
05/06/2025
Another kind client has sent me a review to share with you all: -
Sue and Islay
This is the reason why I needed to find a gun dog trainer:
When I got my new puppy , she received her vaccinations and off we went.
I decided to to take her to puppy training classes so joined a group of owners with a trainer learning the basic skills a young pup needed. I realised that quite soon that Islay was spending more time watching others and little time working on the skills ,when it was her time to show she was able to show the particular skill she was frustrated and just ran around the hall might complete the task or not. I had owned 2 dogs previously so I thought I knew what to do and how to train Islay. my first mistake of many.
Why did I choose Dogs R Dogs?
I then needed guidance from a professional who understood gun dogs and I was told about a Gun dog Trainer called Leanne Smith who owned DogsRDogs. I got in touch and booked our 1st session.
When I met Leanne for the first time I saw a magnetism between her and Islay and Islay wanted to please her. Leanne started on Islay's focus, so she looked at a cone and after a while Islay touched it with her nose, Leanne ,used a clicker and Islay was given a reward, then it was my turn to try! I focused on the cone and after a long time Islay touched the cone. I clicked at the wrong time, I didn't have the treat ready, I was stroking her but all she wanted was the treat, I was not always sending the same messages.
It became evident that I would need patience. focus and listen fully to what Leanne was saying and drills she was showing me. After each session I was tired from learning so much but Islay was very tired from all the focusing and thinking she had to do in the session.
What I have really enjoyed is understanding how a dogs learns and some of the techniques can be used in other settings eg clicker training could be used in a PE lesson (I trained as a PE teacher), One winter Leanne put on a course that highlighted how dogs think and learn a variety of skills, this inspired me to try and learn more about dog thought processes but also how an owner can get the best out of their dog.
Then Covid happened stopped me training with Leanne.
Finding a good Dog Trainer can be very difficult to do. A Good Dog Trainer needs to be able to build a repour with their client and dog so that a working environment is built up for all sessions. '
Leanne, when working with the Client and Dog shows she has a good sense of humour, sets high standards for both but she always shows compassion towards the dog and does not except any harsh treatment by the owner of the dog. She has the following qualities:
Explanation: so the owner knows what is going to happen. She breaks down each stage into little components.
Demonstration: she shows what the dogs has to do and repeats it until the dog understands what they have to do. As well as the owner
Rewards system: she always has treats available. Treats of a variety of rank new skill higher the reward.
Clicker Training: she uses Clickers as a means of telling the dog they have done well and links that with a treat.
Watches: when the owner starts trying to teach the same skill will guide them slowly through either by another demo or verbally explains.
A very Good Listener: does not mind going over and over the skill we are learning.
I felt and still feel I have struck GOLD finding Dogs R Dogs owned by Leanne Smith. I have had 1 - 1 sessions as well as group sessions. I have learnt so much about Islay as well as dogs in general.
One of the many things I have learnt is PREPARATION if taking a dog out for a walk or a training session or both combined the owner must take everything they need from Poo bags, treats ,toys, water, but also know what an owner wants to achieve during the time with the dog. one of the surprising elements of owning a dog is they need REST and have time to themselves. but also when out with your dog they must learn they are not always the centre of attention.