Patience Unlimited

One of the first things I did when moving here to Phoenix last year was observe one of Patience Unlimited's dog training classes to see if it is right for myself and my dog. Right away I could see that this is a results driven training method which requires the owners to be fair and kind to their dogs but also hold the dog responsible for what is expected of them. I have had dogs my whole life and participated in everything from basic pet ownership to conformation showing, obedience competition, agility, IPO, responsible reputable breeding and more. I have one dog in particular that I have attempted multiple times in the past to attain her CD title in competitive obedience and various new challenges would arise at each trial that we could not overcome. After 4 years of ups and downs with that and going to trainers in 6 different states, I gave up on training for the CD with my dog for awhile. In my one year training exclusively with Patience Unlimited we have worked through all the challenges and quirks that prevented us in the past and for the first time in 6 years I am confident in trialing my dog. Barb creatively and logically addressed our challenges in a way that made sense and ACTUALLY solved the problems. I am not bribing my dog or relying on luck. And my dog is happier than ever to train and perform well. Here is what I like about Barb's training that stands out from other places I have been: 1) Barb is kind to the dogs and her students while communicating clearly and directly. We learn to use appropriately timed corrections in a way that makes the dog responsible for its actions. 2) When a student or dog is struggling with a class exercise, Barb will stop everything and work through the problem step by step until things make sense and they are successful. In the past I have seen trainers move on due to time constraints but this is an excellent opportunity for the rest of the class to learn what to do if/when we are in that situation ourselves. 3) No question is stupid, Barb will answer it and walk you through. 4) Barb has an attention to detail. It is not just about the commands and actions - she takes into account structure, health, breed temperament, etc to evaluate a dog's behavior and figure out their individual best course of action. 5) Barb recognizes that each dog has their own quirks and personality- they may need more or less correction or different types of motivation. She works with you to discover what works for YOUR dog not just a one size fits all training. 6) Safety is paramount at Patience Unlimited. Breaks are provided as needed for restroom or water to keep the dogs comfortable. When it is too hot outside an indoor AC building is provided. Barb coaches the owners on how to safely navigate around other dogs/handlers. Proper equipment is used and in safe working condition (including collars and leashes!). Overall I am thrilled to recommend Patience Unlimited for dog training. I enjoy working with Barb and so does my dog. I am getting results on my dogs that I have not been able to achieve before. And we are having fun!

I have been a breeder of Dobermans for over 25 years. I have always focused on the conformation ring. In the fall of 2015 I decided that I wanted to compete in the obedience and rally rings as well. Having had little experience I need some help getting started and a lot of mentoring. Barbara had my boy Jimi for two weeks for board and train to establish a great foundation. I spent several days getting my own training with Barbara when I picked hime up. Since I live in southern Oregon it was a little challenging but Barbara was available through emails and on the phone whenever I need support. During the following year I put three titles on Jimi, a BN, a CD, and we finished 2016 with a RA...so proud of my boy and so grateful to Barbara! She has a deep understanding of dog behavior, she is positive in her training techniques, and she is incredible supportive...Barbara is always there to cheer me on and I can't thank her enough!