Just a quick note to thank John for helping with our newly acquired pup. The time you spent with our daughter was not only educational, but fun. After only one lesson our big puppy walks on the lead and has much nicer manners in the house and towards others. We have already recommended you and will continue to do so. Can't speak highly enough of AUSDOG. Big thumbs up.
C.
Eltham, Vic
John, we just wanted to thank you for visiting and training Toby our golden retriever. We were amazed how quickly Toby's behaviour changed. He is now better behaved when we have visitors and doesn't cross the road without permission!
We cannot believe how fast his behaviour changed after just one session. We are confident we will be able to continue with his training. Thank you, we achieved more in one session with you than weeks of group lessons. Thanks again, we will definately recommend you to all of our friends.
M. & A.
Kew
Ausdog were recommended to us independently by several very happy clients. We had just replaced our first family pet, a Hungarian Visla with a new pup and wanted to achieve a higher level of control and management second time around.
Ian's visit was a revelation. Ian quickly exploded the myths. Ian explained why his primary goal in training is to ensure the dog does not dominate the owner's life, but behaves sensibly according to your needs and normal social expectations.
The training is very enjoyable and entertaining for the owners and Tonka just loves Ian, looking up into his eyes with adoring respect - truly amazing empathy.
Our conclusion is you should do exactly as Ian tells and shows you, then you will have a model dog. Anything less is your fault (not the dog's) and is due to not following instructions or not putting in enough time.
We have now referred Ian and Ausdog onto others and they too are delighted with the experience and outcomes.
When asked if I would write a testimonial by John with regards to his dog training there was no hesitation in saying yes. If not for the help I received in training my 6 year old Jack Russell cross and the success of that training, it is no exaggeration when I say he would have been put down.
Teddie used to bark excessively. He would bark in the early hours of the morning, late hours of evening, when I went to the bin or down the street and also at the activity of the neighbours. His barking was prolonged and the only solution was to put him on his chain until he settled down. He would also bark when the kids swam in the pool. He was aggressive towards most men he didn't know and other dogs. This made taking him for a walk most harrowing, especially as I am nervous of other dogs in the street. The older he got the worse he was becoming and I just couldn't cope anymore.
In October of last year, after another patch of bad nights of broken sleep because of the barking, I came to the decision to have him put down. However, my son was most upset and so I rang my Vet to discuss my problem. He gave me the number of The Dog Trainer P/L and I rang and spoke of Teddie. I thought that I at least should have him assessed for the sake of my son.
John spent two hours with Teddie and myself. During this assessment and the training he was implementing during it, Teddie already showed positive responses. I undertook to have three more training sessions with John and I have never spent more money wisely before. I have a well behaved dog who only barks appropriately, who is easy to control and is a pleasure; instead of torture, to own. Now if I'm woken up during the night by barking it isn't because of Teddie.
R. N.
Mooroolbark VIC
Campbell used to run the house before he met John. Now he sits on his Snooza bed when inside, asks to go outside when he wants to, which is quite often, handles nicely on lead, does not beg for food at the table but waits on his bed for his dinner, does not bark incessantly for no reason and shuts up when told. Thanks John, you're a hero and worth every cent.
G.A.
McLeod
We would like to express our gratitude to you for the wonderful job you have done with our dogs, Keo and Zenia.
After approaching a few dog training schools in our area and being told that Akitas are an aggressive breed of dog, we were naturally concerned and became apprehensive about the breed believing that perhaps we had made a mistake in choosing this breed. We were also told by these various schools that having two Akitas would make our task in training them much more difficult.
However, after being referred to you by a friend whose dog you also trained, we can honestly say that we have never had these doubts since. Not only did you train our dog but you educated us in training them and we are now very confident that we have made the right choice with Keo and Zenia. In 3 the sessions you spent with us and the dogs, we learnt the skills required to confidently encourage our dogs to obey. They are truly outstanding and we are very proud of them. Our friends and family are very impressed with how well behaved they are and how they respond to our commands. Our dog's vet, Reservoir Vet Clinic has also commented on their behaviour and how well they respond to commands.
Undoubtedly, the most important part of the training has been in educating us on responsible dog handling and the importance of socialisation for the dogs. We have recommended you to many others and we will not hesitate in recommending you to any person genuinely interested in training their dog properly. In fact, we often tell people we believe you are like "the horse whisperer" but with dogs!!
T. & C. P.
Reservoir VIC
This letter serves to indicate my satisfaction with the manner in which John recently undertook the training of my two Spoodle puppies (ages approx 5-6 months at the time). While I am a workplace trainer, and as a consultant psychologist have some experience of human behaviour, I was fascinated by the way in which you went about as much training the dogs as in training me to handle them. So it was a learning experience for both the dogs and for me, and a most enjoyable one.
Your skill, professionalism, and your obvious dedication were much appreciated by me. My two very boisterous and active dogs and I, thanks to your intervention, now enjoy a much happier relationship.
T. M.
Canterbury VIC
G'day John. I was so happy with Ian's work with Zippy today I thought I'd send off a testimonial for AUSDOG, cheers, S.
Zippy (whippet cross) had been barking all day while I was at work for weeks on end when I contacted AUSDOG on the recommendation of a friend. Zippy is quite an old dog (12+) and has had separation anxiety problems ever since we adopted him from Animal Liberatoin. These problems had worsened due to a family member moving out of the home and taking with him the two cats Zippy had previously had for company during the day. Deteriorating eyesight and hearing had made Zippy more nervous and prone to anti-social behaviour.
I was reluctantly considering having Zippy put down, as we live in high density housing and received a number of complaints from neighbours and pressure from the Body Corporate to deal with the problem.
Ian helped me to understand the causes of the problem and how Zippy could be trained to gain confidence when spending time at home alone. With consistent management of the behaviour the barking ceased within the hour of Ian's visit, hopefully never to return.
I believe Zippy is a happier dog since Ian's visit, and I know I am certainly a happier dog owner. I gladly recommend Ian and AUSDOG to anyone, no matter how old or unresponsive to training you may think your dog is.
S.S.
Brunswick
It is with confidence I recommend Ian in his capacity as a dog trainer\handler. He helped me with my Labrador from the time he was a small puppy and his understanding of behavioural and psychological aspects of dogs was effective and impressive. I have recommended his services to others who seem to also have found him reliable and most helpful. I have enjoyed learning from him.
C. H.
Kingston Park Studs
I just wanted to thank-you for bringing some sanity back into our lives. As you know, we had all sorts of behavioural problems with our three dogs. When my vet suggested I try AUSDOG, I must admit I was a little sceptical when told it would only take two or three lessons. That's why it's hard to believe how after just one lesson you had the problems under control; after only three, my dogs were all responding to commands, behaving well and much more relaxed than before, especially on their daily walks.
Thanks to you, owning dogs is much more enjoyable than it's ever been, not just for us, but for our pets too. Your skill at handling and understanding dogs is a gift and I would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone with a problem dog.
J. S.
Eltham VIC
Ausdog The Dog Trainer has been with us since we first thought of getting a dog. We were confused with what type of breed to get (my husband has allergies) and if our home was suitable for a dog. We went to several different pet shops and Dr. Doolittles recommended that we call Ausdog for a consultation.
Ian, the Ausdog/The Dog Trainer came to our home and answered all our questions. We had certain issues that we had to abide to, namely we live in rental property we have to have a well behaved dog. He assured us that with proper training we could obtain that goal. He has been right. We are proud owners of a spoodle. With Ian's help we have a wonderfully trained pet.
Ian met us the first night we brought Matilda home. He has shown us how to care and maintain our dog. Ian has even put up with our calls for help at night when our puppy got unruly. She got unruly because her owner (Sue) was not following training instructions, with Ian's help Matilda got back on the straight and narrow within days. We appreciate Ian's expertise in dog training and find Ausdog's methods easy to follow.
We would recommend Ausdog/The Dog Trainer to anyone. It's a wonderful service that has taught us how to be a proper pet owner. We couldn't be happier with the results.
D. & S. M.
Richmond VIC
For years our family has endured the problems associated with having an untrained and undisciplined dog.
Our boisterous 4 year old labradoodle would bark incessantly, playfully knock our young children over, and could never be walked by the children or left unattended.
Amazingly, in just a few short lessons from Georgie and Ausdog, our dog has become a family pet that can, amongst other things, safely play with our young children and be walked by them, control its barking and behave in crowded areas or around other animals.
Accordingly, 'Lulu' now enjoys levels of attention and affection never seen before and the whole family is obviously delighted (as are the neighbours!). The results have been nothing less than outstanding.
H. & D. W.
Brighton VIC
It is happily that I draft this letter of recommendation for Ausdog.
I am the owner of a five-month old Border Collie cross Kelpie named Tiger who was evaluated and then trained by Georgie from Ausdog.
Given that Tiger is the first dog that I have owned, I was naturally worried about his behaviour as a puppy and, looking to the future, how I hoped he would behave as an adult dog. As a result I contacted Ausdog on a recommendation from my vet.
The service provided by Ausdog was excellent. Georgie was flexible enough to schedule appointments around my long and inconsistent hours at work, always punctual and always cheerful. Most importantly, however, she was great with Tiger.
The Ausdog training incorporated toilet training, sitting, dropping, staying, coming and walking at heel. Tiger now performs all of these tasks with ease. I imagine that I actually required more training on how to handle Tiger than he actually needed training. This forms a big part of the Ausdog program. I am now confident that I can continue to train Tiger on my own.
Tiger is a happy, friendly, settled and well-behaved dog. I am certain that the training provided by Ausdog is the main reason for this.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending their services.
S. S.
Oakleigh VIC
In November last year I engaged the services the above company [AUSDOG Training] for my 2 dogs - Australian Terrier and Cain Terrier cross. As we recently moved into a new home on a main road, I felt that even with a secure gate, I would be reassured if I were able to control my dogs better. My main objectives were to obtain basic dog training skills and correction of behavioural problems.
John who facilitated the course was extremely professional, he demonstrated a clear understanding of my dogs' behaviour and personality. "We" were taught such things as: walking on the lead, sitting, dropping, walking on command, dog interaction, and barking correction. It is now a delight to walk the dogs and occasionally stop at a café knowing that they will not bark or growl at passers by. They no longer bolt at the sight of an open door nor do they jump at visitors when they enter the house. And I'm sure the neighbours are enjoying the reduction in barking.
My dogs are very much part of my family and I would never expose them to questionable parties. I was extremely satisfied with the services provided by John and would recommend the course to all dog owners.
G. A.
Canterbury VIC
I wish to advise that John trained our German Shepherd (Jaye) over two years ago and he is also actively involved in her current progression, including boarding from time to time.
During this time John has proved to be totally reliable and trustworthy, of excellent character and his sense of humour makes him a delight to be around.
John is mature and confident, courteous and friendly with each prospective client we have referred to him.
We have no hesitation in recommending John to our friends and family.
J. V.R.
Camberwell VIC
I have known John for approximately two years. He was recommended to me as a dog trainer by a number of people who sang his praises.
I had just purchased my first Rottweiler, and I knew that training was an essential part of the dog's life and an important responsibility for me.
John is an easy going articulate person who is immediately very likable. He comes across as very professional and makes it quite clear that he is there to get the best out of you and your dog.
John trains and teaches in a manner that is easy to follow and gets the desired results. Never have his actions in dealing with my dog been harsh.
It is obvious to me that John has no time for people who buy a dog for the wrong reasons. I am quite sure that John would have the ability to train attack dogs, as he has a background in security, but I am glad to say that he has no time for people like this.
I have attended several other dog training centres to see how my dog's training was progressing compared to other dogs his age. It was quite apparent that the progress of my dog under John's training was far superior.
I have no hesitation in recommending John to any person who is interested in training their dog.
T. B.
Hawthorn VIC
I recently employed the services of John through AUSDOG Pty. Ltd. to assist with the training of our family dog. Our dog was a juvenile who was starting to believe that he ruled the household and with a young family this could not be tolerated.
Through his dedication and professionalism with training sessions in our home John has helped ensure that our pet has become a well behaved, well mannered and fully trained member of our family.
I would have no hesitation in the future in recommending AUSDOG Pty. Ltd. and especially John Harkin to any person requiring similar assistance.
F. K.
North Blackburn VIC
It is our pleasure to know and commend … John, and Georgie.
They endeared themselves to us when caring for the training of our Cairns/Maltese Terrier, by their patience, commitment, and personality.
We have no hesitation in commending them for any calling which calls for dedication and above all, a love of and caring of animals.
In so doing we wish them every success in whatsoever venture they undertake.
K. & L. S.
North Mont Albert VIC
This is to confirm my satisfaction with the services offered by Ian and his company as a trainer and educator for my dog. At all times.
I found his approach to the situation to be of the highest professional standard. His expertise proved to be most successful and his advice, which was readily available, was both encouraging and supportive, improving greatly the situation with my pet.
There would never be any hesitation in recommending Ian to anyone requiring his help in his area of expertise.
A. F.
Elwood VIC
I have known Ian since he came to see us in June prior to us purchasing our dog, Max. The initial contacts with Ian were to help us plan the environment in which Max would live in. We had certain specifications, which were that Max was to be outside and only to come inside once he was fully trained. Ian helped us in setup his sleeping, eating and drinking areas.
In August when Max was 8 weeks old, Ian was kind enough to come out and help us select the right puppy from the litter. He came out to the breeder's home. Ian has certainly helped us make an excellent choice, as Max is a fantastic and delightful dog.
When we picked up Max, Ian was there to meet us at home to initially start the training. This involved Max acclimatizing to his new environment, which included his new sleeping quarters and eating arrangements. We were expecting a very noisy and disruptive first few nights but Max did not cry once and was extremely happy and contented and had been running up our back stairs from the word go. We were extremely impressed just with the initial training regime.
Since that time we have had four lessons on a monthly basis. Ian has been fantastic. He has always been courteous, punctual and reliable. The lessons have now culminated in Max being 5 months old and being able to walk, sit, drop and stay. He comes on command. One of the problems that we had with Max was that he would like to jump up on everybody out of excitement, but this has also been sorted out. We have been so impressed that we have recommended Ian to friends who have already got mature dogs and also friends who are purchasing puppies.
Ian is now more of a friend than our dog's trainer. We would recommend him time and time again and would regard him as an expert in this area.
Dr. J. T.
East Melbourne VIC
A HAPPY DOG IS AUSDOG TRAINED !
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