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I always thought I was in control of my dog until Vince Reina told me that I was not. I was buying all the books and watching the TV programs and trying to incorporate those training techniques with my dog Sophie. Needless to say, it wasn’t working. She barked incessantly when anyone approached the door or property. She didn’t listen to me, when other dogs or people were around. She was the pack leader in my house and it was not working out very well.
When my grandson was born, it was then that I knew I needed help in training Sophie. She is a very sweet dog, but I didn’t know how she would be around small children. I wasn’t going to wait to find out the hard way. I found Southland Dog Training on the internet, and I was impressed with what I read about the training provided. I was especially interested in training my dog without the treat rewards.
I started out with Vince Reina and was fascinated how quickly Sophie reacted to his commands. Once Brandi moved to St. Petersburg, she took over the training for Sophie. She was very professional and patient with me. I found out that this wasn’t about dog training, but training the dog owner. Once I was trained, Sophie was the easy part. Don’t ever think that just having someone come in and train your dog is it. The training goes on forever.
Sophie is an Australian Shepherd and she loves to run, I don’t. Brandi helped me solve that problem. She trained Sophie to run along side my bike. We are now riding two miles almost everyday. She absolutely loves it. My sister saw her one day and said it looked like she was laughing and in seventh heaven when she was running.
I run Sophie through her training frequently because it is a never ending job and it is my responsibility to her. Vince and Brandi gave me all the training I need to enjoy Sophie and keep her happy. Now I can say that I am the pack leader in my house!
Thanks Vince and Brandi, you are the best!!!
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 Thank You! doesn't seem to be enough to say about the fantastic job that Mike did in helping us to make our home a more pleasant place for all of us with our dog "Bella".
We had become very frustrated with Bella and the fact that she did not respond to our demands when we tried to correct her excessive barking and nipping at peoples feet when they would come to visit. While their were other small concerns that needed correcting, this was the most annoying and disruptive one.
It is hard to believe that Bella is the same dog after only a few sessions with Mike at our home. He was very professional and had a great knowledge about dogs and showed us some great techniques to help us in all the areas that we were having problems with. He was patient with us as we learned how to correct the mistakes we had made with Bella in the last year and a half. The truth is we needed as much training as our dog did.
I would advise anyone who is considering getting a puppy, to get a professional trainer early and save themselves a lot of frustration. It was easy to see that Mike has a Love for dogs and enjoys helping them to be better pets.
Thanks again for making all of our classes a great learning experience and we think you are the best.
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Dear Southland,
My name is Karina Carrillo, I'm 41 mother of two, last year, me and my kids decided that it was time for us to add new members to the family, me and my kids always wanted dogs but never had the opportunity until now. We went to a local pet shop just to check it out, only a few hours later we fell in love with a Pomeranian and a Rottweiler. After a lot of thinking we decided to get them but we didn't know what we were up against. We named the Pom "Leo" and the Rottie "Goliath". Like every new dog owner it was extremely difficult at the beginning with the housebreaking, crate training but we didn't give up. A few months later we got through all the "basic training" that our breeder told us to do so we thought OK this is it.
Boy were we wrong. after the third month of getting Goliath his behavior started changing, all of the sudden he started getting really really big and we were kind of scared, not because of his size but because he seemed to have gotten a little bit aggressive and dominant, he started barking at neighbors, the walks were never pleasant due to his pulling so it was more like a tug-of-war but inside of the house it was worse, one time my younger son who was 8 at the time played fetch with Goliath, Goliath then had the ball in his mouth so my son tried to take it out of his mouth, Goliath got mad and he nipped him really hard. We were worried, not only was he aggressive with toys he was very aggressive with food nobody could get near him while he was eating or he would start growling.
We thought maybe its just a phase maybe it will pass but then again we were wrong. By the time all these things got worst, he started getting more dominant he started to develop more bad aggressive-like habits. we consulted a few friends and they really gave us bad advice like "has never going to change" or "look at him now imagine later you gotta put him down he's too dangerous" all these things started to confuse me, we got him neutered because we thought that was going to calm him down which it did... for a day. so we took him to our vet told her the problem and she gave me a the "Southland Dog Training" business card, she told me to give them a call because she said they'll fix my problem in no time, but with all the doubt from the advice that "Expert Friends with dogs" told us I was ready to give him away which none of us really wanted to so I decided to give this last try.
I called Southland told them my story and they said that everything that my friends told me is not true Rottweiler’s are not evil or mean dogs and they weren't breed for killing like I've been told, somehow his words made sense to me so I made the appointment for the checkup. So the inspection trainer came and educated us about dogs and behavior and we thought we tried everything else and we love our dogs so lets do this. They gave me a list of tools which at some point I thought if it was going to work.
So Brandi the dog trainer came on a Monday and it was a Monday that changed our lives, her methods were very appalling and very educational we were so happy, but that was only the beginning. the following weeks kept getting better and better, my words really can't describe the dedication, love and determination that Brandi brought to us trough the training, it was a life changing experience.
After two months of training we took Goliath out for a walk at the park in Downtown. So I looked at my dogs and I looked at others and saw a huge difference, I even heard a passerby say, true story no lies, "look at that Rottweiler he looks well trained how cute" from that point right there I was very happy and all the hard work paid off so would I recommend Southland? absolutely , is this something that I can use for the rest of my life and share my experience with other new owners who are where I was three months ago? Definitely.
All I really want to say is thank you so much Brandi and Southland keep doing what you all are doing ,your hard work are an excellent contribution to society, take care God Bless
Karina Carrillo
Samuel Pardo
Elan Ramirez
"Thank you for helping me with my chihuahuas!! My major concerns when I called Southland Dog Training were housebreaking them, walking without them barking at everyone, and teaching them some basic commands. Now we are on a great path toward being completely housebroken (after 2 years of using puppy pads), we're able to walk without anxiety or
embarrassment (no matter how much they bark and growl, they're never very scary) and for the first time I know I have their full attention when I ask for it. You've helped create more peace in our home and I'm very pleased with your services."
Thank you :)
Michelle Heaney
"I just wanted to let you know what a great job Christie did with Hercules. He is not the smartest dog I've owned and I was getting very frustrated with him before his training started. Then, after one session, he seemed a lot smarter. Now that the training is complete he is a doggy genius and it's all thanks to Christie. I also want to thank you for being smart enough to hire her Dan Maguire
"Mike, thank you so much for all your help with Kaya! We got Kaya when she was just a pup and having a pup is much like having a baby. We weren't prepared nor did we understand what Kaya needed us to be for her. That's when the problems began. Kaya started chewing on the kids toys and stuffed animals and going to the bathroom all over the house. Since we didn't know what to do she became an outside dog and not really part of the family. The problems just grew and grew. She started digging and barking at everything and everyone. I work nights and trying to sleep during the day was getting impossible. That's when we called you. We are so glad we did! The yard is getting back to normal, the kids toys aren't being found all over the yard chewed up and the barking has stopped. I can finally get some rest during the daytime when I am working nights. Kaya is now a big part of our family. She is now inside with us most of the day and we all take walks together as a family. Not only has Kaya learned a lot but Vanessa and I have too! Kaya now knows all the basics like sit,stays,down, and she walks beside whomever is walking her without tugging and pulling on the leash. The "place" command works wonderful also. When guests come over we have her go to her bed until she is calm enough to come off and meet our guests. She continues to learn and be involved with the family, so we are starting to look into "fly ball" for her. Mike, thanks again for all your help, we truly could not have done it without you!
Thanks"
The Lintz Family
"I cannot give Brandy Jones enough praise for her help with training Sasha. Brandy was unfailingly polite, professional and a good educator for the dog owner. Watching her work with Sasah gave me the confidence that I could do this also. I cannot believe that we accomplished all my stated desires. Given time and lots of practice, Sasha will make a great service dog. I will definitely call again if I have any more issues with Sasha's training. I would appreciate a few business cards for when people ask."
I am including a picture of Sasha with his back pack.
Ann Rhodes
"You all have a great staff that does a great job on my 3 dog (Onie, Pike and Titan). It was a rough start but we got things on track and finished. Now, I know how to get my dogs to listen, come and I am currently working with placing. Thanks for everything my dogs 100% better. My family came to visit from PA and was shocked at the behavior from the last time they where down. What a complete change my mom said. That made me proud. We will keep up the work and keep improving.
Thanks for the great work and I will keep giving your number out.
Thanks!"
Beecher family
(Richard, Staci, Onie, Pike and Titan)
"We had a lot of issues, since Cheech was affected
by being in the house when we were burglarized,
and never having mentally recovered from that
trauma. We now have her under control when the
doorbell rings, when a stranger (or contractor)
comes to the door, and when we are walking her
outside and another dog approaches. Dennis was
also able to answer a plethora of behavioral
questions and offer antidotes that truly worked."
Carolanne and Alex
"Many, many thanks! After just eight hours
of work with our 18-month-old ex-shelter Terrier
mix, Jessie, you managed to transform her from
a headstrong but intelligent, feisty and stubborn
pup with more than a few bad habits into an
obedient, trustworthy (but still intelligent!)
dog. You also - maybe more importantly - trained
US how to handle her, gently but very firmly
and effectively, earning her respect as we became
her Alpha pack members."
Bob, Julia (& Jessie) Jablonski
"I want to take this opportunity to express
my sincere appreciation for your training program.
As a person who has always taken in strays or
unwanted animals, I found myself with two male
Pit Bulls that suddenly were fighting for dominance.
It was a heartbreaking and incredibly stressful
situation for me. Too many people (including
other trainers) had said I needed to let go
of one of them. And that was very difficult
for me to consider.
From the first in-home visit from Vince, I knew
I was dealing with a different "breed" of trainers,
and Stephen's training with my dogs (and of
course with me) made all the difference in our
lives. The positive, encouraging, tenacious,
and common sense approach to training my two
guys has made all the difference in the world
for us.
I'm sure I learned every bit as much as the
dogs. I am now the "dominant dog", and the tools
that have been given to me will serve me and
my family very well. Thank you just doesn't
seem like a strong enough phrase to say. I am
yours in gratitude."
Rue Herbert
"Applause and more applause for the work
you have done with our black lab Lincoln."
Lisa Cox
"Thank you for the results I have seen
with Pebbles, my cocker spaniel trained by you!
Your program and knowledgeable instructor have
done a great job. I am so happy with how she
responds, and she is much easier to handle."
Lila Gutera
"You're my hero!! You saved a problem pet from
being evicted by my husband."
Diane Boyd
"How do I begin to thank you for all
your assistance? I can not praise you enough."
Paul and Mary Sandman
"I would like to take this opportunity
to tell you how deeply grateful Cathy and I
are for the outstanding work you have done with
our "son", Lance. It is without hesitation that
I give you the highest possible recommendation
to anyone contemplating using your services
that you most assuredly "Produce Positive Results!"
Guy A Lombardo
"We whole-heartedly recommend Southland Dog
Training Academy to anyone needing help with
their dog."
Karen L Holter
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