Dog Training Testimonials for Katrina

Stella and Kenya

Katrina – thank you very much for the session yesterday. There was sooooooo much in there, and I think there is a huge mindset shift for our family – we are excited to commence the journey.

As we speak, I am in the office (solo) and there is peace in the house – both dogs on their respective beds in the lounge area on a tie (for now) until Stella relaxes and Kenya stops bugging her.

I feel already we have made a small step forward – and that is what it is all about … small steps forward.

There is an old saying in Africa “How do you eat an elephant? … Just one bite at a time” … and that is exactly what we are going to do with this journey.

Thank you for your commitment and passion … and for making a difference.

Cheers

Kat’s 4 Dogs Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist Sunshine Coast

Oscar

Oscar is our third Westie and knowing how important training is for this breed we had decided that of course we would start with puppy training. As Oscar is my husband’s dog I thought I wouldn’t have to go with him to classes as having been through the process a few times I didn’t think I would get anything out of it and was mainly for socialisation before he started obedience training.

After a few false starts and a bit of research we decided to try Katrina’s Kats4Dogs. John thought I should attend classes so off we went.

What a surprise!!! This would have to be the best possible start you could give your puppy. This was so different from any of the puppy classes we had been to before. The concepts and ideas Katrina gave us have been invaluable. We were definitely given the tools to train our puppies and understand their thinking a bit better.

Our older Westie, Rosie, has benefited too and some of the concepts, especially of calming will be of great help to her.

I believe puppy training is extremely important to start you on the path to having a well behaved dog who is a joy to have. You couldn’t do better than Kats4Dogs. It is worth every cent.

Kind Regards

Kat’s 4 Dogs Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist Sunshine Coast

Hi Katrina (Kat’s 4 Dogs),

Twelve years or so ago Fergus was our first Westie. Having read up on the breed we knew socialisation and training were essential when you own a Westie. After puppy school, obedience training and advanced obedience Fergus just about had us trained exactly as he wanted. You should have seen him in action training any visitors to our house in the manner in which he wished to play.

He was so engaging that he got away with it. Westies are very intelligent but are not noted for their obedience.

Our second Westie, Rosie, my wife’s dog was a lot quieter than Fergus and far better behaved with respect to walking and wandering off. She was restricted though by Fergus in what she was allowed to do. You can chase a toy that has been thrown but you are not allowed to pick it up.

Now to Oscar our third Westie and current puppy. We intended to start him on obedience training in February so I wanted puppy school for some socialisation before the training started, neither of the two puppy schools we had been to before did anything particularly useful regarding behaviour, training etc, so we had no real expectations there.

What a surprise we got when we went to your puppy class, controlled socialisation instead of mayhem, dogs being introduced slowly with over exuberance corrected as required. Big dogs, small dogs, immediate reading of behavioural interactions with many dogs playing together, correction applied as necessary.

Basic obedience training with a difference. Pick the most difficult dog which has not been taught something and within a few seconds the dog is doing what is required. Simple training techniques that work.

Fergus never learnt to walk without pulling on the lead. A quick introduction by you on loose leash walking and Oscar looks like he will walk like a champ. Excellent advice for dog behavioural problems at home often demonstrated on the spot, an emphasis on calming dogs and never rewarding exuberance or fear.

Thanks Katrina, we got a lot more out of it than we expected. Oscar is currently doing his eight weeks of obedience. Rather than do advanced obedience we’ll do your group class at 6 months.

Thanks and regards

Kat’s 4 Dogs Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist Sunshine Coast

Mia

We were at our wits end with our precious little Mia, worried constantly about what we would come home to, break outs, ripping and chewing Security Screens, Poo’s and Wee’s, torn fencing, the horrible feelings and thoughts we would have towards our Mia, when a dear friend who is an Australian Working Dogs rescuer, sent us a link to Kat’s 4 Dogs.

We had tried herbal remedies, coats, diets, you name it, we did it, so we thought we would give this Katrina a go.

As soon as I spoke to Katrina and heard what she had to say, I thought maybe there was an answer to all this destruction and anxiousness, so we set up an at home consultation and that was the start of the most awesome relationship we have ever had with our 8 year old Shitzu/Maltese.

There was an immediate ease and within 15 mins, Katrina had Mia behaving like I had never seen before, after 45 mins I didnt know who’s this dog was, relaxed and calm, and after 3 hours we felt empowered and ready to do all the things Katrina had taught us, YES us, not the dog. We followed Katrina’s instructions to the letter, it was amazing being the pack leader for once, and in return, we had the most happy, relaxed little Mia.

What Katrina gave us what an understanding of how we as humans treat our dogs as human and do you know it is the most inhumane thing to do, we now look forward to walks and outings with a very happy and relaxed Mia.

We can never thank you enough, so please when you think there is no hope and like us you feel so frustrated and angry, just give this wonderful Lady a call. You will just love her like we do, so thank you Katrina xoxoxoxox

Kat’s 4 Dogs Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist Sunshine Coast

Daisy

I recently used the services of Katrina Boyd from Kats4Dogs and was so impressed with her skills. Katrina came to my home and spent 2 hours with myself and Daisy, my Miniature Schnauzer.

Katrina has a very gentle but no nonsense approach to training and Daisy responded very well to her methods.

I highly recommend Katrina to anyone who is seeking help re behavioural problems or simply needs assistance in training their dog in the correct manner.

Katrina gives you all the right skills to handle your dog and help you form a strong and loving relationship with you as the leader. Thanks again Katrina.

Regards,

Kat’s 4 Dogs Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist Sunshine Coast

Straight from the dog’s mind – What Banjo really thinks!

Dear Aunty Katrina / All-time best human trainer that ever walked the planet, being adopted is hard. When they picked me up I found out my new parents didn’t even speak the same language as me and to top it all off, they hadn’t ever even been masters to a dog before so they really just didn’t know what they were doing.

Didn’t they know being a working dog is in my blood and that I am really really smart and that they were going to have to prove to me that they were smarter than me if they wanted to be my master?

I realised pretty quickly that I wanted to be the leader of this pack. My new parents really tried and they certainly love me to bits (after all I am pretty darned good looking and a sweet pooch at heart) but I was too smart for them and pipped them at every turn.

But then Mum found you.

At first I was just relived because at least you spoke the same language as me (which Mum and Dad certainly still didn’t) but then you started teaching them how to be the leaders of the pack which I wasn’t so into. I do love you Aunty Katrina but you have really changed my life and now I can’t get away will all the fun naughty things I used to.

Far out you made it tough for me to keep winning – not only did I have puppy school with you but you started showing up all over the place – at my house, in my yard, on walks, in the park!

At first I thought just by showing off and doing stuff right at puppy school I could get away with still doing whatever I wanted at home and outside of class. Most of puppy school was pretty easy for me because like I say, I am very smart – “sit, stay, leave it”, ha! Surely even a cat could do that.

I made Mum feel like she was going crazy because everyone thought I was so well behaved at school and then we would get home and I would just do whatever I wanted and she couldn’t get me to stop. Even though I am really lovely I even had to start nipping them when they were bossing me about to show them that I was the pack leader.

Mum thought you had magical powers at first because I would do what you said but not what they said but then over time you trained Mum and Dad how to communicate better with me and provided them the perfect solutions to all the tricks I was pulling to show them who was the big dog in the pack.

Puppy school was fun and made me feel like I was working which I loved but it was really the home training that ended my reign of household domination. I was pretty darned persistent so Mum thinks you were like an angel coming and seeing me in action in my own environment so you could really help them get to the core of why I was acting out.

Even after I lost my puppy teeth, I really enjoyed chewing on anything I could especially if my folks let me out of their sight in the house even for a moment – I had a lot of fun chewing window sills, doors, computer and camera cables, shoes, anything hanging on the line, outdoor furniture and cushions – the list is endless. Ahhhh, good times.

Mum and Dad tried all sorts of things they read about on the internet like spraying me with water, putting yucky tasting stuff on things I liked to chew or giving me other things to sink my teeth into but none of that worked on me. I was the leader of the pack and the only way they were going to be able to get me to stop is by showing me they were going to be the leaders.

After you trained Mum and Dad how to control me in the house I am now trustworthy and can be left alone without anyone having to worry about my safety (either from very dangerous things like chewing on cords or by what might happen to me if Dad caught me eating another pair of his thongs). I even know when it is time to relax and go straight to my designated spots in the house when asked where I am allowed to sit calmly and wait – I like knowing my job even if it’s just to wait.

There are too many other things to list that you have trained them how to fix – I am no longer freaked out totally by the sound at the lights when the little green man says we can walk. I chew only my own toys. I am lovely with small children instead of jumping up on them and knocking them over. I don’t nip my parents (or anyone). I wait on my spot when a visitor arrives at the front door instead of crying and trying to jump up at them and lick them (at least for a few moments). I prance like a pony when walking on my lead most of the time. I (mostly) do as I am told.

There are still some things Mum and Dad are working on (like that I am still adamant about barking at possums or birds that dare come into my yard) but the difference is that now you have trained them how to cope with me they know how to calmly assert their wishes and show me they are now my masters.

Even though I wish I was still the leader of the pack I have to say it is more fun now Mum and Dad have a better idea how to really be my masters – they get to enjoy walks with me and take me on holidays and lots of fun places they just couldn’t trust me before.

You have been tirelessly dedicated to helping me and my parents be a happy family and we can’t tell you how awesome we think you are – even in doggy language there are not enough words to express what an amazing difference you have made in our lives.

I could never dream a human would be so passionate and dedicated about what they do (I thought only dogs were that loyal) – taking desperate phone calls, emails and visits with my folks – you are truly an angel to us doggies and masters. Thank you.

Kat’s 4 Dogs Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist Sunshine Coast