March 5, 2007
Dear Peggy,
I received official notice yesterday that Alfie was accepted into the Edward Hospital Therapy Dog Program. I can not thank you enough for the training and advice you have given me. In just over a year we have gone from carefree puppy to a canine gentleman that qualifies for a therapy dog program. Wow!
I am so thrilled with the results of your training. Max, my 12 year old Bichon, for years would bolt out the door and run down the street away from me when not on a leash. He now waits for permission before going out the door. The thought of running away from me does not seem to occur to him anymore. My new puppy, Tasha, walks nicely on the leash without pulling, sits on command, goes down on command, and is overcoming her shyness in just a few short months. All this without food! The great part of all this is that the training has strengthened the relationship I have with all my dogs. The results have been tremendously rewarding and the whole process of training has been fun. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Yours truly,
Barb Kostka
March 31, 2007
Dear Peggy,
Almost 14 years ago my dad bought our first golden retriever, Alex. We had and loved Alex for such a long time, he was so well behaved and the only bad thing he ever did was jump on the counter and eat the cat food. Although once every so often he’d eat something like a frozen Cornish Hen or our whole Thanksgiving ham, but other than that he was perfect. My dad decided to take Alex to two of your six week courses back then, and you helped get his appetite behavior back on track.
When I was in fifth grade, you came into Ms. Ertmoed’s class and explained dog behavior which I found to be really interesting. Then when I told my dad some things that you had told us, he said it sounded a lot like the lady who had assisted us in training Alex years ago. Sure enough it was you, so my dad emailed Ms. Ertmoed to ask for a way to contact you. Alex’s health began to deteriorate very quickly so that is when we got Bentley, a crème colored golden retriever. As soon as we got him we were signed up for your beginner’s course over the summer.
We were able to potty train him in two or three days. He is extremely smart but sometimes acts as if he has doggie A.D.D., and lately has shown some self-control or impulsivity issues that we need to work on. For almost seven months now we have now been attending your different programs such as the puppy class (beginner), the 9 a.m. Saturday drop in classes, various clinics, and the play classes, and Bentley has shown so much improvement. The leash ranking system is so intriguing because it is so different. Bentley now has a green leash with one red stripe, but is working toward hi "black leash!"
Once people start attending your classes they will finally understand that a dog doesn’t know right from wrong and isn’t "bad"--it just needs the right training! Bentley has improved so much and I know as long as we do our homework and practice, Bentley can keep achieving his {more like our} goals. Thanks Again!!!!!!!!!!
Nicole Stobbe
13 Years Old
Spring, 2007
I had heard of Peggy Moran's phenomenal training style for many years from some of my dog owning friends. It was when I added my two longhaired mini dachshunds, Emma and Danny, to my family that I decided to seek her out. Emma and Danny had problems with shyness. Both were terrified of big dogs. I enrolled each in Peggy's basic training classes, and later joined her Sunday morning advanced class. What a difference in my dogs!!
A major breakthrough came when a huge German shepherd named Jessie came to Sunday class. Jessie came over to my dogs, since she herself was scared, and my two welcomed her with open paws!
Peggy inspires us to learn the language and psychology of dogs. Her teaching style is one of "laugh and learn." Anyone who is looking for a solution to their dog's problem should contact Peggy Moran. Ask Emma and Danny! They give her two paws up!
Sincerely,
Kathy Ertmoed
To all dog and puppy owners:
Before I even purchased my first dog over four years ago, I knew whom I wanted to help my husband and me train and communicate with our new family member, Dog World magazine columnist, Peggy Moran. I could not believe my good fortune that a nationally recognized dog behaviorist trained canines in practically my own backyard, Lemont, Illinois.
Now my husband and I have three dogs and could never have done it without the exceptional teaching, demonstration, and knowledge of Ms. Moran. She truly understands what motivates dogs and how to go about changing their behavior without the use of bribes, also known as “treats.” Dogs are not children with fur and have minds that operate in different ways than our own. She helps dog owners to comprehend the way the canine mind works. She trains the owner. Each of the many concepts she utilizes in her behavior-based training is explained to the owner and how to shape the dog’s responses by use of positive and negative reinforcement but never punishment. She breaks down the concepts of conditioning behavior and explains how very useful it is in dog training. She takes an active interest in each of her students and does not rush the dog and owner to keep up with the group but rather to continue progressing. The beginning of each lesson is devoted to each member of the group being asked what types of problems had been encountered since the last lesson and then helpful suggestions by Peggy of what might be done to help resolve the concerns and issues of the owner.
The “training room” where the beginning and private lessons are taught in a very relaxed atmosphere. Peggy’s demeanor mirrors this as well along with a good bit of humor mixed in with the lessons. The manor in which she teaches is not at all militant and makes for a truly enjoyable experience for dogs and masters alike. She shares past experiences and uses likely scenarios to reinforce what is learned.
Peggy’s familiarity with a tremendous variety of dog breeds and the particular areas of strengths and weaknesses each breed possesses is extremely helpful. As a result of all of her years of working with such a great number of dogs and breeds, she is able to customize the training and provide specific suggestions to the owners of each dog. She also is able to share knowledge that she in conformation showing, competitive obedience, and tracking as well as other specialty areas of dog training.
I cannot recommend Peggy Moran enough as a dog/owner trainer. She is a phenomenal trainer with an uncanny knack for understanding the canine mind and its’ workings and a terrific individual with a sense of humor that rivals none.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to hear further praises of Peggy’s work. There is a reason I taught my dog to bow down at Peggy’s feet when I give the command to “worship Peggy.”
Sandra Lockie, RN, BSN
630-985-2898 or sbartz22@yahoo.com
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Plymouth Place
A Christian Retirement Community
Dear Peggy:
I want to thank you for all you are doing to help Elsa succeed as a "working dog" at Plymouth Place. It takes an exceptionally well-mannered dog to interact properly with the seniors who live here. While Elsa has stolen the hearts of everyone' who lives and works Plymouth Place, she is not automatically so well behaved! With your help she is becoming a trustworthy and dependable part of our community.
Your gentle approach and philosophy has allowed Elsa to improve without having to defend our training methods because, unlike other trainers we considered, your unique method shapes behavior without the need for constant negative reinforcement and "bribery." This has allowed us to incorporate all of the Staff and Residents in the training process because it is rewarding for both Elsa and us.
Finally, thank you for your patience and insisting upon training all of us who are responsible for Elsa on a regular basis. Not only have you helped us to understand why Elsa behaves as she does, you have trained us to be the trainers rather than relying qnly on you to "fix" her behavior. Frankly, I believe it would have been easier for you to just train Elsa as the other trainers wanted to do. Elsa is a much quicker learner! We are looking forward to your next session with Staff and Residents at Plymouth Place.
Very Sincerely,
Dale Lilburn,
Chief Executive Officer
315 North LaGrange Road,
LaGrange Park, Illinois 60526-5695
(708) 354-0340
