September 6, 2008

" Puppy School Drop Outs"…. That was me and my 5 year old Weimaraner Simon. We had tried them all… clicker training, treat training, overnight boot camp and pinch collars. All were unsuccessful in taming my rambunctious companion. So I became comfortable with the fact that I just have a crazy dog, and I gave up. Until I got "the call"….it was my neighbor, calling with a small complaint of my dogs barking at the back fence of our acreage and driving them crazy. I apologized, hung up the phone and was mortified. I had become "that neighbor" you know the one that has that dog, that barks and drives everyone crazy. Oh my god now what? So the search began, I saw Wayne 's card on the counter at the Vet. With in the first few minuets on the phone I just new that Wayne was the trainer for us. Wayne encouraged us to come down and watch some classes, so my husband and I went down that Saturday morning. The classes were calm, and no one was stressed out and the dogs actually looked like they were having fun. I was completely convinced of Wayne 's knowledge of dog behavior, and thrilled with his true compassion to helping people with their dogs. At last a trainer that knows what he doing and doesn't rely on treats to do it!

The next challenge was my 3 year old Great Dane Roxxy with aggression issues. We worked with her a few times privately at the school, and then put her through Level 1 classes and took her to day school to work on her aggression. Roxxy's social skills have improved so much. The first time I picked her up from day school and saw that she was laying quietly on the floor with at least 7 dogs around her, I new that there was hope for her. Being a rescue dog and having been surrender back to the SPCA twice from 2 different owners, I new she was going to be a challenge, but Wayne helped me through it all. Six weeks later both my dogs had successfully passed Level 1. We all get along so much better.

Last but not lest, my favorite tool that Wayne has brought to my life is "The Pager Collar" When you have acreage such as we do this collar is the best. I always let the dogs out to do their business before bed, and sometimes their little noses would take them so far away they wouldn't hear me calling them back. I would be out there in my PJ's shaking food bowel and squeaking their favorite toys to get them to come home. But now with only 1 hour training at my house Wayne trained them to come back to me every time the collar vibrates, no matter what their doing they always come home when I page them, and I no longer have to stand out side in my PJ's begging for them to come back. This collar is by far the best thing ever!! I could write a book on how great Wayne is. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him. In my eyes Wayne is the "Okanagan Dog Whisper".

Pala Hodgson