Sylvia's K-9 Services

**Hey all, I have had the honor of having Sylvia help me with the Training of my Service Dog Tucker, Her work with one on one personal training with me has helped me a great deal in understanding how to handle and respond to certain behaviors with Tucker. She worked with me and my Disabilities to help improve Tucker, Now because of the help and great training she provided Tucker and I are know one being, he is well mannered, and fully listens to my commands and sign language. I want To Thank You Sylvia for all your help and Work with Training me to be a better owner of my Boy Tucker. Sincerely: Terence & Tucker Seattle, WA.

** Dear Sylvia, I want to say a big "Thank you!" for all of your work and advice in helping us train our German Shepherd puppy. When we first brought him home, we knew we wanted to find someone local who believed in the Monks of New Skete way of training puppies & dogs. We looked online for this type of trainer, and then we wrote to the Monks for their advice. They thought that you might be the best fit for us and our puppy; and they were right. Already, at 4 months, he has earned his AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate, and we are just short of a couple more commands for his next "Canine Good Citizen' test. We have followed the 'New Skete Way' to the letter and you have complemented it. Thank you again. Pam & Echo Issaquah, WA.

**"Our Clumber Spaniel, Bear, has been training with Sylvia since he was 3.5 months old. As our first puppy, we knew from the start we’d need help, and Sylvia has been there for us every step of the way. His training started with the basics; sit, stay, down. We quickly realized we wanted to do more than basic obedience. Sylvia helped us set training goals and work out a long-term plan for Bear. When we decided to commit to the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, Sylvia was able to assess Bear’s weaknesses and give us exercises to help him improve. At 10.5 months, Bear passed the test and we couldn't be more proud! Training a puppy wasn't easy, but Sylvia was there for us every step of the way. Not only did she help us identify Bear’s strengths and weaknesses, but she also addressed ours, making us better handlers. Training any dog is a roller coaster of good and bad times. Sylvia helped us through all the rough spots. She is dedicated to helping even the most stubborn dogs and helping handlers of every experience level achieve their goals. We didn't learn party tricks, we learned how to train our dog and deal with the everyday situations he will be exposed to. We trained at other facilities and came straight back to Sylvia. We have recommended Sylvia to countless other dog owners, and will continue to recommend her to everyone we meet that needs help training. " Sylvia - Thank you for your patience and all your help. I'm not sure we could have done it with out you! Maggie, Noah, and Bear Seattle, WA.

**I met Sylvia at a pet store while I was shopping. I was impressed by her friendly, professional, and knowledgeable demeanor, giving me advice in which products to choose to keep my 10 month old puppy 'Otto" healthy. At that time my daughter and I were also looking for a suitable dog-trainer who can be firm but also compassionate at the same time. Sylvia appeared to fit that personality. My daughter Elena and I decided that it was time that our little rascal, Otto, learned his 'lesson' and so we signed up for training. I had spend a lot of money on dog-training reading materials but little 'Otto' had his own mind while trying to establish his range as the 'alpha dog' in our family. And that was exactly what he was trying to do in our first lesson with Sylvia- to establish his range as the alpha-dog. But he didn't know that he was in for a surprise. After only a few barks and pulling the leash in less than 20 minutes Sylvia had established herself as pack leader. Little strong-minded 'Otto' (Miniature Maltese and Wirehair Dachsen Mix) was unbelievable calm and began to follow the rules. Otto learned to get along with other dogs and how to behave during our walks. He learned all the basic commands and Sylvia gave us additional valuable advice how to enforce the rules by giving our four-legged companions lot's of praise and dog-treats at the correct time. My daughter and I were not the only dog-lovers that were impressed by Sylvia's style. During a walk at a nearby dog-park I met a dog-owner who I got into a conversation with. We talked about small breads and their behaviors, when the lady mentioned that she had a great experience with a dog-trainer here in Seattle. She recommended Sylvia and was going on and on about how her dogs behavior changed in no-time. I was excited to let her know that 'little Otto' was taking Sylvia’s class as well and what commands and tricks he had already learned. Shortly after the experience in the dog-park I came across a 'Yelp' review and was surprised to come across Sylvia's name again. I like to cite the review because it's just another example of Sylvia’s commitment, compassion and love for our beloved K9s. "The dog trainer Sylvia helped us in an emergency this past weekend. On the way up to the escalator our dog (who has had his share of escalator rides) got his paw stuck and his paw was shredded. It was horrific to say the least. The grooming staff along with Sylvia helped us by providing us with water to clean him and towels to apply pressure. They directed us to the nearest vet and best of all the followed up with a phone call to make sure he was okay". All there is left to say is," Sylvia is great and a fantastic dog-trainer"!!!!! Andrea & Otto Seattle, WA.

**Hey Sylvia, After our training session w/ you Dottie is a different dog. I thought she was pretty swell before. Now she's downright amazing!! She used to bark at every dog that walked by our house. Not anymore. We even overheard another usual walker by say, "she's not barking...that's weird." She's listening way better in general. I had tried before to teach her how to play fetch. I taught her in a few minutes how to "retrieve" & also how to "give" the ball back. We even have an action command for retrieve, not just a verbal. We've actually been using the same tennis ball for 2 weeks! We've never had anything last that long! Also, I'm not sure if you remember the hassles we dealt w/ trying to take care of Dottie's nails ourselves. It was an ordeal to say the least. We could only do one paw during one sitting, if we were lucky. That involved me feeding her Cheerios every 20 seconds while her nails were worked on. We could only work as long as Dottie would let us. When she was done, we were done. After your easy tips, we were able to clip & file her nails, all of them, in one sitting!Thank you again for teaching Dottie & especially for teaching us. I'll be sure to recommend you every chance I get. Danielle Seattle, WA.

**When I moved to Washington State, I was anxious about finding a trainer for my dog. My dog and I were not communicating which was causing me great stress and him to take control. What was worse, I was so worried I would do something wrong that I was confusing him more. I prefer corrections with positive reinforcement, verbal or a toy and it was difficult to find this type of trainer in my city. My previous trainer went on line to look for trainers for me and found Sylvia. I contacted Sylvia by email and she responded within 24 hours to my request to meet with her. We met in a public place where she was able to watch my dog and me work. After an hour or so, I felt more sure of myself and my dog was much more calm. Sylvia has been “there” for me through email, too. When I have a question, she responds quickly with a solution. This has been a great help for me. If I had my choice of dogs, I would not have chosen my 80 pound dog. He has strength and youth on me, so I need to have him respond to me when given commands. Sylvia has a very calm and positive way about her. I am thrilled that I can contact Sylvia and she will be there for me. Betty & Abner Yakima, WA

**Hi Sylvia: I wanted to Thank You for the great assistance you have afforded me in training my new pup Molly. I firmly believe that the assistance I have received from you has put both of us on a life long path as good citizens and partners. I have always believed in early training to provide the right parameters for a new pup when they join a household. And yet, not every training venue is the appropriate one for you and/or your pup. Remember that when I first came to you I had been halfway through a local training organization that was touted as being "the best." Well if price is an indicator they should have been really, really good and yet they failed dismally. I was stuffed in a class with 11 other puppies and basically handed the tools on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch document each week and told to go home and practice. Unfortunately, it was such a failure for me that I was worried I didn't have it in me to train yet another pet partner. I am so glad that I bumped into you! My dog already knew how to sit, stay, lie down and speak. What you taught me were the tools I needed to be confident in maximizing my dog's best behavior. The trick you taught about how to get your dog to walk next to you without pulling on the leash was the most valuable of all - I can take her anywhere now and enjoy our walk and socialization with other people! The bonus teachings for me were the whistle technique when she is off leash, my calm stance to help her be calm, and I will always be grateful for teaching us how to play and retrieve balls. I have seen you work not only with my dog and her individual needs but as well with other dogs with different challenges and training issues and seen great success. You have a talent for identifying not only what is needed for the dog but what the owner needs as well. I have seen you work with all types of dogs at this point, small and large, high and low energy, not to mention all types of owners and different relationships with their dogs. The care and concern you have given each partnership has been valuable to me as I translated others' lessons into a lesson for my team as well. Thank You for providing me with the tools, support and encouragement I individually need to know that I can be the best lifetime partner for my dog! I have seen you bring smiles to mine and other owner's confident faces and receive big tail wags from the dogs! Cynthia & Molly Issaquah, WA.

*******************************************************************************************************". . . I thought of you, Sylvia, as I was reading this book last week:

"Whoever tells the BEST STORY Wins" by Annette Simmons. It occurred to me that for years I had been resistant to dog training because of a past story I had kept active in my mind. One that reflected my defensiveness towards authority and man's mis-guided need to dominate with cruelty. It seems ridiculous as I write this, however, my general impression stemmed from childhood experiences, where I had witnessed cruel and conflicting behavior in connection with the words "obey" and "command".

It wasn't until I became immersed with horses, did I understand the value and joy of consistent communication. I had gotten by with sloppy words and body language until becoming passionate about a sport and an animal that was capable of crushing my skull with a single mis-step.

I have come full circle, having "ah ha" moments in the middle of our training sessions.

I had become sloppy again. I know to be a successful mom, friend, business owner and pet lover, consistency in my actions and words need to be a priority. What an amazing experience it was for both me and my son.

I now have a new "story" with regards to pets and "self-discipline". My dogs and I are much happier, more content and relaxed, because we no longer feel anxious trying to guess at words. We have established a vocabulary that conveys that I care about them enough to take the time to learn their language.

Thank you Sylvia for being so patient with us humans .... our dogs are so grateful!

Bonnie Miller

Arizona

*******************************************************************************************************We have been fans of Caesar Millan for over two years. We attempted on our own to use his techniques and practices in the early upbringing of Darby, our 22-month-old Border Terrier and we succeeded to a point, but Darby, with strong terrier instincts, was resistant to some important social training, to a point where we were afraid he could not remain in our family, a heartbreaking outcome. We wanted to find a trainer who believed in Caesar’s training, and could apply them in furthering Darby’s training and socializing. We thank heaven we found you. Elizabeth and I want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for your thorough and excellent training of Darby. We believed him to be the toughest terrier on earth to train, but you have succeeded where we merely “scratched an itch,” so to speak. In addition, Darby has become a much happier and content member of our family. Darby has (and we have) just a bit more training to complete before his urge to bark while riding in a car, and seeing other dogs, bicycle riders and, especially his dislike of parking lots, is completely conquered. However, he, and we, are working on these items and we are continuing to use your service and follow your wise council. We believe the Cesar Millan techniques that you apply to your training program are excellent, and are, to a great degree, responsible for your, Darby’s, and our success.

We thank you and Darby thanks you.

Otis

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************To Whom It May Concern,

Sylvia Eberlei was my family’s pet trainer for our puppy. Not only was she professional but Sylvia really cared by going out of her way to make sure that we were getting the best possible service. We have a boxer and she knew the breed very well and how to train this very smart but precocious and stubborn puppy. We felt like we were in the best hands possible because of Sylvia. Our puppy is a better dog because of her and we are a much happier family too! Our veterinarian even wanted to know if we went to a trainer because he was so well behaved. We were proud to say that we had him trained with a fantastic trainer named Sylvia.

I would highly recommend Sylvia for training of stubborn breeds of dogs or any other breed of dog and all manager because she was that professional and caring.

Sincerely,

Alice

Issaquah, WA.

*******************************************************************************************************Sylvia is a wonderful dog trainer. We took our Boxer 'Yogi' to her when he was six months old. It turned out to be one on one training, Sylvia and myself & Yogi or Sylvia-my son and Yogi, which was good for all of us. The training we received helped us get to know Yogi better and how we can control all situations, such as going on walks and encountering other dogs and people.

Sylvia, you have a lot of patience and wisdom. Thank you for caring so much.

Cindy

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************In our research to find what would be the best dog for our family we were heavily leaning toward a Soft-Coated Irish Wheaten Terrier. The one negative in the research was that the breed was “hard to train” and was that they were “stubborn”. We decided to go forward and selected Finnegan at 9 weeks old.

We talked to several professional trainers after Finnegan joined us in mid March 2011. We selected you as you impressed us with you years of experience and your obvious passion for animals, in particular, dogs of all breeds.

As we progressed thru the program you were able to train us more so than training Finnegan. By the time of his graduation we were well on tract and, today, Finnegan never ceases to amaze us as a result of your laying the groundwork for us and for us to realize that training of a puppy is a continuous process.

Thanks for making our fear of Irish Wheaten Terriers being “hard to train” and “stubborn” to be a misconception. Your passion and determination (with us as well as with Finnegan) have made us feel very good about our decision in choosing this breed and most positive experience.

Sincerely,

Rion & Carole

Issaquah, WA.

*******************************************************************************************************Although my husband and I both had dogs as pets growing up, we were still nervous pet owners when we adopted our Yoshi. Yoshi is a Shiba Inu that had the typical Shiba stubborn traits. After 2 very scary escapes from our house, we sought Sylvia’s help to start the training. After our very first appointment with Sylvia, we noticed a marked difference in how Yoshi responded to us. It seems like he suddenly trusted us and was very settled into our home. Every lesson we have with Sylvia is packed with information and insight on how to better interact with Yoshi and I’ve noticed that she is so dedicated to teaching us that she doesn’t even really keep track of the time! We have had Yoshi for close to two months now and he has not only become part of our “pack”, but also is becoming a very obedient and faithful friend to our family and especially to our son. I tell everyone about Sylvia, especially Shiba owners! She has a solid understanding of pet behavior and does a great job in preparing each pet owner to have a more harmonious life with their canine friend.

Thank you Sylvia!!! We are blessed to have met you!

Jinnie & Yoshi

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************Sylvia is truly a talented and caring dog trainer. Our American Eskimo has being going to Sylvia since he was 12 weeks old and we are very pleased with how attentive and obedient he is. I have and will continue to recommend Sylvia's services to any dog owner who believes a happy dog is one that has structure and leadership in his/her life. Sylvia's approach to training has been refined through years of experience and it is simple and effective. She not only trains the dog but also the owners on the proper way to handle different situations, the correct interpretation of reactions and how to correct the dog through firm yet positive action. In less time than it takes to read this testimonial, Sylvia can have a dog listening to her within seconds - she did with our baby boy, Brody.

-James & Kerri Ann

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************We are so thankful for meeting Sylvia. Without her we could have never accomplished our goal of becoming happy dog owners. Milo is the first dog that we bring into our family. He is a very hyper, dominant personality, and stubborn puppy. Milo is now 7 months old. Sylvia took the time in every lesson to help us and mostly Leila who is 10 years old to train with Milo and develop a relationship where Leila and Milo can safely have fun together. We have taken dog training lessons with Sylvia Eberlei and have been extremely satisfied with the results. Our dog has responded wonderfully and I am confident that Sylvia’s ability is the main reason. Her training has allowed our dog to listen and connect while giving me the confidence that he is not only safe but under control. His training has greatly expanded the activities we can pursue together. Sylvia’s initial patience with Leila and us was unique and served as one of the bases that encouraged our continuous lessons with her. Combined with a professional disposition, her understanding of the most effective approach towards our dog was an incredible foundation. The process was smooth and we always felt that both pet and owner were advancing on the same page. I have recommended Sylvia to my friends and my family and I will continue to participate in her lessons.

Diana

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************I began taking my 3 pound, half poodle, half shih-tzu to Sylvia's training lessons when she was 10 weeks old. At 14 weeks, she is doing fantastic! Sylvia has given me the fundamental building blocks to raise a balanced, happy puppy. She started with me of course, since I needed the most training. From commands to the psychology of dogs to my puppy's specific personality, she's been thorough and positive and knowledgeable. It’s clear she is passionate about what she does. Sylvia is a great listener, which allows her to tune in quickly to the areas in need of correction, guidance or praise. She has reinforced the process for training and correcting my puppy's behavior so I should end up with a wonderful balanced dog. Hopefully I won't mess her up! But...if I do ever need some training advice, I will not hesitate to call Sylvia!

Rebekah

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************I have been using Sylvia’s services for over 3 years and she is my life saver! I am a “single parent” and at times can’t get home early. Not only does Sylvia come every day to give my two dogs a much needed walk and break, but on nights when I can’t get home on time she will come by and feed them and let them out again, often on a moment’s notice. I also leave town frequently for business and it gives me such peace of mind knowing she is there taking care of them in their own home. As an additional treat for the dogs, she brings her own dogs over and they play and have a great time together. It’s almost like their little vacation, and when she leaves, you never even know she was there. Not only does she do an amazing job taking care of my four legged babies, she also goes above and beyond in other areas. For example, during Christmas when I was away for a week, she unpacked most of my boxes in the garage and organized the whole thing including getting rid of the boxes. When I came home my garage was clean and organized. I was shocked to say the least. It’s little things like this that make her more of a member of the family rather than a “dog walker”. She is reliable and trustworthy, two traits that are very hard to come by these days. Lexi, Abby and I are lucky to have her!

Michelle Carpenter

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************When I heard that Sylvia had started a pet sitting business and would do overnights, I was so relieved! Being single, I need a pet sitter so that I can travel, even for a single overnight. And it isn’t easy for me to find a pet sitter as my animals are medically “special needs” which require careful observation and exact medications. But, with Sylvia, I can finally travel again as I have someone whom I trust to take care of my animals and be aware of their behavior and personalities so that if any medical concerns develop, they will not go unnoticed. Sylvia has done numerous overnight stays of various durations: one night overnights to weekend stays to a whole month. She is completely responsible for my pets care (including vet visits) as well as care of the house. And she took immaculate care of my house! I can tell that my animals’ stay with Sylvia goes very well when I return home and they are so calm. Sylvia’s daily emails keep me updated and give me peace of mind to enjoy my travels even more. The best part is that I don’t even have to contemplate whether or not I’ll go on a trip anymore. If I have the opportunity to travel, I just call Sylvia! (I have booked Sylvia into 2006 already.) And I do not make these comments lightly. As I have had pet sitters over the last 15 years, I know when I have found a gem. No one has been as attentive and responsible as Sylvia.

Bernadette

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************Sylvia,

I can't tell you how grateful I'm am that I found you. It's such a relief to know that Baxter will get his exercise when I'm at work. Not only have you given Baxter wonderful care, you've been very flexible with my work schedule as well. The pictures you took of Baxter are great. Thanks for sending them to me.

Thanks for all you do,

Lynda and Baxter

Issaquah, WA.

******************************************************************************************************Sylvia, I can't thank you enough for your pet sitting. Knowing my dogs

are at home with someone they really like is HUGE piece of mind for me.

Plus they're so much happier at home than being at the kennel and I'm not

running late taking them there on my way to the airport. You've

simplified my life! Thank you, Jody Issaquah, WA.

PS, the clean house was an incredible bonus. You're amazing!

******************************************************************************************************My family was very happy to have Sylvia caring for our dogs, cat and horses. All of our animals were well looked after and our home and barn were immaculate when we returned. It's easy to trust someone with our beloved animals who so obviously enjoys and loves the animals she takes care of.

Nick and Kathy Woodinville, WA.

**************************************************************************************************** I own Country Kennels in Tacoma, WA. One of our clients has had this little JRT for 5 years and has been bringing her to us for services since November 2006. K.D. had bit the owner in the face to the necessity of stitches, and she could no longer deal with the aggressive nature of this dog towards people and animals. I said I would take her and re-home her after Sylvia, our resident manager/trainer, worked with her.Whenever K.D. came into the kennel for boarding, she would bark continuously in the lobby and snarl/snap at the staff member who was checking her in. If she was to receive playtime and baths it was quite an undertaking for my staff. She had to be muzzled for a bath or nail trim. She would attack anyone reaching for her so this made it quite difficult to get her nails done or give her a bath. To do playtime with her was almost impossible as she would need to be double leashed and not let to run loose in our play yard. That was if we could get her out at all. I observed Sylvia after only two short sessions, about 15 minutes each, being able to handle this little dog like I have never seen before! K.D. sits on command, waits by the door for Sylvia to go through first and no longer needs to be muzzled to get out of a kennel or given a bath. I have seen Sylvia walk through the kennel, K.D. off leash, with dogs in runs on both sides, and K.D. will now look at Sylvia instead of trying to kill whichever dog suites her fancy. I have tried to make friends with K.D. in the past and have gotten bit. Now with Sylvia’s rehabilitation I have no fear that this little JRT will become a good member of society and a great representative of her breed. Sylvia is working with the staff at the kennel to treat K.D. in the same manner as she does so that we can all handle her with more assertiveness and control to find a great home for her. Sylvia has now found a forever home for K.D. and we are all happy that this little dog with a big attitude now has a home of her own. Sylvia has offered the new owners free help with K.D. for the life of the dog. Our staff members appreciate that Sylvia took on such a commitment and have personally benefitted by her knowledge and experience with their own dogs. Sylvia always gives free advice and evaluations to anyone that asks. Our clients and staff are amazed at the results she gets with their dogs within just a few short minuets.

Thank You

Jim Charboneau

******************************************************************************************************I work with Sylvia at Country Kennels and I have seen not only my dog improve but also dogs that come in for boarding. I think she is a female Cesar Millan and I am proud to be able to work with her. I have a greater awareness of why dogs do particular things and how to handle it it better. One item that is extremely better is how we feed the kennel in the morning. Instead of just going through the kennel feeding as quick as possible we now place the food in their bowls and wait for the dogs to be quiet before feeding them their meal. Another item that makes so much more since now is how we walk the dogs. I used to just let them pull me down the hallways and get sore from my arm almost being ripped out of socket. I know now that I am the leader and I have to have control not only for my own safty but for the safty of the dogs. My own dog "Bergan" a 6 yrar old Weimeriner has had me at my wits end several times. I am fortunate enough to be able to bring my dogs to work with me everyday. So this gives me the opportunity to speak with Sylvia over behavioral issues. I look forward everyday to learn as much as I can from Sylvia. I think she has a great natural talent for looking at a dog and knowing just what they need.

Sincerely

Tina Olson

*******************************************************************************************************

Today I took Charlie for a long walk through old town Issaquah. We met lots of very complimentary folks very impressed by his walking skills and his behavior. As we reached a portion pretty secluded, we met a Pit Bull off leash. It was interesting to see how Charlie and the other dog communicated and how Charlie quickly submitted to the Pit Bull. We kept walking without incident and I praised him for his bravery. Many of the people we encountered asked who his trainer was because he was so well behaved and especially being 4 months old.

Thank you again for everything,

Carolyn and Charlie! Ron and Holly too!

Issaquah, WA.

*******************************************************************************************************Hi Sylvia,

Your training changed our lives! More like I needed the training. I did need to show Bella I had the authority with the leash walking and it helped tremendously. We now walk together all the time in step and it made such a difference from the previous pulling, independent, cute puppy. Bella still listens intently to the commands that you taught me and we finally found motivating treats. I truly believe due to your training it lead to our summer vacation that we were able to enjoy with our dog.

We went to the hood canal to a small hotel that allows dogs. Bella did so well and the staff was so impressed that we even were allowed to bring her boating.

Had she not learned her commands, walking on the leash, and overall my disposition as the pack leader this vacation would not have happened.

Thanks,

Sarah

Issaquah, WA

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