Thank you!

I'm writting on a different computer than I usually do so please don't hate me if there ends up being loads of typos.

This morning Kobi and I had our third agility class, and the trend is continuing. Kobi was silent, focused and calm the entire class. I was so elated after class I actually sent the trainers at Sublime Canine a big thank you email. I feel like they are hugely responsible for the progress we have been making. I'm doing all the work and it's a massive amount, but they have been there for me. They have been there to help encourage me on our bad days and to ensure me with the work we're doing that we would get there. They have supported me by allowing me to come in and train independently during other classes and have tolerated a large number of emails with piles of questions. They have shown me the right path to take with our training and how to troubleshoot the problems we run into. I don't think Kobi and I would be where we are today without them.

I have been able to take relaxing walks in our neighbourhood for the last month. I am able to run with Kobi without a single lunge or reaction. I am able to take him to stores and have him remain quiet for about 75% of the time. I really had to take a few steps back in our training at one point but the leaps forward we are making as a result are astounding. Kobi is just over a year and is shaping up to have pretty awesome off leash skills and recall. I'm able to take him to dog class and not have a single reaction. I'm able to keep him focused, get him riled up then settle him back down. Tomorrow I'm planning on walking him through some of the crowds from the Bluenose Marathon, something just a couple of months ago that would have stressed me out and made me disapointed because I would have wanted him to do well but in reality would have been too hard for him.

All the progress we have been making lately w're making thanks to the amazing trainers at Sublime Canine. They care about you and your dog. If you are willing to put in the time and effort needed to correct their behaviours, they are 100% more then willing to be there for you every step of the way.
I was skepticle of their training when I first started almost a year ago, i was a fan of Caesar Millan and his training style and thought clickers and positive reinforcement couldn't work. Boy was I wrong. There were times when I wanted to quit and go back to the dominace style training because I just wasn't getting the results I wanted. They encourged me to stay on course and that it would pay off, and it has. We still have a very long way to go, Kobi is far from being a perfect awesome dog like my older guy Scout, but he has amazing potential. I knew it was there, I like to think that's why i picked him.

In the begging I wanted a dog that was naturally calm who would be a breeze to train, that wasn't what I go. But now, I'm almost happier that it has worked out this way. Kobi and I have a true bond that w continue to grow. We learn together and make progress together. I have learned so much about training because of the work I do with Kobi that I am now able to apply it to the dogs I train the SPCA.

Thank you Kobi for just being you, it was me who needed to learn to love him and accept him for who he is. I had to learn that he is not Scout and will never be Scout, he's Kobi.

And thank you Sublime Canine for guiding me over the last year, I can't wait to see what the next year brings!