Dear Alan
It is almost a fortnight since we collected Tilda after her three weeks in the K9 BoardSmart Program with you at Guanaba.
On the day we picked her up, Colin and I were pleased and surprised at how well Tilda had progressed during her time with you.
She was very reliable with her sit, down and stay commands and that continues. She walked on the lead without pulling and that also continues with me. Most impressively, she is now much less susceptible to the lure of moving cars and trucks. Whilst I have not mastered the use of the New Zealand dog whistle the way you can do it, Alan, she comes when called.
She also seems more willing to stay home. She enjoys her games and joins with our older kelpie in ball fetching sessions. Tilda attends to either the tennis ball or the rubber ball but Ozzie only brings back the rubber ball, so the sessions usually work quite well!
Now after two weeks, we can have visitors without their being in danger of being knocked down in an enthusiastic greeting from Tilda.
All in all, the goals we set for Tilda in the BoardSmart Program were met and we have learnt from you how to build on the platform of training that you laid down for her. Bearing in mind she is only six months old, she still has some way to go and we look forward to working with her using the training suggestions and ideas you gave us, as well as those available on the website. I have looked at some of these and believe they will be helpful to us in Tilda’s future training.
Thank you very much, Alan. As a result of your work we have a much more obedient dog. She retains her confidence and her innate “kelpie” nature and because she is more compliant, she is finding her proper place in our household. She is not perfect yet, but your assistance in getting her to this point is very much appreciated.
Please feel free to use all or part of this note as a testimonial.
Regards and Season’s Greetings to you and your family
Robyn & Colin Young
18/12/2010