Testimonials
Vesper
As first-time dog owners we didn’t really know where or how to start training our puppy. And as a mischievous little whippet she knew exactly how to get her own way! However, after attending the Puppy’s First Steps and Puppy Foundation classes, she’s become more obedient and easy to manage, and as a result we’re all much happier.
Following Natashya’s training instructions and weekly homework was easy, as she was so organised and helpful. The classes are also brilliant for socialisation, as puppies can mix with several other dogs and lots of people (often including children).
Natashya has a calm, confident and relaxed style that all the dogs in the class seemed to respond to – amazing! They all seemed to love her. There’s no way I would consider getting another puppy without attending Natasya’s classes – we found them invaluable.
Lara
I particularly liked the small class and Natashya’s calm manner as my standard poodle Lara was quite an excitable pup. It was very helpful to learn ways to calm her down.
I found Natashya’s obervations of Lara’s behaviour and interaction with other puppies very interesting and helpful”
Pam & Lara, June 2011
Ellie
I was very happy with the training course, Ellie has definitely benefited from them.
The best thing for me was that it was a small class, so we were able to get some extra help if needed. Also, in hindsight, I would recommend attending the socialisation classes before the foundation training as the first class was very difficult to get Ellie focused on training.
Many thanks again
Jenny and Ellie, Trowbridge, January 2011
Heidi
Thanks for all your great training tips. My family and I have all learnt a great deal and enjoyed coming to the classes.
I had read some training tips in books, but it’s much better having someone to show you what to do, and going to the classes motivated us to practice at home. It was a great opportunity for Heidi to meet puppies of a similar age.
Heidi is turning into a wonderful dog so thanks for your help in training her.
Claire, Bradford on Avon, January 2011
Pingu
We have just finished the puppy training with Pingu at Best Behaviour. Having never had a dog before we found the course invaluable and it has given us the knowledge to teach him how to behave well.
We now all know how to build on the foundations Natashya has taught us.
She is absolutely brilliant with the dogs and Pingu loved his lessons with her.
Thank you
Anne & family, Bradford on Avon, December 2010
Maisie
When I first met Natashya I was at a loss as to how I was going to teach my very excitable one-year-old Border Terrier the manners necessary to be accepted by others in everyday society. There was absolutely no malice in her actions, quite the opposite actually; she loved life and everything it threw at her.
Natashya instantly clicked with Maisie and didn’t pay any attention to her excitability. In fact choosing to ignore her excited actions, and not feeding her excitability by offering her attention was the start of a much more acceptable and calmer dog. Natashya taught me how to get Maisie to respond to me so her energy was channelled in a positive manner. With the basics firmly in place it meant the end of the one-to-one sessions and onto the group training.
Naturally Maisie was hugely excited to be in a group environment, but again Natashya’s calm manner and patience got the better of the situation and what was to begin with an energy charged dog environment became an environment where all the dogs were concentrating on and responding positively to their owners.
Natashya’s training methods are a breath of fresh air. I was surprised by how much I looked forward to each weeks training. The skills we learnt really are skills for life. The environment was warm and welcoming and regardless of how excitable and/or perhaps lacking in basic training your dog has you’ll soon be on the road to success.
Meeting similar minded, responsible dog owners was also a pleasure. I have taken much from both the one-to-one sessions and the group training and look forward to continuing Maisies training. I now have a calmer and happier dog and one which, when her excitability levels escalate I know how to handle and how to get refocused. Thank you Natashya”
Zoe Horne, Conkwell, December 2010
Shadow
“We found the classes very informative and extremely helpful in focusing my dog “Shadow” on being under control (as opposed to a bit of a whirlwind!). I have always had dogs – but found I learnt such a lot from Natashya during both the Puppy and Foundation Class.
Natashya has a calm and relaxed style and is able to offer practical advice and help for any problem or situation. Putting this into practice has been invaluable in dealing with my boisterous young adolescent puppy! I would have no hesitation in recommending her classes if you are thinking of getting a puppy. Definitely worthwhile….and good fun.
Natashya also offers a dog walking service and I take advantage of this most weeks. Again, Natashya provides a reliable and professional service – and Shadow loves his walks with her!”
Jane Lawrence, Bradford on Avon, August 2010
Lola
Big thanks to Natasha!!
Natasha was highly recommended to us for our puppy Sprocker Spaniel Lola as we wanted to try and calm Lola down and stop her from nipping. Natasha came to our house and gave us some advice, even before she had left Lola had calmed down and already the nipping had become less. We decided that we would also take Lola to the Puppy First Steps classes because we were so pleased with the progress we had already made in such a short time. We attended the classes which was also a great way of socialising Lola in a controlled environment.
Over the five weeks Lola has calmed down towards other dog, she now sits, lays and stand on command. We are so pleased with her progress and she is turning into a lovely obedient dog, thanks to Natasha’s help.
Thank you again Natasha.
Ian , Emma & Lola. Westbury, August 2010
Moise
Best Behaviour Junior Beginner Puppy course was brilliant – nice and small with only three other puppies/owners so we had lots of individual attention but could also watch how the others were getting on and how to manage our dog with others. Above all, Natashya taught us owners how to teach our own puppies and the importance of patience, kindness and perseverence.
Each week we learnt a little more and the homework ensured that we practised between classes! Now Moise is 10 months old and instead of being the wild and over-excitable little terrier he was in danger of becoming, he is actually a very sweet little dog who loves to learn and is really quite obedient. We are so pleased and can’t thank Natashya enough.
We also had an one to one session before the classes began which was also absolutely excellent. We wanted Natashya particularly to show us how to go about stopping Moise jumping up especially at our little grandchildren (2 and 4 year old) and Natashya successfully did this. She showed the children how to react and they haven’t forgotten it, and it also taught Moise that there was nothing to be gained from jumping up so he hardly ever does to anyone. Very good!
Celia, Westwood, July 2010
Harry
We took our Labrador X Flatcoated Retriever puppy to Natashya’s First Steps five week puppy training course and then to her Puppy Foundation four week course.
We found both courses excellent. It was a wonderful opportunity for the puppies to meet in a controlled environment, to get used to each other and enjoy puppy socialisation.
Natashya uses gentleness and rewards all the time. The puppies love her and love pleasing her. Her methods are both successful with puppies and enormously helpful for owners who rapidly find themselves able to avoid any possible confrontation by using the same rewards and praise.
Our puppy is now six months and has benefitted more than I can say from the two courses. He loves all other dogs with overwhelming enthusiasm but we are now able to get him to wait, sit and go down on the ground so that adult dogs are not annoyed by him but happy to exchange greetings and even play with him a little. He is learning not to pull on the lead however excited he is at the prospect of a walk and we can let him off the lead confident that he will come back when called.
We feel confident that by sustaining the training Natashya taught us- ( she gave us step by step sheets for constant reference)- we will have a responsive, well behaved dog – not just the loveliest puppy in the world!
Many thanks to Natashya from both of us and of course Harry!
Elsa and David,Bradford on Avon, May 2010
Jazz
Thank you Natashya!
Both Jazz and I are so grateful to you, without your experience, enthusiasm and care we would not have the same amount of respect and fun with each other as we do now!
Through your weekly classes, I could see Jazz improve week by week. The small class definitely works as you ensure we all had lots of your attention to work on our own problem areas.
The positive training certainly speaks for its self, I can’t get over how much calmer Jazz is now and how she is able to concentrate and actually perform the task I have asked her to do.
Thank you
Laura and Jazz, April 2010
Tilly
I am delighted with the progress our puppy “Tilly” has made since Natashya took us on.
Natashya very quickly assessed the problem areas we had and has taught me how to enjoy the process of training and bonding with our rather lively (and I was beginning to think demonic) terrier.
It is wonderful to have the support from someone who obviously understands a dogs point of view.
What I don’t understand is why Tilly will do everything Natashya asks of her! I am not quite there yet but we have a few more lessons to go and it only took two of the six weeks I booked to make a vast improvement.
Thanks to Natashya’s quiet, perceptive guidance we are making great steps towards a lovely obedient companion.
Jenny & Tilly
Bradford on Avon, January 2010
Hollie
Hollie is a 9 month old Labrador, we have been working with Natashya for about 8 weeks.
We had tried attending dog training classes but found them unhelpful due the large number of dogs attending, a friend recommended Natashya and we arranged a meeting to see how she could help us.
Before we started working with Natashya, Hollie was a bit of a nightmare but after the first couple of sessions things had improved drastically.
Natashya helped us understand that Hollie had in fact trained us to act how she wanted, but with training we were able to take control back.
Our weekly sessions would involve Natashya training us to train Hollie, we would then put into practice what we had learnt over the week until the next visit.
Through the training we established that Hollie was very intelligent which helped as she picked stuff up very quickly, but also kept us on our toes as she would find new ways to get what she wanted.
After 8 weeks the change has been huge, I can put Hollie into situations that at the start I would never have dreamt of doing.
I will admit that I was a bit sceptical about a dog behaviourist at the start but the results speak for themselves. Natashya has a great passion for what she does and also a vast knowledge which put our minds at ease, I would defiantly recommend Natashya!
Brad, Laura & Hollie
Trowbridge, August 2009