Mary L. & Sirius

Dearest Ms. Geller,

I just wanted to let you know how completely your extremely simple method of house training works...hanging a bell from the door knob, and then "helping" the puppy to ring it with paws every time a potty break is needed, before opening the door to let puppy out. My Border Collie puppy is 7.5 months old now and he hasn't had a SINGLE accident in the house since he was seven weeks old. Granted, I'm with him 24/7, but this was by far the easiest time I've ever had with any dog, and by any method. I weaned him off of the bell at about four months. He sits down in front of the door and waits for me.

I suggested the bell trick to a friend who was struggling with a Pomeranian puppy, and she had good results as well, even if it took a couple of weeks rather than a couple of days.

Thank you so much Tamar. I obviously don't expect a reply to this note, as I know how busy you are with your wonderful lifes' work. I just wanted to be sure that you knew that your methods are working in the real world for the rest of us. Please don't ever stop what you're doing. Dogs everywhere, and the humans who love them, need everything new that you learn and can so clearly explain.

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Mary D.

Your book changed my life in several ways, and reinforced many things-in a good way- that I was feeling about my Border Collies. While B.C.'s are not the right dog for most people, I cannot imagine living with any other. Your book has made our lives together just that much more special.

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Troy D. of Goose Creek, South Carolina

Hello, I am enjoying your book which I think is profound in every way! You (your talent and insight) are a Godsend to animals and now people needing help badly. the whole set of videos made me cry! that's good when it's because of witnessing unselfish love being poured out where it's so needed out of room want to become certified trainer by your method, starting with my 70lb part-newfoundland---my baby Huey who is wonderful and I want to give him the best I can. It's an honor to be able to write you.

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Casey

I've been reading your book, and I am very moved by it. I adopted my first dog, a little fluffy white thing of indeterminate breeding, in June. I've been working very hard with him, all on my own so far, and having pretty good success--but your philosophies have really been helping me in just the few days since I picked up your book. I too came from an abusive childhood, and punitive training methods and lousy communication were all I ever knew. I've striven to overcome that, but I still default to frustration and a raised voice when stressed and out of options. Thank you so much for giving me more tools to work with, encouragement, and even more motivation to do the very best that I can by my dog--who is very, very, very much a loved dog. Teddy thanks you too!

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Julianne

I have a 2 1/2 year old German Shepard Mix female rescue dog named Emma that I've had for about 6 months. I got your box about a couple of weeks ago and I've started incorporating your training methods into our routine and I wanted to tell you how happy I am with her progress and how happy she seems with being able to do what I ask her to do.

I don't have the money to take her to formal training classes, and I've never squared with the "traditional" training methods that are out there, and your book and method is so different and so wonderful, I just had to write and say thank you! One of the things I was a bit skeptical about but pleasantly surprised when it worked was the sumo-stop with walking. Emma is 70 pounds of muscle, and I couldn't see stopping her with the method you described. I tried it out in the backyard (after all, if it went wrong, she wasn't going to be able to get over the fence with my lifeless, unconscious body dragging behind her, right?), and she seemed to get it right away. We're still practicing in the backyard and then we'll graduate to the front yard and then up and down the street.

I've told everyone I know who had dogs and/or issues with training their dogs about your book and how much of a difference it's already made for Emma and me, and I look forward to continuing to work with her and making her a better canine citizen and myself a better dog mom.

Thank you again and keep up the great work!

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Hayley W.

I saw you on the Ellen show today, and it was the first time I had heard of you. I then decided to look you up on youtube and have been to your website. I just wanted to share with you, that I love what you are doing for the dogs of this world! It is exactly what I want to end up doing in my lifetime! Thank you for being you!!!

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Tammy L. of Delaware

I've read your book, "The Loved Dog," many times, and have been training my new pup, a Westie, using your methods, and he's a wonderful, active, loving, HAPPY dog! I'm so glad I found your methods, because they WORK for me! I own a pet sitting business here in Delaware, and I incorporate a lot of your methods with my canine clients, and help the owners overcome some common obstacles, too! I really never could get into Cesar's methods - just not my style, although they seemed to work, they seemed to bring the dog "down," rather than "up" and happy for an accomplishment! So I can't thank you enough for bringing some "common sense" to dog training and fundamentally having a happy life with your dogs!

If I'm ever in California, I'd stop by and give you a big hug and say THANK YOU for loving dogs and helping owners and their fur-babies have a happy, loved life together!!

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Rita & Jack of Las Cruces, New Mexico

Gracias! Your DVD, book and website were a godsend when I adopted an abused, tick-infested lab mix from Safe Haven Animal Shelter who was scared of everything and everybody. I thought I was getting a brindle dog but once all the dirt vanished, an embarassingly handsome sleek black dog emerged. Thanks to your positive outlook (and my new-found patience) Jack has blossomed into a truly LOVED DOG. Thank you so very much for that! His medical emergencies have just deepened my love for him. Furthermore, because I have to walk him everyday, I have regained my pre-retirement pants size.

Thank you, Tamar, for your commitment to ensuring that all dogs loved. I consider you a friend of the family.

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T.B.

I just wanted to say Hi to someone that has the same first name as I do and also someone who obviously loves animals as much as I do. Thanks for doing so much for our beloved animal friends. I recently lost my 10 year old St. Bernard and I desperately miss her so much. I am hoping that I will be past my grieving soon and be able to adopt another wonderful loving pet.

Thank you again for all you do for our wonderful animal friends.

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Nikki and Belle

Tamar, I just started reading "The Loved Dog" and i couldn't have come at a better time! Belle is my 2 year old Yorkshire Terrier, and we've embarked on a quest to Animal Assisted Therapy, i've not finished the book yet, but have taken so much from it so far! i can't recommend it enough, I've told even the trainer who teaches the basic obedience class we're attending (she teaches through correction, i teach at home and show off in class) you've given me confidence to stand up to her, and voice my concerns since the poochees can't... thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and teaching us so much!!!

PS: i've also told all my Yorkie friends, i run a Yorkie forum, and everyone wants a well behaved doggie! it seems small breeds are generally underestimated on the training aspect by owners!! (you can see us at www.yorkiechat.net if you'd like!)

Once again, Thank you!!!!

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Mary W.

Tamar, we have a Chihuahua puppy and purchased your book and watched the videos that you have done on training and have implemented your methods with our puppy. I just love the way you interact with dogs and train. And wonderful it has worked so good. With such a small dog we especially wanted a gentle way to train him and at five months he is doing fantastic. He thinks training is pure joy. Thank you so much for your wonderful contribution to pet training and understanding. It makes so much sense to treat an animal with love while still being in control but in a kind and patient way.

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Laurel H.

Dear Tamar, I cannot thank you enough for writing this book. I have had dogs all my life until 7 years ago when I became permanently disabled. The first two years- I was bedridden. I didn't get a dog because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to give the dog the exercise I knew he or she would need. I am doing better now- but I will have my disease forever. My Doctor has finally assured me that I am ready for a small dog- one I can exercise in the backyard and on trips around the neighborhood and to the local park.(The exercise is good for me too!!!) I don't have much money (have to live on social security)- but I can feed a small dog and buy him or her treats if I do it carefully. I read your book many months ago- and I longed for a dog like some women long for a baby! (Guess my bio-logical dog clock was going off!!) I have ordered your DVD from Amazon. I am sorry I did not order from you- I just found them first. I am going to go back to Amazon and write you a glorious review!! I am going to the shelter this week to find a dog who needs a very loving home. I feel so much better about training now that I have read your wonderful book. I will donate whatever funds I have left each month to no-kill shelters and to help stop the puppy mills. Thank you for opening my eyes about this. You have made a middle aged woman(or older- let;s face it- I'm 56 and that's not the middle for me!) but I can stick around long enough to give one dog a great life- enriching mine enormously. Again- thank you. I only wish there were more of you!!! Warm regards, Laurel

Followup:

I hope this will be good news for you!! My niece and God daughter insisted on getting an AKC bred puppy. She's not my daughter, and I could never tell my sister what to do- pushy as i am! The good news is that I told her she had to get your book and DVD.

Next thing I know- the breeder called me! He asked me about your book and DVD- because he says his clients are CONSTANTLY asking him about how to train the puppies. I offered to buy it for him- but he laughed and said he was able to do it himself. He was very happy that someone knew of a non-punishing way to train their dogs. Hopefully- you'll get a lot more business and can do more of your great works with it!!! Merry Christmas

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Jen L.

Tamar,

Thank you so much for replying to my email...I was not sure that you that you would help little 'ol me from Canada! I am so grateful for all of the wonderful work that you have done, are doing with dogs and their families. Please don't give up...people are just very stubborn and set in there wrong ways! You are truly an inspiration, coming from an abusive situation and making it your mission to change peoples thinking about animals.

Thank again for the advice...I will let you know if I have more questions..!

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Beverly W

I read your book in one sitting last week. Your view on life and dog training is so uplifting and so in line with my views. Thank you for taking a stand and establishing a lifestyle of kindness, order, and love in our world with people and their pets.

Question: Do you ever come to the South for seminar/training sessions? We live in Mississippi and LA is a little drive...Even though I have "dog-eared" reference pages in your book, I still feel a "hands-on" experience would be helpful and reinforcing.

Zoe is our 6 month old magnificent black miniature poodle. We got her after a while of mourning the death of our 12 year old poodle, Pebbles, who died last April 2008.

I just wanted to thank you for your book, your helpful wise advice, and your attitude on life.

Let me know if you ever come to the South. We will show you some hospitality and people who love their dogs.

Thank you so much!

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Nora L

I wanted to tell you that I loved your book and remarkable insight into how a dog views the world compared to how we view it. A short example, about a dog I loved and lived with named Mikey, a beautiful pit bull terrier that killed cats. Well, we taught him to kill them, no one believes me when I tell them. When Mikey was young, we would walk him around the neighborhood. He would see a cat and lunge at it, bark, and growl. NO NO, I would yell, or my husband at the time, Yank Yank on his collar. Soon, he didn't just lunge at cats anymore, he tried to pull the leash and grabbed them and shook them to death before we even knew there was a cat present. My theory is that when Mikey was a puppy, so desparate to please us, the NO No, and Yank Yank was interpreted to him as punishment for NOT getting the cat and killing it. So he became better and better at it- thinking this is what we wanted him to do. Its so sad and could have been prevented by a little thought. So I tried to go backwards, and when he saw a cat, and did nothing, or even if he just lunged, I would praise him instead of NoNO Yank Yank, and then say, Come on, lets Go to the Park! And he would forget the cat and trot happily to the park or wherever. He didn't understand at first, but he learned fast this way to ignore cats- with me- he still tries to kill them when the ex husband walks him. No one believes me that we taught Mikey to raise his level of aggression toward cats by punishing him for NOT succeeding in killing it, so he just tried harder and harder to succeed. I don't know why I felt a need in myself to share this event after reading your book. I loved it and hope that alot of people read and take to heart the message you give.

Thanks!

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Lisa L

Hi! I just wanted to let you know that Soph continues to make such great progress. Ask Lisa! We ran into her yesterday and Soph didn't even bark! She is more at ease, quicker with people coming in the office. She doesn't bark as much on walks, she knows "couch" and "shoosh". People in the office say she's like a different dog. Don't get me wrong, she slips up but she's much more at ease. I run her every morning for 15 to 20 minutes and I know that helps, but the safe couch area and positive reinforcement when we're being approached by strangers has really done the trick. She looks to me for direction so much more. I am still working diligently (as is she!) but just wanted to give you the positive update!

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