Andrea Guindon

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I came for a handling camp with my Aussie Peso and loved the dog training that was a part of everything even in a handling camp. Was struggling with relationship and motivation with my just over a year old border collie and dove head first into all the camps with her.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Have attended almost every live workshop in the last 9 years and many of the online classrooms.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

Transitioning from a training system that used force and intimidation as part of it’s methodology to the Say Yes way. The second I was exposed I knew I was home. The knowledge I gained from Susan’s courses allowed me to do a complete 180 in my relationship with my border collie Phoenix. The biggest challenge we overcame was getting her to love tugging with me. I wish I had video of the dog she was before and the dog she was three months later, seeing who she truly was come out and knowing I had suppressed that without even realizing it breaks my heart a little but I am grateful we found a place to bring us together as a team and she has been loving life every since.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

This is impossible to answer everything is so connected and one answer will lead into so many more. There is of course all the dog training knowledge but it is the life lessons that have stuck with me. Keep everything in perspective and always remember the big picture of your life with this dog and know that you can deal with any issue, try and if it doesn’t work try again and if that doesn’t work try again. Love and appreciate your dog, they are truly incredible creatures who have given us the most amazing gift of sharing their lives with us, sometimes we don’t understand each other perfectly and that’s ok we need to accept who they are and work with that, we can always come closer to our goals for them but we must honour who they are in the process. Be grateful, there is always something to be grateful for and above all else the majority of your time with your dog should be spent with a smile on your face!

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

With training the dogs my biggest strength is my knowledge and experience, with students it is my enthusiasm for all their efforts.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility!

Tell us about your dogs?

Peso – 11 year old australian shepherd, he is just one of those dogs that would step in front of a bullet for you and the dog that started me on this agility journey.
Phoenix – 10 year old border collie, the one who brought me to Say Yes and changed the life every dog I owned that came after her would live. She is the sweetest girl, the best mannered dog and was so forgiving of all the mistakes I made, I am grateful to her every day.
Classic – 5 year old border collie. Oh My! What to say about Classic. She has tested all my dog training skills in every way I can think of at one point or another. Classic was the first dog I got that I was raising in the Say Yes system and I had high expectations from day one and she had some other plans for me and I had to get over myself quickly. The amazing thing with Classic is with all the challenges we worked through I can honestly say I have never laughed out loud more at a dog or had more fun training a dog, even when she was driving me insane. She is truly incredible and has helped me become a more patient and persistent trainer who can find joy even in a struggle. Oh and she is the best snuggler!
Charm – 2 year old border collie, Feature baby. Charm is my little girl, she is so talented and so sweet and is a character. I have a feeling she will always be my baby girl no matter how old she gets or how many more puppies come along. She has been pretty easy to train only because of all I have learned through my other dogs, much of our focus has been on building her confidence and enthusiasm. When she jumps in my arms after a run and I’m holding her I know that’s exactly where she is meant to be and it is impossible not to end every effort with a smile when I’m carrying her off the course.

Chantelle Charlebois

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

It started with her blog. Susan seemed like the trainer who would have all the answers to all the agility training questions I had. It really started with her online stopped contacts program which showed me that training with performance criteria would get me the results I needed. From there I knew I needed find a local trainer that could help me keep on the new path I was started on.

By coincidence I ended up working with Say Yes instructor Christine Boisvert. Our first lesson (pre H360) was working on foundation skills, but most notably PNU wraps. I remember thinking “this is so brilliant!!”…and from there I was all in. The day H360 opened I registered, and haven’t looked back since. No one has been able to do for me what Susan (and Christine) have.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Say Yes to Contact Success, Shaping a Difference, Recallers, Puppy Peaks, Handling 360, Agility Nation, Summer Camps

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

Without a doubt…finding the JOY! For years I struggled with everything in agility. I couldn’t count the number of times I cried, quite the sport, blamed my dogs; nothing about agility was fun.

Puppy Peaks and Handling 360 were the big influencers in helping me “find the joy” in agility training. Watching Susan break down skills into small manageable pieces – not only for the dogs, but also the handlers – completely changed my perspective. No matter how small the success it was followed by a celebration…and that celebration in turn injected more joy in to my life with my dogs. Training stopped being about getting to the finish line, and instead became about enjoying the journey.

Once I found the joy, success in the ring flooded in. Sure my skills had also improved, but once it all became fun is really when everything changed….my most memorable runs are the ones we NQ’d in.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

It is an oldie but a goodie….D.A.S.H.! That one was a real “ah-ha” moment for me! In every lesson with my own dogs or my students I employ this principle.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I think my biggest strength as a trainer is my ability to turn what appear to be negatives, into positives. Perspective is key finding joy and success in dog training. If we change our perspective we change our experience

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

My passion….100% agility. I have dabbled in many dog sports, even titled in a few, but nothing has me hooked like agility.

Tell us about your dogs?

I currently have one Shetland Sheepdog named Vixen. She is my first dog to be brought up completely using Susan’s programs – and I am thrilled with the results so far!

Vixen is – in a word – intense. She is a real “sugar and spice” kind of girl. When it comes to agility she is a beast! She spits, snarls, and froths at the mouth. She always gives me 110% each and every time we step to the line; whether it be in a training session or on a competition course.

Luckily her intensity is balanced out with frequent displays of sweetness, love, and affection. She loves to lay on my lap when I am at my computer, and will sleep at my feet when we watch movies on the weekend. If there has been too much down time she’ll steal one of my shoes and bring it to me. I love her sweet reminders that life is too short to not spend every moment we can together, having as much fun as possible.

Charlotte Rundgren

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I met Susan 20 years ago at a USDAA Regional in Florida and have never looked back.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

I’ve done all of the Say Yes Online courses, attended Summer Camp at Say Yes and attended Susan’s live workshops in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

No one particular turning point, except maybe the day I met Susan!

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

FOUNDATIONS are key!

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

My attention to detail and focus on the foundations and the ability to create joy in my canine partners.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility. I also have a special interest in bodyworks and canine fitness.

Tell us about your dogs?

4 Border Collies! Gun (now retired), Ripple and Blaze (7.5 year old litter sisters) and Summer (my youngster I took on at 10 months old). I’ve have also just taken on my partner’s 5 year old Sheltie as he has decided to focus on judging and stop competing.

Denise Iglesias

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I was lucky enough to attend one of Susan’s workshops when she came to Australia about 10 years ago. At that time, I had a youngster I was training in agility and obedience and attending Susan’s workshop completely changed the way I trained my dogs. I switched to using only shaping in my training and I’ve never looked back.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

All of them starting with the very first Recallers program and including IC Peeps, Shaping a Difference, Say Yes to Contact Success, Handling 360, Agility Nation. I’ve also attended Summer Camp in Canada and several workshops run by Susan or Lynda in Australia.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

None. My dogs have always progressed smoothly through training as I’ve always had the tools to help them (thanks to Susan).

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

“Where’s the value?” Asking yourself that question can help troubleshoot all kinds of problems.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

Making training fun for my dogs so that they always want to work/play with me. When they have value for their work we can work through any challenges that might arise.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility

Tell us about your dogs?

I have 4 dogs at the moment. All Australian Shepherds. My oldest Casey is retired and now a spolied pet and resident cheer leader for the youngsters. Finn is 7 and my first dog to be raised completely the Say Yes way. Asher is next at 4 years old and the baby of the family is Jive, 8 months old. Asher and Finn are my two current competition dogs and they LOVE their agility. I put that love down to the way they have been trained – 100% Say Yes.

Jane Book

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I met Susan at the 2001 AAC Nationals in Calgary Alberta and I have continued to be a student, instructor and friend.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

I have been involved with all the classrooms from day one.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

For me there is always a challenge in dog training and it could be big or small, but it is learning to think it through and create the plan to help the dog as much as possible.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

I think the most important thing I have learned from Susan is there is a way to train it!

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I think my biggest strength as a trainer is patience and allowing the dog to learn.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

I enjoy many sports with my dogs.

Tell us about your dogs?

All members of the President’s Choice Superdog Team
Kye- 10 years old Australian Shepherd – Obedience Champion, Tracking (TDX), Rally, Agility Champion, AAC National Qualifier, Scent detection
True- 7years old- Australian Shepherd – Rally Champion, Obedience, Scent Detection Champion, Tracking (TD)
Style- 3 years old Border Collie (Swagger puppy) – Scent Detection Champion, CKC/AAC/AKC novice titles in Agility, very motion/noise sensitive
Rush- 1 year old Border Collie – Working on H360 FW7/8, started in scent detection.

Katie Kisielnicki

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

After having training issues with Kirra (My BC) that no one could help me with, we found the book Shaping Success and so much just spoke to us, and from there the journey began.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Puppy Peaks, Say Yes to Contacts Success, Recallers, Handling 360, Agility Nation, IC Peeps, attended Summer Camp 2015 (Auditing), returned in 2016 and worked with the amazingly awesome Cool Moss.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

In each program I’ve done I’ve had turning points but the biggest was having a dog that was super enthusiastic with great skills, fast, and one could say he was a little out of control on course, almost like I had never trained him. Feeling like I had this amazing dog that I might not be able to run because running agility became too dangerous. Until we joined Handling 360. Now we have the absolute time of our lives together on course, there is no better adrenaline rush then being out there with my dogs running as one.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

To accept failure, knowing that it is ok because when you build in the layers there is nothing you can’t overcome.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I can see positives in everything and I laugh a lot 😊

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility

Tell us about your dogs?

I own 4 Border Collies
Kirra- 12 yrs old now retired- She was retrained in H360 at the age of 8yrs old
Nakita – 9.5yrs old – She was retrained in H360 at the age of 6yrs old
Mr Plug – 5 yrs old- retrained in H360 at 2yrs old
Quest – 4mths old and my first dog to train from the beginning of H360.

Kim Dunsdon

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

My first exposure to Say Yes and Susan was meeting her in her role as a drug representative at the Veterinarian Clinic I was working at. I now am a full time employee here at Say Yes!

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

I attended the Advances in Dog Training live workshop at Susan’s in Alberton and brought my youngster at the time, Jasmine, to Puppy Camp. I went on to join Susan’s online programs Puppy Peaks, Recallers, Say Yes to Contact Success, IC Peeps, Handling360 and Agility Nation.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

I continue to work on drive and joy in agility with my dog Switch.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

IYC, Jasmine considered this a party trick and got faster at stealing reinforcement everyday! Response cost is also a big lesson for me.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I have a passion for learning more about physical fitness for canines.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility, but I also competed in flyball for years.

Tell us about your dogs?

Casey, a 14 year old mixed breed and Switch, a 5 year old BC mix.

Lori Kline

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

Curiosity. I wanted to see if I could get a little “more” out of my lower drive dogs through Recallers.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Recallers, Puppy Peaks, Say Yes to Contact Success, H360, Agility Nation, Summer Camp auditor.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

Not one single challenge, just a deeper understanding of behavior and value of layers of learning

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

It’s all a game! Ears up, eyes bright! Takes the seriousness out of it. Goals are great but the path getting there is so much more important. Keeping it fun for both of us keeps this in perspective.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

Being positive, to a fault. If you are coming to me to have me tell you that sucked, it won’t happen. I will point out all the great stuff that happened while it sucked.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility! Though my older boy has gotten me to like Obedience a bit more

Tell us about your dogs?

I have 4 dogs, all rescues and have a reputation for competing with reactive/difficult dogs.: 1. Jack: 12 y.o. Mini-Aussie. A true angel who loves everyone and food. Did I mention he loves food? Retired from agility but enjoying Obedience and soon to try Barn hunt.

2. Missy (Miss Understood) 10 year old Border Collie- Fear aggressive but the sweetest, most loving dog I know. She just doesn’t let anyone else see it. She is my shadow. Retired from Agility.

3. Aidan 8 year old BC/Sheltie, stole my heart within 5 minutes of stepping into my home as a foster. He has never left. Retired from Agility.

4. Kricket 2 year old All American, your guess is as good as mine as to what she is. A princess who is teaching me lessons I didn’t know I had to learn. Future Agility partner.

Lynda Orton-Hill

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

My training mentor at the time Blanche Cooper facilitated me meeting Susan and John in March of 1999.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

ALL OF THEM! I started out here at Say Yes as an apprentice and then joined Susan in bringing her dog training to the world online. So VERY exciting to watch our programs come alive and change so many peoples lives!

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

Each of my dogs has brought along a training challenge. Spirit my Golden Retriever would BOLT from me! Favor my sheltie I had to learn to tug… Cool Moss has taught (and continues to teach me) about “arousal” in dog training and my Poodle Dare has brought around the tugging lesson and adding more drive to our training.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

Learning that positive is not permissive. That bridging the gap in understanding of this has moved my training exponentially.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

Empathy… as I have been through the learning processes of all Susan’s programs I understand the challenges that come up, but also my strength is to push people along in their learning (I learned this from Susan 🙂

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility, but I have a secret love for obedience.

Tell us about your dogs?

In 2017 Spirit is now 15.5 and continues to act like a puppy. Favor is 11.5 and still would love to do agility everyday! Both Spirit and Favor have taken me to the highest levels of agility. Between these two I have been on 10 Canadian World Teams and in 2012 Favor won the 16″ overall Gold Medal for Canada. Cool Moss and I continue to learn about each other. He is my shadow and my teacher of all things Border Collie. Poodle Dare is my youngest and in 2017 he has stepped up love of the game and he is also heading for the world stage!

Naomi Flock Lane

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I was searching for dog training alternatives for my year old Border Collie mix, Peyton. I had had 9 dogs before him and had never run into problems in training like what I was experiencing with him. Peyton was very disconnected/distracted/poor recall. I had people telling me he wasn’t “bonding to me”. I was beside myself with frustration and the sense that I had failed him terribly. It ceased being “fun”. I found Susan Garrett after a Google search, read about her. Looked up her Recallers program and signed up the minute it opened. This was my first online program and at 51 years of age I was really nervous that I could do online training. I remember feeling that shaking -heart racing-what am I doing doubt, as I took a leap of faith and hit the button. I knew this was where I needed to be.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Recallers, Puppy Peaks, IC Peeps, H360, Agility Nation, Live Stream Canine Fitness & Body Awareness Symposium Dec2014, Live Stream Developing Young Dog Talent Seminar, Say Yes to Contact Success, Summer Camps.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

It is hard to find “one” challenge. Each dog has had something different. I believe this “turning point” didn’t come from any one challenge I faced with my dogs. It was my confidence. It was being able to believe that I could do lessons on my own. That I could train/handle my dogs. Not only have I seen/experienced growth/understanding/clarity/confidence in my dogs……but I believe my biggest turning point was when I started to believe in myself. When I went from being overwhelmed to understanding. When I realized I could do this at my own pace, it was then I saw how much I grew as a trainer…how I made a difference in my dogs. When I look back at where I was when Peyton was a year old, when I was in tears at class….leaving class because I was so frustrated… to where I am now with Bliss….I just want to say WOW! I have grown and gained confidence!

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

Accepting that FAILURE is Delay, NOT defeat. How we want our dogs to fail so they can grow in understanding….way cool!

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I love to learn. I find joy in helping others…love when they get it… aha moments!! I have a relentless desire to find the root of a problem/challenge. And that I learn by helping people learn.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility by far is my passion!!! I have shown in Conformation and have tried Lure Course, Dock Diving, Obedience and Rally.

Tell us about your dogs?

Peyton is a six year old Border Collie mix I adopted from ETBCR. Peyton is very sweet and smart. Peyton has struggled with fears and anxiety. He is a great family pet who makes me laugh everyday with his antics. He loves to bring me nuts from a tree in the backyard or throw them into the air then pouncing on them. He enjoys trick training, shaping and body awareness exercises. My favorite is closing the kitchen cabinets. Peyton is the first dog in my family to be a part of Recallers and the reason I joined.
Twister is a four year old Border Collie who I co-own with my daughter Heather. Twister lives up to her name…she is a wiggly girl who loves shaping, tricks, tugging….well anything… she loves everything. Twister came to us at 5 months old and was my first Puppy Peaks puppy. She was also my first H360 pup when it opened. Twister has gone thru Recallers several times. She had a lot of trouble with motion when she was young. She wanted to chase cars, bikes, skateboards….you name it. And the garbage trucks blew her mind. I primarily compete with Twister in UKI and AKC where as Heather competes in USDAA. Twister and Heather have just qualified for this year’s Cynosport games in October.
Bliss is a two year old Border Collie. Bliss loves children!! She is very intense when working….it is a job. But just as sweet and gentle as can be when in the house….yes, she has an off switch, wheww. Bliss has worked through Puppy Peaks, Recallers (several times) and currently in Triple Double in H360. She is my first pup to learn Say Yes contact training thru Agility Nation and SYCS. Bliss loves to learn, LOVES shaping, tricks, body awareness, retrieve and to tug! Bliss is just starting competition in UKI, AKC and USDAA. I’m looking forward to our future.

Penny Hewitt

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

Back in the winter of 1999 I had the pleasure of getting a new puppy, ONYX, a friend of mine Kathy Keats, said hey, Susan Garrett has a new puppy, Decaff, and she is looking to do puppy classes in the spring, would you like to join? I put on my big girl pants and said yes. I had watched Susan at trials, but was much to shy to approach her. So I began my journey in the Say Yes world. 17 years, wow time flies!

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

I have been involved with Susan’s programs – both online and live summer camps for over 18 years! My current Papillion Ziggy is in weekly classes with Susan as I prepare him for higher level competition.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

I have been successful at working through the layers of understanding fear challenges with two of my dogs using Say Yes methods with both my JRT Kricket and her seesaw fear and my border collie Rave-On’s environmental challenges. I also have successfully trained and adapted my learning for my unilateral deaf Border Collie Teagan.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

Patience, let the pup lead you, not all dogs need the same training!

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

Patience and empathy… I have worked through many of the same challenges and can share my appreciation of the work ahead.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility, competing and behind the scenes.

Tell us about your dogs?

Bold, Shy, Loving, Reserved, Funny, and Beautiful… well except for Kricket, she is Kricket!

Sharon Steele

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I was looking for better ways to train and read articles by Susan that I really enjoyed in a dog magazine. We then got an internet connection. The first thing I searched for was positive dog training and Susan’s name came up (this was way back in the olden days, pre-google). I attended Susan’s first ever workshop in Australia and was really moved by the deep love that shone through when she spoke about her own dogs, and dogs in general.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

All of the online classrooms, plus workshops with Susan and Lynda in Australia. I have a deep love of education and e-learning and am now a full-time member of the Say Yes Team. One of the biggest daily joys I have is the passion Susan and Lynda have for dogs and training, and seeing people in the online programs embracing the learning and the positive impact it has on their life with their dogs, and on life in general.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

I’ve had a few! Half of the dogs who have shared my life have arrived in my family as adults, bringing with them lessons to teach. I think the biggest learning curve for me was the challenge of extreme fear/noise phobias. The big turning point, learned from Susan, is that the challenge itself is not WHO the dog is, and to ask yourself “do I love this dog?”. Letting go of the baggage was another major “ah-ha” for me – I wish I’d learned that one earlier!

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

“Positive is not permissive” …. I fell into the gap that many people do when they switch to positive training of not knowing what to do when punishment was not something I wanted to use. Susan gave me the skills to know what to do in a way that was in harmony with the way I wanted to live with and train my dogs.
A close second is D.A.S.H! And I give daily thanks for Crate Games.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I see the dog in front of me, not the breed, not the background, but the wonderful unique being who is right there in the moment with me.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

It’s the dog training that is my passion, not one particular sport. I’ve trained, competed and titled my dogs in conformation, obedience, endurance and agility. I’ve also trained in a few other sports just for interest in the “how” of training things the sports require, but have never competed. If ‘great family pet’ were a sport, that would be my passion!

Tell us about your dogs?

My favourite topic! How long have you got? Would you like to see photos? I’ve had 10 dogs in my adult life and each has been the greatest love of my life (apart from my husband, who may read this): 8 Boxers, 1 Mixed-Breed (foster failure, best guess is Staffy/Whippet/Kelpie) and 1 Border Collie. I started agility because it seemed to me to be a sport perfectly suited to the physical abandon with which my Boxers happily conducted themselves. Two of our girls were the first and so far only Boxers to earn Australian Agility Champion titles.
My current three dogs are Bindi (very elderly mixed-breed, age unknown), Gillie (8 year old Boxer), and Spree (6 year old Border Collie). Bindi runs our home and can do whatever she wants. Gillie sustained nerve damage during surgery when he was younger so agility competition was put aside, and he and I dabble in many sports for the fun of learning. One of the things that I really enjoyed working with him on was a proper gun dog style retrieve (but with a ball). We do all kinds of training just for interest. He has tricks dog titles and he loves nose work! Spree competes in agility with my husband and has gained her Australian Agility Champion title. We have the deal that I train, and he gets to enjoy the course running, which works for us. Spree LOVES obedience and she and I may think about competing in that when she is older. She is the only dog I’ve had who will do a 10 minute heeling pattern just for the sheer joy of it (I don’t think the novelty of that will ever wear off for me!).

Simone Holt

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I was looking for positive dog training methods/ideas that would take me to the next level in Agility training.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Puppy Peaks, Recallers, H360 Classic & Connect, Agility Nation, IC Peeps, Say Yes Summer Camp.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

My dogs have always been reasonably fast but when competing I didn’t always feel we were running as a team. The faster I ran, the more frantic the dogs became….and me for that matter!. It was difficult to get my dogs to listen in a higher arousal state at competitions. Susan and the Say Yes programs have provided me the necessary skills in both dog training and handling to be able to run my dogs with confidence.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

Keeping it fun!

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility

Tell us about your dogs?

I have 3 Border Collies:
Kye – 11 years old but now retired…..she was retrained in H360 at the age of 7.5 years old; Genie – 4 years old – my first dog to be trained in H360 from the beginning; Halo – 15 months old – also trained in H360.

Suzanne Wesley

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

I met Susan many, many years ago at a trial. After speaking with her she said I should come to one of her seminars. They rest was history. When the online classes started in 2009 I jumped at it and have been learning ever since.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

All of them – Recallers Puppy Peaks, Inner Circle, Shaping a Difference, Say Yes to Contact Success, H360 and Agility Nation.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

If the challenge was an agility obstacle, then training the teeter was a pivotal point. I was stuck and did not have the confidence to train it well. Through Contact Success and now Agility Nation I was given the skill to break all the components down and build from there. Today I have an awesome teeter performance with my dogs.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

There really are SO many but if I had to choose one it is this: All the dog is giving us is information and feedback on where we are with our training. It was a fabulous way to get one’s emotion out of the way and just observe the dog and the behavior and then come up with a plan to get to the next step and work towards your goal.

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I have become a student of behavior and love the science behind the training. The passion continues to help me with my own training as well as teaching others.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

Agility

Tell us about your dogs?

I have 4 silver miniature poodles
(a) Sonic is my oldest at 14.5 years of age and started my on my path to being a better trainer.
(b) Raya is now 9.5 years of age and still actively competing in agility in performance/preferred. I bought Raya over from Germany to breed to Sonic when I was competing there at the IFCS World Championships in Belgium. She has been the most incredible mama and partner you could hope for.
(c) Scorch is now 7.5 years old and was from our first litter with Sonic x Raya. Another joy in my life and the sweetest of dogs. He has had the benefit of growing up with Say Yes training and it really shines through. He is a wonderful agility partner.
(d) Synge is my youngest at 3 years of age. She is from our 3rd litter with Sonic x Raya. Oh boy what a little cracker this one is. And again the sweetest of dogs. I have definitely been blessed with some awesome poodles.

Terrie Rolph

What brought you to Susan Garrett’s Say Yes Dog Training programs?

A fearful reactive cattle dog. Someone at an agility trial recommended Recallers to me 🙂 He was diagnosed at 6 with significant spondylosis and arthritis and with treatment, his joy levels vastly improved.

What Say Yes classrooms have you been involved in?

Recallers, Handling Workshop in Langley BC, 2013 when SG began holding seminars on her new handling system. IC Peeps, Shaping a Difference, Agility Nation, H360.

What single challenge have you overcome that represented a turning point in your training?

Lack of confidence in myself and over-confidence in authorities I thought were more expert than I. I’ve learned not to be so deferential.

What is the single most valuable lesson you’ve learned from Susan’s programs?

To always ask myself: “Where’s the value?”

What is your biggest strength as a trainer?

I never give up.

Which dog sport(s) is your passion?

I’ve enjoyed learning about conformation with my Schipperke, achieving her Canadian Championship in one year of showing at 16 shows. Now, agility is my focus, but in the future, I want to explore Heeling to Music. I also love nose work and to a lesser degree, obedience and rally.

Tell us about your dogs?

Kaylah, a 13 Year old Schipperke. The Grande Dame. We live to serve.
Ruby, a 2 Year old, 100 % Recallers Raised, Free Range, Organic Schipperke. Irrepressible and endless fun. CKC Conformation Champion, CKC and AKC Rally Novice. Future World Team member.