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Just Some of Our Client Feedback
 - We wish we could include everyone's

QUIET DINNER - PRICELESS!
Thank you so much! Donna was fabulous and better yet... 

DFW Calm DogTM Trainer... $250.00 (puppy)

Dinner for two... $20.00 

Dogs behaving & quiet in their crate during dinner... PRICELESS!!! 

You guys rock and we are so grateful. It was the best $250.00 we have ever spent & I wish we had done this years ago! 
Thanks again! 
Huge fan... 
Mera Tucker

TWO DOGS - BIG IMPROVEMENTS
It was apparent from the minute you came to our house we had picked the right person to help us with our dog problems. I was very impressed to get to know you and to work with you to better understand how to both control and train my dogs. 

Your service is every thing it is advertised to be and we are pleased to recommend you to all our friends and to anyone you might ask to call us. As a result of your work, not only are we happier but our dogs are happier. Specifically, I have recommended you to my close friend Al Baron, Al runs "Pets are Inn" in Plano and has many clients needing your excellent services. Best Wishes, and again, Thanks Doug and Susan Boone

NO MORE LICKING
I need to tell you how happy Mike and I are with the results of your training. There was no licking of Mike's face last night, like there usually is! I've followed all your instructions and the results are just AMAZING! I took Alfie and Bailey for a walk, today(Henry is at the vet for a biopsy) and they walked next to me without having to hold the leash! We went by places where they knew there were dogs and they didn't bark of even looked towards the fence!

DOG TRAINER AND THERAPIST IN ONE
Hi Tony, Just wanted to tell you how much better life is around our two houses! Jack is doing so much better. He came to our house for the weekend and we just had a much easier time. Our little Puggie is just so much better because Jack is behaving. Monkey see, monkey do.... But we are working on his manners as well because he has issues of his own! You are a dog trainer and a family therapist all rolled into one! We are all so glad you were able to help us. You are the best! Thanks, The Winn Family

KURT EICHENWALD AUTHOR OF "THE INFORMANT" STARING MATT DAMON SAYS:
"The Calm Dog trainer, is nothing short of a miracle worker. For years, our two dogs had been out of control -- pulling on the leash when they were walked; barking incessantly, especially when people came to visit; and just generally being difficult. We tried to train them ourselves, and failed. We brought in expensive trainers who spent weeks on end with the dogs, and they failed. Finally, we found Calm dog. In less than two hours, he transformed our head-strong dogs into well-behaved pleasures. When the doorbell rang, they sat down. When they were walked, we no longer even needed to hold onto a leash -- they would not leave our side. We could put treats on the ground for them, and they would sit until told to have them. I never thought anyone could accomplish what Calm Dog did. I still am amazed that he did it.

PUPPY PACKAGE HAPPY
The DFW Calm DogTM Trainer is amazing! I hadn't had a puppy in about 20 years when my husband suggested we get a dog. As much as I love dogs, I fought the idea because I have two dwarf rabbits that run free in the house. I didn't think that the rabbits and a dog could co-exist, but finally I agreed, and we brought home Bonnie, an 11-week-old soft-coat Wheaten terrier. After reading everything I could find on the Internet about puppy training and still not finding much success, I contacted Tony. The difference was incredible because he doesn't "train" the dog to do things; he helps you fix the problems, which facilitates all types of command training later. 

My biggest problems with Bonnie were "puppy biting," jumping on all people and other dogs, and barking and jumping at the rabbits. After only two sessions with Tony, "the puppy package," most of the problems were alleviated. She still has her puppy moments, but if I correct her as I learned to do, she stops. The most amazing part is how she interacts with the rabbits. He conditioned her to sit calmly and watch them, and she does. Bonnie "checks" on the rabbits several times a day, and if she disappears from me, I can usually find her sitting and watching them. Our friends don't believe it until they see it.

A LIGHT BULB WENT OFF
After our session with Geoffrey it's like a lighbulb went off for both us and our dog. Everything changed from that day forward.

WHY DON'T ALL DOG TRAINERS DO THIS?
I never thought I was a 'good owner' because I didn't want to take the time and energy to 'train' my dog. Geof showed me how just interacting with him in a different way Naturally transformed him into a perfect family dog.

HYPER & OUT OF CONTROL
Our dog was hyper and out of control. He jumped on everyone, never listened, would bolt out the door, and barked non-stop. After just two hours he was calm, relaxed and compliant. It was a magical transformation.

CHILD BITER
We can't believe Tony's patience. He tried everything to find out why our dog bit two small children, but couldn't figure it out. He didn't give up, found the problem and our dog has is a perfect children's companion. Amazing Patience! All in 3 hours.

AGGRESSIVE SETTER
Our dog unexpectantly bit Tony's finger to the bone shortly after his arrival. We thought 'he's going to leave'. Instead, he stayed over two hours and our dog went from and aggressive, scary dog to a happy family dog before our eyes. He has only gotten better since."

Recent Email from Client

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I had to write and say thank you for the incredible change your training has made in Kona.  Although she had never bitten anyone, my fear was that it would eventually happen.  She still runs to my front door when the bell rings, but as a happy dog and not that vicious one from a month ago.  I am able to take her for visits with friends, invite people into my home, and take her around children  and other animals.  My friends can hardly believe she is the same dog.

Today, a cat hissed and growled at her while we were at the vaccination clinic. Kona just sat and turned her head away.  She took her vaccination without fear and even let the lady check her teeth afterward.  I was so proud.  Kona trusted me to lead and that made us both calm and confident.  So again, thank you for what you do.  You have truly made the future brighter for my family.

Christina, Sierra, and Kona


Recent Email from Client

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Hi Tony,
You came to help us about a year with our feaful, rescue dog, Boo.  We live in N. Arlington.  I just wanted to give you an update.  Boo is doing very well with me and my husband, Ed.  We rarely use the leash when it's just us at home.  We always use the leash when we have company and people can't believe how it works.  

It took Boo about 8-9mos. to not be afraid of Ed.  When you were here we thought Boo just liked being outside...well, that wasn't the case.  He was afraid of us and now (after several months) he follows us everywhere.  We took in stray (about 5 yrs old) 6 months ago.  He's very friendly and happy.  Tail is always wagging and it has help Boo a lot.  We walk about three miles each day and you were so right when you said they need excercise!  We've refered a few people to you (Benny and Wendi Durante) and a few who had friends that needed your help.  I just wanted to give you and update, attach a picture and thank you for all of your help.

Donna


CASE STUDIES 

CASE: HYPER COLLIE HOLLY
This was a family with two small children (4 and 6) and a collie who was 100% dominant/hyperactive. The dog was demanding – barking when she didn’t get her way. She was dominant – interjecting herself between the owner(s) and children. She was disrespectful – she would often knock the children over or almost knock them over, jump from one piece of furniture to the next, “move” furniture with her body, etc.. And she was basically out of control in the house, in the yard and on walks. She would rush the doors and front windows barking at passers-by. She would jump on visitors incessantly, and demand attention. And not listen to any commands. 

To show how quickly these behaviors can escalate. They got this dog for Christmas. They got her because she seemed “good natured and potty trained”. By April the entire family was at their wits end. It only took about 12-15 weeks to go from loving her to being totally frustrated with her. 

We had to use a few different techniques with Holly. The first was to teach her to give people respect and distance. This was important to keep her from jumping on people and knocking over children. Next we taught her to give the front door respect and distance. This was important for visitors and to keep her from running through open doors and being both a danger to herself and an embarrassment to her family. 

She is a very people-centered dog, so the difficult part was teaching her to stay and wait inside the house while “her whole family” was standing outside the open front door. But, she got it. In no time the door itself wasn’t the obstacle to her going outside, it was the energy of her owners. So, she gave even a wide open door respect and distance. We did this to keep her in the house at the front door and to keep her staying in the back yard at the back door. 

To show that even children can learn these methods, by the time we were done the 6 year old child was correcting Holly at the door and she was listening to him and respecting him. 

We followed this up with training on the walk – everyone participated and we showed Holly that she was a junior member of the pack, not the leader. In no time Holly was following correctly OFF-LEASH. This is truly the difference between trying to control a dog’s body vs gaining control over its Mind. We moved on to advanced exercise (using a bicycle), which Holly took to very well. 

Holly graduated college, went through Army basic training and visited Disneyland (essentially) all in a 3 hour period. She learned more than she ever learned before, gained more self-discipline that she ever knew was possible, and got more fun exercise than she had ever experienced. 

RESULT: 

The behaviors that bothered the family are gone. Holly has gone from a frustrated, agitated dog that was constantly looking for outlets and being demanding to a dog that Lives at a lower energy state. For her now CALM and RESPECTFUL are the new norm. She still gets what she wants, but she asks for them appropriately and when she doesn’t get them she accepts that and practices being calm and balanced to show that she is worthy of them. She’s much happier and so is the family. 

TRAINING REQUIRED: 

One home visit.

CASE: MYSTERIOUS CHILD BITER
This case was a real mystery. I include it to show that not every case requires the same solution. This was a two year old pug who the family had recently rescued. Over the Thanksgiving to Christmas holiday period he had bitten two small children. He didn’t break the skin with either, but the family was ready to bring him back to the rescue group. That’s when the rescue group called me and I responded to the 911. 

The first bite occurred when the dog had a rawhide in his mouth and he bit a toddler. This family was very responsible and had taken the dog to the vet to ensure his problem wasn’t physical in nature. The vet said the dog had an ear issue that needed medicine, but was OK otherwise. At this point the dog had bitten one child. Then, while trying to treat the ear issue the dog ran under a table and then bit another child, this child was about 6 or 7. 

My first thought was that was going to be a fairly straightforward case of food aggression and a dog that shows his disapproval with his teeth – dominant and unwilling to submit to human demands. Maybe he had a fear reaction to children. But all treatable. 

Upon arrival we discussed everything and then went to work trying to recreate a biting scenario. First we tried the ears – he submitted to getting his ears treated without issue, and this was without ANY training. I actually Wanted him to resist, so I could diagnose him. But he was fine with it. Next we moved to food aggression. No matter what we did he showed no food aggression and a perfect willingness to let adults or children take food and toys from his mouth. We very safely exposed him to the family children to see if his body language changed at all. No, he was perfectly happy with kids. 

I tried everything I could think of to put him into a situation where he might lash out. In all instances he submitted happily and easily to both me and his owners and the children (with safety 100% the priority). This was a puzzle. 

But, there WAS a reason for his previous bites. So I kept working with him. I moved to a lot of touching to see if he would get defensive. Finally, after 2.5 hours or working with him and the family I got him to get defensive when I put my fingers IN his mouth. At first I though – “Aha, he doesn’t like people touching his mouth. I can fix that.” After further exploration I realized that he had an Abscessed Tooth. 

Even though the vet had given the dog a clean bill of health just a few weeks prior, he had missed something. The abscess was the cause of the bites, otherwise the dog was perfectly submissive, calm, happy and balanced (like most pugs naturally are). The family had the tooth pulled and the dog was fixed. 

RESULT: 

This particular case wasn’t a behavioral issue. But, because I wasn’t going to give up until I found the solution, we solved the problem anyway. This kept the dog from being returned to the rescue group. And it made the family very happy. This is one instance of where Calm DogTM methods – asking the dog questions through our behaviors and listening for answers – worked where "obedience" training – sit/heel/stay – would have served no purpose. 

TRAINING REQUIRED: 

One home visit, no actual training was needed. But the problem was definitively fixed.

CASE: RED-ZONE COCKER SPANIEL
This dog was originally described to me as hyper. When I went out he was a high energy dog, but otherwise seemed fairly normal. He was a little harder to read because his tail was cropped (so I couldn’t read his body language from his tail), and he had solid black curly hair and short curly haired ears (so I couldn’t really see his ears either). But, he acted fine, but hyper, and we started the training. 

He walked OK on the leash and seemed attentive and trainable. However, when I reached down to touch his neck he immediately went into a “red-zone” state and became vicious. He had zero bite inhibition and went directly for my hands – even jumping and biting at them. At one point while I was getting him under control he caught me and bit my finger to the bone. 

The owners were obviously concerned and shocked. We took a moment to clean the wound. I put on some gloves to cover it and went back to work with the dog. The first order of business now was getting him to submit to authority. I tried a number of distance methods at first, but he wasn’t going to surrender. So I had to move to closer tactics. 

I used a simple garden rake that they had on hand and kept the dog on his leash. The rake was simply to block his attacks as we asked him to simply surrender. He was stubborn and aggressive. It took about 20 minutes of him trying to kill the rake before he started to lose steam. At no point did we hit him or attack him or hurt him. The rake was simply there to block his aggression. 

After the attack they told me that he had done this before a couple of times with the male owner – who got very frustrated and angry with him when it happened. But, in the end the dog would win – because his viciousness would escalate to the point of pure danger to the owner. This time we addressed it with Calm, Assertive, Patient energy that showed we were going to be more persistent than him. And, we weren’t going to give up until we got the behavior that we wanted. This was the first time he had ever lost one of these tantrums that he threw to get his way. All we wanted was calm submission. 

The entire exercise took about 45 minutes. When it ended he and I were lying on the ground together and I was touching his neck (which is what caused the incident). He had finally submitted and calmed down. We could move on to the rest of the training. 

Other than the violent outbursts their problems were typical. He was hyper, didn’t listen, would bark and rush the door, run through any open gate or door to escape, etc. He was food aggressive and had a tendency to show displeasure by growling and snapping. 

We changed the leadership in the house from him (the dog) to the owners and I showed them how to create dominance from a distance (as opposed to touch) to give them skills to enhance their leadership without creating a red-zone situation that they couldn’t handle. This was important because if the dog attacked and won, then they would end up back at square one. 

Finally, I showed them how to create exercise for the dog that enhanced their position as pack leader and drained the dog’s energy. 

RESULT: 

This highly aggressive dog who had no problem with going into full attack mode against humans is calm, balanced and under control. He his happier and the family is happier. They were scared they were going to have to get rid of him, but really wanted to help him have a home, because no one else would take him. 

TRAINING REQUIRED: 

This dog was an extreme case that was both dangerous and entrenched in his ways. So, the training required ONE visit to the home, plus ONE follow-up visit about two weeks later (to teach advanced exercise skills).
Copyright 2010, Anthony Okrongly. Calm Dog is a registered trademark of Anthony Okrongly.