Testimonials
Separation Anxiety/Tail Chasing and Spinning
My Husband and I were referred to Sonya at end of 2015 by our vet who specialised in behavioural issues. Our dog Bruiser was treated for anxiety and a compulsive disorder. He would chase his tail multiple times a day and for long periods at a time. He was commenced on two medications by our veterinary behaviourist prior to our initial consult with Sonya.
We contacted Sonya who worked with us at home and provided training tools to help Bruiser be more relaxed and comfortable at home. We knew it would be hard work and take time, but we are seeing magnificent results and Bruiser loves his training. We rarely see Bruiser spin and are now able to leave him outside for prolonged periods of time without him becoming anxious or chase his tail. Positive reinforcement training with the combination of medications has been hugely beneficial and, although it has been hard work, we are seeing brilliant results.
We found Sonya extremely professional and dedicated. The training provided has been extremely effective and rewarding. It is a great feeling to see our dog improving every day. She has provided excellent follow up and is regularly in touch to ensure everything is still on track. Sonya is always more than happy to answer any questions and provide information and recommendations when necessary. We are truly thankful for the help Sonya provided us. We cannot recommend Sonya more highly for anyone needing assistance with their dog.
- Tiani, Parmelia -
We contacted Sonya who worked with us at home and provided training tools to help Bruiser be more relaxed and comfortable at home. We knew it would be hard work and take time, but we are seeing magnificent results and Bruiser loves his training. We rarely see Bruiser spin and are now able to leave him outside for prolonged periods of time without him becoming anxious or chase his tail. Positive reinforcement training with the combination of medications has been hugely beneficial and, although it has been hard work, we are seeing brilliant results.
We found Sonya extremely professional and dedicated. The training provided has been extremely effective and rewarding. It is a great feeling to see our dog improving every day. She has provided excellent follow up and is regularly in touch to ensure everything is still on track. Sonya is always more than happy to answer any questions and provide information and recommendations when necessary. We are truly thankful for the help Sonya provided us. We cannot recommend Sonya more highly for anyone needing assistance with their dog.
- Tiani, Parmelia -
Severe Anxiety/Post Traumatic Stress
My partner, Tracee and I adopted our dog Cash as a puppy from Shenton Animal Haven. No one knew his history, however it quickly became clear quite early that he had been neglected and probably abused. He was making great progress and his behaviour was improving. One evening he was attacked by our 9 year old dog that ended up with a canine dementia and cognitive decline diagnosis. The attack was so vicious that it could have been fatal had Tracee not been there. The two would never live together again.
After recovering from his physical injuries we realised that he was extremely traumatised and had high levels of anxiety. His anxiety and fear were out of control and his behaviour had regressed to being worse than when we had first adopted him. He was so traumatised that we took him for a walk once after his attack and he completely lost control and tried to pull out of his harness to run home.
We were referred to Sonya Bevan from Dog Charming in October 2015 from a noted dog behaviourist Vet. Sonya came to our house and worked with us to train Cash to trust that everything that was unfamiliar wasn’t out to harm him. We found that just small tasks Sonya would teach us to teach Cash would start to work slowly but surely. Every time Sonya visited us she would advance the training a little bit more. Every question about specific behaviours Sonya had a solution for. Sonya has achieved amazing changes with us and Cash. I really shudder to think how we would have coped without Sonya’s services. More than anything, I believe Sonya’s training has prevented Cash’s fear and anxiety from turning into aggression.
Six months down the track and we have started walking Cash, with a muzzle (more to keep people away from him than protect others from him) and his behaviour has vastly improved. We still have a way to go and we are dedicated to providing him with the best support and training to become a stable happy dog. We whole heartedly recommend the services of Dog Charming to anyone who has a dog with difficult behaviours. We were at a loss as to what we were going to do with this gorgeous and loving but damaged and scared little dog. Sonya has turned Cash around and made a significant positive change to our lives, we now see a bright and fear free future for Cash.
- Tracee and Neal, White Gum Valley -
After recovering from his physical injuries we realised that he was extremely traumatised and had high levels of anxiety. His anxiety and fear were out of control and his behaviour had regressed to being worse than when we had first adopted him. He was so traumatised that we took him for a walk once after his attack and he completely lost control and tried to pull out of his harness to run home.
We were referred to Sonya Bevan from Dog Charming in October 2015 from a noted dog behaviourist Vet. Sonya came to our house and worked with us to train Cash to trust that everything that was unfamiliar wasn’t out to harm him. We found that just small tasks Sonya would teach us to teach Cash would start to work slowly but surely. Every time Sonya visited us she would advance the training a little bit more. Every question about specific behaviours Sonya had a solution for. Sonya has achieved amazing changes with us and Cash. I really shudder to think how we would have coped without Sonya’s services. More than anything, I believe Sonya’s training has prevented Cash’s fear and anxiety from turning into aggression.
Six months down the track and we have started walking Cash, with a muzzle (more to keep people away from him than protect others from him) and his behaviour has vastly improved. We still have a way to go and we are dedicated to providing him with the best support and training to become a stable happy dog. We whole heartedly recommend the services of Dog Charming to anyone who has a dog with difficult behaviours. We were at a loss as to what we were going to do with this gorgeous and loving but damaged and scared little dog. Sonya has turned Cash around and made a significant positive change to our lives, we now see a bright and fear free future for Cash.
- Tracee and Neal, White Gum Valley -
Come Back!
What can I say?
You were great helping me with Lara. I can now take her to the park and she won’t leave me plus I can put her on lead. Sonya you have been a great help and helped me when I have been sick and when my mum was here and ill. If I could I would ask for you to come every day. I am so pleased I called on Dog Charming for help. Thank you, Sonya. I hope we can catch up again another day. What you taught me I try to use every time we go out. It works, thanks to you and Zuri.
All the very best to you and Zuri.
- Gilly & Lara, Waikiki -
R.I.P. Lara, Nov 2016
Aggression Between Household Dogs Over Food
Our two year old female American Staffy, Halo, became possessive over food at feeding time resulting in unwanted aggressive behaviours towards our other dog that we did not know how to manage or resolve. So we called Sonya from Dog Charming. Sonya is fantastic, she clearly explained to us about resource guarding in terminology we could understand and about dogs’ body language to help us better understand our dog Halo. The house visits are a great idea as Sonya teaches you with your dog in your own environment to better assess the situation and works with you to individually devise a plan to fit you and your dog. Sonya's training style is calm, positive and hands-on that gets amazing results, as she is able to explain the process whilst demonstrating the solution, enabling you to easily learn it on your own to practice. We now have an individual training plan for our dog Halo to accommodate the unwanted behaviours and it’s working!!!
Sonya helped ease the unsettling nerves I had towards my dog due to her aggression by providing expert advice and talking us through it with any questions or concerns we had. This included things like educating us on dogs behaviours, their environment, human behaviours that can affect a dog’s surroundings and providing practical training techniques to name a few. Halo and I would not hesitate to recommend Sonya to anyone; we think Sonya is amazing, knowledgeable and professional. Sonya also has dog toys/training equipment to accommodate your training plan, which you can buy from her at a great price, it is so convenient and an added bonus. The results speak for themselves. Thanks
- Cass & Nik, Seville Grove -
Sonya helped ease the unsettling nerves I had towards my dog due to her aggression by providing expert advice and talking us through it with any questions or concerns we had. This included things like educating us on dogs behaviours, their environment, human behaviours that can affect a dog’s surroundings and providing practical training techniques to name a few. Halo and I would not hesitate to recommend Sonya to anyone; we think Sonya is amazing, knowledgeable and professional. Sonya also has dog toys/training equipment to accommodate your training plan, which you can buy from her at a great price, it is so convenient and an added bonus. The results speak for themselves. Thanks
- Cass & Nik, Seville Grove -
Benefits of In-Home Training
Well, before the days of Sonya from Dog Charming attending to our much beloved Will and us, he was all over the shop; barking consistently throughout the night, jumping once excited (walk time arghh), digging holes, pulling on the lead and the list goes on. As I was getting quite annoyed with the above behaviours and our frustration of our inability to train Will efficiently and effectively, we started searching the web.
After watching the many videos that Sonya has on her site and also the proximity of her location, it was a no brainer.
Having the in house training was great and minimised other distractions such as the 75 other dogs to play with at Dog School or the 20 seagulls to chase that also frequent the park.
Once Sonya introduced her training system to us, it wasn’t long before we started seeing results. Between the two consultations we have learnt so much; bringing Will back into his own environment to train and gain a solid foundation before training in a distracting one. He has been more receptive to all of the family, including the kids.
We can’t thank Sonya enough for her time and her patience with all of us and we look forward to seeing her in the not too distant future. Thank you Sonya
- Jason & Kathleen, Port Kennedy -
After watching the many videos that Sonya has on her site and also the proximity of her location, it was a no brainer.
Having the in house training was great and minimised other distractions such as the 75 other dogs to play with at Dog School or the 20 seagulls to chase that also frequent the park.
Once Sonya introduced her training system to us, it wasn’t long before we started seeing results. Between the two consultations we have learnt so much; bringing Will back into his own environment to train and gain a solid foundation before training in a distracting one. He has been more receptive to all of the family, including the kids.
We can’t thank Sonya enough for her time and her patience with all of us and we look forward to seeing her in the not too distant future. Thank you Sonya
- Jason & Kathleen, Port Kennedy -
Taking the Worry Out of Neighbourhood Walks
Our 10 month old Bernese pup, Jethro, has some anxiety issues walking around the neighbourhood, and I was feeling a little stumped as to how to help him. Sonya was recommended as an excellent dog behaviour consultant. I had never used a trainer before and had my reservations, but I was very impressed with Sonya, who clearly has experience helping both dogs and their humans. It was immediately apparent that Sonya is passionate and knowledgeable in her work, and really wants to make a difference and help us communicate better with our pets. She offered plenty of advice well beyond what we paid for, including providing information on dog body language and helping with loose lead walking. To me, these small gestures demonstrate her genuine love for her work, as well as an honesty and integrity with her clients. She provided very clear explanations and instructions, and was very good at listening to all our concerns and responding thoughtfully and with encouragement. We are still in the midst of working on the bits of advice provided for us, but I was really impressed with her manner, advice, ongoing support, and genuine care for helping both our pup and ourselves with our concerns. Highly recommended! Thanks, Sonya.
- Jennifer, Bedford -
Helping Fearful Dogs
At first I was a bit sceptical to book one-on-one dog training as, of course, it is a bit more expensive than dog school. I must say it was the best spent money ever! One year of puppy school could not do what Sonya did in only a couple of hours. It’s not only the initial consult; we had quite a long phone conversation, discussing my problems and concerns with the dogs. Sonya is very well prepared and will send you forms to fill out to understand as much as possible before even visiting.
I called Dog Charming because my Kelpie, Jack, and my Chihuahua, Poupie, are very scared of other dogs. Poupie usually raised her hackles, making a big scene while Jack hid behind me when on leash. After having a chat about their routine, behaviour, habits etc., Sonya evaluated their behaviour individually outside with a stuffed dog so she could see their reaction when meeting other dogs without putting them into any danger. I was so surprised that they completely fell for the trick. Poupie raised her hackles and started her usual Chi behaviour while Jack, as usual, was more or less hiding behind me. Sonya then showed me how to read their body language and how to make the experience of meeting other dogs a positive one. I will certainly try all her tips to make them confident dogs.
Especially valuable for me was the clicker training after Sonya has seen how Jack was basically taking me for a walk, because he was pulling that much on his leash. After one week of daily training sessions, I went for my first one hour walk with both dogs. Jack learnt so fast! Of course I am still clicking and treating and he got distracted a view times by seagulls. But I am so amazed what a difference only one week of training can do! I already have the feeling that we have grown even closer and I can't even imagine what they will be capable of after a few more weeks of training!
Also the tips on how to keep them occupied when alone in the garden were great. Jack won't stop playing with the dog treat Kong and seems to be more relaxed when we come home.
Sonya's enthusiasm and encouragement make training a pleasure. I could clearly feel the love she shares with the dogs and the understanding she has towards people she meets.
I will highly recommend her to all my dog lover friends!!
- Sandra & Alex, Waikiki -
I called Dog Charming because my Kelpie, Jack, and my Chihuahua, Poupie, are very scared of other dogs. Poupie usually raised her hackles, making a big scene while Jack hid behind me when on leash. After having a chat about their routine, behaviour, habits etc., Sonya evaluated their behaviour individually outside with a stuffed dog so she could see their reaction when meeting other dogs without putting them into any danger. I was so surprised that they completely fell for the trick. Poupie raised her hackles and started her usual Chi behaviour while Jack, as usual, was more or less hiding behind me. Sonya then showed me how to read their body language and how to make the experience of meeting other dogs a positive one. I will certainly try all her tips to make them confident dogs.
Especially valuable for me was the clicker training after Sonya has seen how Jack was basically taking me for a walk, because he was pulling that much on his leash. After one week of daily training sessions, I went for my first one hour walk with both dogs. Jack learnt so fast! Of course I am still clicking and treating and he got distracted a view times by seagulls. But I am so amazed what a difference only one week of training can do! I already have the feeling that we have grown even closer and I can't even imagine what they will be capable of after a few more weeks of training!
Also the tips on how to keep them occupied when alone in the garden were great. Jack won't stop playing with the dog treat Kong and seems to be more relaxed when we come home.
Sonya's enthusiasm and encouragement make training a pleasure. I could clearly feel the love she shares with the dogs and the understanding she has towards people she meets.
I will highly recommend her to all my dog lover friends!!
- Sandra & Alex, Waikiki -
Paving the Way for Agility
Hi Sonya
I can't say thank you enough for your patience and sharing your knowledge with me.
You have not taught my puppy but have taught me how to teach him at home in my own time and environments. With the goal of agility, I truly believe I have found the right person to teach me everything I need to know and prepare me for what is to come.
Our sessions are always fun and enjoyable, so thank you and very much looking forward to our next session.
- Brooke, Boddington -
I can't say thank you enough for your patience and sharing your knowledge with me.
You have not taught my puppy but have taught me how to teach him at home in my own time and environments. With the goal of agility, I truly believe I have found the right person to teach me everything I need to know and prepare me for what is to come.
Our sessions are always fun and enjoyable, so thank you and very much looking forward to our next session.
- Brooke, Boddington -
Puppy Foundations
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Sonya was amazing with our "boy" Mawson. She is so calm and he really responded to that. We were given heaps of tips to help train our puppy out of some bad habits that he had picked up - especially the biting! “Never give your dog a chance to fail” is the best advice Sonya gave us and it works. Our treat bag is a permanent fixture on all of us when we are with Mawson but the best thing is, he never knows if he will get a treat or not because with all the tips Sonya has given us, we have learnt that he just wants to please and using our voice in different ways has taught him that. Highly recommend Sonya and her training method. - Fiona & Gary, Baldivis - |
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New Puppy Meets Older Family Dog
We have a lab puppy (Abby) and used Dog Charming and Sonya for some in-home sessions. We found that Sonya was extremely knowledgeable and professional and helped us to understand our dogs better (body language, etc).
She helped us in the best way to introduce our new puppy to our 7 year old German Shepherd (who is not a lover of other dogs) with no incidence. We found that starting early on the training, Abby learnt quickly what was and wasn’t allowed and therefore we have had no issues with undesirable behaviours such as digging, jumping, etc.
Sonya was willing to spend the time and had patience with us and Abby and has become a valuable resource for any problems we have encountered since. We thoroughly enjoyed our sessions with Sonya, and would use her again for any future dogs. Highly recommended to our friends.
- Jess and Jay, Port Kennedy -
She helped us in the best way to introduce our new puppy to our 7 year old German Shepherd (who is not a lover of other dogs) with no incidence. We found that starting early on the training, Abby learnt quickly what was and wasn’t allowed and therefore we have had no issues with undesirable behaviours such as digging, jumping, etc.
Sonya was willing to spend the time and had patience with us and Abby and has become a valuable resource for any problems we have encountered since. We thoroughly enjoyed our sessions with Sonya, and would use her again for any future dogs. Highly recommended to our friends.
- Jess and Jay, Port Kennedy -
Puppy Trials and Tribulations
Sam is a Samoyed x Kelpie. We got him at 3 months old. This was my first puppy. I’m a cat person you see. Or I used to be! Sam displayed all of the typical puppy behaviours that I was nowhere near ready for nor was I expecting. He would chew everything, bite/mouth hands, jump up all the time, cry when we left him alone, pee in the house, rip up the carpet out of boredom etc etc. It was consuming and tiring. So much so, I started crying one day as I’d reached the end of my tether and decided maybe he would be more suited to an owner who had more time and space than what we could offer Sam.
Then we found Sonya!
Sonya not only trained Sam but trained us how to train Sam. With her passion, patience and determination of Positive Reinforcement training, Sam is a different dog and we can’t thank her enough or be more grateful! Through Sonya’s training we learnt Sam was very intelligent, a quick learner and had a funny character as well. He’s our best mate and I couldn’t imagine how it would’ve turned out if we hadn’t found Sonya.
- Fliss & Greig, Shoalwater -
Then we found Sonya!
Sonya not only trained Sam but trained us how to train Sam. With her passion, patience and determination of Positive Reinforcement training, Sam is a different dog and we can’t thank her enough or be more grateful! Through Sonya’s training we learnt Sam was very intelligent, a quick learner and had a funny character as well. He’s our best mate and I couldn’t imagine how it would’ve turned out if we hadn’t found Sonya.
- Fliss & Greig, Shoalwater -
Barking at Visitors
Our one year old Ayla, a German Shepherd, is a wonderful dog with all the great qualities of her breed that includes over protectiveness of her own "house". When any stranger or even a person she knows came in our house she got very upset, barking excessively with her hackles up and jumping inside her playpen. She wasn't able to stop for a long time even after the person was inside the house not close to her. We didn't mind the "warning" barking that somebody is either outside or coming inside the house but we knew her reactions afterwards were not right and it would get worse with time. So we decided to get help from Sonya.
With her non-invasive, gentle, positive approach and extensive expertise of understanding a dog’s behaviour we were given tools to start and manage our Ayla's behaviour. It didn't take long and we could start seeing slow but steady progress. Ayla was able to calm down much quicker and her barking was much shorter than before. After our session had finished Sonya, as a true professional, still keeps in touch checking on Ayla's progress. We sure will come back if needed to use Sonya's services again.
Thank you again.
- T. Francisco, Kelmscott -
Bouncing and Biting Puppy - No More
Kida was my first dog. I picked her up when she was 8 or 9 weeks old, but I didn't start training until she was about 4 months old and had already developed a few bad habits. I was determined to train her using the most humane methods possible, but I had no idea where to start. My mum suggested two trainers to me and Sonya's website sold me on calling her. Kida loved jumping, she rarely had all four feet on the ground, got excited very often and left little puddles everywhere. She loved to be on the couch so she could nibble on your hands more easily.
Sonya was amazing from before she stepped through the gate. She had my excited puppy sitting to greet for the first time and not running away down the street within 10 minutes. After half an hour of sussing out Kida, Sonya and I were inside going through the information pack she had prepared; something I was not expecting! By the end of this first session I had all the tools to put into practice; sitting to greet, toilet training, staying on the floor, stopping biting, give, and recognising her name.
At 8 months now, Kida has been accident free for weeks (slightly set back after being sterilised) and often takes herself outside. The couch is a dog free zone apart from a paw or two occasionally. The concept of how to use Kida's bed comes in very useful when I want her to be in the one spot. Kida also leaves food that's left on the coffee table. She sits to get her dinner and gently takes food and new toys when offered instead of snapping. Thanks to Sonya I've been able to teach her a few tricks on my own, like sitting and waiting to go through a door/gate.
- N. Harper, Port Kennedy -
Sonya was amazing from before she stepped through the gate. She had my excited puppy sitting to greet for the first time and not running away down the street within 10 minutes. After half an hour of sussing out Kida, Sonya and I were inside going through the information pack she had prepared; something I was not expecting! By the end of this first session I had all the tools to put into practice; sitting to greet, toilet training, staying on the floor, stopping biting, give, and recognising her name.
At 8 months now, Kida has been accident free for weeks (slightly set back after being sterilised) and often takes herself outside. The couch is a dog free zone apart from a paw or two occasionally. The concept of how to use Kida's bed comes in very useful when I want her to be in the one spot. Kida also leaves food that's left on the coffee table. She sits to get her dinner and gently takes food and new toys when offered instead of snapping. Thanks to Sonya I've been able to teach her a few tricks on my own, like sitting and waiting to go through a door/gate.
- N. Harper, Port Kennedy -
Tail Chasing
I was new at raising a puppy so when Brett, the bull terrier started tail chasing, I didn’t know whether it was a serious problem or just normal playful behaviour.
After speaking to my vet, I became aware that Brett's tail chasing was a serious problem. I learnt that tail chasing could either be a compulsive behavioural problem, or a neurological disease. Testing to find out if it was a neurological disease would be a long, costly process. So we agreed to seek help from a behavioural consultant. If Brett didn't respond to treatment, we would know it was a disease which would require medication.
My vet recommended Sonya, and I called her that night eager to get the treatment under way. We spoke on the phone for quite some time and Sonya went into great detail asking questions about Brett's behaviour, and explaining why these details are important. This was the first time I felt relief that I was doing the right thing for Brett.
Sonya brought a calm presence to our home, which Brett responded to immediately. I was amazed as Brett usually jumps all over our guests. Sonya was so precise in her methods and techniques. She had all the answers, if Brett didn't respond to a command, Sonya would quickly find a way of getting the result. It was so inspiring to see Brett's potential, and suddenly training became lots of fun!
By keeping a log of Brett's tail chasing, we were able to trouble shoot the problem and come up with a simple treatment plan. This was one of the many tools Sonya taught me during our first session. Others included positive reinforcement training, techniques in relaxing Brett, and great tips in keeping Brett stimulated while we were at work.
Not only did I have more confidence in Brett and his abilities, but also more confidence in myself as a trainer and a carer. Brett is now 7 months old and I can’t remember the last time he chased his tail.
I can see how much Sonya loves her job, just by how much time and effort she puts into it. Thanks to her, Brett is growing up to be such a polite, lovable dog.
- A Clarke, Rockingham -
After speaking to my vet, I became aware that Brett's tail chasing was a serious problem. I learnt that tail chasing could either be a compulsive behavioural problem, or a neurological disease. Testing to find out if it was a neurological disease would be a long, costly process. So we agreed to seek help from a behavioural consultant. If Brett didn't respond to treatment, we would know it was a disease which would require medication.
My vet recommended Sonya, and I called her that night eager to get the treatment under way. We spoke on the phone for quite some time and Sonya went into great detail asking questions about Brett's behaviour, and explaining why these details are important. This was the first time I felt relief that I was doing the right thing for Brett.
Sonya brought a calm presence to our home, which Brett responded to immediately. I was amazed as Brett usually jumps all over our guests. Sonya was so precise in her methods and techniques. She had all the answers, if Brett didn't respond to a command, Sonya would quickly find a way of getting the result. It was so inspiring to see Brett's potential, and suddenly training became lots of fun!
By keeping a log of Brett's tail chasing, we were able to trouble shoot the problem and come up with a simple treatment plan. This was one of the many tools Sonya taught me during our first session. Others included positive reinforcement training, techniques in relaxing Brett, and great tips in keeping Brett stimulated while we were at work.
Not only did I have more confidence in Brett and his abilities, but also more confidence in myself as a trainer and a carer. Brett is now 7 months old and I can’t remember the last time he chased his tail.
I can see how much Sonya loves her job, just by how much time and effort she puts into it. Thanks to her, Brett is growing up to be such a polite, lovable dog.
- A Clarke, Rockingham -
Barking and Lunging at Cyclists and Skateboards
I consulted Dog Charming for a problem with my young dog barking and lunging at cyclists and skateboarders, which was making our walks very stressful. After a thorough assessment, Sonya provided a detailed plan tailored just for my dog based on modern, science-based positive training methods. This has allowed my dog to not just suppress his behaviour, but actually change the way he responds to bikes and skateboards so he is no longer afraid.
Our walks are much calmer now and both my dogs looove Sonya!
Would definitely recommend!
- T & D Stephens, Warnbro -
Update Dec 2012 Txt Message:
Just passed two kids, one on a scooter and one on a bike. Deez heeled, then sit-stay with only half a treat broken into three. No reaction. One minute before that we passed a double pram and a bike with no interest from D. I can walk my dogs! :-)
Watch Diesel's barking and lunging video here.
Chasing and Snapping
After rescuing my little terrier X, “Dancer” in May 2010 I realised that I had more than my hands full. She settled in quickly and her not so desirable BAD habits became apparent. One of them: chasing & snapping :(
I was frustrated and very concerned that I might not be able to keep my new best friend. Meeting Sonya - Miss Charmers (she totally has earned this nickname from me) was one very fortunate thing that happened to me in 2010. Her knowledge, patience and kindness to us (Dancer and myself) literally saved us from having further BAD incidents. Sonya taught me, over time, easy ways to train my ‘naughty one’.
Thank you Sonya for your professionalism, knowledge and understanding of dogs (and humans!) and teaching me how to work with Dancer, without hurting, mistreating or punishing her for things that are not acceptable! Dancer now knows 27 tricks, is my off-sider at work and has BEEN IN A MOVIE!! If there is something every dog owner should learn it's clicker training from Dog Charming - it's bloody amazing. Once you know how, you can teach any dog any new trick with patience and lots of positive reinforcement.
Without Sonya’s guidance I know for sure I would NOT have Dancer - she was a terror (not just a terrier X) but now she is my beautiful girl who is beside me everyday. My best friend who I will love forever :) Thanks Miss Charmers - you certainly know how to teach and understand man's best friend.
- M Collins, Master Personal Trainer and owner of BodyPrep: Group Training and Bootcamps, Rockingham -
Watch Dancer's nail clipping video here.
I was frustrated and very concerned that I might not be able to keep my new best friend. Meeting Sonya - Miss Charmers (she totally has earned this nickname from me) was one very fortunate thing that happened to me in 2010. Her knowledge, patience and kindness to us (Dancer and myself) literally saved us from having further BAD incidents. Sonya taught me, over time, easy ways to train my ‘naughty one’.
Thank you Sonya for your professionalism, knowledge and understanding of dogs (and humans!) and teaching me how to work with Dancer, without hurting, mistreating or punishing her for things that are not acceptable! Dancer now knows 27 tricks, is my off-sider at work and has BEEN IN A MOVIE!! If there is something every dog owner should learn it's clicker training from Dog Charming - it's bloody amazing. Once you know how, you can teach any dog any new trick with patience and lots of positive reinforcement.
Without Sonya’s guidance I know for sure I would NOT have Dancer - she was a terror (not just a terrier X) but now she is my beautiful girl who is beside me everyday. My best friend who I will love forever :) Thanks Miss Charmers - you certainly know how to teach and understand man's best friend.
- M Collins, Master Personal Trainer and owner of BodyPrep: Group Training and Bootcamps, Rockingham -
Watch Dancer's nail clipping video here.
Pulling on Lead
Thank you for your guidance and help in the training of my Beagle Rosie. I found the training invaluable and your enthusiasm and encouragement from start to finish made training not only a pleasure for Rosie but also myself.
Your approach was to give confidence to me and I think this shows in Rosie's continued progress. She is a delightful companion & loved by all my family, young and old. Of course being a Beagle she can be quite mischievous but very loving!
As a matter of interest, I recently was confined to bed with the Flu and my son and his family, who have 2 adult dogs, had Rosie for a week and she was no trouble at all blending easily into their family.
Thank you again, also for your ongoing contact with Doggie Tips.
- B Felstead, Waikiki -
Your approach was to give confidence to me and I think this shows in Rosie's continued progress. She is a delightful companion & loved by all my family, young and old. Of course being a Beagle she can be quite mischievous but very loving!
As a matter of interest, I recently was confined to bed with the Flu and my son and his family, who have 2 adult dogs, had Rosie for a week and she was no trouble at all blending easily into their family.
Thank you again, also for your ongoing contact with Doggie Tips.
- B Felstead, Waikiki -
Old Dog, New Tricks
After many years of trying to iron out some bad habits with our 5 year old dog, Axel, we were introduced to Sonya. Sonya was a great listener, and understood our needs and of course Axel's. After a few sessions and some consistent Dog Charming training techniques the three of us are an extremely happy household. Sonya has an uncanny ability to read a dog, to understand what's going on (for example is this stress? is this confusion? is Axel comfortable?). She problem solves with solutions on the spot, if a training technique didn't work or we tried to push too many boundaries with him, she changed strategy.
We were taught clicker training, and because of her creative and fun techniques, Axel is now able to respond to many more commands and tricks.
Her methods are positive, inspiring, gentle, and effective. Her style is friendly, open, honest, and lots of fun. All of our friends and family have noticed Axel's improvement and we have all just fallen in love with him all over again!
Thanks so much for your help Sonya, it was an absolute pleasure, you have taught us so many things we thought we could never achieve.
- M & L Boyd, Singleton -
R.I.P. Axel,
Adolescent Exhuberance
Dog Charming training is fantastic and fun.
When Sonya came to us Abra (our 7 month old Labradoodle) was a gorgeous natured, fun loving, gentle and placid dog (and still is) but had many super annoying puppy habits (biting, jumping, barking at people walking by) - and it was hard work understanding and being tolerant of her puppy ways!! We were especially worried it was going to get worse if we didn't stop them from happening.
We worked with Sonya who is understanding, professional and knowledgeable - and now Abra and our household are a changed family.
Thanks so much Sonya for your time. We learnt many handy tips from Dog charming.
- S & G Hardman, San Remo -
More Adolescent Exhuberance
Ruby was a 7 month old beagle who was starting to get out of control and I had no idea what to do anymore so I found Dog Charming online and Sonya was very quick in response and answered everything I needed to know. From the first session I saw a change in Ruby and now she is a completely different dog who is a joy to be around. I want to thank Sonya for all her help in understanding Ruby and teaching me how to understand Ruby.
If I had never found dog charming we would have given Ruby away, so thanks Dog Charming.
- M Lucas, Cooloongup -
Puppies and Children = Fun
Thank you so much for coming yesterday it was so wonderful and I really enjoyed it. You were 100 times better than puppy school!
Thanks again and just to let you know, after you left both Layla and I were very tired and Layla fell asleep. Then in the morning she was very nice and so I did about maybe 20-25 mins of training before school!
- Georgia, 13 years old, Shoalwater -
Puppies and Adults = Fun
We contacted Sonya when we were experiencing some behavioural problems with our new puppy. Sonya's suggestions and methods not only enabled us to resolve those issues, they also gave us techniques to deal with future problems we may encounter. More importantly we now have a better understanding of our dog's behaviour and have been able to bond much better with her.
Sonya's methods made the whole process a fun and positive experience for both us and our dog.
We would recommend Sonya to anyone with a new puppy or who is looking for a fun way to work with and train their dog. We were amazed by how quickly our puppy responded to Sonya's teaching methods. We are delighted with the results and are now really enjoying our puppy.
- Trish & Steven, Nedlands -
Helping Adoptees/Rescues Feel at HomeWe adopted our rescue dog, Hana, approximately 8 weeks ago. We had been told she had issues with some other dogs, and as expected she was stressed and very nervous after the recent changes in her lifestyle. However, we found some of her behaviour to be extreme and felt unable to deal with a few of these without professional assistance. We even briefly considered returning her to the refuge.
Some examples of her unacceptable behaviour are jumping up at people (and on beds), throwing herself at the screen door and barking furiously when bikes, motor bikes (poor postman), rubbish trucks, kids on skateboards, people with dogs or even just people walked past. As she was also quite difficult to walk on lead, we felt we couldn't confidently take her out for a walk or enjoy having her in the house until the worst of these behaviours were resolved. |
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On the positive side Hana interacts very well with all the people she has met both inside and outside the house, and apart from the previously mentioned behaviours is generally a very quiet, affectionate and gentle dog. In desperation we contacted Dog Charming and after only one visit by Sonya had a far better understanding of Hana's behaviours, allowing us to help her settle in. The Dog Charming follow-up emails have provided additional help with ideas on how to positively interact with Hana and what to do to keep her entertained on the occasions when she is left on her own. With a lot of gentle persuasion Hana is slowly coming to terms with her new lifestyle and we are continuing to learn more about her. This is definitely an ongoing process, but without Dog Charming there would probably have been a very different result.
See how happy Hana is in her new home - John, Rae & Hana, Maylands - |
Understanding Your Dog Enhances Your Bond
Thank you for coming to see Rosco and providing the information that all dog owners should know. We understand Rosco a lot better now and truly appreciate the wonderful JRT we have.
Your skill and knowledge is admirable and both Martin and I are so fortunate to have found you to help us out with Ross.
Thank you again. If you need anything, we are here.
- Nikki & Martin St James -
Your skill and knowledge is admirable and both Martin and I are so fortunate to have found you to help us out with Ross.
Thank you again. If you need anything, we are here.
- Nikki & Martin St James -
Teaching is Fun
Sunny and I loved working with Sonya. She showed us that training is fun and rewarding!
- Jennifer Skiff -
Author
The Divinity of Dogs: True Stories of Miracles Inspired by Man's Best Friend
God Stories: Inspiring Encounters with the Divine
http://www.Jenniferskiff.com
Restoring Joy to Dog Walks
Cleo and I would sincerely like to thank you for our training. As a refuge dog, Cleo was not good at walking on a lead and anxious about other dogs approaching. Her sideways leaps (and pulling on the lead) were enormously problematic for me, particularly as I have been carrying some injuries. In just two excellent sessions, you gave me the skills I needed to begin turning these issues around. Now my beautiful dog and I are well on the way to enjoying walking together safely and happily. We are indebted. Thank you.
- Alex, Daglish -
Puppies and a Good Start
We engaged Dog Charming for a 'Puppy Set Up' Package for our first dog, Winnie, a Labrador Retriever. We found Sonya to be extremely thorough getting to know our family schedule and what we wanted to get out of the sessions. We covered many things during our time with Sonya, including how to stop barking in the morning, how to stop Winnie jumping up, loose lead walking and clicker training.
An interesting part of Sonya's methods are to train the people as well as the dog. Sometimes I felt that Winnie caught on faster than I did! However, Sonya is very encouraging and would change things up if she could see that Winnie (or I) was not getting the message. This enabled us to see results from the very first session. We were so pleased with Sonya's work that we continued seeing Sonya every few weeks while Winnie was a small puppy.
Winnie is now 6 months old and is a big part of our household. Winnie's training is ongoing but we know we got off to a good start with Sonya's help.
- Sarah, Warnbro -
An interesting part of Sonya's methods are to train the people as well as the dog. Sometimes I felt that Winnie caught on faster than I did! However, Sonya is very encouraging and would change things up if she could see that Winnie (or I) was not getting the message. This enabled us to see results from the very first session. We were so pleased with Sonya's work that we continued seeing Sonya every few weeks while Winnie was a small puppy.
Winnie is now 6 months old and is a big part of our household. Winnie's training is ongoing but we know we got off to a good start with Sonya's help.
- Sarah, Warnbro -
Big Dog, Big Reactions, Big Improvement
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Dear Sonya,
Thank you so much for the help and guidance that you gave me with Florence. Not only is your understanding of dogs amazing you are very good with us humans too!! I feel so much more comfortable in dealing with Florence after our meetings with you. Florence is coming on in leaps and bounds and we are having so much fun together. She doesn’t even flinch when a bike/skateboard passes us by; the transformation is truly brilliant. Once again, thank you. Kind Regards, - Nicola and Florence, Port Kennedy - |
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