Our Happy Clients!
"Max is a super energetic Spinger Spaniel with an amazing joy of life. His friendly temperament was only matched by his uncontrollable habits. He constantly sniffed at and ate off the counters and table, climbing over seated people to do so. Climbing over my client's 91 year old father in law, Max accidently clawed the elderly gentleman's arm. Numerous stitches were required. His owner, a physician, wanted Max to be able to more fully enjoy family life.
Max's other charms included not coming when called and jumping wildly on people. On top of all that, he would constantly jump in the swimming pool even though he had his own wading pool. And as if all that were not enough, Max also had a taste for the pop-up water sprinkler heads, eating them as the timer kicked on.
After our training program, Max was able to enjoy many more walks with his family. He also got to spend more outdoor time with the family by the pool...not in it. He comes when called, asks for attention without jumping, and now he only looks for food in his special place."
Max
"Champ is a happy-go-lucky Labrador Retriever who was driving his owner crazy. My client, a busy building company executive, was tired of living with the problems, but didn't have time to attend classes. Champ pulled on the leash until he literally choked, ate off the kitchen counters, and was a habitual runaway.
Moreover, he charged through any open door, and would leap into any open car, acting wild inside the moving vehicle, scratching his owner's leather interior, and creating a road hazard.
Ten days after arriving at our home training faciilty, Champ went home. His owner cringed while opening the car door, expecting Champ to fly in as usual, and jump into the front seat as always. He was very happily surpised when Champ wagged his tail, and waited for permission to enter the car.
After living with his dog for a week at home, Champ's dad called me to report the dog was better than he ever expected. I can immodestly report that his exact words were, "You're a miracle worker."
Champ
"Wrigley is a Siberian Husky who ate the kitchen cabinets whenever he was gated in the kitchen. He destroyed most of the base corner cabinets. This mischevious boy would also happily climb over the gate and get in trouble throughout the house.
Wrigley's other habits included dragging his owner down the street when on leash, and running away when off leash. The back yard was full of holes because Wrigley loved to dig.
Wrigley's relationship with his owner has improved one hundred percent. He respects his owner's property, comes when she calls off leash, and walks like a gentleman on the leash. Wrigely can now enjoy the yard more because he no longer digs. His owner has saved thousands of dollars in home furnishings that are no longer at risk.."
Wrigley
Faris is an adorable mix between Pug and Beagle, so his owners call him a Puggle!
This inquisitive, headstrong little guy has a very affectionate but stubborn personality. His owners really wanted him to be reliable off leash so they would be sure he'd come when called. They also wanted him to stay off the furniture. And most importantly of all, they wanted him to stop nipping at their young son when dog and boy ran around together.
The whole family was pleased when Faris came home only two weeks later with the same bubbly personality, but now completely under control. He does not climb on the furniture, no longer bolts through open doors, doesn't nip, and comes when called off leash.
He does lots more cool stuff, but those are the things the family most wanted.
Faris the Puggle!
Dear Marc,
Just wanted to drop you a note that we are very pleased with the way Cleo is behaving now. Occasionally she tests us, especially when it comes to food, but she is understanding her new routine and follows me everywhere! The whole family is enjoying being with her. Everyone gives her walks and takes her with them when going out. She no longer has to be crated because we can't tolerate her behavior in a particular situation - she just chooses to go to her crate when we aren't around. It truly has improved her quality of life and ours with her.
Thank you!
Cleo
Tux (black) and Buster (buff) are Cocker Spaniels with two totally different attitudes on life. Tux is a timid people lover, while Buster is a confident, more reserved dog. Yet, when together on leash, both were habitually leash aggressive toward children, strollers and bikes. Plus they both used to try and eat off the counters and table, and got up on the good couch and chairs. Buster might growl when told to get down. Neither dog was reliable about coming when called off leash.
The family lives only a few doors from a church and school so the leash aggression became quite a problem. It was a chore to walk the dogs when people were around. Ten days later, we returned two happy little dogs and immediately walked them through a crowd of children, strollers and bikes. Their owner was thrilled when neither dog became aggressive at all. Released off leash, both dogs walked the churchyard, staying with us the whole time, and happily coming to their owner when called.
Then we brought the dogs inside and showed the client that her counters, table and good furniture were now understood by the dogs to be off limits. Finally, we showed the dogs that the other couch was ok to sit on “by invitation only.” We left the family content that instead of constantly conflicting with their dogs, they could now simply enjoy them.
Rex and Buster
Roxy is a lovely Golden Retriever who understood everything that her owner, a restaurant chain owner, wanted her to do. She also understood she could ignore him whenever she chose....despite having been trained for weeks by a different training school.
Roxy came to us with one particularly bad habit. She had begun to bark, growl, jump and bite at her owner whenever she wanted attention. The biting was escalating to the point where she was leaving bruises.
Ten days later Roxy went home a changed--and happier--dog who understands how to ask for attention politely. She pays attention to her owner when he needs her. And he can now take her out off leash, knowing she will come when he calls her.
Roxy's owner says the difference "is just amazing."
Roxy
Hi Marc,
I wanted to give you an update. The dogs are doing great! We went for a 2 mile walk and it was wonderful. We encountered squirrels, ducks, kids playing and even a baggie of Cheerios on the ground and I was able to completely handle them.
We also spent some good time running around the backyard. I know that part of their problems were that they weren't getting enough exercise, but I couldn't control them to give them exercise. I know this will be much better now.
I also got Erie a ball to put his food in. He has to paw it and roll it around to get the food to come out. It takes him at least a half hour to eat. Not only does it challenge him, but I'm sure it's better for his
digestion to eat slower!
I put their collars on this morning to let them run around outside and work a bit on not charging the door. I had Erie sitting in front of the door (open enough so he could get out), and he waited for me to say "let's go."
I left their bed downstairs last night and my bedroom door open. They came up about 1:30 to say goodnight and then went back downstairs and slept until they heard my alarm this morning.
No questions yet, but thank you. We have a lot of learning left to do, but I feel like I have a connection with them to teach them. I will keep you
updated.
Deb
Cody was a wild and happy Irish Setter when he came to us. Now he's a well behaved and happy Irish Setter! Cody is 10 months old, and a big boy, who used to be fond of body slamming his family for attention, and he loved to run away from home. Bolting through open doors was easy for him with his size.
Now Cody gets to spend a lot more quality time with his family. They can take him anywhere, on leash or off. Cody comes when called, sits to ask for attention politely, and waits for permission to go through doors.
Cody's owner, a banking executive, said, "I'm very impressed." Cody just wagged his whole body.
Cody - The Wild and Happy Irish Setter
By Cooper of the North
BJ and Tom sure like driving. I don’t mind it either. I get my own seat to sprawl out on and when the windows of the truck are open, I can stick my head out and feel the wind go through my ears. If we are going on a long trip to a new place, they usually pack something between their seat and mine, so as we ride, I can stand close and put my head on their shoulders. I have always liked riding in the truck, ever since the first time they brought me home when I was a pup. I rode for five hours and slept almost all the way, except when Tom played a song that made me think there was a loon inside the truck.
So, here we go again on another adventure. We are going to the Black Hills so Tom can run a marathon. I’ll wait with BJ where people will pet me and tell me that I’m handsome (I already know that), but I would rather be running with Tom. I know I can handle the distance. I know I can. Maybe sometime, I’ll just try!
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Today was the first day Frank was truly a member of our family. Sara and Frank spent the entire day with each other and I have never seen either of them so happy.
Frank has become the affectionate and wonderful puppy that we knew was inside. We have seen too many positive changes to even list. The most important, and most evident, is that he is HAPPY! Rather than limiting him, his boundaries and rules have set him free.
We realize that there is a lot of work to be done. This is work we look forward to. We have no doubt that the investment of time will pay dividends for a lifetime.
We look forward to working with you as Frank continues to grow and develop into the best friend he was meant to be.
Thanks so much,
Kelly, Sara and Karl
"In short, Marc is a miracle worker. All of my years of schooling in animal behavior didn’t begin to compare with Marc’s experience with challenging dogs. He knew immediately the best way to deal with Heidi’s issues and we are all much, much happier now. I can’t thank him or recommend him enough. If you have problems with your dog, take him/her to Marc!"
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Choosing a year old Border Collie mix from the animal shelter was probably not the most sensible decision my husband and I ever made, but this dog captured our affection. We knew he would require work and training, but we were not prepared for the aggressive behavior he developed toward strangers, children, joggers and bikes. He seemed to have a dual personality; sweet, loving and trustworthy most of the time, but in certain situations, he became a growling, lunging crazy dog!
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Dr. Karen Terio, Veterinarian, professor of Veterinary Medicine at University of Illinois: I had worked extensively with my dog by myself as well as with veterinary behaviorists and other trainers, but had little long-term success. In fact, some of the other trainers focused on criticizing rather than helping me remedy this behavior. In only a short time you had him playing rather than picking fights!....Working with you has brought about an improvement in my quality of life by greatly increasing the enjoyment of taking Poe for walks and being able to take him to public places – many of the things that make sharing one’s life with a dog fun!
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Marc,
"Thanks for the Wonderful ForceFree Method™ Seminar!"
Jack and Wendy Volhard, world famous dog trainers, and authors of Dog Trainng For Dummies.
Jack and Wendy Volhard
Zoey is one of the cutest, sweetest little dogs I have ever seen, but she sure was naughty. She used to lunge and back on the leash, run away off leash, and was the pickiest eater ever. Here’s a nice letter from her family after training and a little nutritional counseling.
Wow - I have never seen her gobble up ALL her food before!
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Marc, Wow, what can I say? I have never been more happy or proud of Bella as I have been for the last two days. She has done everything perfectly since we have been home. Our walks and “sits” have been done the first time and she seems to be picking that up really well. I took her to a park on Sunday morning and then again on Sunday night. Off leash she was doing all of the same things as she did with you. We worked for about a total of 5 or so hours each and every time we went outside.
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