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Testimonials We'd like to know what you think about your experience with First Friend K-9 Training. Please leave your comments in this public forum so we can share your thoughts with our current and future clients. If you would like to have a photo posted with your testimonials please email the photo with your name and your dogs name to comments@firstfriendk9.com so that it can be added to your testimonial. Name: Natasha
& Doug Croy Comments We cannot be thankful enough for being referred to First Friends by a close friend of ours. We enrolled Jimmy into the Puppy Kingergarten to make sure we started on the right track to a well trained puppy being our dog is a Chow/Labrador mix. He is 6 months and is already pushing over 40 pounds, so he is going to be a big dog! Bruce and his crew are all amazing and took that time to give us the one on one time during each class even though we were a class of 60. The training was effective and fun at the same time. The improvement we've seen in Jimmy and the compliments we receive from friends and family on how well behaved he is, we attribute this to Bruce, his team, First Friends, and doing our homework! Thank you so much Bruce and everyone, we look forward to starting the novice class after we get married in June!!
Name: Jelane
& Ken Hurst Comments The second "DOODLE DAY" was a great success. It's hard to believe in this day and age that you and your staff go to the lengths for our 'furry friends' that you do. It's this kind of dedication to you customers that keeps us coming back.
Name: Linda and Adam Comments Name: Kathy Janes Comments Once again it was party time at First Friend K-9 as the Doodles hit the floor running. Mater had a blast. We are really grateful to Bruce and his team for offering us the opportunity to just have a fun play date for our dogs. Most Doodles can't get enough play time with each other, but this time I think they got pretty worn out! Thanks so much!!
Name: Amy
Gray Comments All I have to say is that without Bruce and his staff our dog would not be living with us today. I have never met a puppy that was SO bad before we found First Friends. Ginger's nick name was 'devil dog' now she is one with the family and we are so grateful. I recommend First Friends to everyone that has a dog or is thinking of getting one. Simply the best!
Name: Debbie
Harrod Comments This testimonial is different than most of the previously posted ones. Though, they all speak kindly of everything offered at First Friend, they don't even begin to describe the facility and staff. My last post was in early April. At that time I mentioned my husband, Greg, and his diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Greg passed away last week, and I was overwhelmed by the support from the staff, class members, and especially Bruce and Debbie. Words cannot express my gratitude so I won't even try. Just know that this facility is all about caring, not just for dogs, but for people too! en might be present, because of his fear of children. He would bark and growl at children. Over time, Calvin's world had shrunk considerably. We had to stop taking him to the park to play frisbee (his favorite) because we never knew if children would show up. Once we found out we were expecting triplets, w
Name: Kristen
Ballard Comments Our white shepherd Calvin, has been a handful since he was a puppy. His willful personality, led to unsuccessful training at two different training facilities. As Calvin grew in size and age, we resorted to locking him up in our bedroom whenever anyone, but a handful of people came to visit. We were afraid to go any place where childr e knew Calvin would need to change, but we just did not have the time. Once things "settled" down about a year later, we noticed Calvin's behavioral issues escalating. We had moved to a new house, and now had a door to door mailman. This led to heighted aggression whenever the mailman came to our door. Barking, growling, jumping on the couch, and scratching our door. The final straw was a when Calvin bit our mailman after escaping through the front door. The bite was just a nip to his leg, no serious damage, but we knew things had gone too far. It was discussed that Calvin needed a new home, but I was not willing to do this. I researched several different training facilities, and spoke to several people about where to train Calvin. First Friend was recommended the most. After calling and speaking to two different trainers, asking a lot of questions. I decided to enroll Calvin in IKT for 4 weeks. The transformation was amazing! Calvin actually listens to us when we give him a command! Calvin now allows anyone in our house, including children. We feel comfortable taking him out in public to pet stores, and parks, without fear. He appears more secure with himself, and that has translated into a more relaxed dog. Jodi was his trainer at First Friend. She was great. We were able to visit Calving almost every week with the kids, and actually watch Calvin's training sessions. Jodi was available to answer any questions I had. Jodi, and the staff did not seem intimadated by Calvin's history, and were willing to work as hard as needed to allow Calvin to remain a member of our family. Thank you Jodi!!! We followed up by taking the 8 week basic obedience class to train my husband and I. We learned so much, and had so much fun! I have already recommended First Friend to others, and will in the future.
Name: Greg
Nichols Comments I have been coming to First Friends since 1990 and trained all 6 of my German Shepherds here. Bruce and the entire staff are just great from the puppy kindergarten to the novice class to the advanced class the training is first rate. The classes help to socialize our best friends and a trained dog is a happier and safer dog .I live off the Monon Trail and when people see me walking 4 Shepherds on leashes under control and with the ability to have all 4 of them go into a down stay when necessary they are so surprised. I could not accomplish this without the patience and help of Bruce and his staff.
Name: Ryan and Jennifer Binkley Comments Bruce and the rest of the staff at First Friend K-9
could not have been any better. They are professional and legitimately
enjoyable people to spend time with. The classes are smoothly run and
Bruce's instruction is second to none. Not only did they put every best
effort forward in training Tyson, but they also came to the rescue when he
needed surgery. Without Bruce's guidance and suggestions we would have had
to put Tyson down. Thanks to him, we will have a well behaved dog for years
to come.
Name: Barb Comments Emma, a GSD who is now 2 1/2 yrs., attended a one week in-kennel training at about 14 months. I had taken her about as far as i felt I could on my own. after one week with Jodie, Emma returned more able to listen and respond. I am best at reinforcing and being consistent with training than I am initiating, we continue to work lightly or more intensely each day, depending on what else is going on with her. Emma was a different (for the better) girl when he came back to me after one week in kennel. I recommend in-kennel if you are 1)short on time 2) are able to keep up with training afterwards 3)are eager to correct some emerging bad training habots.
Name: Jill Maniakas Comments
The training Cole and I received in the Novice Class was just what we
needed. I acquired the confidence I needed to help train Cole, my rescued
Labrador Retriever. Thank you so much, Bruce for training both Cole and me!
Name: Abby Comments
My two year old shepherd mix, Banjo, and I graduated this week from
the novice class and I could not be more pleased with our experience over
the last eight weeks. The staff at First Friend expected a lot of dedication
from both me and my dog, but they were helpful, knowledgeable, and
encouraging throughout the process. Banjo no longer takes me for walks and
he is so much more responsive to commands like ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’
What I loved most about the First Friend K-9 class was that Bruce didn’t train my dog; I did. I have never owned a dog before and certainly didn’t know how to train one. But in only eight weeks, Bruce taught me how to handle and communicate with Banjo so that I could effectively train him. I am so proud of how much Banjo and I have both learned in such a short time and I am excited to continue with the advanced class to learn even more. Thank you, Bruce, Meg, and John for a great experience! Name: Sara Comments
A big thank you to Bruce and his entire staff for making Puppy
Kindergarten such an enjoyable and worthwhile experience! Bruce and his
staff are so knowledgeable and helpful. After completing the class, Charlie
has also attended Day Care and loves it; he gets so excited every time we
pull up to First Friend! We've also had him groomed there and plan to board
him there as well. With such a knowledgeable staff, we have so much
confidence that he will receive the best of care. Thank you!
Name: Mary and Scott Comments
We were at a summer concert in the park when I was
petting someone’s lab puppy and he said, “If you’re thinking about getting a
puppy (and we were), you HAVE to go to First Friend for training.” I had
never heard of it because we never had to train our perfect 14 year old
shepherd mix who had just passed away.
So two months later, when we adopted Stella, a 7 ½ week old German shepherd, I set an appointment for a consultation. Because I tend to hyper-prepare for change, I had read four books cover-to-cover on raising puppies, raising German shepherds, training dogs, and so forth. I signed Stella up for the puppy class starting when she turned 12 weeks old. But about four days after we got her, none of that careful prep work was doing any good. I was starting to lose patience already with the potty-training, the nipping, and the general unpredictability of puppies. We went to our consultation with me near tears and ready to call the breeder and give her back, our five year old son terrified of this 10 pound challenge, and only my husband retaining faith in Stella at the time. From the moment we walked in, Bruce was calm and direct. He taught us an exercise to practice that day to start changing things, and he got us into the class that began the following day. Stella was off and running with better behavior, starting right then at eight weeks. Over the course of the puppy class, and then the novice class (which just ended tonight), he gave us the tools we needed to teach Stella who is in charge and what’s expected of her as a member of our household. In the process, we learned as much about ourselves as we learned about training this girl. Every person with whom we’ve dealt closely (Bruce, Meg, Melissa, John, Jodi, and Debbie) has been professional, warm, helpful, patient, and informative. Bruce sets a climate of high expectations for us and for our dog balanced with humor and positive reinforcement, and every one of his colleagues follows suit. I cannot offer a high enough recommendation to you to get there as fast as you can. I have been a teacher for 18 years and can tell you that it’s impossible to change a child’s behavior without first changing the parents’ behavior/approaches as well. The same is true for dog training. If you are open to learning new ways of working with your dog, you and your dog will be successful. If you aren't open and don’t want to change what you’re currently doing, find another training facility. We are signed up for the advanced class, and I honestly can’t foresee a time we won’t be there, learning together with Stella and everyone at First Friend. My family and I are filled with a rich and deep gratitude for all that we’ve learned and for all that they’ve taught us to teach our dog. Stella is six months old tomorrow, and has been potty trained since she was nine weeks old. She knows over twenty commands so far, and is generally a delight to have around. She’s still learning, though, as we all are. But she’s ours forever, thanks to Bruce and everyone at First Friend. Name: Tim Sutton Comments
Traci and I wanted to drop you a quick note and let you know….we are
completely blown away with the progress Boomer made with you in just one
short week….WOW……Also wanted to let you know we were equally blown away (and
I’m horrible with names so please forgive me if I don’t get this correct)
with Melissa the trainer…..class act all the way around.
We understand there is much work to do and we are looking forward to our 8
week course with you as well (with both dogs)…..we had to send you a Thank
You and let you know how happy we are with your work and service……..thank
you.
Name: Ryan Graves Comments My dog Chloe just went through the
novice class, she is much better for taking the class,before she was in the
class it was very difficult to take her for a simple walk she would actually
walk me. Since the class now we walk together and both enjoy it. I would
recommend this class to anyone. Thank you to Bruce and the whole staff... Name: Darron Smith and Lisa
Patton Comments We adopted Naomi, a 4 mo old
staffordshire (pit-bull) terrier, from ARPO in October. Due to her "bully
breed", one of the requirements of her adoption was that she attend obedience
training. We were given a list of twelve programs, made several discovery
calls, and decided on First Friends for overall value,location, and a general
sense that if Bruce is the choice for training canine companions and police
dogs, he knew how to train dogs. Name: Dick and Kathy Purvis Comments We boarded Honey and did the one week training with Melissa and what a difference when we picked her up. We just completed the novice class. It was excellent and Bruce and his staff were outstanding. We will continue on with the next class. Name: Elaine J. Thomas Comments Katie (my almost six-month-old
Labradoodle) and I just completed the Novice Class. Name: Cindy Comments Maddie just graduated from Puppy Kindergarten today! We will be at Novice class in November. This is a wonderful training center. I wouldn't go anywhere else. I've never seen so many kind, caring, and helpful staff, standing ready and waiting to help with any concerns or problems. I know that if anything at all comes up when not at class, I am welcomed and encouraged to call. Bruce and John have been so very helpful. Looking forward to Novice class! Thanks FFK9! Name: Mark West Comments Having been in education for twenty
years, knowing a quality educator has become second nature. Without a doubt,
Bruce is a quality educator without equal when it comes to teaching both
handlers and dogs. He truly puts his heart, soul and reputation into ensuring
that when a person graduates from his program they will have a greater chance of
being able to keep his/her companion for life. In addition he has surrounded
himself with a staff that demonstrates similar traits and professionalism. When
the statement of this being a one stop facility is made, with confidence, you
can truly have faith that you will receive all the services that you need to
have a K9 companion.
Name: Stephanie Pantello Comments We have a one year old Doberman that we got when he was a tiny little puppy. He grew up fast and so did his personality. We heard about First Friends K9 through a friend and decided to give it a try. It has been amazing! Niko has learned a tremendous amount. He is listening one hundred percent better than when we first started the novice class. He is a much more attentive and caring dog since he has learned to listen to my every command. He can now be in a down stay and not make a single peep when someone rings the doorbell. I never thought that was going to be possible with such an intensely alert breed. We had the opportunity to have a private lesson with Bruce. I HIGHLY recommend it. The one on one attention is priceless. There are so many tiny details that can all be ironed out in a one on one lesson. We attended our first advanced class this past Wednesday. It was so much fun! I can't wait to continue training with Bruce and all of his wonderful staff. Name: Mark Lawrence Comments We just completed the Novice Class October 6 with Milli, our one year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the result was great. Milli seemed indifferent to her previous obedience class at another place, so we were concerned about how she would respond here. We used the opportunity for a private lesson for Milli after the first couple of weeks here and the result made the entire class quite positive. She responded quite well to the First Friend K-9 training environment and we couldn't be more pleased. Name: Bob and Jackie Baker Comments We are so grateful to Bruce and his staff for the excellent training that our dog, Rooster, received this past May. We had tried other obedience schools and every kind of collar on the market to teach him to walk on a loose leash. He is now a joy to have in our home and a real pleasure to take on daily walks. So many people have commented on his great obedience skills and we give all the credit to First Friends K-9. They are the best! Also, THANKS BRUCE for the great pizza party! It was a great way to celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary. On the way home from Fishers, we recalled that on the night we were married we also had pizza after we left our wedding reception! Name: Danny Berger Comments Kaiser is a 1 ½ year old brindle pit bull. This breed has a very negative stereotype with most people, and I wanted to give my dog the chance to prove them wrong. I looked at several training programs and felt that many of them were not suited for a stubborn, hard headed dog like mine. I attended one of the Novice classes as a spectator before deciding to go with first friends. I was immediately impressed with the training. Bruce and his staff are very passionate and knowledgeable. I really liked the fact that, if needed, you are able to get one-on-one time with the trainers to help solve any issues your dog is having. After the first couple of classes I could see improvements in my dogs behavior. On walks, Kaiser listened better and was actually paying attention to me, rather than trying to control the pace. By the end of the eight weeks, it was impressive how far he had come. I can actually take him out in public without having him try to pull me all over the place! I have and will continue to recommend First Friend K9. Thanks First Friends!
Name: Debbie Heck Comments Jake and I just graduated from the Novice class Sept. 21. Even with a 45 minute drive, I can tell you that it was well worth our time. After only the first few weeks my family could see a huge difference in his behavior. We now feel more confident and proud when we have company and take Jake with us to public places. We're also much more relaxed just being at home. Upon graduation, we visited the Advanced class and now plan to join that family of pets. It didn't take long to see how important it is to socialize and continually train Jake. Thank you First Friend. :)
Name: Kate
McClelland Comments I have nothing but great things to say
about First Friends. I have been to other training classes in the past with
other dogs and I have to say that Dublin learned more in these 8 weeks than he
ever would've in any other class. I always get comments in public about how well
behaved he is and how well he listens :) Name: Nikie Comments First Friends is my third attempt to
find a good trainer after getting a Doberman from a rescue group in June. I
discovered, with the first two trainers, that their techniques would not be
successful on my dog, who is older, only recently neutered, and has obviously
lacked dog interaction for awhile. I am very pleased with the results at First
Friends. I think we are making good progess toward Rebel being calm when he
meets other dogs, and we will be taking the advanced and agility classes. Name: Michele Comments I am grateful for all the trainers at First Friend! They have taught my dog (and me) how to take enjoyable walks, follow simple commands at home, and get rid of some bad habits. My family got our dog from ARPO and immediately noticed some behavioral problems. He been in kennels for one and a half years, so he did not know how to behave in a home. Our frustration reached a point to thinking we had made a bad decision by taking the dog. Since beginning the novice class, we are confident he is the right dog for our family and we have much more fun with Benji, with much less frustration! Thanks so much, trainers! Name: Royce and
Kelly Kimble Comments We brought our German Shepherd puppy to First Friends for puppy class this summer. Having had this breed before we were well aware of potential problems that could [and did] arise with this powerful, super intelligent, working breed without proper training. We were determined to do it right this time! And Bruce and his staff are helping us do just that. We first contacted First Friends because of their knowledge of German Shepherds. But we soon found that they work with all kinds of dogs from huge to teeny tiny and it was amazing to see all different kinds of dogs and their owners in the puppy class side by side, sometimes on the floor, learning everything about our puppys care and first training, from the submissive position to brushing their teeth. A wonderful, positive experience from the first week to graduation. We have decided to go on to the novice class with our dog. And we will always recommend First Friends to anyone we know who needs dog training or boarding. Thanks so much Bruce, Jodi and all the other staff. It is clear to us that not only are you all very knowledgeable... but you really care about your clients and their pets. Name: Torri Farmer Comments Our family would just like to say “thank
you” to you and your staff for a wonderful job! Name: Steve Comments
I made the administrative decision to enroll Alex, our
German Shepherd dog in your IKT / 4 week program in early July. I believe
John Blayney was his primary obedience trainer and he just did an awesome
job with Alex and with us in communicating the entire process. Alex came out
of the training a much more obedient and respectful dog and I am very, very
pleased with his development.
You have a great program and staff to support the
objective of training the dogs. I can't thank you enough and will certainly
be an ambassador for First Friend K-9 Training going forward. You are
certainly lucky to have someone of John's integrity and passion assisting
you with the key measures.
Alex is a much more mature and obedient german shepherd
now than he was when I dropped him off thanks to your program!!
Name: Comments Thank you for inviting me to the Labrador Retriever Day and
for the delicious Gooberlicious Dog Treats (I love peanut butter too! It's in
my Kong every morning). Name: Patti Broschart Comments Thanks for the Lab day - good times! Thanks for Gooberlicious treats also, my buddy loved them - and he wants to know when are coming out with the Super Size?! Name: Sarah Hart Comments Abby, Kiser and myself all had a wonderful time at Lab day today! Thank you for allowing the lab "parents" to get together and have fun doing it!! Thank you also for the yummy treats - at least thats what the dogs said!!!! Name: Jeff and Sophie Comments Bruce and his team have great programs to help make your First Friend a better part of your family. Their hands-on, no-nonsense approach to training is effective and is just what we needed to manage a dog with the size and energy that we have with Ginger. We will always be grateful to them for making us better owners with the dog that we always wanted." - Jeff (Sophie's dad)
(Added by First Friend K-9 Staff) Sophie and Ginger recently received Champion in the Novice class and Reserve Grand Champion (second place overall) for all classes at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair. Name: Angie Chapman Comments We have been coming to First Friend for 13 years now-since back when Dean was the instructor!! Our two adult dogs have graduated from FF. We now have a 4 1/2 month old male GSD in class. We have told everyone that we can about FF and the peace and confidence it allows you to have as a dog owner. We will continue to bring our future dogs here as the FF experience has allowed both our dogs and our family to lead safe, healthy and wonderful lives. Thank you to the entire staff of First Friend!! Name: Bob
Steck Comments (From the perspective of the dog) We had a good time Sunday on German Shepherd day at First Friend. I've never seen so many magnificent looking dogs in one place before! All the Shepherds (and our people) had lots of fun...even without Bruce being there! Let's do that again soon. From: Luke Steck Name: Erin McIntosh Comments Would you like to have a well behaved "Cool Dog"? Well, First Friend K-9 Training is the place to go to turn your quadruped into a well behaved canine citizen, or in other words a Cool Dog. My Golden, Chief, goes everywhere with me. We often hear from people who come up to meet Chief comment on how very well behaved he is. When Chief and I first came to First Friend, it was different than when I brought my first Golden, Alex, there for training. Bruce McNabb, the current owner, and his staff have made some positive changes and they make training your dog fun for both of you. Once I realized the training was really for the master (that's me, most of the time) to learn how to train the dog rather than training for the dog, I was able to use the staff's instruction and apply the techniques to my training of Chief. Bruce and his Staff really care about the training of your dog, and you can tell they are all very committed to providing an excellent training program. Well, I feel they have succeeded in this goal.
Chief and I went through Puppy Class, Novice Class, and are now in the Advanced and Agility Class. He loves going to class and as you can see from some photo's, he also likes to "wave" at the pretty girls.
Now that Chief has graduated from Obedience Class he thinks he is pretty "cool". Through the wonderful training classes at First Friend, I was able to turn my adorable yet rambunctious puppy into a "Cool Dog".
Thank you to Bruce and his entire staff for all of your patience and training as well as for all of the fun we have at First Friend!!!
Name: Angela Comments
Name: Jennifer Grimm Comments
Bruce,
I know you hate emails, but there is no need to respond to this
one. I wouldn't be too upset about these two individuals that
didn't like your manner of training canines. They obviously didn't
do their homework on your facility. I specifically sought you out
because I knew that I needed a person with authority on strong
dogs. You do have a reputation of being hardcore, but some people
want that to be able to control their dogs. In fact, about eight or
nine years ago we had friends in Fishers that had an overly
rambunctious Golden Retriever that came to you for help. I remember
Karmen saying she quit after the first night because she went home
and cried because you were so strict. That stuck in my mind because
I thought if I ever get a dog that needs some serious training, I
want to go to that person...and here I am.
I think Mason has done a 180 since being in your class. I was
almost to the point of putting him to sleep because I was so afraid
to take him out in public. Now I know how to handle him and don't
feel as anxious with him around other dogs. I never thought he
would be able to walk into a room full of dogs and actually wag his
tail!!! That's a miracle in itself. He's lost weight and now barks
only once at something when the "aught" command is given and he
doesn't pull me down the street on walks trying to attack every
other dog. I still think he does get really tired or is hurting
around that 45 minute mark when he starts to lash out at other dogs
(he is almost eight), but I will keep coming to class. Even if he
doesn't graduate, I'm still happy with what he has accomplished.
Jennifer Grimm
Name: Ann Sweet Comments We thoroughly enjoyed graduation. Here is a great shot of
Maggie and Buddy with our doggy mentors! Thanks for a great class!
Name: Debbie Harrod Comments Doberman Day...I wish I could say that
all Dobermans were in attendance, but such is not the case. It didn't matter!!!
Rauggy, Auggy, Beta, and Boler had a great time. Rauggy got to be with his
main squeeze, Beta, and was happy about that. The romp and play in the field
across the street wore all the dogs out, except Beta. I don't know where her
energy comes from!!! Thank you to Bruce for hosting this event!!! The dogs
kept wondering where all of the other dogs were, but soon took over the facility
as their own. The next training session should be interesting...with leashes
and all. It was a confusing day for Rauggy and Auggy because they're not used
to going to First Friend on Sunday. They had a great time, and could easily
jump the barrels that were set up for the Dobermans. Thanks again, Bruce and
staff!!! Name: Kimberly Hutchison Comments My 5 month old German Shepherd Samantha and I are currently
taking the Tuesday night Novice class with Bruce and his staff. Before the
class, she jumped a lot, barked a lot, and refused to obey my commands.
Honestly, after one session, my dog made huge improvements in her obedience.
She is like a different dog already! Name: Taylor Comments Our year-old Basset Hound, Gunner exhibited all the usual
undesirable puppy behaviors: Jumping, nipping, chewing things up, barking, and
disregarding our commands. We have a 2 year old son and we just couldn't risk
having a rowdy, unruly dog around the house. I tried training the dog myself for
a month or two, but I just didn't seem to be making any progress. I had taken a
previous dog to PetCo or Petsmart (I can't remember which) for obedience
training, and I felt that it was a waste of time and money, and I didn't see
much improvement. So I was hesitant to take Gunner to anyone for obedience
training. Boy, am I glad I took a chance on First Friends. Bruce's novice class
is exactly what I was looking for. Results were fast, and my dog retained the
lessons very well. Within about 10 days, my dog was remarkably easier to manage
in my home.
Name: Mark & LaMoria Patterson Comments DON'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE! First Friends is definitely the place to go for first-rate training! We have taken all 3 of our dogs through novice training and now we are participating in advanced. Everywhere we go, people comment on how well behaved they are and how they listen to us. We tell them - "take your dog to First Friends - you will not regret it." The people at First Friends are wonderful to work with and understand completely what you and your dog need to have that perfect relationship. We all love First Friends!
Name: Steve & Toni Dickover Comments We have been taking our dogs to First Friend K-9 for several years. We have completed Puppy Class, Novice Class, Agility and Advance Classes. When Winni was a puppy we took her to Doggie Day Care. The socialization is great for the dogs. Dakota got his Good Citizen Certification - mainly due to all the hours of training at First Friend K-9. Last year we won Grand Prize at the Annual Halloween Party. Try to imagine over 60 (dressed) dogs and 3 - 4 times as many people, at a Halloween Party! Bruce and his staff are terrific to work with and learn from. We will be training dogs at First Friend K-9 for a long time to come. Name: Debbie Gant Comments I was recommended to First Friends by someone who had taken their 2 Dobermans there and I was very impressed with the way they behaved. I have taken Max through the Puppy K class and we just completed the Novice class. I am amazed at how well he behaves for a puppy. When we go to Pet Smart people always approach me and say what a great dog I have and how well behaved he is and of course I always mention First Friends. They have been wonderful with Max helping to control bad behaviors. They are a big reason why I decided to get a big dog. I cant say enough about the training abilities of Bruce and his entire staff. Thank you and I will see you at the Advanced Class next week.
Name: Gayle Comments I thought I'd do Novice only. Name: Sam Davis Comments It is hard to say just how personable, and experienced at what they do,
Bruce, his family and (All) of his Staff are. Without sounding like Bruce paid
me....LOL. First Friends is not just a dog training business but a way of life.
I have 2 German Shepherds, Ripley came from a litter of Bruces. I could write
all day about the benefits of a First Friends trained dog or pup. And if you
love your dog as a real member of your family you want the best for your Dogs,
just as you would for your kids or loved ones. There is nothing like having
people stop you to tell you how beautiful and well trained your dogs are. Thanks
to All at First Friends..... Name: Cindy Brown CommentsI attended puppy kindergarten with my puppy Irish Setter in May 2009. The class was very good for my puppy. It has helped me to have the basics of what I need to do to have a happy home with Pepper. I now have a fundamental knowledge of what I need to do to help Pepper to know what is expected of her. It has also helped her in socializing with all kinds of people and other dogs. Bruce is very knowledgable and the staff are all very friendly and ready to help. I plan to continue our education with this kennel and would highly recommend it to everyone I know. A trained dog makes a happy dog and owner. Name: Leah & Daryl CommentsWe were part of "Boxer Day" yesterday and had a great time! We have enjoyed being a part of the First Friends classes over the last couple of years, and also really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere at boxer day. Izzie loved socializing with her boxer friends and working on the agility equipment outside. We always recommend Bruce to anyone we know that wants to train their puppy! Name: Cindy CommentsMy question is why did I not come to Fist Friends in the beginning. Jackson is a joy to be around now. What 4 trainers and 4 years tried to teach us, Bruce did in 6 months and it worked. Bruce and his staff are the best. We knew all along that we needed the training as much as Jackson,but Bruce made us accountable and it worked. We still go to both agility and advanced classes and enjoy every minute. Name: Brandt Carter CommentsWe keep coming back. After raising 12 dogs a First Friends, 10 are Canine Companions for Independence puppies-in-training, we look forward to each new puppy class and Bruce's opening lecture.!!!! What we learn works for our dogs and is a great foundation for service dog training or certification for Delta Society. I appreciate all the assistants(employees) who conscientuously help each dog handler. Keep up the good work! PS The people who come their to train their dogs are great too! Name: Melissa Comments"Your dog is so well behaved. I wish mine acted like that." I hear this comment frequently. Cash is so well behaved because of the classes we've gone through together at First Friend--from Puppy Kindergarten, to Novice Class, to Advanced Class . I never hesitate to suggest First Friend K-9 Training to anyone who wants a well trained dog. Name: Jerlyn Southwick CommentsI can't say enough about First Friends. This was Oliver's last chance since we rescued him at 11 months. He was aggressive and nipped at people for no reason. With the help of Bruce and his excellent staff, Oliver has really progressed. We did the Mutt Strut and is a joy to take on walks. Thank you for helping me give this little guy his second chance! Name: Leslie & Kristen Schuh CommentsWe enrolled Kaylee, our Brittany spaniel, in novice class in Sept. 2008, a few weeks after we rescued her on recommendations from several of our friends. We had been through training classes with other dogs in Minnesota and Michigan, but First Friend is by far the best. Kaylee is very obedient and a joy to have in our family. My daughter Kristen and Kaylee have been doing the agility class and absolutely love it. Many thanks to Bruce, Barrie, and Jodie! Name: Jeff Comments*This is written from the perspective of the dog.* Just wanted to let you know that things are going well at my new home.
Yesterday after greeting my son Willie I met Chrissy who told me very frankly
she was very happy to meet an adult German Shepard. Chrissy also said
she is glad to have someone else "entertain and supervise" Willie as she has had
enough puppy attention. Willie and I had a nice walk on the Monon and in
Broadripple last night. This morning we went to a baseball diamond and played
off the leash. I raced Willie for the ball. He is very fast! He is willing to
take turns and plays nicely. I have never had so many kisses! After chasing
the ball we walked and smelled all the things at the Little League Park. I am
sending a picture of Willie and I at Starbucks (my first visit). Things are
going fine otherwise.
Name: Lyland & Milton CommentsOur German Shepard, Bruno was quite the handfull. He was biting and
attacking people for no apparent reason. We could hardly take him out in public
or to the vet. Name: Andrew CommentsI'd like to thank Bruce and his staff for being very knowledgeable and
patient with everyone in their classes. The novice and advanced courses have
helped me further establish the incredible bond I have with my dog. The courses
provide excellent functionality, particularly for me, as my dog and I are
frequently out in areas from urban settings to the backwoods. Regardless of
where we are, I can trust my dog to be by my side and responsive to the commands
given. Name: Kathy Janes CommentsMy Mom & Dad and I had a super time at Doodle Day! All my pals from class were there (except Harley) and we bounced and ran played till we were pooped - some of us literally! We also got to meet some new doods. We loved our snacks too - especially the peanut butter ones. Thanks for having a fun party for us! Woofs & Kisses, Mater Name: Heaven and Scott CommentsThank you for everything! All the support and the time.. we look forward to another year! well be back! Name: Todd and Liana CommentsWell I thought I had a pic of ALL in downstay in center of room, but someone got up! :)
Name: Ryan CommentsJodi, Bruce & Kyle,
Name: Marcia CommentsThank You for everything.
Name: Krista & Andy Gremos CommentsWe just wanted to thank Bruce and the staff at First Friend for opening up the facility to us and making the Doodle Romp on 5/17 a real treat! We enjoyed meeting the other owners in a less formal atmosphere. The dogs were having a great time going through the agility jumps and running, romping, and wrestling together....although I think we will bring shin guards next time (our reflexes aren't what they used to be). :) Name: KEN & JELANE HURST CommentsWe participated in the doodle romp help on May 17th and just want to thank you and your staff for the great event. We have been thru the puppy, novice and advanced classes and could not be more pleased with our experiences. Your love for the animals could not be more evident. The extra mile that you go is noticed and appreciated. We enrolled to take a puppy training class and found a home and extended faimly for us and our pet. Name: Elizabeth CommentsBruce and his staff offer no nonsense dog training. They have a deep knowledge of dog behaviors and training techniques that they share willingly to those who want to learn. Participating in the classes is enjoyable. Thanks to the training we have received, our pups are well behaved and improving every time we practice our lessons. If you want to train your dog, this is the place to "Listen up." Name: Ann E. Andrews CommentsI would like to praise Bruce and his staff for providing such thorough training for dogs and their handlers. My 11-month-old pup travels with me extensively, and has become a walking ambassador for her breed and First Friend K-9 Training. Every time we are out, people comment on how attentive and well behaved she is, and I attribute it to the training we receive at First Friends. Thank you Bruce and your trainers for helping me become a better owner and handler as Miss Aria and I work together toward becoming a K-9 companion team. Name: Beth CommentsWe just completed Novice Class with our newly adopted one year old. It was a great experience and one that every pet owner and their dog should take advantage of. Bruce and the staff were very informative and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and plan on attending the Advanced and Agility Classes next. In the past, we had attended a local competitor’s class with another dog. I can say with confidence that Bruce’s class was far superior. I highly recommend First Friend K-9 Training!! Name: Paula Hardin CommentsI have had dogs my whole life but Toby is the first dog I have taken to formal training. Toby is a boxer and the research we did before adopting her told us they could be handful and would benefit from training. I believe I learned more about myself and what I really didn't know about dogs in this class. We are so glad we completed it as she is a much better dog and we are much better owners. We are looking forward to starting the advanced training and agility training with Toby. Toby loves going to First Friends. She starts whining to get out of the car as soon as we park in front of the building. Name: Josh Kublnick CommentsBruce, Just a qucik note that Ilke, born 7/11/07 of Geppetto and Lexi, is still doing great. She has been very easy to train and have not had any health problems. The same can be said of my friend Matt's dog, Ille, that was bought the same day from the same litter. Both females are great! Would happy to be a reference any time... Name: Kathryn Greenslade CommentsThank you for the two great classes that we have had with you - puppy and novice. We have had several dogs through the years; this is the first time we are really "communicating" with our dog. Through the classes we have learned how to teach her to behave both in our home and in public. It was also a great date night - something fun my husband and I worked on together. The classes are fun and informative - training first rate! Thanks again!
Name: Brad CommentsI have taken each of my ESS through the novice class, I don't know how any dog owner could not invest the time and money to learn and bond with their dog. Bruce and staff are top notch. I enjoyed the novice class so much that I now do the Advanced Class, best money I have every spent (then again, I've never bought a Harley)and it's a real bargin to boot! Name: Jim CommentsMy wife and I along with our Golden Katie want to thank Bruce and his staff for a wonderful 8 weeks of Novice Training. I think the experience is best sumed up by Katie after experiencing her first lesson on week two, would wine from excitement on the way to class...she truly enjoyed each lesson and was eager to start her daily training. I was very impressed by the entire program but most of all the first night. This night alone is worth the cost of the class. Job very well done... Name: Sam CommentsWe adopted a pit bull almost two years ago from ARPO. One of the requirements was that we enroll her in at least one training class. They gave us many options to choose from and we ended up going with First Friend....we are so glad we did. We took the puppy class, novice class, and now have been going to the advanced class for over a year now. Bruce and the rest of the crew have been amazing! Our dog behaves better than any of my friends dogs. People are amazed at how good she is, even being a pit bull (they aren't bad). Its great that we can represent the breed in this way because of Bruce and the training we have recieved at First Friend. We have gotten my brother-in-law and a co-worker to take the classes as well and they are seeing the same great results! Thank you all so much! Sam & Alexis Name: Guido CommentsOur Blue Lab/Boxer Mix adopted us at about 9 months of age! He was a real handful in size and behavior. The vet told us he was a fear-biter and probably abused. The vet told us about 1st Friend so we asked around & heard nothing but great news about the school. We enrolled & practice 1 hour every day! The trainer showed us special ways to handle our specific needs with the dog. He was tops in his class & never gave us problems after that. My wife was in a car accident & that dog became her companion animal. It never would have happened without the basic training received at 1st Friend 10 years ago! 1st Friend was an answer to prayers on so many levels! thx. Name: Susan Hauer CommentsAlthough I have had dogs my entire life, Sadie is my first Lab and the first dog I have put through formal training. First Friends came highly recommended to me by the rescue group that I got Sadie from as well as perfect strangers that we encountered. We started out in the novice class about a year and a half ago and have since moved on to the annual/advanced class and have also participated in agility. We have both learned so much in the classes about how to communicate with each other. I have learned how to deal with her behavioral issues outside of class as well as the basic obedience commands and it has made both of our lives easier. I really appreciate Bruce, Jodi, Claudia and everyone else at First Friends taking the time to answer all of my dog related questions. They truly go above and beyond what they have to do because they genuinely care and want to see us be successful. Even though it's hard to believe with all of her typical Lab energy, Sadie often gets compliments on her behavior when we are in public or at the dog park and I always tell people about First Friends K-9. I'm certainly glad they were recommended to me! Name: Patti Broschart CommentsI first took my dog to FFK9 for puppy training in 2002. The training was first rate and the written material that was provided is timeless! Five years later, my “runt” of the litter became a solid 105 lbs. Although he would still obey and listen (most of the time) I still felt I needed to be able to have more control over him instead of vise versa. I came back to the Novice Training to reinforce learned commands and learn new ones – I feel we both graduated! The Annual class is great; we’ve been coming for nearly 3 years now. The trainers are very knowledgeable, approachable and willing to help with any behavior problems your pet might be having. We are still learning new things, meeting new friends and have a lot of fun along the way. Name: Barb Schwartz CommentsI've been going to First Friend K9 for twelve years and four dogs. When I started in 1997 I was a novice at training. First Friend is as much about teaching the trainer as it is about training the dog. My first Doberman, Bo, was quite a challenge to train. Each one since has been a little easier. I think that is because I have learned more about training thanks to First Friend. If you have a problem with your dog they will help you come up with a solution. We have been through puppy kindergarten and novice class (numerous times). We are now in the advanced class and agility. Bruce and staff make the classes fun for trainers and dogs while still accomplishing our training goals. My dogs go to work with me every day so it is important that they are well behaved. When I get comments on their good behavior I always mention training at First Friend. I believe they are happier because of the mental stimulation training provides and because they know their roles in our family pack. We've made a lot of friends at First Friend K9 and look forward to our classes every week. I highly recommend FFK9 for a good training experience. Name: Debbie Harrod CommentsDear dog lovers, My husband, Greg, and I are the owners of two Dobermans. Greg had previously owned two other Dobermans dating back to 1980. His second black female was in-kennel trained at First Friend's way back before Bruce owned the facility. That is what led us to return. We visited many training schools throughout central Indiana before we made the decision of where to train our red male, Rauggy. Being from Muncie, it was not an easy decision to make the commitment to travel to Fishers for training. Now we think nothing of our bi-weekly trips to First Friend's for advanced training and agility. Rauggy and Auggy love the car ride and know where we are going as we pack up for our trips to "school". Bruce was extremely patient with my lack of knowledge in dog obedience and always bent over backwards to make sure that I was doing everything correctly. Rauggy was not an easy dog to train, especially being the novice that I was. By the time we acquired our black female, Auggy, I felt extremely confident in the handling, training, and care of both dogs. It has not been easy, especially since Greg was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in October 2008. Bruce and all of his staff have given us lots of love and encouragement in our recent battle with an uncurable disease. I feel blessed to have such great friends and know that everyone at First Friend's will always be there for us no matter what happens. So, if you want the best training for your dog and want to have fun in the process, First Friend's is the place to go. I treasure Bruce's friendship and will always look forward to the many fun and enjoyable classes, parties, and various activities that I have grown to love. Sincerely, Debbie Harrod Name: Amy Horowitz CommentsRiley and I have been through the novice class and are currently in the advanced and agility classes. The agility class has helped Riley become more confident and he loves doing the different obstacles. Bruce has gone above and beyond what other trainers would do. He has helped me with my puppy on more than one occasion. I have and would recommend First Friends K9 to others. Name: Jeff & Jen White CommentsWe have a wonderfully trained and very obedient Goldendoodle thanks to Bruce and the staff at FFK9. FFK9 was recommended to us by a friend who had trained several dogs there as well. We enrolled Harley in the puppy class when he was about 12 weeks old. We then graduated to the novice class. Now we've moved into the advanced class and have been here for over a year. Our progression through Bruce's training programs has given us a dog we can now proudly walk around the neighborhood. We don't even need a leash to keep him right by our side! We've also learned valuable skills that make vet and grooming appointments a breeze. Harley loves coming to school so much that we have just recently enrolled him into the Agility class. It's hard to call it "school" when we see how much he loves it. We love it also. We have met so many wonderful people (and dogs!) through our expreiences at FFK9. Thanks Bruce! Name: Sarah Hart CommentsWe first came to FFK9 right after we adopted Abby in May, 2008. My husbands boss highly recommended the novice class. We have had a great experience. We then decided to adopt another dog in October, 2008. Kiser has also been in the novice program with great success. They both attend advanced training weekly. I take my dogs to our local park to "play" in the woods while my 2 kids play on the playground. Every time we go, I have countless people praising my dogs good behavior. I cant say enough about the care and commitment the entire staff has about each dog and owner that come in their facility. I recommend FFK9 to everyone who owns a dog. Thank you FFK9!!! Name: Krista & Andy Gremos CommentsMoose and Mica have been attending training at First Friend since we adopted them from the IDOG rescue group. We started them in the novice class and now they are both in the advanced class on Wednesday night. They also take the Saturday agility class. In addition, both dogs have taken and passed the Good Canine Citizens test a number of times. The classes are great and a lot of fun for both us and the dogs. We have had people comment on how well behaved and trained our dogs are. We have recommended First Friend many times. Bruce, Jodie, Claudia, and the rest of the gang are wonderful trainers. They are very helpful and happy to answer any questions you might have. We think they are great and our dogs love them! Name: Bobbie Garver CommentsBeethoven is a Wire Hair Fox Terrior with a mind and attitude that is not always in sync with what I want him to do. However, I was told when I first started at First Friends there were no bad dogs just bad owners. Bruce and the Frist Friends staff are very consistent with their training; even though I may not be. Beethoven is sometimes the class clown and Bruce often asks him where his mind is tonight. We will probably go to the Wednesday night advanced class as long as we have Beethoven; it keeps reminding him of his obedience skills. As soon as we turn off of 126th Street toward First Friends Beethoven starts getting excited and class is always fun. They also have a product called Lyfe Lyne which we started using years ago for his hot spots (at lease every other month). Beethoven has not had a hot spot since I started using the product. I put a tablespoon on his food everyday. Name: Chris Hale CommentsFirst Friend has been an asset to us in the training and socialization of our golden retriever, Maggie. Bruce and his staff are always available to help with specific behavior problems. The advanced year long class is fun and we are all treated like one big family. Maggie is a member of our family and it is important that she is well trained so that she can go with us and be a welcome addition to all our activities. Thanks to all at First Friend K-9! Chris and Maggie Hale Name: John & Susan Simmons CommentsBruce and his current staff do a great job of training both people and dogs for all situations.We used First Friends K9 training 18 yrs ago with our Jack Russell and Afghan. Dean, the previous owner, left an impression that brought us back to the same facility 2 yrs ago with 2 new puppies, a Jack Russell and a really smart and well behaved Standard Poodle.Bruce and his staff at First Friends do a wonderful job training the owners to best understand their dog!Name: Don and Theresa DeLay CommentsBruce’s breeding program can’t be praise enough. We have two dogs from him, one from a G litter and one from an H litter. Both are very smart. We started Heiko in puppy classes and then in novice and now we have him in advanced classes, he has been in agility classes as well. Gunnar we got at a later time, he is also in the advance class. Bruce has his puppies socialized at an early age and I think this is why they have such great personalities, and they are very easy to train. He has some of the best Shepherds you will find in this area. If you are looking for a great puppy or a good place to train at, check out Bruce and his Staff. Name: STEVE & BEVERLY PAULLUS CommentsWe have been taking Maggie to First Friend Training for five years . No , she is NOT a slow learner ! Puppy class , novice training , and the last 4 1/2 years - in the " maintenance " classes. This helps keep the dog sharp as well as interaction with the other dogs. Bruce and his staff are concerned with getting the dog properly trained and the general well-being of the animal , ( good nutrition , health concerns , etc. ). If you are interested in getting your dog well trained while having fun doing it , I would highly recommend First Friend K-9 training . Steve & Beverly Paullus Name: Beth Glazier CommentsI had been overwhelmingly terrified of dogs since my childhood. That is, until Feb of 2007 when my husband brought home a puppy. We immediately enrolled him in Puppy Kindergarten at First Friend K9 Training where I was surrounded by all types of dogs. As Bruce taught us the commands for Brodie, I learned how to communicate with all the other dogs in the class as well. We followed through with Brodie’s training through the Novice class and are now into our second year in the Advanced class. Brodie is just a little over two years old and still a puppy, but he remains the most well behaved dog of all our friends and family. My own life has been so enriched by my complete recovery from my fear of dogs and, still shocking to me, I can’t seem to get enough of them! Name: Lisa Zender CommentsI took my now 1 year old rott mix through the novice class in October 2008 due to some behavior issues and her lack of self confidence. At times I wanted to throw up my hands and quit but the reassurance that I received from Bruce and Jodi kept me coming back. Now graduated and into the advanced class I am so glad for the reassurance that behaviors can be overcome and good solid training will build self confidence. Heidi has made a huge transformation. I now am about to graduate my 2 year old german shepherd mix from the novice class to move forward into the advanced class. The heart-felt caring and concern that Bruce portrays for every dog, big or small that walks through his door is a wonderful trait. Congratulations on your training school, you have done an outstanding job! I look forward to bringing my dogs to your class, it not only reinforces your training style but it is fun to see each dog transform right before your eyes. Lisa Zender Name: Kathy Giunta CommentsFirst Friend K-9 has been central to the training, care, and happiness of our beloved dogs. I have had so much success and help with my pets that my mother traveled 6 hours with her two St. Bernard dogs to have them trained at First Friend. Bruce, Jodi and Claudia are so caring and helpful. They listen to concerns and thoughtfully come up with solutions that are individualized for the dog. Because our first dog is so skittish and nervous, we bought Leyna as a puppy from Bruce and she is the most loving and beautiful creature ever. She has helped Zelig in so many ways. Our pets are family. I recommend First Friend every chance I get. Name: Tom Janes CommentsWe have had our Golden Doodle Mater in training for over a year. We started in puppy class then novice and are currently in the advance training. Our experience has been great resulting in a very well behaved dog as well as being personally well trained as a pet handler. We also participate in the Saturday agility training which teaches dogs skills beyond proper behavior which Mater really enjoys doing and a fun activity to do with or pet. Our experience with First Friends boarding was exceptional which provided continued training while being cared for while we were out of town. Kudos to Barrie, who provided Maters, continued training in both obedience and agility. Thank you to Bruce, Jodi, Claudia, Barrie and the rest of the staff at First Friends Tom & Kathy Janes Name: Heather CommentsI started going to First Friends in August, 2008. A week before signing up for class, I was about to take our 2 year old boxer (that we adopted in Jan. 08) back to the shelter because of her aggression issues. But then I decided to give first friends a shot before I gave up on her. Heidi has been a struggle and hard to handle at times, But thanks to Bruce and his wonderful staff, I know how to handle the situations and avoid them and enjoy taking her to the weekly advanced classes. When we adopted Koby, a 1 1/2 year old male boxer in Jan 09, without even thinking twice I signed him up for the first class available. He's been in the class only 4 weeks and I have seen drastic improvements in his behavior, including problems with house breaking and chewing. I cant wait to get him into the advanced class. We also have two Miniature Pinchers, which are known for being extremely hard to handle and train. I havnt taken them through the Novice class but have used the same techniques at home and have seen wonderful results! I highly recommend First Friends, especially for people who have serious behavior issues and need quick results. Name: Cara & Tim CommentsWe adopted Ranger in 2006 from the Humane Society. It was such a joy to add him to our small family and he has been a wonderful companion. However, about a year and a half after adoption Ranger seemed to show some signs of dominancy and aggression—lunging and barking at people and dogs when on walks. We took him to a vet based behavioralist and did some additional training, but he seemed to grow more aggressive over time, even after we made adjustments at home. We love our dog and didn’t really know what to do as he began to behave aggressively toward us. So we talked to a friend of ours about it and they recommended First Friend. We thought it was worth trying because of the positive recommendation and as a “last ditch effort” to see if we could do anything else to change his behavior. At our consultation, Ranger brought out his very worst behavior for Cheryl and Bruce, but they both did a great job working with our dog and with us under stressful circumstances. We enrolled him in the novice class and decided to do some private lessons to learn some handling techniques that would specifically work to curb the dominance and build trust. Our private lessons and the classes showed immediate improvement, but we still saw those small signs of dominancy, so we enrolled Ranger in IKT (In Kennel Training). IKT advance Ranger’s training so that we could move to the next level in how we worked with him at home. He also came back with a healthier coat and features that any other boarding experience. We graduated novice class and have continued on in other classes. Now Ranger is a happier, more confident dog with practically no signs that he was ever an aggressive dog. Ranger loves coming to First Friend, when I work long days often he will go for daycare. When we pull in the parking lot he is visibly excited and it is the only time he ever pulls on the leash to get anywhere. He practically wags his little tail off when he is around the staff which is a big change from that first day! Our family is extremely grateful for the patience, guidance, care and commitment of each of the staff members at First Friend. Name: Josh & Stephanie Burkhart CommentsOur Airedale Terrier, Guinness, is a strong-willed dog who has been a member of our family since June 2007; however, after about a year, Guinness clearly let us know why an Airedale is known as the "King of Terriers". Due to our own fault, Guinness became very territorial, disobedient and unruly to the point we didn't know which way to turn. It seemed as if the home training we tried had no effect and the problems continued to get worse. As a family, we were at our breaking point and our last ditch effort was an appointment at First Friends. At our appointment, the deciding factor happened when we stepped into an Advanced Traing class with Guinness. While trying to control Guinness as he barked aggressively and lunged at every single dog, Bruce was standing in the middle of the room staring at Guinness as all the dogs sat and the owners looked at us. At that point, the decision was made to enroll Guinness into First Friend's In-Kennel Training (IKT) program for 4 weeks. Without a doubt, this was the best money we have ever spent on anything! Guinness is now extremely obedient, more confident and his quality of life and ours is much higher. We now have Guinness enrolled in the Advanced Training class and the Agility class, and he continues to become more confident and truly an obedient dog. A special thanks to Jodi (Guinness' IKT trainer), Bruce and the rest of the gang at First Friends. We're now clients for life and look forward to our next trip to First Friends. Name: Pam & Gary Wurm CommentsJasmine is a standard schnauzer. She became extremely territorial and began biting at anyone who she was unfamiliar with that came into the yard , including kids in the neighborhood and delivery personnel. While in the house she would bark at everything going on the outside and would pace from window to window guarding her turf. Bruce came to our home, evaluated the situation, advised us on what needed to be done, and encouraged enrollment for Jasmine in both the Advanced and Agility classes. We acted on the advice given, enrolled in the classes, and took responsibility in changing Jasmine's behavior. As a result, her annoying behavior in the house is almost nonexistent. Her outside behavior has improved so much that we have a better piece of mind. We look forward to the structured classes which provide guiduance, coaching, and quality time to produce the desired behaviors of a well trained dog. Jasmine perts up when we ask her if she wants to go to class. She appears to like the socialization in seeing her classmates. The outcome has been extremely positive. We still have opportunity for improvement, and it is difficult to imagine what the end results would have been if Bruce had not helped us get the aggressive behavior reversed. Our family and friends have witnessed the change and we would gladly be a reference for the services Bruce offers. |
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