The Torpedo Weiner Dog

We thought we would give you an update on Rufus. The holidays can be stressful for us humans as well as our pets. We did very well with company on multiple occasions and one evening I was almost concerned that he was behaving to well. I kept telling everyone that the real Rufus could emerge at any time. The only time he became less that what we would hope for was provoked and should not have happened. It proved to me that no matter what you tell someone or how many times you tell them, the responsibility is ours to make sure everyone is doing what they should be doing and are where they belong. He also did very well with a dog sitter for a week recently.

Toby the Big Dobie

I’ve been meaning to let you know how well Toby is doing. He has come so far. He was such a mess when we first got him. I was pretty much resigned that he was “as good as it gets”. Then we met you, and you believed in him. . Toby is the most wonderful dog that I have ever known. And you guys have certainly help him become the dog that he is today. I am so grateful for your help You knew that he could improve, and you kept on helping him. He is a testament to rescue–that dogs really are resilient and they can learn trust, respect, and love, even if they have never had these We had had him for quite a while before you ever met him. He had already been expelled from dog school, All I ever wanted for Toby was for him to be a regular dog. As you know, he was far from regular when you first met him. So here’s a Toby story (Pip, too): My Dobie friends Judi & Amy have opened a doggy day care and boarding facility in Macedonia. The facility has a huge play room and an outside area too. The dogs that are being boarded get to be out in the playroom as long as Judi & Amy are working (Which, I think is about 23 hours a day since the business is new & just getting off the ground.) I told them I would love to be able to board my dogs there, but I just couldn’t picture them in a room with 20 other dogs playing & barking & humping, & doing dog stuff. So they talked we into bringing them up for a couple of hours. Now, Pip has never seen a muzzle because, as you know, she is perfect (just ask Mike). But she has never been very tolerant of other dogs. So I stopped on the way up & bought a muzzle for Pip. As you may guess, this is not a new control device for Toby. When I got to the day care, I presented the bag with the muzzles to Judi. She said,”what the hell is this?”, and threw the bag onto a table. I was going to an appointment while the dogs were in Judi’s care, and I was a wreck. After about 1/2 hour, she called & said “relax, Toby is doing fine. He’s wagging his nubbie.” Well, I have never seen Toby wag his tail in the 7 years that I have had him. They stayed about 2 hours. When I went to pick them up, they were both in the big room with about 20 dogs. The dogs were bumping into them & sniffing them, and they were just fine. Toby came over & leaned against my leg & grumbled at other dogs who came near me. Judi said this is why owners are usually not allowed in the room with their dogs. But he seemed relaxed and basically fine with the situation. About a week later, I loaded the dogs up to take them to get their nails trimmed. They clearly thought they were going to day care. They danced & hopped around & were so happy. They were not very happy when they got their nails trimmed and returned home. Now they have been to day care twice, and they did well the second time, too. When we got to the facility the second time, Judy was in the process of assessing a dog who was possibly being surrendered to the rescue. They were in a small room in the entrance way, and I couldn’t get my guys into the facility without walking by the dog that Judi was working with. I got Toby first. I made him sit & focus on me when we entered the doorway. He was so good. He walked right by the new dog without reacting at all. The other dog was reacting to him, but he didn’t care. The owners of the other dog thought he was so good. (If they only knew…..) So I had to let you know how “regular” my wonderful boy has become. I know that most of the credit goes to you guys who tirelessly and patiently worked with him to desensitize him to other dogs. I just had to thank you again for all that you have done to help my boy. We were so fortunate to have found you.

Book Review

Excellent! Your book is the most informative and helpful that I have ever read. Wish I had known about it before I purchased some others.

Running Partner

I just wanted to give you an update on how Tyson is continuing to show progress. We took a vacation at the beginning of Oct and his dog sitter could not believe the difference in him. She said he was very well behaved and only “tested” her once and was fine after she put his gentle leader on him. He has become an even better running partner and now can’t wait for his morning runs. We had some friends over last night (which we haven’t been doing b/c of Tyson) and he made me so proud. They couldn’t get over how well behaved he was and kept remarking how he was such a nice dog. He made his parents proud. He also is liking his food again and his coat is coming back healthy and shiny from the food and the fish oil. I thought you would enjoy hearing how well he is doing and just wanted to thank you for helping us. I hope to enroll him in some classes soon. Thanks again.

A Lifesaver

I cannot thank you enough for all you taught me at the puppy class. While I attended with my Sheltie, Arrow, you emphasized repeatedly the need to be able to get our dog’s attention and to come when commanded. So, those were the two big things I have been working on with Arrow daily and it paid off big time. Thank you your lessons, I still have Arrow and he is alive after a very traumatic incident. I take Arrow on walks with me daily always on his lead and a few days ago, I decided to walk in another direction down our road. We live out in the country and I had walked about a mile and a half and decided to walk back home. We were about a mile from home when another dog came out of no where and was heading toward us. I urged Arrow to continue to walk with me, but that dog grabbed Arrow by the tail and ripped Arrow out of his collar and started to drag Arrow into the grass. Arrow was able to get out of the dog’s grasp and began running away from me with the other dog close behind him. The dog got Arrow again and this time got Arrow’s hind leg and I heard Arrow let out yelps of pain. Meanwhile I was yelling at the dog to get away. When Arrow finally got out of the dog’s grasp, I commanded him to come and Arrow obeyed and came to me. I snatched up Arrow and walked away and for reasons I don’t know, the dog did not pursue me. Once I was sure we were far enough away from the attack dog, I put Arrow down and placed his collar back on him and checked him over for injuries. I knew he was in pain and he limped when he tried to walk, his hind leg was injured. The next morning, my vet checked Arrow out and cleaned up his leg wound, the dog had bitten him and Arrow was badly bruised, but he will heal completely. I am just so thankful to still have my dog, Arrow and I have to give you some of the credit. If I had not attended those classes, I don’t think this would have had such a happy ending. Thanks again!

Really Big Dogs

Jim Akenhead Ed.D. and his wife, Charlene, saved our overly dominant Dog Argentino’s life. That is the easiest way to put it. Aja was born with a strong prey drive and was a tough customer growing up. With Jim Akenhead’s help and great patience; Aja became a manageable pet and part of our family. At a time when we felt hopeless and thought we may have to put her to sleep for our safety and hers, Jim gave us the training we needed. With his help, she became a better behaved dog and we became better owners! We owe the happiness in our pet “family” to him and Charlene.

At the Vet

I am writing to you to let you know of the change that you have brought about with Venus. I took her to the Vet today for her annual physical and shots. 1. A office employee walked up to her uninvited, extended her hand and gave Venus a treat.. 2. Another employee moments later walked up to Venus and asked me to take Venus over to the scales. 3. I walked her into an enclosed examining room and waited for the Vet. 4. He walked in with an assistant and slowly petted Venus and his assistant was at his side.. (This room was no bigger than 8ft. by 10ft.) He proceeded to give Venus 2 shots, take a blood sample, do a glaucoma screen, check her rectal glands, check her teeth and cut her nails. All this was done without incident.. Was she nervous, at first yes but she seemed to relax. I did cheat a little. I took some liver treats along to give her occasionally. I wanted to tell you this to let you know the fruit’s of your labor. Thank You Very Much

Tiny But Tough

It is exciting to see the progress that our Sheltie has made since going to Signature K-9. We adopted Finn, in Jan. ’08, after his first owner returned him to the breeder. We were told by the breeder that he was shy and liked to stay close to his human. I thought I knew what he needed…. So to boost his self confidence I enrolled him in classes at another facility. Little did I know ! ! What I thought was good for him only made his “shyness” escalate into fear aggression. Then one day he bit my 2 year old grandson. That was my wakeup call ! We had become very attached to Finn by that time and we were not willing to just “throw him away”. He is a sweet, funny and loving companion and worth a second chance. So I started searching for a professional and discovered Signature K-9. I e-mailed Jim and explained what we were dealing with. He reassured me that they had worked with this kind of problem before. Jim worked out a personal training program to help Finn while teaching me the tools I needed to be a more patient, relaxed and confident owner/handler. Finn has graduated from private lessons, to a “reactive dog” group class, and now a puppy class where he is doing great and his self confidence is growing. Each week I am amazed at what he has done. We are looking forward to the day that Finn is no longer afraid and we can take him for a walk in the park. Jim, Charlene, and Hollie show a genuine love and concern for each dog that comes through the door. Be it a shy, reactive Sheltie or an exuberant Golden Retriever, they are all treated with patience and respect. Thanks Jim , Charlene , and Hollie ! !

Rotties and Bullies

I went to 3 other training facilities before finally finding Signature K-9. My Rottweiler puppy was not only unruly, but she had bitten me twice hard enough to draw blood when I had attempted to take a chicken bone from her. I was way in over my head and I decided I needed professional help. Like I said, I went to a few other facilities first and I just wasn’t satisfied with the level of expertise I received from them. The other trainers seemed confused and unsure when I explained my pup’s behavioral issues. Even worse, the techniques they suggested were making her worse! Desperate to resolved my pup’s issues, I kept looking. Upon discovering Jim and Charlene at Signature K-9, I quickly learned that not all trainers are created equal. They both had extensive knowledge of canine behavior and psychology and were quickly able to come up with a feasible plan to change my pup’s behavior. Their methods were fun, humane, and highly effective. Not only did my relationship with my dog improve dramatically, but I gained so much confidence in myself as a handler that I was able to add another dog to my household. Now both of my dogs still attend more advanced classes at Signature K-9. One of my dogs has recently passed his CGC and therapy dog test. My other dog is being prepped for competition.They are both thriving and are a joy to have in my household. I could not have done this without the training and support I received at Signature K-9. I highly recommend them to anyone who loves their 4 legged friend!

From A Distance…

My daughter and I took our German Shepherd pup to Signature K-9 Training and had a wonderful experience. Jim was so calm and patient that his energy was contagious to both dog and owner. Through the class we learned so many valuable lessons that we still are using even after moving 1500 miles away. Techniques such as the recall command, learning to stay on “place” while we are eating and many other training tools has helped us immensely with having a well behaved and enjoyable member of our family. I would highly recommend Signature K-9 Training for anyone who wants to have an incredible experience for both dog and owner. Thanks Jim and Charlene

Dobies Only

My daughter and I took our German Shepherd pup to Signature K-9 Training and had a wonderful experience. Jim was so calm and patient that his energy was contagious to both dog and owner. Through the class we learned so many valuable lessons that we still are using even after moving 1500 miles away. Techniques such as the recall command, learning to stay on “place” while we are eating and many other training tools has helped us immensely with having a well behaved and enjoyable member of our family. I would highly recommend Signature K-9 Training for anyone who wants to have an incredible experience for both dog and owner. Thanks Jim and Charlene

Battling Boxers

My husband and I have two rescue Boxers; one male and one female. In regards to rescues, I was under the impression that if you just take the dogs to a safe home and give them enough time to realize it was safe, they would eventually come around and be fine. I was very wrong. We started reading books, got DVD’s on dog behavior, took them to training classes, and exercised them every day, but it was not enough. Our male would still occasionally lash out at our female for what seemed like no reason. There was always a lot of tension in the house. Then, the male bit me while I was trying to break up a fight. After the biting incident we realized how dangerous the situation was, because there were children in the house at the time and called around for some advice. We were advised by experienced people that some dogs cannot overcome their past abuse and they suggested he be euthanized. I am very attached to my dogs; and I had to give them one more chance. I called my vet which led me to Jim. I was extremely hesitant at first, because I have heard stories of “trainers” and “behaviorist” that do not use humane methods and I didn’t want to get caught up with one of those. After just a couple conversations with Jim I started to feel more comfortable. He seemed to be just as picky about which customers he accepted as I was about who I allowed to work with my beloved pets. So I set up our first session and it has been worth every penny, every second and every ounce of effort. Jim was extremely positive from the very beginning which made all the difference after being bit. Since then all four of us have had great experiences. Some of which include reversing the damage of Opus’ past abuse and neglect, building a better relationship of trust between us and the dogs, building a better structured routine in the home for the dogs and teaching us how to act in the appropriate way so the dogs don’t misinterpret our actions and intentions. We even learned how to play with our dogs properly. Who knew that was important? – Jim! We have seen the level of confidence improve in our male, which decreases his need for self-defense based aggression or fear aggression. This new level of confidence has also enabled him to relax more and enjoy more out of life (us too.) From there we worked harder on building more trust between us. By the last session our once dog-aggressive pet was focusing on me while an unfamiliar dog was in the room. My dog – the same one that bit me just a few months before – was trusting me. Just before we left that night, both dogs were just a couple feet and lying down. It wasn’t just obedience, he actually trusted me. He was okay to have his back toward the other dog and lay down even to the point of lying completely and voluntarily on his side. I’m sure it seems simple for most people, but it was an amazing experience for me. Anyone who knows dog language can understand what a vulnerable position that is for a dog. As I said, I feel very connected to my male dog, but that day that connection became a more clearly defined relationship with the foundation of very strong trust. My dog has come a long way, but I was surprised at what that lesson did for me. I went home with a greater sense of accomplishment, confidence and pride. Maybe his methods work on humans too! Although it has been work, in a lot of ways the work has been fun and absolutely worth it. We really enjoyed our time with Jim and the things he taught us. Thanks a million times for helping us keep our companion.

Polished Onyx

Signature K-9 is one of two training schools I have attended. It is the only one I would recommend! I have had two dogs in classes at Signature K-9. Our Nita was a coated German Shepherd that unfortunately we lost due to Diabetes and EPI prior to her first birthday. Onyx is a purebred male, four year old German Shepherd rescue. Jim and Charlene have an incredible amount of patience with both the dogs & the owners. They are extremely knowledgeable & are exceptional communicators. Their clients benefit from their willingness to continually attend new training seminars. The training center is clean and comfortable. The classes are relaxed and enjoyable. I particularly like that they are flexible if you have a schedule conflict. They have helped me immensely with additional training specific to our needs. They are always available for support to help solve problems through email & phone calls, not just for one hour in your weekly class. Thank You! Jim and Charlene for all you have done for Nita, Onyx and me! You are truly dedicated with a tremendous love for canines. Onyx certainly is a walking advertisement for signature K-9. Hardly a day goes by without someone commenting that he is beautifully trained with impeccable manners. We couldn’t have done it without your expertise.

Calli Cutie

If you are looking for an instructor who believes in the philosophy of positive reinforcement/reward, Jim is the one for you! No harsh tactics used here! Jim offers suggestions for solving your dog’s problems in positive and gentle ways. Thus, learning is enjoyable for you and fun for your dog. How did I hear of Jim and why did I seek his help? Believe it or not, I was talking with a person who had interviewed three different trainers and felt that he was by far the superior one. So… armed with that information, Calli and I sought his advice. You see, my goal for my then 2 year old Wheaton Terrier and myself was to become a certified therapy dog team. However, Calli displayed her exuberant personality with constant “talking back” (barking) and continuous leash pulling when walking. Of course, neither behavior is acceptable for therapy dog work. I needed to get this little “bundle of energy” under control. Through Jim’s offering of various positive training techniques and through his constant encouragement, we overcame these particular problems and are now certified. I truly believe that without Jim’s help we would not have accomplished our goal. In fact, we had so much fun that we continue going to class and learning more each time we meet with fellow class mates. Would I recommend Jim? You bet-ya! Is he one of the best around… absolutely! He is a real professional… no doubt about it!! One last thought. His facility is kept spotless and he always has training tools on hand to aid you. He throws his heart and soul into his work… you can not only see it but you can feel it. He will go that “extra mile” to help you.

Talented Border

Signature K-9 has been a blessing for us and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for dog training. Jim and Charlene are wonderful, dedicated people with an incredible knowledge of K-9 behavior. My Border collie, Dewey, first started training when he was a 5 month old pup with a lot of potential, but in need of a lot of work. Using the Akenhead’s positive training methods and participating in many group classes has helped Dewey develop into a wonderful dog. Now at 18 months old, Dewey is a Rainbow Therapy Dog and Canine Good Citizen who continues to amaze us with his abilities. I couldn’t thank his trainers enough for helping bring out his potential and for teaching me how to be a good handler. Dewey and I will continue to take classes at Signature K-9, not only to further challenge ourselves, but because we enjoy them so much!

Shy Maizie

My vet recommended that I get some professional training for my pup, Maizie because she was what he referred to as “a shy dog”. His concern was that she might become aggressive if provoked. Since I had never taken any of my previous dogs for training, I asked friends for advice on whom to take her to and received many recommendations for Jim Akenhead at Signature K-9 Jim starts each dog with one-on-one personal training which was very valuable for Maizie since she was so shy. Jim is very knowledgeable about dogs and he seems to be able to communicate with them without saying a word. During our first lessons he immediately taught me ways to read my dog properly so I am able to anticipate her behavior. He also taught me ways to help Maizie cope with her shyness, which we still practice today Maizie and I have also attended group training at Signature K-9 which helped us both in many more ways. I was very impressed with the way Jim worked with all the dogs and got them to respond. I found the lessons to be interesting, relaxed and fun. Maizie has responded well to training and she has come a long way from her early puppy days. I now enjoy taking Maizie for walks because she is the first dog I have ever had that walks beside me, rather than pulling me along. I wish now that I would have taken all my dogs for training because the benefits are so great. If you keep up with the training that Jim teaches, you will have a pet that will be an enjoyable part of the family.

Labradoodle

We brought our miniature Labradoodle, Chloe, to Signature K-9 at around seven months of age. She was very high-strung and demanded a lot of attention. She had been through puppy training elsewhere but we were having trouble with her jumping, pulling, and getting possessive with non-Chloe objects. Getting a shoe or sock away from her was risking a finger! Jim was very calm and firm but loving with Chloe. His presence alone seemed to affect her. He spent a lot more time than the allotted time with Chloe and me working on getting her to listen by praising positive behavior (along with reward) and discouraging the negative. My husband and I laughed that a lot of the time, the training was more for us than Chloe! The group classes were small enough that he was able to work individually with each dog, helping them and the owners get the required response in a group setting. We can’t say enough praise about Signature K-9 and would highly recommend anyone to take their dog there. The facility is immaculate and Jim and Charlene are extremely knowledgeable. They haves a true love for dogs and for what they do!

Border Collie Surprise

Scully, my 9 year old Border Collie, and I have been going to classes at Signature K-9 since she was 6 months old. Scully was becoming a fear biter and had separation anxiety – our vet suggested that I contact Signature K-9 Services for training. It was the best advice! Scully and I have both learned so much from the Akenheads. We have participated in individual sessions, group training, agility classes, and rally obedience classes. Scully enjoys the classes and loves the Akenheads! I started with a dog who had sever behavioral problems and now we are a therapy team.

Golden Wisdom

I’m not sure who enjoyed the class more – Chamois or me! I’m also not sure who learned more – the dog or the human. Thanks for a great class. It’s good to learn techniques for civilizing one’s pet that don’t involve platoon sergeant yelling or jerking on choke collars. We’ll definitely be back for more! The class was low key, atmosphere wise, which relaxed both dogs and their owners and yielded positive results in training. When Jim walked among the dogs, every head turned and every tail wagged. It was amazing. The dogs all loved him. We humans think he is pretty great too.

Saintly Terrier

We brought Winston to Jim after two different trainers. Winston had a lot of territorial issues. He was a rescue from the pound. Judging by his behavior, we believe he had been abused. Jim worked wonders with him. On Winston’s first visit, all he wanted to do was bite Jim. By our 4th session, Winston was on Jim’s lap. Winston had private training until he was able to control his outbursts. We are now ready to begin group classes. Jim has worked miracles with him and I highly recommend him to everyone. We’ve seen a huge difference. Winston still has a way to go – but we are beyond thrilled with his program.

Obnoxious Rescue

Buddy, our brand new, three year old Labrador retriever was very loud and very obnoxious. He barked at everyone coming in to our house. He barked and growled at all we met on walks. You could not get him under control. Jim helped with socialization in his classes and with many ideas to follow through at home. At last, with persistence, we can get the barking stopped and very quickly. Thanks Jim.

Petite Newfie

On the advice of a dog trainer, I took my then one year old Newfoundland, Emma, to Signature K-9. Emma had been in attendance at two other obedience schools since she was ten weeks old; and we weren’t making much progress with obedience. That changed when we enrolled at Signature K-9. Much to my surprise, I learned, for the first time, that I was a part of the problem. Jim and Charlene made sure that I understood what I was to do in executing a technique properly. In addition, if a technique just wasn’t getting the desired results, Jim was able to modify or suggest a different approach. So, here we are, a year and a half later and Emma is now a registered therapy dog as well as a student in advanced obedience classes. My Plan is to remain in classes into the future. Positive results, that is what Signature K-9 can provide you.

Experienced Rescues

My husband and I have both been dog owners all of our lives. Six years ago we decided to adopt a 24 month old male German Shepherd from a rescue group.  He had been a kennel type environment prior to his adoption, a dog pound before that, and the rest is a mystery.  He was basically a friendly dog but it soon became apparent he was very nervous around other dogs and he was a physically powerful animal that would require intensive obedience training to channel this level of energy in a positive manner. We tried other dog schools in a large classroom environment which only seemed to intensify his wariness of other dogs. Finally, we found Signature K-9 and during individual lessons the trainer not only evaluated the dog’s response to stress but the responses of my husband and I. As a result, each of us became part of dog handler teams rather than “pet owners”. We have now taken two German Shepherd rescue dogs to Signature K-9 that were greater than 1 year of age at the time of adoption. Both very powerful animals with less than ideal socialization.  As a result of our training, we have been able to positively, safely, integrate them into our family environment. We recommend Signature K-9 to all of our family and friends and will continue to bring all of our future pet partners to Signature K-9

Bitter to Buddy

Buddy, a shepherd mix, was 4 years old when his aggressiveness became a real liability for me. He had bitten two people and neither the groomer nor the vet could get a muzzle on him. It broke my heart to ask the vet about putting Buddy down, because I had rescued that cute little stray when he was 8 weeks old.

The Vet said I might try Signature K-9 before I made my final decision. I didn’t have much hope because buddy had been expelled from puppy school when he was 5 months old, but, I wanted to feel I had tried everything before I had Buddy put down. I met with Jim and Charlene 3 times for private lessons and have attended two 4 week group classes. I really enjoy Buddy now!  I am amazed at how I could see improvements weekly. Buddy is well on his way to passing the therapy dog test.

There is no doubt in my mind that Buddy would be dead today if not for Jim and Charlene at Signature K-9. I am so grateful for their expertise and patience.

Boston Buddies

Boris & Natasha are our 4 ½ year old Boston Terriers. They’d been with since they were 13 weeks old and they seemed very well behaved. The only problem we had was that Natasha must’ve thought she was a beagle, because once she got on the scent of a rabbit, nothing could stop her. We were afraid she would either run ’till she dropped or run into the street and get hit by a car.

In spite of that fear, I didn’t know any trainers, and didn’t want to take her to anyone who’d be mean to her. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her, so I talked to 3 other trainers before I talked to Jim at Signature K-9.

When I talked to Jim, he said he would rather have seen her at 3 months, but he would be willing to work with her. We set up four individual sessions; the first three would be Natasha by Herself, and the fourth time we would take Boris with us so he could be evaluated.

My husband and I decided that I would be the one to take her since they were to be my companions.
From the very first day, I had a great respect for Jim because while he was explaining to me how the training would work, he was also talking to Natasha and gaining her trust. Not one time did he do or say anything that would scare her.

The entire time she was in training, he treated her as if she was a part of his family. He always treated her with respect – never raised his voice, and never lost his patience with her.

She always had “homework” for us to practice before the next session. There was never a doubt in my mind that Natasha would pass with flying colors – even though a couple of time I was afraid I might flunk!

Natasha was always a proud little girl, but with Jim’s training she just seemed to blossom. Not only did Natasha excel, but when we took Boris with us on the fourth lesson, he could do everything Natasha had learned in class (perhaps a tribute to what his owners learned).

As for the theory that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – we also have a mixed breed dog that someone dropped off about eight years ago who now sits like a champ! We recommend Signature K-9 to anyone who wants their dog to be the best that it can be.

Darling Dunkin

After Purchasing a new Miniature Schnauzer puppy for our children, the excitement quickly diminished as we realized how lost we felt. We had never had an indoor pet and the reality of having a new addition to the family had begun to set in.

Dunkin didn’t listen, or sleep, he had accidents in the house, and chewed on everything in sight. Obviously we were very frustrated and began searching for answers. Thankfully, we found Signature K-9 Services. Jim took the time to sit with us and discuss his philosophies on training appropriate puppy behaviors and how to make the new addition to our family a welcomed one.

We signed up for individual classes and quickly realized it wasn’t just Dunkin who needed trained, it was us who needed to be taught how to address appropriate and inappropriate behaviors and how to properly reinforce the behaviors we desired.

The changes in Dunkin’s behavior were immediate, after only one class session he was a different puppy. It was truly astonishing.  Jim was able to give us the guidance we needed to elicit the appropriate behaviors we desired from our new puppy.

We have now completed the individual classes with Jim and Dunkin and I have signed up for group classes. We look forward to maintaining our relationship with Jim and Signature K-9 Services and continuing to cultivate a loving relationship with Dunkin. We are happy to say Dunkin is now the enjoyable addition to our family as Jim said he would be. We would highly recommend Jim and Signature K-9 Services if you have a new puppy and feel lost.

Shepherds Only

I have owned Shepherds all of my life. My current German Shepherd started classes at 9 weeks. She progressed with her training under the patient guidance of Signature K-9.

As I needed to be trained as much as my dog, I have appreciated the instruction and helpful comments to overcome some behavior problems in the dog and me.

I would recommend Signature K-9 Services to anyone who would attend classes for training their dog.

Glorious Goldie

Both of my Golden Retrievers have been to puppy school I felt the individual attention we received was really great. The many questions I had were always answered in a very professional way and the weekly tips helped make our transition from a hectic puppy house to a dog friendly environment.

I still use many of the tactics with our 2 year old today. I can’t imagine having a dog without being trained and the staff at Signature K-9 made this very possible. I felt they were very reasonable in price for the attention we received and the fact that our dogs looked forward to going each week was priceless.

Youthful Exuberance

Sid, our 6 month old blond Labrador enjoyed biting and pulling when walking.

We began our training with individual lessons where we learned how to take charge instead of the dog. Next we took a 4 week group session to improve general behavior, social manners.

Lessons taught: patience, discipline through patience, and kindness. Jim really knows dogs and personalities. Sid is much calmer and socially acceptable. There are times when his behavior is inappropriate, but because of this training, we are prepared.

Talented Tobie

Tobie, my 1 year old sheltie has been attending different Signature K-9 classes since he was a puppy.

Tobie and I have enjoyed the obedience classes. I like that there is no tugging, yelling, or pulling on the dogs. We do our learning with soft excited voices and we praise them a lot.

I have enjoyed taking Toby to these classes and knowing we are having a good time and learning too.

Bursting Energy

Marley and I first came to Signature K-9 when he was about 4 months old.  He is a Labrador/retriever mix with an abundance of energy. Having had a dog previously that lacked social graces, we decided early on to raise Marley differently. Signature K-9 was recommended by a friend who participates in Rainbow Therapy Dogs, Inc. with her dog.

Marley did well in his individual sessions and I am very pleased with his progress in group sessions. Their methods of instruction for both Marley and I are very effective. Marley and I are planning to attend classes with the hope of someday becoming members of Rainbow Therapy Dogs.

I recommend Signature K-9 to anyone with a new puppy or with any age dog that may need some proper guidance.

Cautious Canine

Our Dog Beau came to our house as an abused stray with fear to move that he would be strictly reprimanded.  Signature K-9 Services has helped me learn to have him trust again.

He is such a well mannered dog that we are hoping to have him become a therapy dog and are working toward that goal. He is an English Pointer and makes an excellent house dog and wonderful companion.

Labrador Deceiver

Hi! I am Mary and I am owned by Cassie, a yellow lab who is just about 6 years old. Her first couple of years were trying with digging, some chewing and eating mine and the neighbors tomatoes. I worked with her at sitting and down which she learned quickly. Then I saw an ad in the paper for Rainbow Therapy Dogs, Inc. I attended a couple of meetings and decided I would like to get Cassie and I involved.

I met Jim and Charlene at the meetings and started taking Cassie to classes at Signature K-9 to learn what would be expected of her to be tested for a therapy dog. Cassie needed to be around the other dogs to learn the approved behavior. I don’t know where she would have learned it if it had not been for Signature K-9 Services.

Independent Aussi

Frank and I brought our 3 year old Australian Shepherd, Rio, to Signature K-9 in hopes of resolving his “lack of obeying us”.  When he was stimulated by a passerby, he was impossible to walk and he even nipped someone who entered our yard!

All three of us received training  “Thanks for all the important daily “ exercises we implemented so that Rio would see us as the leaders and not his followers! We’re all much happier now and Rio now pays attention to commands when in the presence of others! Our one-on-three training sessions proved to be invaluable!

Prison Pup

Maddie, a retriever mix, was a rescue dog from Trumbull County Animal Welfare League. She spent eight weeks as a “cell dog” at a correctional institute where she received her basic discipline training. After that, we wanted to continue her discipline training and enrolled her in Signature K-9’s Therapy Dog Training Class.

Initially, we took Maddie to Signature K-9 for her “pulling” problem and through Jim’s expertise in problem solving, Maddie blossomed from Jim’s intuitive and positive training methods.  She passed the therapy Dog International test.

As a registered TDI dog, she now visits nursing homes as well as Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Hospital. She seems to love her job. We also have kept her enrolled in group training classes where she seems to enjoy socializing with her doggie friends.

Maddie seems to enjoy agility training as it is mixed in with our classes. Jim and Charlene make it a pleasure to attend their classes. They attend specialty and problem solving seminars on a regular basis & share information with us making it a learning experience for all.