Natural Dog Training works - and is FUN!
Neil has an extraordinary understanding of dogs. Just as importantly, he understands people too. After all, successful dog training is at least as much about training us as training our dogs! Neil sensitively and generously shares his wealth of knowledge about dog behavior, clearly explaining and modeling effective dog training techniques. Through Neil, I learned to channel my dog's "energetic" nature and tap into her deepest canine desires so that she wanted to behave in a way that met my expectations. Even though I have lived with dogs for nearly my entire life, I am grateful to Neil, because he taught me more about dogs than I ever knew and he helped me to truly become my dog's best friend.
Hi Neil -- Just wanted to let you know that ever since your visit (when you dropped off a copy of your wonderful DVD), Lexie and I have gotten back into training nearly every day -- lots of pushing, re-direction of energy, long distance downs and stays, comes, sits and stays, and heeling. Prompted by your reminders and the DVD, getting back into pushing has truly made a difference. Lexie seems way more settled and the overly energetic/aggressive stuff has stopped.
She's much more calm around other dogs, even if they get excited around her. I'll always need to be cautious with her around other dogs, but Val and I both have noticed that she's way better now -- and I've noticed that in energetic situations, she is more likely to turn to me to help redirect her energy. So, another testimonial -- natural dog training works! To top it off, Lexie and I both have fun with it.
A Place of Balance and Harmony
Natural Dog Training isn't about training. It's about connecting. Connecting to your dog on a level that no other form of training can accomplish. And through this connection, the training comes naturally.
Our dogs are doing great! Especially Roxy:) I've seen her handle some things recently that would have just thrown her over the edge before. Like a friend's dog she never met, running right up to her nose, and then pushing into her chest, and all Roxy did was sniff him. How awesome is that? 🙂
Extremely Helpful
First, I'd like to thank you for the Natural Dog Training DVDs. They are extremely helpful! I especially like the detail on the pushing exercise because I'd tried pushing before with my dog, and he'd balked - I hadn't understood all of the mechanics until I saw you perform the exercise. I'm sure I'll be able to help Tyler push now. 🙂 I've been trying to work with him in many ways, and this is by far the most helpful. My current goal is to get him to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test (just because). We're also going to be starting agility classes (again) soon. No other training method has been as effective as this one, and I look forward to training sessions now (Tyler does, too!).
Absolutely Would Recommend
Hi Neil, I'm glad to report that Martine is much more calm thanks to your techniques. He does not go hog wild when guests enter the house. Why? Because I redirect his energy to me.
I go up to complete strangers who are struggling with their dogs and recommend your dvd.
My Dog is So Attentive Now
I'm using pushing in an at times distracting environment. My dog is really keyed into me and getting more so now that I'm doing it regularly.
It's a great way to train a dog.
Thinking about a call? Do it!
If anyone is thinking about scheduling a call with Neil-- DO IT! I had an hour long call with him to discuss my new dog Nelly and some of the issues we'd been dealing with. She was adopted from the local kill shelter and I'd only had her for about 2.5 weeks when we had the call, but I wanted to make sure I had a good understanding of how to implement the techniques and see if I was missing anything before I got too far in.
Sure enough, on the call Neil was able to determine that I had pretty much neglected incorporating any sort of relaxation into our training. Nelly is very reactive on walks when she sees another dog, a squirrel, etc. She also has a lot of resistance to her crate and has to be physically manipulated into it. I thought it was simply more pushing and more tug to get that energy out, but the key is for her to able to relax WHILE experiencing higher levels of attraction and energy.
The biggest breakthrough though was that Neil was able to nail down exactly what I felt in the moments when Nelly "freaked" out, and suggested that I could take a different approach. I was all in my head and not "feeling" what Nelly needed during these times, and this was counterproductive to trying to get past these hurdles. It's easy to disregard how much how you feel and think affects training and your relationship, but it is a critical component.
The call ranged from talking about Nelly to reflecting on how I view relationships with dogs in general. The great thing is that his questions enable you to make your own realizations about what is going on with you and your dog. I thought I had way more than an hour's worth of content, but Neil was able to connect-the-dots and get down to the true "problem".
It's definitely worth having a call if you've got questions or concerns. I've started to implement what we discussed and it's already making a noticeable difference!
Highly Recommend a Coaching Session
As one on one training wasn't an option for me and I don't consider myself a quick study when it come to trying and learn and understand dog training from a book or reading websites articles. So I contacted Neil and thanks to modern technology and Skype I arranged a phone consultation so that we could discuss were I'm at with NDT and how to move forward with Ty's training. It was GREAT, not only to be able to chat with some one who's been down the road I'm on but to have that help in understanding some of the ideas in NDT. I'm sure I'm looking at Ty in a different more positive light since chatting with Neil.
A big thanks to Neil for his time (as it did get late for him due to our time difference) and I look forward to our next chat. I do highly recommend to anyone who feels 'stuck' with their training or not understand something to arrange a chat instead of like I was fumbling around not fully understand whether what I was doing was right or not.
It really does help.
Our conversation really helped me...
Just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to train the neurotic new mom :). I found that our conversation helped redirect me. It also reminded me to chill out, let him be a puppy and not expect so much from him all while trying to better manage his environment and being more observant to his needs and helping fulfill them.
Looking forward to working with you in the future! Have a good day and thanks for being there for us.
