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June 2010 Hi Hector,
I just wanted to send you a note to tell you that Juno's training is going so well. We've been going for walks every night without the leash. I've received multiple compliments on his training in the last few weeks and I've been telling everyone to check out your website. Last night we were on a walk and we saw another dog. I made him sit and stay while the other dog passed us and he behaved perfectly. The other owner stopped to compliment him on his behavior so we started talking about the training class. I let Juno greet the other dog and Juno was so calm and polite. When I called Juno back to me he came without hesitating. That never would have happened 3 weeks ago. I know we still have work to do but he's come so far. Thank you so much!
Ashley Brant
Hector:
What a difference it's made in Truman (the somewhat unruly, overconfident golden)! Just adjusting the collar was huge, but he has totally gotten in gear with everything else as well. We really learned a lot (there was a lot of "owner error" going on). Last night, we were on one of our long walks and in a fairly open area without tons of distraction so I tested out the "come" command. He barely hesitated, picked up his leash and brought it to me.
I also want to express how impressed I was with how you worked so well with some of the more difficult ones in class and how much progress we saw in those dogs (& owners) in just that short time. I would never have thought it was possible in just two sessions, particularly with the German Shepherd. You are the only trainer I would bring one of my dogs or puppies to for training. Thank you again and we may see you at one of the off leash sessions later.
Heidi Krause
Jamie and i are very happy after our work together. Thanks.

If you ever have those days when you wonder if what you're doing makes a difference in the world... it does.
~Laura
February, 2010
Hector, It was very enjoyable meeting and working with you today. Your rapport with Shadow was remarkable. We have NEVER seen Shadow respond in such a positive manner with someone upon meeting them for the first time. Following your directions and expertise made working with Shadow a breeze. We all will be looking forward to seeing you in the near future. So many people who have stopped by our house in the past week have been so impressed by the change in Shadow's behavior! Sincerely, Lamont and Linda Gyles
November 30, 2009
Dear Hector,
I can’t believe what a difference we have seen in Buddy, our 8 month old Golden Retriever/Lab Mix puppy, after just one session with you at our home!!! I know it’s only been three days since you were here, but I am so impressed I couldn’t wait any longer to write you to tell you thank you!
Prior to your session with us, Buddy was a “high-energy jumping, running, chewing terror” that was constantly tearing things up. He would run off and would not listen to us when we tried to call him and we were afraid he would get hit by a car or lost. I was seriously wondering how much longer we could handle him because he was starting to get aggressive with the kids and biting at us when we tried to control him.
What a difference a professional dog trainer’s help makes!
Buddy is so much calmer and well behaved. It is remarkable! We have taken him on walks every day this weekend and he has even started to run with me now without pulling my arm off. He feels much more comfortable in his role and he loves his ‘work’ – he is not the spaz - A.D.D. dog he was before you came! He is very comfortable following us and looks for guidance even and not trying to be the leader all the time. Any of the kids, Jacob (age 9), Maddy (age 9), or Morgan (age 14) are now able to walk him and Jacob was even running laps with him around the yard. They are enjoying him now and feel much more in control of him as opposed to before you came to help us. Jacob used to get dragged around the yard, but on Saturday they were actually running very smoothly without Buddy pulling him.
He really knows the commands you taught him and us well. He is responding to “Sit, Down, Heel, Off and Come” very well, for such a short period of time to be working with him. I know it’s not just the dog that needed training but our family needed training on how to handle him as well.
I also want to commend you for your professional demeanor while you were working with the kids, Scott and I. It was very easy to learn from you because you explained everything as you went along and the reasoning behind things which made it much easier for all of us to understand.
I can’t say “Thank you” enough for the wonderful gift you have given us. Our puppy is now a member of our family and fits into our lives instead of running it, or even worse ruining it! Buddy can truly be the ‘buddy’ we hoped he would be when we got him for Maddy and Jacob for their birthday this year.
I would highly recommend your dog training services to anyone who wants a respectful, obedient dog! Hector’s results with Buddy have been amazing!
Thanks again,
Scott, Kristina, Maddy, Morgan and Jacob Terry
& Buddy
Hi Hector:
I thought you might like to know that Coop is doing very well. He goes down now without me even saying anything and his barking at my school and my office has all but disappeared. I usually have to give him a "reminder" the first time someone walks in, as he starts to slip back to his previous behavior, but after that he does not make a sound. Yesterday when I was doing some work at the high school he was off leash and laying on the floor. People were coming in and out of my room and he never moved. I think they thought I had drugged him or something! LOL Everyone who knows Cooper has noticed the change!
Things here at the house are still challenging when someone comes to the door, but we are working on those skills and he is improving. I have found that when things do not go as well as I had hoped it is usually because I was not prepared or I get a bit flustered. He will stay down, once I get him there, and that is a big jump in skill. He has not tried to rush out the door at anyone. He just has such tunnel vision when someone knocks or rings the doorbell and getting him to come is hard. We will keep working on this!!
I really want to thank you again for all you taught both Cooper and me. I can now be working and not tense up every time someone comes in. This alone changes the whole atmosphere in either of my offices. The fact that I am more relaxed, I think helps Coop relax too. You might think this sounds crazy, but now he has a look on his face like, "OK, now I know what to do!" I am sure that without your intervention it would only have been a matter of time before he would have nipped someone and that could have been a MAJOR issue. He really is a wonderful little guy and with your help he can now prove
that to everyone!
Thanks again!
Ann and the New and Improved Cooper!!
PS - Your book is great also!
I don't know if you remember me right off the top of your head, but wanted to say keep up the good work! I had the Shepherd puppy that you called "Mini Me". I have a funny little story I hope you get a kick out of... Sunday, 4 hours out of our final class I left the gate to our back yard open and Jada got out. I usually go out with her so it didn't take me long to notice that she walked right out the gate. I called to her and she kept right on her way, I said "No, Come!" just as we did in class, sure enough she responded and came right back to me. Before taking your class, I would've ran after her yelling come and probably chased her around the neighborhood. Not only did your class benefit her, but I learned how to handle my dog as well. She continues to make progress, she's a joy to walk and I look forward to teaching my children how to handle her so they can walk her as well. I'll refer as many as I can, and when the time comes for more training you will be the first person I think of. Thank you again for the training you provide for both dogs and owners! Talk to you later.
Hello Hector,
I have always enjoyed reading dog training books and trying to apply their techniques to my own situation and dog(s) at the time. But your books truly stand out in their completeness and organization. Every time I pick one up for reference I am newly impressed with how well-written they are and with your sensitivity to a wide variety of issues and dog temperaments. Reading them makes me happy to know you and confident in developing my own skills with my dog. Thanks, Hector!
Catherine Kaikowska 6/09
Hi Hector,
I just wanted to tell you something that happened over the weekend.
Matt and I took the dogs to the Hawk Island dog park on Friday. It was flooded after all the rain we had over the week, but it was still fun for the dogs. Towards the back, there was this small green barricade that we thought was supposed to keep people from going towards the back, but in no way shape or form would that keep the dogs from going back there. In fact, Eva followed 3 other huskies to the back of the park. She was taking a really long time to come back, so I decided to walk through the water and go get her. I wasn't worried since that park is supposed to be completely fenced in. However, they had a part of the gate open because they were pumping water out of the park, and the workers in the back told me that Eva and the other 3 huskies took off outside the park. I immediately let Matt know and also notified the owners of the other huskies. The workers told me where they went so I took off looking for Eva. As I go around a bend in the back road, Eva comes trotting back because she heard me calling her. The other 3 huskies are still missing. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for our dogs. I truly believe that it was the training that we've given Eva that made her come back, because she could have easily taken off with the other 3 dogs.
Thank you again.
Patricia 5/09
Hi Hector!
I thought you might like to hear that Teddy's doing GREAT lately! We were just remembering the other day how difficult Teddy used to be on our walks. It seems like so long ago! Now, he's wonderful on walks, he's getting better and better off leash, and he's learning new tricks to show off for our family. :) We took him up to my aunt and uncle's lake house in Grayling a few times this summer, and we had a hard time keeping him out of the water! Every time he snuck out behind someone, he headed straight for the lake. He even, surprisingly, likes to kayak!
He's impressing people everywhere we go, and we're dropping your name as often as possible. :)
Hope everything is going well with you!
Hector,
I can't thank you enough for all of your help with my Great Pyrenees, Ben. I could not believe that after your first class, that I had Ben following commands. The most incredible accomplishment is that Ben follows the down command! We were very excited to pass your class and your class gave me the confidence to continue working with Ben and to work with our rescue dog, Macy.
Macy, a one year old Pyr, came to us as a rescue. Macy was very sick and very under weight. The only thing that was known about her background was that she didn't get along with her Mom. Things were ok at first, then she started guarding her food, toys and me! She would go after Ben quite viciously when he would come by anything that Macy was protecting. Once again, I called for your help, and with your extra suggestions, and with the training that I learned in your class, I am so happy to tell you that Macy is no longer having the guarding and attacking issues and she is a wonderful, loving dog! With your help, we were able to save a dog that most likely would not have been able to stay with us or would have been very hard placing her in another home. And to even make thing better, my daughter moved back home with her Siberian Husky and cat and they all get along wonderfully!! Thanks to you, we are one big happy family!