"Proof is in the pudding"

"This is the best training method, I hired Four Pawsitive Paws to train our 10 year old daughter to train her new puppy.  Lauren is dependable, gentle, and helps anyone learn.  The prime key that our whole family has learn, is everyone has to be the leader, and that does not mean yelling and screaming; it means patience and discipline. She also taught us about nutrition, vaccinations, and how to groom our puppy too! " 

~Emma and Charlie

 Dear Lauren,

I want to thank you for the excellent doggie skills my little Willow has learned and the training I received for my bad mommy habits. It is such a pleasure when Willow and I spend time together. She is much calmer and in control of herself. She knows her boundaries because I am aware of the things I do to get her over excited and out of control. We are also able to enjoy walks outside. My fear of her running away if I play off leash is over. She plays, runs, fetches and just enjoys the outside. My husband was actually able to take her to the beach without me for some exercise and play and she was GREAT.

I would recommend your method of training to anyone getting a new puppy. You are so patient with us new mommies and daddies. Your insight into parent and puppy behavior started with the minute you met us. You immediately got to work even though we were just meeting each other and talking for the first time. It was like that show “The Nanny”. You observed, made up our schedule of weekly training based on behaviors, set up positive reinforcement and molded us into a family who can enjoy each other’s company and live in harmony.

Sincerely,

Diane and Willow

When discussing the option of adopting a puppy, my fiancé and I knew that our biggest concern was training. We wanted our best friend to be happy, healthy and safe. We knew that one of the aspects to having a happy, healthy and safe pup was to be able to be the “master” and keep her mind stimulated. There would be a number of unique issues we would have to deal with. Both he and I have very different styles of managing. He is extremely stern and I am very much the softy. We knew we would need someone who was able to work with the two of us to achieve our goals. During my search for a trainer, my mother expressed an interest in having her puppy attend class with us as well. Now I had the task of finding someone who would be able to work with each individual person as well as two very different puppies. Happily, I found Lauren Cannon at Four Pawsitive Paws.

After much discussion we decided a class tailored to our needs in my home was the best option for us. Some of the challenges we were concerned with were that the dogs were completely different with different owners. My dog was going to work with two superiors and my mom’s only one. My fiancé and I had completely different ways of working with our pup. We knew a group class setting with a set agenda would not work for us. We felt that time would be wasted teaching the dogs things that they already knew. Thanks to Lauren’s impressive versatility both dogs, being of different ages, breeds, up bringing, and different places of adoption received tailored training at the same time with maximum results. I always felt as though Lauren wanted to know what was most important to our needs when it came to the commands we were working with.

She looked at both pups individually. She addressed the needs of all the owners and pups separately. Both puppies, being a bit older and the owners having a “small” amount of experience, were mostly well versed with the basic basics. Sit and down were already accomplished prior to beginning the class, but that was it! I did not feel as though I had to wait until other pups were up to speed with us or that we were rushed though things that I felt needed more attention. Lauren made sure that we were never bored. I never felt as though she had a strict agenda that she was not willing to vary from. She listened to our needs and made sure they were met. We were able to accomplish the basics and move forward into the commands that we were most interested in. Not only was she able to customize the needs of two separate dogs and owners, but she was able to work with the different methods my fiancé and I had with our dog.

My fiancé, being a Marine and a police officer had a firm way of working with our puppy and I, having a maternal instinct was more of a sucker for those puppy dog eyes. She was able to work with both of our unique styles to maximize the effect of the training sessions. She helped my fiancé see that “the fear of God” approach was not necessary. He could work with the puppy, Kella in a “calm/assertive” manner and get much better results than his original approach. She was also able to shine some light on my technique as well. I learned that being a softy meant that the Kella was in charge. Once I was able to present myself calmly, but more importantly, in an assertive manner my puppy began to view me as the “boss”. Kella began to work with me. Lauren amazed me with her abilities to train my finance and me. It was so much fun to see Kella’s transformation from fresh puppy into a very well behaved pup.

Lauren was completely professional though out the entire process. She was continuously on time and more than prepared. One of my most favorable aspects of working with Lauren was the ability to email her with any questions that may have arisen during the week and she would respond immediately. I never felt as though I had to wait until next class to address any issues. This maximize our one on one training with Kella so when class was in session we were moving forward not still trying to correct what was already taught.

Now that classes have ended, I am very happy to say that I am more confident as a new puppy mom. I know that my pup knows I mean business and I really want to have fun with her. My house has become a calmer environment. Kella knows when it is play time and when it is time to listen. Training is a continuous game. I say “game” because it is. We have fun together. My puppy, fiancé and I enjoy learning new things as well as working on the things we already learned together. We are no longer frustrated with training. We love it! Thanks to Lauren and her patience the three of us are able to enjoy each other’s company.

I know that in the future should we have any set backs, due to moving, addition of children or more puppies, that I can easily contact Lauren and she will walk us through it. We cannot wait to have a new puppy so we may have the pleasure of working with Lauren again!

Brianna and Kella

"Lauren has helped us realize that a dog is perfect at being a dog, and it is us who needs to change. Learning how to take the leadership role in a fun, gentle way.  The training lessons are all about games and making it fun. Training is no longer a chore to us, it is a way of life. I would highly recommend this training to any breed or age of dog.  Great fun!!" 

~ Chris and Bailey