TESTIMONIALS

Here are some of the testimonials we have received from our present and past clients:

Fran,

I didn't get back to you to arrange to come and see a class. The major reason that I saw it as less urgent was that I was talking to a friend with a young dog telling him that I was looking in to puppy classes and he started telling me about "the best classes around" He was over the moon about how much he had learnt, how wonderful these classes were for his puppy and that I should not even consider looking anywhere else. He then told me that they were called Acorn Dog Training.

He is a man whose judgement I trust completely and so I will take his advice.

I just wanted to say that the puppy class on Tuesday Night was great, Cali, myself and my husband really enjoyed it! ~ Katrina, Woburn

Dear Fran,

A big thank you from me and Peter and Timmy for all your hard work with us all.

We are all very grateful to you for putting us on the right track -and seeing that we stayed on it - with the dog training.

As you know, we have never had a dog before, and it was obvious that we had a lot to learn.

That Timmy passed his bronze and silver is a tribute to your hard work. We are now fairly confident dog owners with a much clearer idea of what dog ownership and dog training involves. Timmy is a much happier dog as a result of training.

So many thanks.

Ann

Hello Fran
I brought my yellow labrador to your classes nearly four years ago. Purdey has now had a litter of pups and we are keeping a little girl. I would like to get her signed up as the training we put in then really shows as Purdey gets older and is fun as well as being great socialisation.
Many thanks
Christine S.

Hi Fran
Just to say thank you for the puppy class, we have learnt a great deal and the interaction with the other owners is very beneficial for both dogs and owners alike. My grown up children have enjoyed it as well and are more than happy to help with the training, it does prove that if all members of the family are doing the same thing you get results. Our friends are amazed at what he can do as he is only 17 weeks old.
Alfie is going to continue on Tuesdays at Medbourne and we may be interested in puppy agility a little later on.

Thank you once again

Sally and Alfie, Milton Keynes

We are really pleased with Rustys progress and look forward to continuing our training.

Many thanks for your help.

Regards
Jess Jell, Linslade

Hi Fran, I just wanted to thank you for all the time you spent with with us last night and to tell you that I have had the first pleasurable walk with Keeler - it's just like magic that halter (Infin8 headcollar) thank you SO much. Louise, Milton Keynes.

Dear Fran
there are very few people in my life who can tell me what to do, but when it comes to my dogs, if you say it, I do it!!!
Even if it leaves me cringing. Today was a good example, you are so observant and find any opertunity to provide a corrective interaction, as with Poppy and Khan (thankyou Khan) My instinctual need is to protect Poppy and make everything OK. Poppy's need is to protect me, or for me to protect her. I have always known that I was the maintaining factor in her behaviour,but through your patient guidence I know we are both being rehabilitated. Thankyou

Melanie and Poppy, Hartwell

Thanks to your classes I am really starting to bond with Molly and not thinking what a little "terror" she is. She is really starting to take notice when we are telling her not to do something. As well as enjoying all the praise when she does something well - Gemma, Milton Keynes

You’ll be pleased to know that Max is doing brilliantly on his new lead thanks to your help.

Many thanks Jayne and Max

Following your advice and support after Monday's session, Pippa is co-operating much better on her lead - walks are quite enjoyable now which is great because I had reached the stage of dreading them, so thank you very much. We are still working on it but hopefully you will see a vast improvement - Caroline, Newport Pagnell

Thank you for your course. We never made the last session as we were away on holiday. We gained a hell of a lot from it and Muddy is coming along fantastically and we are still practising with the clicker. I just want to say thanks Fran you are the best dog help I have ever had and we have had dogs all our lives. Thanks again. Take care, Richard Miller - Leighton Buzzard

Fran
Just a quick note to say what an insightful and inspiring couple of hours we had with Glynis this morning. It was good to dismiss some of the rubbish we had been told in the past (about pack leaders, and not playing with our dog etc. etc) - nice to hear our tuition is closer to reality…… also good to get simple insight into what we've clearly been doing wrong.

Secondly, clickers are clearly the way forward - obviously not a panacea and "cure all" but seemed to help immensely with training this morning (i.e for the first time Louis got walking on a loose lead - or should I say for the first time we were able to communicate what we wanted of him!).

Thanks once again and pass on our thanks to Glynis - hope to speak to her soon.

We recognize there is still lots to do and some hard work ahead but feel we've been pointed on the right path - probably need a refresher in a few weeks but……

Thanks once again and for coming so quickly to our rescue!

Paul and Katie…… and Louis - Northants.

Thanks for all your support and advice, it has been a real help when there were times I thought we weren't making any progress, we have now completed 3 days straight of being on her own in the house for 20 minutes + with no weeing, wailing or destructionm maybe the DAP has played a part too?

I am also interested in one day taking Tia to some kind of beginners fun agility classm she has so much energy to burn and an active little brain that craves stimulation. Do we need to get to a particular level with our obedience before we can try out some classes? If so will you be running more good citizen classes after ours have ended?

Thanks again Glynis for all your support, it has been invaluable to me, when other people doubted we would be able to change Tia, you always gave me the boost to keep on trying and I really do appreciate it.

Kind regards,

Lorna, Milton Keynes.

The good news is that Tia has joined our agility classes. Not the fun class, but the competition class. She loves it and is progressing extremely well. Hopefully we will be seeing her at some of the shows come the summer of 2008. 16/1/8 Tia passes her Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze and Silver level awards.

Dear Fran

Just a note to say thankyou. I had a very enjoyable day today at your paddock with Jazz and was so proud of her behaviour. We went up to the forest with her and Poppy when we got home and they had a good swim and play in the pond. Jazz is now exhausted and asleep on her mat in front of me. I also want to thank you for your advise and offer of help with Poppy. I feel so much more relaxed now that I know things don't have to follow the script I had become afraid of and there will be a controlled and well socialized dog at the end of it. When I picked Acorn from the list I took from my vets I had no idea how lucky I was. You and Glynis have a vast knowledge and experience and so good at sharing it. Thankyou to you both.

Melanie - Hartwell, Northants.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH WE LOVE COMING TO ALL YOUR CLASSES.
RHIA-LOUISE AND MILDRED CANT WAIT TO GO TO THEM
AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO CRUFTS (BRONZE TEAM) WELL YOU CAN IMAGINE THE EXCITEMENT IN OUR HOUSE.
THE CHANGE IN OUR PUPPY IS UNBELIEVABLE.SHE IS VERY INTELLIGENT LITTLE GIRL AND YOU HAVE JUST MADE HER WANT TO LEARN MORE. YOUR CLASSES ARE ALWAYS GREAT FUN AND MAKES OUR EVENINGS VERY ENJOYABLE.
I AM ENJOYING MY TRAINING AND I HOPE I WILL BE AN ASSET TO YOUR TEAM.
ANY ONE LOOKING FOR CLASSES IN GOOD CITIZENSHIP OR AGILITY WOULD NOT FIND A BETTER TRAINERS THAN FRAN AND GLYNNIS OR CLASS THEN GOING TO ACORN DOG TRAINING
THANK YOU
CLAIRE-LOUISE - Milton Keynes (Claire Louise stayed on to become team captain for our display team, and now runs her own classes whilst studying for her Diploma in dog training)

Harley passed his first certificate and got his first rosette as did all the other dogs. Several of our questions were answered, and we booked up for the next set of classes starting next week. Thanks for taking us on when we really were fairly desperate, your class was really full but you squeezed us in so thank you for that too. Harley has really worked hard as have we and the results are paying off

Janette and Paul, Milton Keynes.

Dear Fran

Just a short line to say a very big thank you for all the help and advice you have given to me to help Daisy achieve her Gold Award last night.

I was so proud of her and I know that the your expertise, lots and lots of patience and the time you give to all the dogs you train has paid dividends. Many many thanks, I shall miss the training classes but will contact you in the New Year for Daisy to start the puppy agility classes.

Val, Stoke Goldington

Hi Fran - thanks for training on Sunday. I was so pleased Barty had a chance to run about with the puppies - he was such a good boy. You've made such a difference to him. He's so much more confident now.

Sharon, Old Stratford

Hi Fran,

Just a quick message to say thanks for the puppy classes, Clayton and I both really enjoyed them. We are looking forward to starting the Bronze class as soon as you have a date set so can you let me know as soon as possible please - Emma, Deanshangar

Fran, I just wanted to e-mail you to say a huge thank-you for all your help and support with Smokey the past few weeks! She has absolutely relished in her training and we've enjoyed learning about dogs and understanding their behaviour and body-language. I can't tell you how suprised we were last night to see our 8 month old doggy receive her Gold Award! I was so nervous, because I knew that she could get her Bronze award but was worried that she would have a 'bad' night and would not want to do anything! Then after the Bronze, we just kept going!! She was amazing & we are so proud of her! She's an absolutely wonderful dog and a very valued member of our family. Nevertheless, she can be a handful at times and is very 'bouncy' so learning what we have from you has been fundamental in building our relationship with her. We cannot wait to start taking her to agility and I'm sure she will keep suprising us with how clever and receptive she is; I'm sure she'll be wonderful at it.

Bethany, Milton Keynes

Hi Fran, and everyone I would just like to say a big thank you on behalf of Harry and myself, we had a great time at the puppy classes. He has learnt so much. Thank you for all your help.

Julia, Milton Keynes

Thanks once again for the invaluable training you supplied over the last 6 weeks. We certainly won't hesitate in recommending your classes to others, and we look forward to enrolling Ben on a more advanced training course with yourself in the future,

RIchard, Deanshangar

Fran, and helpers...

I just want to say thank you for the course where Borris seemed to be quite well behaved and keen to learn. Since following the advice and training you have opened us up to, Borris can be a very well behaved Giant Schnauzer... Everything you have spoken about makes sense and I have found out that everything has to be quite simple for a dog. I particularly liked the lesson where you had Angela pretending to be a dog and you yelled at her, lost patience etc, it brought home how ridiculous it is to lose it with a dog - as you say they cannot understand... Their minds are different to ours and now I really think hard about how to communicate with him.

Since the last lesson - which was only last night he knows a new command where he lays flat in a down position but his chin is flat between his feet. We decided to call this "SLEEPY". He did it on command a couple of times. We will both try to teach him more "tricks" as you can see in his face that he enjoys it. The clicker was a total mystery to me - now I can see just how brilliant it is as anyone can use it and Borris knows when he hears it he has been good and gets his treat... There is no differing tones of voices to understand - just a simple effective CLICK.

Nigel felt he did not train Taz (our 11 year old) very well and now he sees Borris - he is really proud I decided to go to puppy classes. I will be staying in touch with Molly and Olly, too which is great as well. Saying that - even Taz at 11 is starting to react to the click.. so maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!

I would like to go on to the next stage for the Good Citizen Award... do you think we have it in us to get there, it sounds very intense!?

Angela and Borris, Milton Keynes

"I'd also just like to take this quiet moment to tell you how much Josh and I are loving our Sunday morning classes and I am thoroughly enjoying being under your tuition." - Sarah, Bradwell

"I am more than happy for you to use my comments on the website but these few lines don't represent how much we've all enjoyed coming to the classes and the benefit it has brought to us as a family.Winston was always a joy to be with, but now we have the basics of obedience it makes his play both in and outside of the home a lot safer and therefore a lot more enjoyable. His responsiveness and ability to learn makes me really proud and I don't think we would have realised this or seen the potential had we not been to your classes.
Your methods of teaching the owners and training the dogs are fantastic as it is all based around the relationship we have with Winston. We all feel very comfortable in the classes and the coaching during the session is a perfect balance with the reading material (which always great to reference).
I think the biggest testament of all is Winston's tail! - there's no mistaking his feelings with the velocity and vigour it wags when we tell him it's time for school!
Thanks again from myself, Mark and Winston, we look forward to seeing you again (kisses to Tally too!)

Amanda", Milton Keynes.

"Just writing to say how much I enjoyed Saturday and Sundays Classes.
I felt very welcome and everyone was friendly and understanding.
I am very pleased with Zak progress and the enjoyment on his face...
I would like to carry on coming every week please……Thank you Fran for introducing me to Agility" - Chrissie Lyons. Bedford.

"Great trainer!" - Marcus Valkenburg, Milton Keynes

"Karli was in your class for eight months, roughly. She is now five and a half years old and, despite her various health problems, extremely well behaved and loving. I know that she enjoyed your classes very much. We're currently working towards making her comfortable enough to start taking part in your Rottie club, I know she would have a great time there! - “Alicat” Wilkes, Milton Keynes

" My dog Spike and I have attending agility classes for about 12months now, and we both love it!! We can't wait for Sundays to come around, meeting all the other doggy owners who are mad like us. Spike loves all the jumping and climbing, if you don't believe a dog can smile you should see him when has finished a course. Fran is as good with the owners as she is with the dogs, a rare thing indeed. I would recommend Fran and Acorn Dog Training to anyone who wants to help their dog learn "human ways and foibles", is a kind and gentle way. Everything is done by reward and kind words, not by punishment." - Janice Holden - Northants

"I am just writing to thank you for the great advice you gave to us about our dogs night time barking problem. We persevered for a week or so and it has really done the trick. He now goes to bed without a sound! Even the neighbours are happy.

I will not hesitate in recommending your services to any of our friends and family.

Thanks again"

Simon Navin - Milton Keynes

"My dog Grace, a black and tan Dobermann, has really benefited from attending Fran's training classes. I first started taking Grace to Fran's classes when she was a puppy, where she went through basic obedience skills, puppy training, as well as being able to socialise with other puppies her own age.

She soon developed good friendships with some of the other puppies, Scooby in particular, a black labrador, who she is still best buddies with today, now being 1 year old. I too benefitted from the classes, by being able to understand Grace better and improve our communication with each other, which led to a more harmonious relationship. I learnt all about puppy training, looking after Grace's health and got advice on how to deal with problems such as Grace's clingy behaviour which caused her a lot of anxiety. Fran helped me with Grace's anxiety of not wanting to leave my side all the time, she would get quite distressed if I went into another room where she could not see me. Through careful coaching, Fran taught me how to deal with the situation, by not allowing Grace to follow me everywhere using sit and stay commands regularly, so that Grace eventually gained confidence that I would return to her. Today Grace is doing agility classes which she loves, she is learning to use her co-ordination and think about the tasks that she is doing, which gives her mental stimulation. Myself and Grace have a strong bond and our relationship is better than ever and I have Fran to thank for that". - Sandra Rankin, Milton Keynes

"Acorn Dog Training School - From the owners perspective (Jill Stillman, Castlethorpe)

I took my puppy to Acorn's basic training classes when he was 12 weeks old and had just had his final injections. He was already clean in the house, but his manners left a lot to be desired, he continually jumped up and was chewing everything in site including me.

After 6 weeks training he was much better behaved. Not only did Marmite know his boundaries, I had learnt how to communicate with him. He can now "sit", "stay", "come" and "down" when required, and he has also learnt not to bite people, and how to walk on the lead. He has also learnt doggy social skills and can mix with other dogs. He clearly needs further training, if only to reinforce what he has already learned, but for a puppy of only 4 ½ months he is doing very well. He is looking forward to his next stage of training.

I would recommend training, such as that provided by Acorn, to any owner of a new puppy.

From the Puppy's perspective -( Marmite Stillman - Kennelthorpe)

Hello - I'm Marmite

I thoroughly enjoyed puppy school where I met a number of friends that I hope to see again in the near future. I learnt a number of things that make me more popular with my Mistress and her friends, but more importantly, my Mistress learnt to understand me and my needs better. I want to please her but I often don't understand what she needs from me and I'm sure that she does not understand what I am trying to tell her.

All you puppies out there - tell your people to take you to puppy school. You'll meet new mates, and both you and your people will learn a lot about each other. You will become more responsive to your people's needs, and your people will treat you much better than before." -

I first met Fran when my puppy Drew was about 10 weeks old at training over in Bradwell. Drew and I were definitely a case of hate-hate she hated me and I wasn't all that keen on her (at that time) she had no manners at all and was driving me to the point of no return!

For the whole of the 6 week course she hid under the chairs in the hall and wouldn't do anything or even venture out and at the end of the class I'd have to wait for all puppies and humans to go before she would emerge. Fran showed me lots of things to help improve her confidence, but she knew that some of Drew's problems were probably caused by an underlying condition so we had our first of many behavioural one-on-ones and backed it up with a vet visit (which Fran came to as well). The upshot was the vet put her on drug therapy and advised me to keep on trying with her as had Fran.

I was beginning to lose hope of ever having a dog I would be friends with, but Fran was always there at the end of the phone when we had had a particularly bad day!.

As Drew was showing no signs of improving after the first 6 weeks we enrolled on another course and another and another and eventually by about her fourth course she had mastered sit (7 months old) and some other very basic stuff. My relationship with her by now was coming on in leaps and bounds, but she still 'hated' all other living things especially dog trainers! (I'm sure Fran remembers that well)

Well after about 2 years of training sessions (each week Drew acting as if she had never seen Fran before in her life) I got Drew out of the car and she didn't go mad at Fran barking, pulling, lunging etc as she had every other time, she just stood and looked just as if she had finally realised who Fran was and even wagged her tail - I could have cried it was like a major break through for us. They soon became firm friends as she did with Frans dogs, but it was a long time coming.

Drew was diagnosed as having brain damage about 2 years ago and will always be on long term drug therapy so this contributed a lot to how she is. Drew is a much happier, nicer dog now and people often cannot believe how much she has improved.

I know that if I had not met Fran when I did and she had not put in as much effort as she did Drew probably would have been re-homed or even worse.

Thanks for everything

Melanie and Drew (who's nearly 7)

Read Nicolette and Justyce's Story By Clicking Here

(Kizzy had a problem when she was let off the lead. She would slam into Lucy (the other dog in the family), grab her neck and hurt her.

Hi Fran,
Just to let you know how Kizzy's doing - had to drop out of classes
again as I'm having some problems with my eyes and find night driving
difficult at the moment.

The Kong has been a great success - Kizzy loves it, and now that she
grabs Lucy less, Lucy seems more inclined to tell her off when she does
do it. Most of the time when they running together now there is very
little barging and grabbing - and they both have a lot more fun. (To see
them running together is quite a sight - wow are they fast.... .)

Coming to a couple of classes got both me and Kizzy more focused again,
and she's generally responding much better now, even her "downs" are no
longer in slow motion!

Thanks very much for your help,

Julia (and Kizzy!)

Dear Fran,
Firstly I must say how much better I am finding your classes than the previous ones we went to. I was so pleased that Cedar sat and stayed on
Saturday, before I had been told to tie him to am radiator to do this!! - Pat Wood, Dunstable

Hi my name is HARRY, I am a (brainy) 17 month black Labrador retriever. My mum Julie and dad Craig got me when I was six months old as my other owner was going to Africa and that was too far to go, I did not want to travel as I think the UK is fine.

I was rather nervous in my younger days and I loved to pee in the house and as I was an outdoor dog I shouted and whined lots. I also had a habit of chewing my home, this was fun, I don't think mum and dad thought so. I was surprised because my mum and dad never got angry and to help them understand me they went to Acorn Dog Training and spoke to Fran.

All of a sudden every week I was going training, I made lots of new friends and people understood me!!!!. I had no obedience training prior to going to my training and I enjoyed it so much within five months I received my Bronze, Silver and GOLD good citizen dog scheme certificates. I found one particular part hard as I enjoy my food, and when I had to stay still and not jump while my parents were eating that was tough. I thought this was really rude, (typical humans).

I am very good at home now I don't chew and im extremely quiet, however if I see a stranger I like to ask the person what they want. Sometimes if they cannot see me they get scared as I have a loud bark. I think mum and dad like that.

Since August 2002 I have been going Agility Training at Acorn Dog Training which I love running, jumping, going through tunnels and not forgetting going across bridges this is great fun and my mum and dad love it to. I hope to be able to do some competitions in 2003 to win some awards to put in my kennels. I don't mind if I don't as it is the fun that counts.

I would like to thank my mum and dad for helping me to write this, as I feel Acorn Dog Training is great and I always tell my friends all about my adventures, sometimes they get jealous because of the friendship I have with my parents.

Thanks FRAN

HARRY

Craig and Julie, Luton

I really enjoyed my lessons with you and can recommend you to anyone. Keep up the good work, you certainly have a gift with the dogs. Best Wishes, Maria, David and Taz Lathwell, Flitwick

Your classes are excellent and we learnt a lot in the short time we were able to attend! Cheryl, Newport Pagnell

This is the best £55 I have ever spent, especially on my dog. I feel I have already had my £55 worth in the first session! Judi Randall, Winslow.

Zena had underlying medical problems, which affected her training and behaviour:

Zena is HUGELY better. Very little pain now, and down to 1 tablet every
other day. She's allowed a short run off the lead daily and a real run out
once a week.

I thought you might like to know that her training with you has obviously
paid off. We're away overnight soon and can't take Zena, so we've got her a
dog walker. Jamie turned up to meet Zena, mutual love at first sight and off
they went for their first walk. When they came back, Jamie absolutley raved
about Zena's behaviour - walking to heel, waiting to cross roads and not
pulling on the lead!!! OK, she is very good with me, but I don't think I'd
ever describe her behaviour as perfect.

All behaviour and diet probelms are well and truly behind us now, and Zena
definately seems to be here to stay. Many thanks for all your help with the
various problems Fran. Rest assured I'll come running if any more arise!

All the best

Frances ~ Bradwell Common

Amanda, who regularly attends our classes wrote to me concerning the nutritional advice she received during our classes:

So onto our new addition................
Ben is a 10 year old boxer, rehomed with us almost 4 weeks ago through the Home Counties Boxer Welfare. He is a real softie and he and Winston get on so well, you would never believe they haven't always been together.
The day we got him we went to the vet for a check up and his Vaccinations. Ben was a little under weight and quite old in his movements, along with a greasy, dandruffy coat and bad teeth. We bathed him with medicated shampoo, cleaned his teeth and put him straight onto nature diet and you wouldn't believe he was the same dog. He put on 2.5Kg in the first 2 weeks and has now levelled off (although still eats every meal as though it's his last!). If there was ever a testament to what you taught us about diet being fundamental to a dogs mental as well as physical well being, Ben is it. Ben and Winston play like pups, both with toys and with each other.......Thank you for all your help with Winston and now hopefully Ben too!

Amanda