"Happy" the Happy Border Collie Mix

Happy is my Border Collie mix and like the child in the nursery rhyme, when she's sweet, she's very sweet and when she's not she's a P.I.T.A. She was adopted from the local SPCA shelter. At first, she was a very sweet and playful puppy, but then she and I had some rough times. I was slow to get her in training. Not before she'd shown some human aggression. I tried a private trainer but it was clear that we needed more help. Finally, I was referred to Renée Lamoureux and Faye Kelley at Aunt Faye's Dog Training. And that is where we turned the corner.

I was smart enough to know that I was responsible for the problems, but didn't know how to turn things around. When we first walked in, and Happy approached Renée, the dog snarled at her. How embarrassing! We settled down and then talked and talked. I talked about Happy's bad behavior. Renée and Faye talked about their training methods and then Renée put Leinie (her Belgian Malinois) through his paces. Using the remote collar, I saw this happy lively dog doing commands. There was no indication of fear, just happy energy. Now it was Happy's turn. Within minutes, I mean 1 or 2 minutes, Happy was walking placidly by Renée; she was looking at her and responding to her commands. My first reaction was that Renée was a magician. How could she get such an immediate response? My second reaction was a sigh of big relief...maybe there was hope for Happy and me.

After the demonstration, Happy came back to me and lay down. She was calm and quiet. I knew by her reaction that she was comfortable with Renée and Faye. I left Happy with Faye and Renée for a two week board and train program and I knew that she was in good hands.

After the two weeks of training, Happy came home with a new outlook on life and a new respect for what she needed to do for me. I realized that they didn't just focus on the training, but on the whole dog. I was also invited to attend group class so that I would have the chance to practice our new training with other dogs and owners. While I wasn't able to witness the training they did with Happy, I have seen Renée work other dogs in group class. She has amazing patience and projects special energy to the dogs that they respect. She observes the dog and calmly works to emphasize proper behavior. Her ability to communicate is uncanny.

So, what's new about the new Happy? Calmness. Attention. Focus. With the training she and I received and the help of the training collar, Happy pays attention to what I ask. One of the best commands she learned is "place". I point at a spot and give the command and she goes there and stays. A dog obeying!! What a concept!! Happy is happy and thriving. She enjoys walks and rubs and is learning new commands. She's great fun!!

Thanks Renée and Faye!

Moya Jones

Lexi, "The Best Behaved Dog in the Neighborhood"

When I got my dog Lexie from the shelter she was three years old, and had been abused.  She didn't know any commands nor was she interested in learning any. Lex is a Jindo, a rare breed from Korea known for being
very strong willed and oh yea, hunting deer. So when she took off after a deer and was gone for 45 minuets I knew I needed to call Renée. Thank God I did Renée helped me to have the dog I always wanted. Within a few short lessons, Lexie could sit, she knew the command for down and stay and come. But more importantly Lex was given self confidence. Something she was desperately deficient in. Very quickly, Lex became "the best behaved dog in the neighborhood." Many people with and without dogs made that comment. We take her as many places as we can and we often hear, "my dog would never sit there like that." I say yes she would, you can train your dog to do anything you want it to. What Renée did for Lex was amazing, but what Renée really did was train me! That was truly the most amazing part. That was 5 year ago and I am still calling Renée today for advice with Lex.

Nora Fickel and her dog Lexi

Hope - The Kind of Dog that People Who Don't Like Dogs Love Being Around

As a first time adult dog parent I reached out to Renée for help when my puppy "Hope" first arrived at home.  Renée got us off on the right start by teaching us puppy basics including explaining that when training books advised to let your puppy go potty every 3-4 hours they didn't mean that you had to wake them up in the middle of the night. : )

It didn't take much convincing for me to sign up for formal training lessons after she saved my sleep habits and sanity.  In fact, I will never have another dog that I don't train with Renée and at this point that would require extensive travel.

I wanted Hope to be the kind of dog that people who don't like dogs would love being around. And she turned into a dog that my Mom - who refused to allow any other dogs in her house - was hurt when I assumed Hope and I couldn't stay with her on a visit. Hope is now always welcomed!

Because of how amazing my friendship with Hope grew I of course reached back out to Renée for help when Connor our Golden Retreiver came along a few years later.

Hope and Connor have now been joined by two human babies, Garret, age 4, and Kate, age 1, and they are all the best of friends.

When our family relocated to Michigan a few years ago we moved into a newly developed community and Hope and Connor were the only dogs. Now, and due in large part to how wonderful our dogs are several of our neighbors have dogs of their own.  If you stop by you can find Hope, Connor, Barney, Riley and Mumbles playing together in the fields most evenings.

Thank you, Renée!

Amanda, John, Garrett & Kate Packer