When I first brought my Collie Tosca home, I already knew
Collies were smart, I just didn't know how smart. She was 9 weeks old
when I took her home, and by 11 weeks I realized that, in spite of what
the AKC or PetSmart said, four months was going to be too long to wait
to work with Tosca. She was extremely alert and watchful, and she was
just dying to please. I was fairly certain I needed to be trained
properly before I could possibly obedience train Tosca. I connected with
Larry LeoGrande at K9 Obedience Training on a recommendation and we began one-on-one
lessons for Tosca and me.
Tosca fell in love with Larry almost instantly. She loved every one of
our sessions and, best of all, I learned what I needed to know to teach
Tosca the basics properly. I realized early that I had already been
making mistakes in my own inexperienced attempts to train her. Thank
heavens I got the advice of Larry before I had to undo my mistakes in
the future. Larry taught me the appropriate ways to teach Tosca what she
needed to know without any confusion on her part or mine. His technique is kind, firm, but loving and he has passed that method onto me. But the
very best part of training has been watching Tosca grow into an obedient
puppy in just 8 weeks. She loved practicing and beginning her training
early was the best thing that happened to both of us. Larry not only
made sure we both learned what we needed to learn, but he also helped us
with other puppy issues such as crate training and housebreaking. He is
also very knowledgeable about breeds and their particular idiosyncrasies,
which in turn helped me to understand what to do when my Collie gets in
one of her stubborn moods.
Overall, the greatest testimony I can give for K9 Obedience Training
came sometime when we were halfway through our sessions. Tosca pulled
her latch collar free during a romp and kept running. I stood there and
said one sentence as calmly and cheerfully as I could as she bolted
away, "Tosca. Come!". And she did. That alone made our
training sessions with Larry worthwhile, for now I know I am able to
keep my dog safe.
I also boarded Tosca with Larry for a day and I would not hesitate to
bring her to him for boarding again. This was the first night she
spent away from me and her cats, and when I picked her up the next
day, she was one very happy puppy, showing absolutely no signs of stress
often associated with boarding a pet. In fact, I got the distinct
feeling that she would have happily stayed at his facility another night
with no problem.
There is no question that Larry has been a great experience for both
Tosca and me. I plan to eventually certify Tosca as a Canine Good
Citizen and I would not hesitate to sign up with Larry again in the
future to help make that happen.
Tosca and I Thank You, Larry,
Cynthia S'Doia
7/17/06 |
