Group Class:
Q. My people took me to a puppy class at a pet store. Can I skip your Puppy/Beginner and go right to Basic Companionship?
A. Oh you overachievers. A class taught in the middle of a distracting environment like a pet store taught by an instructor whose been alive fewer years than I've been training is not a comparable class. You'll learn more in my first hour than you did the whole pet store session.
Q. I don't know where I belong! I'm two years old and I've never been to group school. What class is best for an older girl like me?
A. Speaking as an older girl myself, you should come to the Puppy/Beginner. We can switch you if the class is not right for you.
Q. Sheesh. My people are already worried they will miss a class. Now what?
A. Tell your folks they can come to another location to make up the class. And, I schedule a 'just in case' make up class, in case we get rained or 'winded' out. You'll know when the 'just in case' class is, so you can plan your busy doggy life.
Q. Uh, I'm a little worried about that Guide Stick thing. Are you going to hit me with it?
A. Dogs aren't hit in my classes, but owners who don't practice and then blame the dog are in danger. the Guide Stick is to help you learn to walk on a loose leash so you make your people proud.
In-Home Training:
Q. Will Sue be the one who comes to the house?
A. Yes. Sue comes in with a smile, a bagful of tricks (I didn't care much for the bean bag!) and delicious training rewards. I flipped for the buffalo! Liver chips taught me to get off the furniture.
Sue does not send an assistant trainer....it's always her and you'll be glad about that!
Q. What else is in Sue's training bag?
A. No choke chains or pinch collars! My humans learned about equipment that doesn't strangle or poke me. Sue's got creative, force free ways to outsmart us dogs...wait until you see 'The Snapper!" Wow! I don't run out the door or bark out the window, anymore. Oh, I didn't like the correction spay either, but now I don't beg at the table. Sue out thinks us dogs... and a lot of the humans, too.
Q. How long is a session?
A. Something about two hours and it can be longer.? She was so patient with the two legs. I was afraid I'd be laughed at by the neighborhood dogs for having sweet but dumb people. But Sue kept teaching the humans until they understood. ( Sue used to be a grade school teacher, too...she explains stuff well.) Its okay if you need more time. Sue likes to be relaxed and think, not just slap on a collar and drag us around. Oh! Sue only trains special dogs (that's me!) so she never drives from house to house all day long. You get to be the star of Sue's show.
Q. What happens if we need more help?
A. Two legs forget a lot! Anytime you call or email (email is better) she'll help your two legs. She'll remind, explain, teach and sometimes scold them. I like that! Sue always helps us dogs, once she came to the house. She'll come to the house again too, if you can think of more bad stuff.
Q. Will Sue get the children involved in the training?
A. Sure, as long as the human puppies are not too young. Or have those little white plugs that play music stuck in their ears. (Those plugs are the most fun to chew up!) Sometimes a Grandma comes to puppysit so us dogs can learn in peace.
Q. Does Sue help any kind of owner?
A. No. Sue loves dogs. Two legs who want gentle and effective training are her cup of kibble. Humans who cherish us, make us part of the family and put our pictures in their wallets are Sue's clients. It's okay if your human isn't very smart...Sue helps Duh! owners if they are kind.
Q. What kind of owner does Sue not help?
A. Mean ones. Rude ones. Ones that make us sleep outside. Ones that say, "Yeah, but...." Or, "The guy on TV does it this way," or "I've had dogs all my life and I know how to train," or, "My last dog was never this bad..why is this one so stupid?" Ones that think it's all the dog's fault. Ones that refuse to follow directions. Ones that won't try new things before they say, "That won't work!" C'mon...Sue's been training thirty five years (what's that is dog years?) and she's wise to the two legs who refuse to learn. I hope your owner isn't like this......what a sad, sad life for a pooch.
