Katrina Boyd – Puppy Schools & Group Dog Training by DogTech, Sydney Northern Beaches

Area: Sydney Northern Beaches

Awards: DogTech® Novice Trainer of the Year 2010

I’m Katrina Boyd and I am a proud member of the Dogtech team. Being a behavioural training therapist is one of the most rewarding things I do everyday of my life.

I believe you must respect all dogs in order to receive respect back. There is a  saying that you must earn respect –and that really rings true with dogs.

My specialty: My business focus is on puppies, and I believe it is essential that all owners receive the  correct information on how to train their puppies early in the puppies lives in order to get the best from their new little addition to the family. My most satisfying classes are the ones where the owners really take on board my advice and see straight away the change in behaviour of their new puppy. The thrill of seeing the joy on the owners faces when their pup is running around playing with the other puppies is priceless.

Fun & Educational: My classes are fun, as well as extremely educational. Our gentle, reward based methods and our great training locations really set Dogtech apart from other trainers and puppy classes.

Socialization: We understand that socializing is very important in a pups life , so we provide plenty of off lead play time at our puppy classes.

In Home Puppy Set Up: The ideal way to give your pup the best start in life is to have me come to your home and ensure the set up is correct. I will look at everything that is happening at home from sleeping, toilet training, feeding, backyard safety, along with overall leadership and discipline. It doesn’t take much to stress and confuse a little pup and getting the right advice early can be the difference in your dogs behaviour going forward. Understanding your dog ( or putting on your dog hat) will ensure  you enjoy your new little pup. I will show how!!

Stressful? If you are finding it all too overwhelming and stressful, it’s best to deal with it straight away (i.e. between 8 and 16 weeks). If you do feel stressed, remember this is a common feeling for new puppy owners–don’t hesitate to call--I can help!

Please note this special service is offered at a reduced fee for puppies between 8 and 16 weeks.

Leadership: I will also share with you the importance of leadership in your dog’s life, as well as how you can continue training your dog throughout its life while reinforcing  your role as the leader of the pack.

Adolescent classes: I also teach Adolescent classes. This is the next stage up from puppy classes in your dog’s training program. Once your dog reaches 5 months they are mature enough to start their obedience training. You will see a difference in your dog’s obedience on lead from week one to week three. You will be surprised at the improvement… During Adolescent classes, we share the secrets of how dogs learn, which helps owners better understand their dogs. This truly is a great course and if you are serious about maintaining your dog’s training this is the course for you and your best friend. Remember, your dog rely s  on you as the head of the pack to continue training. Having a dog requires a commitment to their well being and happiness. Often the importance of this type of obedience course is underestimated –but you will be pleased you continued your dogs training with this important class.

If  you are planning on raising the perfect puppy, give me a call–-I can help.

Contact Katrina

Testimonials

29th January 2011

Re: Katrina Boyd from DogTech

I have a 12 week old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, called Jerry. Our cat is called Tom — we thought that was a perfect combo.

Jerry was the runt of the litter– very small and totally gorgeous.

Jerry refused to interact

At our first session he hid in a corner and wouldn’t interact with any of the other puppies. Katrina very kindly pointed out that maybe he had been picked up and carried a lot at home.

Oooops! 100% right — he didn’t need legs for the first week at home as everyone carried him everywhere.

Katrina suggested letting him walk – so we did.

What a success! The following week he ventured out and even barked. The whole group was very impressed and shouted, “Go, Jerry!”

He now sits, comes, and stays. Jerry the genius.

Hats off to Katrina, I’ll have to let her have some of the kudos.

So, through Puppy School by DogTech®, our little Jerry is learning all the right things — in spite of his human family.

I truly can’t believe we will have a well trained dog. It’s a first for our family –and we’ve had dogs for 16 years — very slow learners.

I highly recommend DogTech® training to everyone.

The group is very encouraging, and Katrina’s positive, kind, but firm approach is wonderful.

Regards, Jan de Tiliga

31st January 2011

To: Katrina Boyd – DogTech® Northern Beaches

Katrina Boyd ran the Puppy School we attended with our dog, Misty.

Katrina ran this school in an informative, helpful, and professional manner.

Puppy Socialization

She began the class each week with all the puppies in an enclosed area with her. This gave the puppies a chance to socialize. If a puppy became too “enthusiastic”, Katrina would give that puppy “Time Out” without disrupting the flow of the class.

Katrina demonstrated various skills, and then gave us the opportunity to try these skills with our puppy. She was on hand to assist and encourage.

Informed & Empowered

We were also given very helpful information on the care of our puppy. Katrina was more than willing to answer our questions and gave us ample opportunity to answer them.

We came away from the Puppy School by DogTech® feeling informed and empowered.

We wholeheartedly recommend Katrina Boyd & DogTech®.

Regards – The Sgangarella Family

16th October 2010

We have now completed 3 group classes with Katrina Boyd/DogTech® Northern Beaches and have found all to be extremely beneficial in raising our dog.

We were amazed at how easy it was to train our dog and have him controlled and contented so quickly. To learn how to have your young puppy walking on a lead, socializing easily with other dogs and obeying basic commands at such a young age was invaluable. we found Katrina’s advice on where to set up our puppy’s bed, the best foods to eat and at what time and how to reprimand our puppy in a calm and gentle manner so helpful.

We found Puppy school by DogTech® an amazing help.

Barclay loves coming to Katrina’s classes and responds well to the reward based training. It is easy for the whole family to use the techniques out and about. At adolescent class Katrina gave us more tools to work with outside of the training environment.

We loved the classes, so did Barclay.

After graduation from Puppy School and Adolescent class, Barclay was ready to do the level 2 Obedience class — this was going to test him, but he passed with flying colors. He was so obedient and for a Labrador not to be distracted by food was amazing. The disciline that Barclay has after doing all three classes is great.

I know that life with our dog is much more enjoyable because of the DogTech classes with Katrina, we have a happy and well behaved dog due to the DogTech training.

We recommend these classes to all our friends. Very enjoyable, great atmosphere, and we have learned so much!

Catherine Atken

10 October 2010

To: Whom it may concern

Re: Brat Camp 4 K9′s

Not sure if your dog REALLY needs obedience training? Think you can go it alone in the park instead? Enroll in a DogTech 3-week course! It’s the best gift you could ever give your dog --and yourself!

My husband and I are the owners of an 8 month old, scruffy brown female Border Terrier named Boomerang. Boomie joined our family two months ago, and it was the first dog we’ve owned since we were kids. Needless to say, we were pretty clueless on how to discipline pets.

When we picked her up from the breeder, she was absolutely adorable, but incredibly timid. At the recommendation of our vet (Four Paws in Neutral Bay), we enrolled Bommie into a 3-week Adolescent course with DogTech® simply to get her socialized with other dogs, and MAYBE learn a few tricks on disipline.

What we received was far beyond our expectations, and the best investment we ever could have made in our new family member.

Our trainer, Katrina Boyd, mentioned during the first lesson that we would ‘enjoy our dog more after this course’ – and she wasn’t kidding.

We couldn’t imagine loving our dog more than we already did, but Katrina was right!

Bonnie didn’t have any discipline problems — she was just a playful puppy who barely recognized her name. Katrina opened our eyes into how our dog thinks, and how we as humans should behave and interact with our dog as her owners.

We learned that things we THOUGHT we were doing correctly to discipline her were the exact opposite of what we SHOULD have been doing.  Thankfully, Boomie was only 8 months old and it was early enough to break bad habits. With each passing week, we put Katrina’s tips to the teat –and they WORKED!

We invested the time during the week to reinforce the lessons we learned during the Saturday sessions. What you put in is what you get out. We practiced, we rewarded, and it worked. These behaviors soon became the new habit. During the lessons, Katrina intuitively assisted each of us with our dog’s individual needs and guided us on what we should do to overcome challenges. Not only did she empower our dog, she empowered us to be responsible owners of well-mannered dogs.

The most rewarding lesson I learned is that my dog is a reflection of me. If I am relaxed, my dog is relaxed. If I am frustrated, my dog feeds off that negative energy. Sometimes acknowledging that we as owners are the ones with behaviour problems, not the dog, is the toughest lesson of all.

Katrina provided us with reassurance that we were not alone, and to breath & relax when the training gets tough.

We encourage you to enroll your dog into DogTech®’s  Adolescent Training Course. It is the most quality time you will spend with your dog and YOU as the owner will learn new tricks as well. Best of luck!

Sincerely

Leigh and Simon Squire

Owners of Boomie the Border Terrier — Brat Camp 4 K9 Graduate – Oct 2010

28 August 2010

Re- Katrina Boyd/ DogTech®

The puppy classes I attended were absolutely brilliant.

We had not a clue what to do with our hypo, nippy pup. Katrina was fantastic– and unbelievably in 3 lessons taught us so more than the basics. We learned how to turn wild behaviour into ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘lie down’, — and so much more.

Our pup learned to socialize with other people. We believe every new dog owner should do this puppy training. You will gain so much confidence in all aspects — Katrina will answer all your queries, organize life with your new puppy, and teach you how to go forward with a calm, controlled pup.

Thanks Katrina

Virginia Kemp

Sydney, Australia

21 August 2010

To: Whom it may concern

Re: Katrina Boyd/ DogTech® Northern Beaches

 

 

Having participated in one of Katrina Boyd’s puppy training schools, I throughly recommend her as an effective and reliable puppy & dog trainer. From my personal experience of Katrina and her DogTech® Puppy school I have formed the following opinions:

• Katrina is a warm and friendly person who speaks in an audible and pleasant tone with loads of charisma
• She impressed me with her knowledge and ability to handle & train puppies from the smallest to the largest
• She has the gift of making shy puppies less timid and to become more sociable with other puppies
• She demonstrated her ability to make more aggressively tempered puppies to be less tense and calmer with other dogs they meet outside their home territory
• She demonstrated the correct way to walk puppies on a leash and to encourage them in the technique of walking well with their owners

In addition, Katrina is willing to come to owners homes to sort out with them any special problems they may have with their dogs.

May I suggest if you experience problems with your dogs you do not hesitate to ask Katrina to help you and watch your troubles fly away.

Yours sincerely

Ruth Scott

4th July 2010

We had Katrina Boyd from DogTech® teach our two little pup puppies, Hank & Harriet, the social and obedience basics at Puppy School.

Katrina equipped us with the tools to help us train Hank, one originally very shy boy, and Harriet, one very little rambunctious girl, into being two very well-balanced and happy puppies.

Putting the hard work from Puppy School is making a huge difference to their ‘terrible teens’!

Thanks Katrina

20 May 2010

I have recently had the pleasure of meeting Katrina Boyd through her assistance with socializing and training our golden retriever puppy, ‘Daisy’.

Daisy is now 15 weeks old and so far we have had three sessions with Katrina in our home, plus attended her Dogtech® Puppy school. Katrina helped us to set up our house ready for the puppy, with advice on what to expect in the first weeks, setting up house rules, and with simple and gentle early training techniques & socialization.

Katrine also provided fantastic advice in how to ensure that my 4 year old daughter can play confidently with a large, boisterous puppy without fear of being bitten or bowled over.

Her Dogtech® Puppy school was really fun, as well as being very informative and very helpful. We have booked Daisy in for her adolescent obedience classes starting in July 2010.

As a result of  Dogtech®/Katrina’s help, Daisy is a confident, social and well behaved puppy, and we are very proud of her. Also thanks to Katrina, my little daughter is a confident and happy dog owner who is able to control a puppy that is already the same size as her!

Katrina’s help and advice has been invaluable and I would highly recommend her and Dogtech® to you.

Yours sincerely

Lisa, Eloise, and Daisy Trueman

18 February 2010                                         

Dear Katrina,

As you know, our Pebbles is a 16 week old mini Fox Terrier cross Jack Russell. After getting married in September my husband and I decided that we would like to fulfill the family dream to buy a puppy. The first time we saw Pebbles we knew she was ‘the one’. Cute, tiny, loving, – and we both knew that we were going to spoil her rotten. Keeping in mind we had no idea the repercussions that were about to occur.

Pebbles got quite sick only a couple of weeks after we got her, which only made me want to spoil her even more so I knew she was happy. Therefore, my husband and I thought it was a good idea if I stayed at home with her to keep an eye on her so I didn’t have to worry. Again, not knowing that we were actually disadvantaging not only ourselves, but more importantly, Pebbles.

After many, many long months of not being able to have visitors, not work, nor have any sit down dinners with my husband, and constant stress and worry about what Pebbles is barking at, biting or crying at, it was time I made a call to Dogtech, as it was just becoming so overwhelming and too much.

I am telling you this phone call I can say definitely, no questions asked, has now changed our marriage and lives for the better. I must admit I was very skeptical about how a trainer could come to our house and somehow change our over anxious ‘terror’ of a puppy.

Then along came Katrina Boyd. Katrina also owns a Jack Russel, which I thought may make the situation a little easier. Basically to sum it up, we were spoiling Pebbles so much that she was running the house – she was the pack leader and as Katrina put it, ‘ Pebbles is like a stranger coming into your house and helping themselves to everything, she has no respect for the both of you.

To be honest it was very difficult to hear this, as all the love and everything we were doing for Pebbles had turned her into this anxious puppy that was so dominant we could hardly live with her. We had to change everything from sleeping arrangements, food habits, separating ourselves from her and basically showing her what ‘tough love’ was.

The first two days Pebbles refused to eat her kibble; here she showed her dominance again and it wasn’t easy at all to see this happen, but I remember Katrina telling us to stay strong and all I had to keep thinking that this was for Pebbles, this will inevitably help her in the end, and we wanted the best for her. Pebbles will eat – she just had to realize that we were in charge now.

A whole two agonizing days later, there was a major breakthrough and Pebbles began to eat. This brought such delight to both my husband and I — and there were many more changes to come.

In a matter of days Pebbles started to calm down a lot more, she seemed to be able to keep herself company, play with her toys on her own, just go and sit in her bed instead of having to sit on one of us to go to sleep. These changes that Katrina pointed out and helped us follow through with have now changed Pebbles, no questions asked.

She is a seriously like a completely different puppy.

Other family members cannot believe the change in Pebbles. We now can go to other peoples houses and not worry about Pebbles being too highly strung and over anxious.  She is a calm puppy who plays on her own, sits in her bed when we are eating, and now knows how to walk on a lead properly– even to make her stay and drop is all too easy for Pebbles now!!

Katrina, we honestly cannot thank you enough for the training you provided us with. The belief and strength that you possessed in us only guaranteed that we would all pull through. You saw for yourself how much happier we were on our second visit — and it has only gotten better.

For those people that are unsure about this type of training, please do yourself a big favor and call Dogtech now, as it will only make your puppy/dog happier. I assure you!

Emma Paul — 18/02/10

9th January 2010                              

Hi Katrina,

Finally I have grabbed a moment to send an email to you! I am currently enjoying a quiet moment with Teddy (whilst the rest of the family is out) –he is such a delight and pleasure to be with- in no small measure due to implementing your sound dog training methods.

Teddy is 17 weeks old now and has been part of our family a mere 4 weeks – interesting how 4 weeks can feel like a lifetime! (I mean that in a positive way!).

We have found it SO rewarding to implement the training that you talked us through, initially with your visit to our home and subsequently with the 3 wonderful nights of Puppy School, numerous phone calls and the ‘The Dog Whisperer’ information (what an excellent book – I ‘devoured’ it!).

As you know, I basically knew NOTHING about how to train a puppy or the psychology of a dog when we brought Teddy home. I was pretty nervous! After puppy-setting Teddy for one night and even before we had committed to paying for Teddy, I was on the phone to you to check out what this ‘Puppy Training’ business was all about. You happily and generously answered every question that I had, setting me on the right path. When I got off the phone from you I wrote in my ‘Teddy Journal’ – ‘I have to remember Teddy is a PACK ANIMAL (not my baby!). He will walk all over me and be aggressive/protective if I let him – I must be the ‘ALPHA DOG!’ So from the start I was able to implement your techniques for minimizing barking, aggression, and fussy eating - even before I’d met you!!!

I think it was extremely fortunate that you were able to come to our home early the very next morning (our 2nd morning with Teddy) and talk us through your dog training methods in greater detail, with demonstration and the opportunity for us to implement techniques under your guidance and before we had a chance to develop any bad habits. It was great that our whole family could be there to promote consistency. Your advice regarding his best place to sleep, play etc. was invaluable – the thought of Teddy sleeping on the front balcony had not remotely crossed my mind, and it has turned out to be an insightful and safe option. After you left, I wrote in my ‘Teddy Journal’ – ‘Katrina Boyd is BRILLIANT!!! … SO good at her job at reading/understanding a dog and then effectively communicating to us how to handle him’.

I really do marvel at your expertise with what you do and your dedication to your work. You have an exceptional talent! It appears your primary concern is passing your skills on to dog owners so they can provide the best possible life for their puppy. I think it must be your love of dogs and their well-being that motivates you so much – but whatever it is, you’re really doing an outstanding job! Also, not only do you relate well with the dogs, but you take the time to relate to the owners and pick up on when they are nervous or whatever and take that into consideration when delivering your training — good at reading people as well as dogs I’d say!

I really appreciate that even though I was seeing you each week at Puppy School, you were still more than happy to take (and return) my phone calls during the week, with further questions and clarification just to put my mind at ease and encourage my efforts, for example, I distinctly remember when I rang you practically in desperation the morning after you had visited us and said, ‘Teddy’s STILL barking!! He’s been barking for 55 minutes!! He’s in his pen and I’m completely ignoring him – I have my back to him at the moment – THIS IS SO HARD!!!’ and you just calmly said words to the effect of, ‘You’re nearly there – he’s about to give up – you’re doing a great job’ – and sure enough minutes later he stopped barking and was completely calm! Even more amazingly, he remained calm once I unceremoniously lifted him out of his pen. All together Teddy would have barked like that for 3 or 4 times in total during our first week with him, however, just as you promised, he has learnt that barking is a complete waste of time and he never barks now!!! (not when we put him to bed at night, not during the night, and not even in the morning when he hears us stirring but we haven’t gotten to him yet). In fact, when he wants to be let out of his pen, he quietly sits down and if that doesn’t work he lies down and looks like he’s trying to disappear into the floor! His quick response to training is remarkable and has made him such an EASY addition to our life. Within 3 days of buying Pet Loo and putting it on the balcony he was using it consistently (even going out there to use it in the rain!). He has learnt that he isn’t allowed downstairs and will stop and wait at the top of the stairs until I come back (even though there is no physical barrier stopping him) etc etc etc – Yes… I’m proud of him! and I am VERY grateful to you Katrina, I absolutely know that I couldn’t have done a fraction of this without your help.

So…..

For all you new puppy owners (especially the ‘first timers’) out there… I only hope that you have the good fortune and good sense to contact a professional Dog Training organization such as DogTech, to benefit from their invaluable, expert advice. When ‘Teddy’ joined our family he was a lively, free-wheeling 13 week old Maltese X Shih Tzu puppy with boundless energy and enthusiasm. He loved nothing more than to pass his time jumping and running, nipping excitedly around our feet, barking at will and leaving  little yellow puddles in random locations until collapsing in a deliriously happy, exhausted heap and falling asleep. In effect he did what he liked, when he liked, and it was all very entertaining. Now 4 weeks later, having completed 3 weeks Puppy School with Katrina Boyd (DogTech), he is completely toilet trained (we use ‘Pet Loo’ on our balcony), doesn’t bark when left alone, and is learning commands as fast as we can teach him (sit, stay, down, give, come, heel, find,etc). Even when an 18 month toddler visited our home, Teddy allowed her to pass him his toys and pat him without nipping at her once!

When DogTech says their training is ‘Effective FAST Training’ they are not exaggerating!

Teddy’s just had his third vaccination today and we are about to launch into the world of ‘meeting other dogs’. Thanks to the socialization skills Teddy has been learning with Dexter, Zebedee, Maxi, and Roxy at Puppy School, your explanations of dog body language, your slip collar and the techniques we’ve been practicing for walking him on a lead, we feel equipped and ready to take on this next (somewhat daunting) phase – brace yourself Katrina– I’m bound to call you!!!

So, please give yourself a big pat on the back – you’ve done an awesome job!!!

Yours truly and with extreme thanks

Anne Horton (and Teddy)

12th January 2010

Hi Katrina,

We enrolled Olive in the DogTech adolescent group course with trainer Katrina Boyd a few months after completing Puppy Pre-school.

We found Katrina’s classes invaluable as Olive is a strong willed little dog. Katrina gave us many insights into how dogs can easily gain top-dog position over us  and soon become difficult. Over a number of weeks she taught us what and how to train Olive in fun and engaging ways. Olive went from being easily distracted to being focused on us, eagerly awaiting our next command. And treat, of course!

The group class was small enough for individual attention yet large enough for social interaction with other dogs and owners. It was amazing to see the improvement in every dog each week, not to mention in each owner, too.

We now have a very happy, secure and sociable dog who fits in with our lives very well. What we learnt in the course, we’ve been able to build on ourselves. Now our cat is happy and we can even leave our shoes out! That’s thanks to Katrina Boyd and Dogtech.

Cheyne de Beer

6th January 2010

I was referred to Dogtech by a friend of mine with a superbly behaved Labradoodle. Katrina came to my home for an initial In-home training session where she also advised me on the safety of my garden and some very useful potty training tips which were catered specifically to our environment at home. We followed this up with 3 sessions of Puppy School, which were not only fun and informative, but also invaluable with regards to letting my Border Collie puppy Zebedee learn how to work side by side with all ages of people and all dogs. I am looking forward to the adolescent training sessions and would not hesitate to recommend her for any new puppy family– in fact I think it is essential!

Liz Park

10th January 2010

Katrina

I wanted to write and say a massive thank you to Katrina for all her advice with Byron. We were very nervous puppy owners and Katrina has taught us how to have our dog as part of the family without having him rule the house. We enjoyed going to both the puppy classes and the adolescent classes, however, found the home visit imperative. The advice you have given us will be with us for life and even our children can use the commands.

Thanks again

Katrina Johnson

22nd September 2009

Our dog Bentley has just completed the puppy training course with Katrina Boyd of Dogtech Training.

We found the course to be invaluable as it ensured that we were taught the correct skills necessary to make sure that Bentley is well trained in all areas so that he integrates well into our family and is a happy and well rounded dog.

Katrina also offers an ‘In-home’ service, where she will come to your house to assess how to best accommodate your dog in YOUR home and highlights things such as fencing and any potential dangers, where the dog would be most suited to sleeping, etc. This was excellent and has made our life so much easier and Bentley is  very happy  with his new sleeping arrangements and we feel more confident that he will be kept safe and secure.

Without any reservations, we highly recommend both the puppy training and the in-home visits.

Thanks so much Katrina.

Kind regards
EW

23 March 2011

To Whom It May Concern

I had been having some trouble with my puppy Rusty, who at 6 weeks had turned into a little monster right before my eyes.  We were booked into the local puppy school earlier but due to the trainer becoming ill the class was cancelled.  I was desperate, asking everywhere for help.  Someone suggested I give DogTech a call which led to us being introduced to Katrina Boyd.

I feel like Katrina has been our saviour.  Katrina came to my home and set me straight about what I was doing incorrectly.  Funny I thought it was the puppy that wasn’t doing what he was supposed to.  Right then Katrina set me in the right direction and the way I handled Rusty changed completely.  I learned that I was letting this cute little fellow dominate me completely.  That night we started Puppy School with Katrina.  Rusty and I enjoyed the relaxed sessions and he graduated Puppy School.

Soon after I needed to call on Katrina again as Rusty had started to display further dominant behaviour.  Katrina came to my home and this time we went on a walk together, dealing with some of Rusty’s dominant and excitable behaviour.  Once again I quickly learnt new strategies to assist whilst out on our daily walk.

We have since completed Adolescent Class which we both continued to learn and develop our skills and training.  We then moved right on to Level 2 Obedience School.  I wasn’t sure if Rusty was quite ready for this class but Katrina assured me he was ready.

I must admit that I really enjoyed this class which involved a closer interaction with other owners and dogs of various sizes.  The class was fun for both of us.  In working closely with other larger dogs in the class I feel I too have developed new skills and overcome a fear of large dogs.  Rusty has developed further skills which will enable our walks and time at the dog park to be more enjoyable.

Katrina has given me the skills and advice to ensure Rusty is a happy and well adjusted member of our family.

Thanks Katrina from both of us.  We look forward to you developing your next class.

Karen and Rusty Grehan

24 March 2011

Katrina Boyd and DogTech

Having a German Shepherd puppy we wanted to ensure that he was well socialized from the beginning.  From the first class with Katrina, we found that Lewis had so much fun, interacted really well with puppies of all sizes and we even came away learning something.  After we had completed puppy school, we then followed onto the Level One classes when Lewis was about 6 months.  Although we tried to keep up with the training at home and at the park, he definitely responded well to the weekly classes and we came away happy with his progress.  So when Level 2 classes wee advised we thought we would give them a go.  It was perfect timing at 11 months old.  He was one of the biggest dogs there but size doesn’t mean anything in these classes.  It’s all about focusing their attention and ensuring that you can control your dog in exciting situations (think lots of smells to tempt as one distraction and using some of the techniques learnt in practical situations.  For us, Lewis had started to ignore us in the park when we called as he was having too much fun playing with other dogs.  Since the last class he is a different dog already and returning on command.

We are hoping that Katrina offers a Level 3 class sometime in the future so Lewis can keep on learning and being in a learning environment around other dogs.

Jennifer and Christer Whitehorn

16^th May 2011

Katrina Boyd – DogTech

I cannot recommend Katrina enough as a dog trainer, human trainer and an all round miracle worker for our new puppy Brooklyn … as well as my husband and I!

Being that this was our first ever dog, we started with an in-home visit to walk us through all the details before we brought our little bundle of joy home with us. That is when we met Katrina, and thank goodness for that! At our first home visit, she walked us through what to expect, the ‘do’s and don’ts’, securing our backyard, how to put her to sleep, feeding, behavioural concepts and a whole lot of tips on how to reward the good, not the bad. We had no idea about all the useful information she offered to us. Prepping for the arrival of a new dog with Katrina was a priceless step in the process for us.

Once we brought Brooklyn home, we also took Katrina’s Puppy School and Adolescent Classes and had a few more home visits to work out the ‘kinks’. She went above and beyond every time, helping to train my dog, but also helping to guide us on training and expectations as well. Katrina was a godsend and we cannot thank her enough. Brooklyn is now growing up into a wonderful companion and my husband and I look at each other constantly and think ‘what would we ever have done without Dog Tech?’.  And it is true, Katrina is not only professional in every respect, but she is talented, trustworthy and all-round amazing with animals. She will always be there to support you and I know that if I have a question at any time of day or night, she will be there to help. She is such a wonderful part of Brooklyn’s life and we are so forever grateful!

Kelsey Morris

3^rd June 2011

Hi Katrina (DogTech),

Love ya work!

When we introduced Baxter to our family as a six-week-old English/Amstaff cross we had a clear idea of the kind of dog we wanted him to be.  We thought our previous experience with dogs would be all we needed to mould him into the well adjusted dog we dreamed about. However, Baxter’s unexpected excitability, power and dominance proved to be too great a challenge.  We were at our wits end and losing confidence and control by the minute.  Katrina’s classes changed all that.  Katrina’s kind and firm instructions taught us the techniques and  skills we required to provide him with the firm leadership he needed and wanted.  After Katrina’s Adolescent classes we felt united and empowered in our approach to his training, and Baxter quickly responded to our new calm leadership.

Katrina’s training methods are no fuss and very effective.  She is inspirational and approachable. Along the way we have learned a great deal about our own energies and thought processes enabling us to tackle each new challenge with a calm expectation of success.  Now eight-months-old Baxter accompanies us anywhere and everywhere––on long hikes, obedience classes and even visits to the retirement home. He thrives on his new challenges and looks to us for guidance in every situation.  At home he is well mannered and most respectful and a proud contributing member of our team.  We’ve come a long way and while we still have work to do we are delighted with his progress and thanks to Katrina’s guidance we look forward to his continued training and a wonderful life with our great mate.

Annie Edelman

11 August 2011

Dear Katrina (DogTech)

While enjoying a lovely pull-free walk with Banjo the other night, I thought I just wanted to tell you how grateful we have been for all your guidance and support in the training process; there was a time I felt we may never walk together without a tug-of-war but now every walk he prances beside me like a show pony––or dog for that matter. Without you I would still be strengthening my arm muscles instead of enjoying a walk.We still have challenges with training, of course, but being first-time dog owners we are so glad we made the decision to attend your classes and have you come to our home to train us. (We realise that it is more that we need training than that the dog does.)

It can be very daunting at times learning to train a dog but having your support has been such a lifesaver––even in between classes knowing that you were happy to chat to me over the phone or email when we needed advice––it has made such a difference to us knowing that your support is always there. I know sometimes that with the other costs of bringing a pet into your home, people might be tempted to simply choose a puppy school based on the cost alone but I can absolutely say that for the time you have spent with us after class and on the phone etc you have definitely given us a value add that means if you were looking at cost alone we would be well in front with you!

I know other dog owners also discouraged us from the need to have you come to our home when we first got Banjo but we cannot speak more highly of this service and know it was certainly money very well spent––especially being first-time dog owners––this was really a nominal amount for the one-on-one training we got and the benefits to us and the dog that came out of this. (I am sure we have more than saved back the cost, even by the ability to avoid having our couch chewed to bits or in not having landscaping costs to replant a dug up garden.)

Of course it is not really about the cost but knowing your genuine passion and level of care for your ‘pre-schoolers’ and helping owners not only fix behavioural problems but also aim to prevent them before they develop that has been important to us. Thanks also for your recent help in finding wonderful pet sitters to look after Banjo on an upcoming trip we were planning––just another example of how you are always there to help even though we have now completed the last level of puppy training.

We would never have felt comfortable having strangers in our home caring for our most precious little pup if we had to source someone off the internet but having a personal recommendation from you, we are so happy we have the best solution for our dog: having experienced ‘dog people’ taking care of him rather than having to kennel him or to put out reluctant family members. Thanks again for everything––Banjo and I miss puppy class and look forward to hearing when there is a level 3! Warm regards and doggy licks and kisses from Banjo, Steve and Haley.

All the best – talk soon
Haley North BA JP

27^th October 2011

Katrina Boyd – Dogtech

My wife and I attended the three (3) Dog Tech, dog training sessions conducted by Katrina Boyd and found them to be very educational, informative and highly entertaining. Our Moodle puppy, “Missy” enjoyed and gained much confidence meeting the other pups of all the different breeds.

I thoroughly recommend Katrina and the professional training courses.

Col Crawford. OAM

 

14 November 2011

We recently bought home our Japanese Spitz Puppy named ‘Mello’ from the countryside to live with us in an apartment in the Northern Beaches.

We wanted a dog that was confident, calm and yes – mellow. Little did we know that the minute we took him home, our stress levels sky-rocketed!

One of us works from home, so we had no hesitation in allowing Mello to roam free around the apartment thinking he was already the perfect dog. We bought those toilet pads and puppy attractants thinking that our puppy would instantly know that this is where he needs to do his business. Little did we know that he preferred to do his business everywhere around the house, and NOT on the toilet pads! Trying to toilet train him was overwhelming, and he was running around all over the place. We could honestly say we were not prepared to have him at home. We sought advice from the plethora of resources available on the internet, but sadly, many are inconsistent and confused us even more.

Stressed out, anxious and sleep-deprived, we were contemplating giving Mello away to a better home; that is, until we contacted the experts at DogTech Northern Beaches. We spoke to Katrina Boyd, who was professional and friendly. We immediately took Mello to puppy school and took home Katrina’s advice including getting your pup to follow you, to sit and to stay. We also decided that it’ll be fantastic to have Katrina come to our home and do an in-home assessment. She inspected Mello’s living quarters, taught us about the importance of setting boundaries, and discussed many useful pointers that we took on board, such as the ins and outs of crate training.

Now, Mello is such a gem to be with thanks to Katrina. He is completely toilet trained at only five months old (as of 11.11.11), and knows over five tricks including ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘run’, ‘shake’, and ‘roll over’. We’ve now introduced lots of consistency, persistence and structure into all our lives! Mello used to stress us out, but now he is the one that takes our stresses away! We are very happy with him, and we’ve definitely become a happy little family. Being a young couple, we honestly believe that learning how to look after Mello has placed us in good stead to have children (when we get around to it!). Mello and Katrina have taught us the importance of consistency, persistency, and the importance of staying calm and collected – all very valuable life traits!

We love Mello to death and honestly, it’s all thanks to Katrina! We would like to thank Katrina Boyd for all her help, su

pport and enthusiasm. We

can’t wait for the adolescent training which we’re starting with Katrina in a few weeks time! We highly recommend Katrina to all dog lovers!

Brennan Ong and Vanessa Tran

 

29 November 2011

Dear Katrina,

Re: Chilli, ten-week-old Jack Russell.

We recently completed puppy school with Katrina and In-home training.
Before we purchased our little Chilli we spent weeks researching puppy schools around the Northern Beaches and came across Katrina @ Dogtech. This was the one we wanted to attend with Chilli. We are glad we did!

Week one, Chilli was the smallest pup in the class, she sat alone not wanting to play like the rest of the pups. Katrina said don’t worry wait until week three comes …

Week three came around and there was Chilli chasing all the pups having a great time.

Katrina was right.

We definitely made the right choice choosing Katrina as you can see her passion for all dogs. She teaches her classes in a very calm but exciting way.

In-home training:

Chilli started to bite our feet and hands, but our reprimands weren’t effective so Katrina came to our place and picked up on it right away.

We had no boundaries for little Chilli and let her sleep next to our bed.

Katrina explained this was the cause of Chilli’s unruly behaviour and helped us set boundaries and adjust her sleeping arrangements to give us back the pack leadership.

I honestly thought these exercises would take a few days to start working, but we were amazed that same afternoon there was already a change in Chilli. She started to see that we were her leaders!

It was definitely worth the time and money to have Katrina come to our place for training, we will continue to use Katrina and recommend her to anyone that has a new pup.

Thanks Katrina!

Chantelle

23 January 2012

To: Katrina Boyd – DogTech

If you are welcoming a dog into your family then I cannot recommend Katrina’s in-house consultation highly enough, it was money well spent!

Her invaluable experience and unbelievable insight into the canine mind helped our family start with all the right tools and structure to ensure our puppy settled in with minimal upheaval and instantly, Rocky knew his place in the family as the dog, not the master !!!

Thanks again Katrina

The Black Family