Anita Strong – Dog training by DogTech – Sydney Hills District

Anita Strong – Dogtech Trainer of the Year 2000

Master Trainer Award – 2010

Area: Sydney Hills district

I’m Anita Strong, and I have always been crazy about dogs–to the extent that I was nicknamed the ‘Dog Stalker’ as I would go out of my way to watch a dog for its cute antics or to say hello to it.

Previous to joining Dogtech, I worked for many years with large multi-national companies in the UK and Sydney, primarily in Marketing. When I decided on a lifestyle change, my husband encouraged me to go for something I was really passionate about–which came down to dogs or chocolate!! I decided on dogs, as it offered more interesting options and was better for my health.Experience: I joined Dogtech in 2005, and the more I work with dogs the more I love them! I enjoy the interaction with people–dog owners, vets, nurses, pet store staff etc, helping dogs and their owners with various problems, playing with the cute puppies at Puppy School and setting them and their owners on the right path.

I now have the perfect lifestyle--doing what I love in a low stress yet challenging & rewarding environment. I can also enjoy more quality time with my dog, Chum Chum, going for long walks, teaching him new tricks, taking him to visit Aged Care and Handicap facilities.

Training Philosophy: My training philosophy is that every dog and its owner(s) are individual characters, with different backgrounds, expectations and potential. I try to understand the client’s needs and lifestyle, and approach each one accordingly to help them achieve their goals and enhance the relationship  & enjoyment with their dog.

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Testimonials:

20 December 2010

RECOMMENDATION

We have a very dog filled household, with two Cocker Spaniels – 5 year old Bella & 6 year old Sommie, also a 4 year old Cavoodle, Hugo –and a 3 year old Papillon Silky cross, Lilly.

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The dogs are a very important part of our lives, and it became very distressing when their behaviour suddenly went downhill.

When Lily reached adulthood, she and Bella suddenly started to fight. Additionally, our male dogs, Sommie & Hugo, increased marking indoors –AND all the dogs BARKING increased.

As well, all the dogs became very anxious & jumpy –and outside triggers, such as a large bang or car doors slamming, could spark a fight — or at least extreme anxiety.

After having only limited success with reading training books & making some basic changes to our household — such as moving the dogs out of our bedroom — we decided to contact Anita Strong from DogTech®, after reading some great recommendations on the Internet.

Anita’s training was nothing short of outstanding.

She made us feel extremely reassured, and explained everything we were doing in such a way that we knew exactly why we were doing it. This meant we felt extremely motivated to make some changes to our life that we would never have thought of — the word ‘miracle’ was used many times, as the dogs’ behaviour was transformed instantly -- just by making some seemingly basic changes!

Anita was incredibly supportive throughout – she constantly reiterated her availability to advise us via phone in between sessions, and has also offered to provide advice after the training sessions ended. Most importantly, she made us feel in control of the situation — we felt empowered to improve all our lives through undertaking the training, and this alone was invaluable to us.

Life after Anita’s DogTech® Training

Life after Anita’s training does not in any way resemble life before!

Our dogs are extremely settled, and – best of all — we have had barely any fights ( before Anita, the two female dogs were starting fights up to five times a day!)

Walking the dogs has been similarly transformed! It has changes from an extremely stressful occurrence that we dreaded, – to one that the dogs look forward to daily.

We also feel much more comfortable having people over to our house, and we feel generally in control of every situation we find ourselves in.

Best of all, the dogs are so much happier & calmer, and seem to love their new life as much as we do.

We are incredibly grateful to Anita, and could not recommend her more highly.

James and Angie Dunstan

9 July 2009

Feedback on dog training conducted by Anita Strong at Dogtech:

Before Training

Arnold aged 10, is on the dangerous dog list and has a clean record/good behaviour for the last year. In order for me to get him off the list, he as well as Bella aged 13, must undergo training. Arnold will then be assessed. The dogs have never been trained by a dog trainer, only recently by myself.

Around the home, Arnold and Bella would often bark at the fence. They would sleep on the couches and beds and eat before the family did. At the dinner table, Arnold would winged for food and often received it fro a family member. Arnold also pushed his way in front of a family member when we walked through a door. He would urinate on the rubbish bin when we left the house for work as we were absent all day. He also winged to have his bum scratched by one of the family members on a daily basis.

Outside when I walked the dogs, Arnold and Bella would always bark when we crossed paths with another dog. I found it very hard to stop them from barking and could not control them. Bella would bark first and then Arnold followed. I often walked my dogs at a time when other dogs and their owners were not around to prevent this from happening.

Traveling in a car with Arnold was difficult at times. He would whinge and was frustrated. Arnold and Bella would bark when we passed a dog too.

After Training

We practice the training exercises and commands that we have been taught by Anita from Dogtech everyday and the dogs obey.

Around the home, Arnold and Bella are calmer and they rarely bark at the fence now. When we command them to stop they listen. They no longer sleep on the couches or beds and if they do jump up we command them to get down and they obey. They no longer eat first, the family does and then the dogs do after. If Arnold does whinge for food at the dinner table, we say no and he obeys or we place him outside until we have finished eating and he waits patiently. When we walk through a door, Arnold now listens to my command and waits for me to tell him to walk through. Also, he no longer urinates on the rubbish bin or asks for his bum to be scratched.

As I walk Arnold and Bella separately until the assessment is done, Arnold listens to my commands. I can control him a lot more and I feel more confident. We do our training exercises or tricks during our walks and Arnold obeys. He is calmer and he will not bark at other dogs when they walk by. At times he may whinge, but I now know how to control the situation, I am more confident and can get him out of that behaviour.

Through the training that Anita has shown me, I have also learnt how to control the situation at a park. When Arnold and I do cross paths with other dogs I know what I have to do and I am working on bringing Arnold closer to other dogs or gradually being able to socialize Arnold with other dogs in a safe manner.

Traveling in the car is no longer stressful. Arnold is calmer, has no frustration when we are driving and I can control him if he does misbehave.

Overall there have been big changes in the behaviour of the dogs and we have changed the way we treat them as well. They respond well and are both calmer and happier dogs. his has also taken a lot of pressure off myself and I feel more confident and in control in the home as well as out.

Thanks again for all your support and training Anita.

CP, Castle Hill

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19th September 2008

To whom it may concern:

Passing the pet store one year ago I came across a beautiful black Labrador cross Border Collie that I couldn’t leave behind. I took him home and gave him lots of love and cuddles whenever he wanted…little did I know I was setting him and I up for a very rocky road ahead. My little puppy, though very charming, rambunctious and loving, was growing at a rapid pace and began to think he was the master of the family. He started to get very demanding of our attention and it eventually came to be that we play with him without fear that he would begin to become aggressive. This involved him jumping up on us and using his mouth to grab our attention that would lead to bruises and scratches on us! It was getting out of hand and we were wondering what we were going to do with him!

We went to our Vet and he recommended we call Dogtech. I called up and the response was very quick, Anita arrived and we immediately felt relief. With her extensive knowledge and experience she identified areas we needed to work on and gave us a program to complete. Anita was warm, understanding and very supportive. When the pressure got too much she was only a phone call away to reassure us. In two weeks my puppy’s behaviour was improving and after a concluding follow-up session Anita set us up with further exercise to leave us confident in our abilities to manage him alone.

The service provided by Dogtech and Anita Strong was great. I found Anita to be very supportive, efficient, and effective and I highly recommend her to assist you with your wayward mutts.

SS, Blacktown

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