Working with Elisabeth was a life changer. I recently developed a health condition that required a number of big lifestyle changes in order to accommodate everyday tasks, with a few of them requiring the emotional and physical support of my Australian Shepard. I knew that my particular dog was capable with training (personality and breed wise) of helping me in these tasks, but I needed structure and guidance. After careful review of a number of trainers in NYC for service dog certification, I chose to work with Elisabeth and I couldn’t be more grateful of the experience. In just the first session my dog took to the training, it was an absolute pleasure working with her. I thought it would be a much more stressful process. She also helped by pointing me in the right direction for all of the other requirements needed for bringing her into public spaces/on transportation as a service dog. I could not recommend working with her more for this, she’s the best of the best.
Testimonials
Working with Elisabeth is the best decision I’ve made to help transition into life with a new puppy. She is incredibly helpful, responsive, and made an impact in my puppy’s behavior immediately. Elisabeth has been an incredible support as I’ve managed being a brand new dog-mom–I don’t know what I would do without her! Cannot recommend her enough for new puppy parents or any dog owners alike.
I have been meaning to write this for a long time.
Elisabeth is terrific! I met Elisabeth when I needed help with my older dog Easter. Since puppyhood, Easter was an anxious dog who was afraid to walk the streets. Loud noises such as truck and car horns scared her and the sounds and flashing lights of emergency vehicles would send her into a panic.
Before Easter began working with Elisabeth she and I had worked with at least two other trainers with mixed results. After a few weeks working with Elisabeth, Easter was a changed dog. She began to look forward to walks and even found the courage to join in the fun at the local dog run.
Today, Easter and I enjoy walks every day.
Now that Easter is comfortable with her daily walks, I plan to contact Elisabeth for some advanced training so that Easter can be the best that she can be.
Easter says: Woof ! Woof ! (Thanks Elisabeth)
My 11 year old lab Alex’s arthritis was catching up with him. It became very difficult for him to move around and sometimes he would fall. After a terrible fall down a set of stairs Elisabeth guided me to a great neurologist and after Alex’s surgery started an in home physical rehabilitation program. Alex walked again, enjoyed his walks through the neighborhood, learned to ring poochie bells and loved it. The care Elisabeth gave her contributed a lot to his quality of life.
Dear Elisabeth,
David and I read your wonderful and enlightening letter. We cannot thank you enough for taking the time to care and relate your experience and wisdom to our problem.
When you said “Fear Aggression” the biggest lightbulb went off. We always thought that Zeus was over protective of David, but I think you absolutely have nailed it. Now we have an entirely different perspective.
We also are thankful for you excellent description of Schutzhund training and why that would not be a good option for Zeus. And most of all in one simple sentence, you have explained to us the importance of the positive reinforcement training. When you said that it is much better to do something because you want to do it, than worrying about some terrible thing happening if you don’t, again the sky actually parted for us. I never knew that was the reason for that kind of training. When we worked with the folks at Santa Fe Tails previously, no one ever said that. We just thought it was a newer, more modern way to train dogs. And we worried that they gave far too many treats. And finally your wonderful explanation of deferential behavior gives us such hope for Zeus’s future. I could not bear the thought of living a life of constant fear about him and for him and you actually have lifted a terrible and ominous weight off of the situation. Our only challenge now, is can these folks train us to understand and work in this way with Zeus?
Could I ask you to recommend a book or DVD that would be appropriate for us to learn to work with Zeus in this manner?
I am ever grateful to Freddie and Myrna for discussing our problem with you and I am ever grateful to you for your amazing expertise and for being so generous in sharing this with us.
Warm regards,
Roberta Remy and David Shields