This is a lovely testimonial I received recently. I appreciate the kind words, but the truth is, all I did was coach this great team. Amy and Fonzie did all the work. They have a lovely relationship and watching them work together is a delight. Kudo’s to both and good luck in the trials!
I found Robin while looking for a way to teach my German Shorthaired Pointer to retrieve – to hand, every time – that didn’t involve sending him away to a strange kennel be “force broke” by someone he’d never met before. I knew my dog, knew how sensitive he was, and ultimately felt that this process might eventually lead to a result I wouldn’t be happy with. My dog was already familiar with the e-collar from his training in the hunt field, so Robin’s method seemed like a natural extension of something he already understood and was comfortable with.
Although I had to drive an hour and a half from Madison, WI each week to attend the retriever class at That’s My Dog, it was clear from day one that I made the right decision. Fonzie took to the process immediately, and within days I began to realize that the end result of this class would be not just a dog that was solid on retrieve, but a closer bond with my best friend and hunting companion. Going through such an intense form of training truly brought us even closer together than we already were (which is saying a lot – we’re joined at the hip!), and has given me utmost confidence handling him both in town and in the field.
We are currently training for our NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) Utility test, and have been practicing our retrieve both on land and in water several times a week. I cannot begin to describe the pleasure I get from having my dog bring his quarry to hand each and every time I send him on retrieve, and I have Robin and That’s My Dog to thank for his spectacular performance.
I highly recommend Robin and her methods to anyone interested in taking the work of retriever training into his or her own hands. Robin’s training techniques will deepen and strengthen the bonds of trust and respect between you and your dog, and the end result is, quite simply, extraordinary.