We just completed Level 2 of at home training with Obedience Please, and couldn't be happier with our dog's progress over time. We had worked with other trainers for our 1.5 yr old Golden Retriever (Rocky) before, but the progress had been inconsistent and always relied on treats.
At the time we started with Obedience Please, walking Rocky felt like water skiing (being pulled the whole way), which was causing me injuries as he got bigger and stronger. Although he responded to treats, we weren't able to "fade" them as other trainers said we would. He really only listened or respected us if he knew we had a treat.
In contrast, the entire focus of training at Obedience Please is "treat free." We also loved that our trainers (Ina and Greta, a fabulous mother/ daughter team) have come to our home for all the individualized sessions. The result is that they work with the whole family in Rocky's natural environment, so what we learn with them translates more naturally to our real daily lives.
Greta and Ina have that perfect combo of being firm and direct, but also warm and caring. They've built a relationship not just with Rocky, but also with me, my husband and our teenage son. This means they understand how we each learn and what we need to succeed in our interactions with Rocky. The program is organized and follows a clear progression, such that not a moment of the time is wasted.
Before we started it was hard to even imagine Rocky responding without treats, but over time he's responded so well that I almost forgot we used to need them. Walking him is now a pleasure (as opposed to a stressful source of injuries). And, his overall behavior in the home and around people/ other dogs is calmer and more focused. He's still a fun/ silly goofball, but now he listens when we need him to!
The Obedience Please approach includes some mild "corrections" for unwanted behaviors but is really 95% focused on positive reinforcement through praise, clear verbal and nonverbal commands, consistency, and repetition. We were a bit hesitant about using corrections because we're all softies, but we quickly realized that they're gentle and rarely needed. Not only has Rocky's behavior improved, but we've all noticed that our bond (based on trust and love) has strengthened through the work. We've realized how much he loves training, learning, and all the attention/ praise that go with it.
One thing to note: as with any training, the real subject of the training is *us*, the humans. The more receptive we've been to following Ina and Greta's suggestions, the better Rocky has done. It's also been really important to practice what they teach us between sessions.
Which brings me to a final bonus of Obedience Please: between session reinforcement training options. In addition to the at home training, we occasionally bring Rocky to the Obedience Please location in S. Pasadena for day care or overnight boarding when we're traveling, etc. For a small additional fee, we always opt to have their staff do "reinforcement training" while he's there.
The staff all use the same exact training system, so he really is getting an extra dose of reinforcement. We can see a turbo boost in his progress after he's been there. Plus, he loves his play time with the other dogs and gets excited the moment he realizes the car is headed their way! read more