It was always my dream to get my English bulldog Butters certified as a therapy dog. For those who haven't met Butters - he is an unencumbered spirit, and is at times, blissfully unaware. He is so sweet and obedient when he's at home.. but once you introduce a third party or new friend, be it a dog or human, he goes nuts! With Manda's help, we've been working hard on his impulse control - and this guy has made leaps and bounds in his progress! Not only is Manda knowledgeable, experienced, and well-read about dogs, but it's her gentle and good humored approach to both Butters and I that has helped us understand each other better. As his handler, I learned to read his cues better and he has learned to clue in to what I'm expecting from him. Everyone around us has noticed Butters' progress and I am so proud of him. Maybe one day Butters can actually become a certified therapy dog.. maybe! If your pup needs a little extra help - definitely consider reaching out to Manda! She is a natural teacher and teaches specific exercises where she thoroughly explains the theory and thought process behind it. Thank you Manda!
Holly K
I had been feeling very frustrated and defeated with my dog Charlie's leash skills. He was a rambunctious Labrador retriever who loved to pull me around, chasing after leaves on windy days and trying his best to meet every other pooch in the park. I knew I needed help but wasn't sure where to turn - until one day when I stumbled upon The Companion Coach online.
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I sent an email out of desperation and Amanda reached back out almost immediately. She understood exactly what I was going through and told me she could help if I were willing to put in some hard work with her train-the-trainer approach. At first, it seemed daunting as we went over all the exercises she came up with for us to practice but soon enough, we found ourselves getting into a routine that worked really well for both Charlie and myself - lots of positive reinforcement included!
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After months of dedication from both ends, I can proudly say that Charlie is SO much better on leash now! His tail even wags eagerly whenever he knows it's time for our daily walks together instead of being filled with anxiety like before. We always look forward to these moments together now more than ever thanks to Amanda from The Companion Coach who helped make this transformation possible!
Cheryl
My dog is a complex, shy animal who has been hard to train in the past due her anxiety. However Amanda took care of it by tailoring confidence commands and giving us some great ideas on how we can boost Poppy's self-esteem so she would be more comfortable when vacuum cleaner comes around! I am very pleased with how Amanda helped us!
Amanda S
Amanda's training techniques have been amazing with Bilbo. He used to run out the door as soon as someone came near it, but now he is calm in under 30 seconds and doesn't jump on guests when they walk through our front gate. Amanda also takes her time explaining everything she does and also why we do it so there's no surprises and clear communication.