasn't sued. I took her back to Montreal and boarded her with Nick for some intensive training with the remote collar. Nick worked with the both of us and sent us on our way three weeks later, with collar for her and a remote for me.
She is a different dog ever since.
This letter is for anyone who needs help. It is to let you know that there is someone who can train your dog. One day I brought home a cute adorable puppy that my family fell in love with. After a few months my dog's character changed she began nipping, which turned into biting. She bit whenever she was nervous, people, cats, other dogs, anyone and everyone. People began telling me she was dangerous and needed to be put down. This was unimaginable to my family with whom my dog was a perfect angel. I was miserable I did not want to end my dog's life.
I was desperate. I consulted veterinarian clinics, dog psychologists, professional trainers and shelters. I was told again and again that my dog was hopeless and I had to euthanize her. Finally I found someone who recommended Family K9 to me.
Nick Zevgolis helped me understand my dog's behavior and that she was not hopeless just special. I gave Kylie to him for 4 weeks and a new dog was returned to me. In that short period of time my dog was trained and under control. By using a remote training collar I can now go anywhere and do anything with my dog because she reacts to my commands instantly. Most importantly my dog is happier. She feels more secure and looks to me for guidance instead of biting whenever she is nervous.
I have true faith in this training method. The proof is present through my dog's actions. When she sees the collar she is not afraid. She is happy and excited because she knows we are going out to spend time together. What I consider great about this training method is I did not have to spend hours that I couldn't spare training my dog. After the 4 weeks Nick brought her home and in little under an hour showed me how to use the collar. Contrary to what all the other so called experts said my dog now has a future. Thanks to Nick I can keep my Kylie.
Thanks, Nick!
Joanne Peche & Kylie
29 Mansfield
DDO, Qc H9G 2B3
(514) 924-5181
(514) 696-6147
(450) 458-8214
Hi Nick,
I dont know if you remember me; it's Anja, the owner of Bounty, a female Golden that you trained last year. I just wanted to pass you a little note to tell her how fine she is and how nice she is behaving. She has nice company with another dog and they have been bonding like sisters. I send you a little picture just to thank you again for the work you've done.
If not for your training I would not have been able to keep my dog – and now thanks to your work she is a model “K9 Citizen”! I am impressed not only by your training abilities but also in your care for your clients dogs and all the follow up training and advice you have given us since Bounty completed her training.
Thank you for everything you have done for us!
Anja Brunner & Bounty
Hi Nick
I know its been awhile since I gave an update on Sable but as you already know, she likes to be on the go all the time. I take her just about everywhere with me, (even the pet store we got kicked out of, had to rub it their faces) and I even manage to wear her out sometimes.
We continue to work everyday for an hour at the dog run, rain or shine. This hour with Sable is the highlight of my day, no matter how stressful work has been, I am guaranteed laugh after laugh with that crazy dog. Sable still insists on announcing herself as soon as we get to the lights at the train track. She will obey "Enough" and cease her barking anywhere else but the entrance of the dog run. Another "Sable-ism" <sigh>
Last weekend was a proud one for Sable. Will and I had a wedding to attend and Sable was being "puppy-sat". At first it was going to be Kim alone taking care of her but I would have come home to Kim wearing the collar and Sable sitting on the couch while Kim fetched a beer. So Tammy was called in to "control" things. In the 10 hours we were gone, Kim cuddled with Sable on the couch and Tammy only had to use the remote 4 - 5 times. She told me afterwards that had I asked her 3 months ago, she would have out right refused. Now they want Will and I to go away for longer so they can take her again.
The next day my parents had a family re-union with over 25 people attending. Of course, I brought Sable. Most of the people had only heard of Sable. Everyone was floored by how well behaved she was. As each person arrived, Sable was put in "sit" at the top of the stairs, she waited as they removed their shoes, came up the stairs and greeted everyone else before she was allowed to greet them. In fact, most everyone who hadn't met her in her "monster stage" were joking that she probably wasn't as bad as we had made her out to be. If they only knew.............
I could go on and on with the achievements that Sable has accomplished but then I'd just be bragging about my dog yet again:) Don't get me wrong, Sable still has her brat moments and there are times when her excitement does get the better of her but they are getting fewer and easier to correct.
We hope your wife and soon to arrive baby are happy and healthy and that your new house has become a home.
Forever grateful,
Rhonda, Will & Sable
P.S. Those pics are coming..........
beach or anywhere else. She is a lot calmer and feels much more secure and I am very happy to say that there have no more incidences since. My dog is a very happy dog today and so are we. I am sure that she feels safer because she knows that I am in control and watching out for her. She is totally manageable now and we are all the better for it.
Danielle La Riviere and Shanti (and Bravo the Jack Russell)
It is like she has gained confidence in herself or me, I don't really know which one although Nick could clear that up, and she isn't afraid anymore when we run into men on the
October 19, 2001
Thanks Nick !
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter to describe how effective remote training has been with our 3-year old Portuguese water dog named Spencer. We began training at the age of 6 months, and felt strongly that positive reinforcement was the only way to go. Much to our disappointment, 2 ½ years later Spencer was not coming when called reliably, was chasing after motorcycles, squirrels, cats and children, and was jumping on countertops stealing food! It came to a point that we were considering putting him up for adoption. After much convincing from our trainer, we reluctantly agreed to try remote training despite our concern that it was not the most humane form of training.
5 months have passed and we haven’t looked back. After a very short period during which Spencer became accustomed to the collar training has become a fun and rewarding activity. Spencer has never been more obedient and can actually walk off leash safely and reliably. We now only use the remote transmitter occasionally, but when we do, there are only subtle signs that Spencer is feeling something (his ears move slightly). We still are working on a couple of problems but overall we are thrilled with the results. Living with Spencer is finally rewarding and enjoyable.
We are completely convinced that your remote training methods are
effective and more importantly humane we to train a dog from puppyhood
to adulthood.
Sincerely,
Sharon Abish, M.D. & Allan Ptack, M.S.W.
3867 av Royal
Montreal, QC
H4A 2M3
(514) 487-8384
Hi Nick,
Just thought I'd drop you a note, since its' been a while that Simba, Jarrid & I have been in touch. We think about you often and we hope you're doing well. Also, I've been wanting to email you for a while to let you know that my last few walking experiences with Simba have been a pleasure. I usually walk him on Saturday & Sunday mornings, when I'm in town, so Jarrid can sleep in.
We walk to Starbucks on Monkland together without a leash, and he never crosses the street unless I tell him its OK! He also waits for me outside Starbucks when I get my coffee. I tell him to sit, and as I can see him from inside the store, I notice he doesn't move, and waits patiently till I come out. On the way home I'm lucky he's so well behaved and that I don't have to use the remote, because I'm walking back with two cups of coffee in my hands.
When I come home, I tell Jarrid that you both did a great job training Simba. I attribute Simba's excellent behaviour to your brilliant training techniques and Jarrid's ability to adopt those techniques. Jarrid spends the most time with Simba and has done a great job training Simba with lots of love & attention. I no longer see Simba as a dependant that needs to be walked, but as a loyal companion that I enjoy walking with.
Now that I have had the time to reap the benefits of your training techniques, I can thank you, and tell you that I would refer you to anybody looking to improve their relationship with their dog.
Best Regards,
Joanna Adler (Simba's mom)
PS. Please find attached some pictures of Simba taken in the country after he went for a swim. Oh, that reminds me, I also don't want to forget to give Simba some credit too, since he is the smartest, cutest dog in the world!
Nick,
Kingston has been home for over 2 hours now and we have yet to see a mistake. He is being so wonderful, so calm and good with the children. Cassidy dropped a bout half of a box of pasta, as he approached, I told him to leave it and he just turned around and went away, with all that food on the floor. You can see by the pictures that the girls love to be with him (before Cassidy would always ask that he be put in his crate because he scared her). This is just so wonderful. As I am typing this, he is on his other bed in my office (another place) and just being a happy puppy!
Thank you so much. You have no idea the difference you just made in our lives!
Carolynn
