Testimonials
If you would like to share the experience you had with Southern K9 Institute, please send us an email! We'd love to hear from you!
An Update from Marlin's Owner
Marlin is doing great—like a different dog. I’ve been stretching the limits a bit, like having him sit in a room that I was leaving and walking a little further away each time. Tonight he got up just a little and I corrected him and after peeking at him a few times, I went to the kitchen, got something from the refrigerator, and he was still sitting when I returned. He simply isn’t “squirrely” anymore. I have really enjoyed him. He’s still trying to be very good and I can tell he’s in training mode. It has been so nice to have him lie on the floor beside wherever I am sitting and not jump if I get up or if he hears something. You have truly produced a miracle with Marlin and I continue to be amazed. I do hope that you will train more dogs like Marlin with owners who aren’t strong in training but where there is potential in the dog. After agonizing for almost a year after having Marlin for two [to re-home him], I am grateful that Rockin’ P encouraged me to try the training and try to keep Marlin. I could never have taken him to the kind of training that I could have afforded after I got him, as there was no way that he could manage to be around other dogs or people early on or even much later. He is now docile and gentle and so far quite enjoyable. He loves the affection he allows himself to receive now.
Thanks again for everything you have done and for your continued support. You are definitely on the right path. I’m sure you will create more miracles for other dogs and owners.
Gratefully,
Mary Smith
Cohutta, GA
Thanks again for everything you have done and for your continued support. You are definitely on the right path. I’m sure you will create more miracles for other dogs and owners.
Gratefully,
Mary Smith
Cohutta, GA
Letter from Bruno
Miss Lauren rocks!
My name is Bruno and I'm about three years old. I am a Boxer/American Bulldog mix. I'm deaf, whatever that means. Ms. Lauren helped me learn to be a well behaved dog. She also helped my mom and dad learn how to be better parents.
My mom and dad found me through Rockin 'P' Rescue. I had been there for about a year and I was really happy to find out I was going to get a forever home. But when I got to my new home, things didn't go very well art first. My parents had two other dogs, Paco and Sophie, and they didn't seem to like me very much. I wasn't too sure about them either. We even got into a couple of fights and my mom was really worried that she had made a mistake. She talked to Miss Lauren, and Miss Lauren told my mom some things to try. Mom was afraid I might hurt one of the other dogs, because I was so much bigger than them. Even though sometimes they started the fight, I was the one to get in trouble just because I was bigger. It wasn't fair!
My mom and dad decided to let me go and visit Miss Lauren at her house. I was so excited when I got there because she had dogs and they liked me! Miss Lauren really liked me too. She spent lots of time with me every day. I felt really special because I was able to have time with Miss Lauren all by myself. She praised me and let me know I was a good dog. We had lessons and I learned all kinds of new things! We even had a special sign language so we could understand each other without any words. When I did a really good job, Miss Lauren would give me belly rubs, my most favorite thing in the world!
Miss Lauren taught me to walk nicely on the leash. We used our special sign language, so it was like a secret. She helped me learn to walk right beside her and to sit at her side whenever she stopped walking. She taught me to sit right there and not move until she said it was ok. She taught me to lay down, and to come to her when she gave me the secret signal. Even when Miss Lauren walked away from me, I would stay in my sit or my down until she said it was ok to do something else. I had so much fun because I got lots of praise and pats and chin scratches. I wanted to do whatever Miss Lauren signaled to me, because then I got a great reward!
Miss Lauren also taught me to sit nicely and wait while she fixed my dinner. She taught me to sit beside my crate and wait until she gave the signal that it was ok to go in the crate. She taught me to wait nicely when she opened the door of my crate too and not come out until she gave me the secret signal. She also helped me learn that jumping up on furniture, or counters, or people, was not ok.
After a while, Miss Lauren took me back to my mom and dad. She showed them the secret signals that I had learned, then mom and dad practiced the signals while Miss Lauren watched. They did pretty good, but they had to practice every day so they would get better.
When we go on walks in the neighborhood, everyone stops and talks to us. They tell my mom how handsome I am. Then they tell my mom that I am so well behaved. My mom just smiles at them and we both feel really proud.
My mom was so impressed with the things Miss Lauren helped me to learn, that she sent Paco and Sophie to stay with Miss Lauren too. When they were gone I was happy to have my mom and dad all to myself, but when they got home, I was happy to have some dog company. Paco and Sophie were so much nicer to me after they visited Miss Lauren. We haven't had any more fights. We all like each other and play together and lay in the sun together when we are outside. Miss Lauren helped them learn the same things that she taught me. They don't jump up on the furniture anymore, and they know all the same secret signals.
I'm so glad my mom found Miss Lauren. She helped mom and dad learn how to communicate with me better, plus she helped my brother and sister too. My mom says Miss Lauren is the best! So if you have a dog who need to learn better manners, please call Miss Lauren. She will help your dog just like she helped me!
~~Bruno~~
My name is Bruno and I'm about three years old. I am a Boxer/American Bulldog mix. I'm deaf, whatever that means. Ms. Lauren helped me learn to be a well behaved dog. She also helped my mom and dad learn how to be better parents.
My mom and dad found me through Rockin 'P' Rescue. I had been there for about a year and I was really happy to find out I was going to get a forever home. But when I got to my new home, things didn't go very well art first. My parents had two other dogs, Paco and Sophie, and they didn't seem to like me very much. I wasn't too sure about them either. We even got into a couple of fights and my mom was really worried that she had made a mistake. She talked to Miss Lauren, and Miss Lauren told my mom some things to try. Mom was afraid I might hurt one of the other dogs, because I was so much bigger than them. Even though sometimes they started the fight, I was the one to get in trouble just because I was bigger. It wasn't fair!
My mom and dad decided to let me go and visit Miss Lauren at her house. I was so excited when I got there because she had dogs and they liked me! Miss Lauren really liked me too. She spent lots of time with me every day. I felt really special because I was able to have time with Miss Lauren all by myself. She praised me and let me know I was a good dog. We had lessons and I learned all kinds of new things! We even had a special sign language so we could understand each other without any words. When I did a really good job, Miss Lauren would give me belly rubs, my most favorite thing in the world!
Miss Lauren taught me to walk nicely on the leash. We used our special sign language, so it was like a secret. She helped me learn to walk right beside her and to sit at her side whenever she stopped walking. She taught me to sit right there and not move until she said it was ok. She taught me to lay down, and to come to her when she gave me the secret signal. Even when Miss Lauren walked away from me, I would stay in my sit or my down until she said it was ok to do something else. I had so much fun because I got lots of praise and pats and chin scratches. I wanted to do whatever Miss Lauren signaled to me, because then I got a great reward!
Miss Lauren also taught me to sit nicely and wait while she fixed my dinner. She taught me to sit beside my crate and wait until she gave the signal that it was ok to go in the crate. She taught me to wait nicely when she opened the door of my crate too and not come out until she gave me the secret signal. She also helped me learn that jumping up on furniture, or counters, or people, was not ok.
After a while, Miss Lauren took me back to my mom and dad. She showed them the secret signals that I had learned, then mom and dad practiced the signals while Miss Lauren watched. They did pretty good, but they had to practice every day so they would get better.
When we go on walks in the neighborhood, everyone stops and talks to us. They tell my mom how handsome I am. Then they tell my mom that I am so well behaved. My mom just smiles at them and we both feel really proud.
My mom was so impressed with the things Miss Lauren helped me to learn, that she sent Paco and Sophie to stay with Miss Lauren too. When they were gone I was happy to have my mom and dad all to myself, but when they got home, I was happy to have some dog company. Paco and Sophie were so much nicer to me after they visited Miss Lauren. We haven't had any more fights. We all like each other and play together and lay in the sun together when we are outside. Miss Lauren helped them learn the same things that she taught me. They don't jump up on the furniture anymore, and they know all the same secret signals.
I'm so glad my mom found Miss Lauren. She helped mom and dad learn how to communicate with me better, plus she helped my brother and sister too. My mom says Miss Lauren is the best! So if you have a dog who need to learn better manners, please call Miss Lauren. She will help your dog just like she helped me!
~~Bruno~~
Letter from Paco
My name is Paco. I am a Miniature Pinscher, and I am six year s old. I have a little sister, Sophie, and a brother, Bruno. For a long time Sophie and I were the only dogs in the family. Then one day, my mom and dad brought home a big white dog named Bruno. Now I’m a pretty big dog, I weigh about 25 pounds, but Bruno was HUGE. He weighs about 80 pounds. I was a little bit afraid of him, but I didn’t want my mom to know.
I didn’t like it when my mom petted Bruno. I really got mad when my dad gave him big hugs. I got so mad that I got into a fight with Bruno. Mom and dad got really upset. They sent Bruno to see Miss Lauren, so he could learn some manners.
After Bruno came home, he had really good manners. He knew how to SIT and DOWN and HEEL and COME. He was a big show-off. Mom and dad were so proud of him, it was disgusting. Then mom and dad took me and Sophie to see Miss Lauren. They said that if Bruno had good manners, we needed to have good manners too.
I was really scared at Miss Lauren’s. I didn’t want to do anything but stay in my crate. I was always shaking and hiding because I was afraid. Miss Lauren knew that I was afraid, so she worked with me very gently and slowly so I would calm down and feel better. She was very patient and let me learn things a little bit slower. After a while, I felt better. I was learning to do the things Miss Lauren wanted me to do. They were the very same things that Bruno learned when he was at her house! Some days I did so well that Miss Lauren called me a Rock Star!
Soon it was time for me and Sophie to go home. I got so excited when I saw my mom and dad. I was shaking, but this time it was because I was happy! Miss Lauren held my leash while I showed mom and dad all the things I had learned. My mom says I’m like a new dog. When Miss Lauren was teaching me manners, I was also learning CONFIDENCE! Now I’m not afraid of Bruno. I like him a lot. We play together, we race up and down the steps, and we touch noses and lay in the sun next to each other.
Mom and dad walk us in the neighborhood and we show off and do our manners while we are walking. Mom and dad let us practice SIT and HEEL and DOWN and COME, and we get lots of attention and petting. Sometimes people in cars stop and talk to mom and tell her that they wish their dogs were as well behaved as us! Mom always gives them one of Miss Lauren’s business cards. She tells them that Miss Lauren is the very best dog trainer and they should take their dog to see her!
I am so glad that my mom took all of us to see Miss Lauren. Now we all get along better, and mom and dad are happier. We all know our manners, and we don’t jump on the furniture. Miss Lauren is the best, so if your dog is a little bit scared, like I was, Miss Lauren can help them to learn manners and CONFIDENCE too!
~~Paco~~
I didn’t like it when my mom petted Bruno. I really got mad when my dad gave him big hugs. I got so mad that I got into a fight with Bruno. Mom and dad got really upset. They sent Bruno to see Miss Lauren, so he could learn some manners.
After Bruno came home, he had really good manners. He knew how to SIT and DOWN and HEEL and COME. He was a big show-off. Mom and dad were so proud of him, it was disgusting. Then mom and dad took me and Sophie to see Miss Lauren. They said that if Bruno had good manners, we needed to have good manners too.
I was really scared at Miss Lauren’s. I didn’t want to do anything but stay in my crate. I was always shaking and hiding because I was afraid. Miss Lauren knew that I was afraid, so she worked with me very gently and slowly so I would calm down and feel better. She was very patient and let me learn things a little bit slower. After a while, I felt better. I was learning to do the things Miss Lauren wanted me to do. They were the very same things that Bruno learned when he was at her house! Some days I did so well that Miss Lauren called me a Rock Star!
Soon it was time for me and Sophie to go home. I got so excited when I saw my mom and dad. I was shaking, but this time it was because I was happy! Miss Lauren held my leash while I showed mom and dad all the things I had learned. My mom says I’m like a new dog. When Miss Lauren was teaching me manners, I was also learning CONFIDENCE! Now I’m not afraid of Bruno. I like him a lot. We play together, we race up and down the steps, and we touch noses and lay in the sun next to each other.
Mom and dad walk us in the neighborhood and we show off and do our manners while we are walking. Mom and dad let us practice SIT and HEEL and DOWN and COME, and we get lots of attention and petting. Sometimes people in cars stop and talk to mom and tell her that they wish their dogs were as well behaved as us! Mom always gives them one of Miss Lauren’s business cards. She tells them that Miss Lauren is the very best dog trainer and they should take their dog to see her!
I am so glad that my mom took all of us to see Miss Lauren. Now we all get along better, and mom and dad are happier. We all know our manners, and we don’t jump on the furniture. Miss Lauren is the best, so if your dog is a little bit scared, like I was, Miss Lauren can help them to learn manners and CONFIDENCE too!
~~Paco~~
Letter from Sophie
My name is Sophie. I am a Miniature Pinscher and I am almost six years old! I thought everything in my life was just great, and then mom brought home a NEW DOG! I don’t know why she thought we needed another dog. I thought everything was just fine with our family with just two dogs, me and my brother, Paco.
When my mom brought that big dog home, his name was Bruno, I didn’t like him one bit. I growled at him and tried to make him go away. We even got into a fight because he was standing closer to mom than me. One day my mom and dad took Bruno away and when they came back, he wasn’t with them. I was so happy! I had my mom and dad all to myself!
Then one day, a lady named Miss Lauren came to our house, and she brought Bruno back. Oh no! But Bruno was different. He didn’t jump up on the furniture and he seemed nicer, but I still didn’t like him. I heard my mom and dad talking one night and they said that Bruno had good manners now and that they wished we (Paco and Sophie) had good manners too. Can you believe that! I thought I had perfect manners. I liked to sleep on the couch and bark at everything that moved so mom and dad would know about it. I would race Paco out the door and bite him if he got ahead of me. I didn’t see anything wrong at all! Not long after this, mom took me and Paco for a ride and we went to Miss Lauren’s house. I thought we were there for a visit, but then mom and dad left me and Paco there all alone!
I was really scared. I had never been anywhere but my own house, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think I liked Miss Lauren, but she was nice to me anyway. Miss Lauren wanted me to do all kinds of things like SIT, DOWN, STAY, but I didn’t want to do any of them. Sometimes I got mad at Miss Lauren, and sometimes I was just scared. One day I bit Miss Lauren. Miss Lauren let me know right away that she did not appreciate being bitten.
After a while I wasn’t so afraid. I started to listen more to Miss Lauren and do the things she asked me to do. Then I realized it was really fun! I began to prance and be happy every time Miss Lauren put on my leash for our lessons. Pretty soon I could do everything Miss Lauren wanted me to do. Sometimes when her friends came over, I got to show them what I had learned to do. I really liked that! My brother Paco was there with me. I know he had lessons with Miss Lauren too. He was a lot more afraid than me. He always tried to sneak away from Miss Lauren and get back in his crate. Miss Lauren was really nice to him too, and he learned his lessons.
When Miss Lauren took us home, I thought everything would be the way it was before, sleeping on the couch, barking all the time, but nooooo, mom made us follow the very same rules that Miss Lauren taught us. After a few days at home, with mom and dad reminding me of the rules when I forgot, everything was better. Mom is very proud of me. She tells me all the time that I have good manners. I even like Bruno now. We play together and run outside together. We even go on walks together. People in the neighborhood always stop my mom and tell her how well behaved we are. That makes me and my mom happy.
Miss Lauren is the best!
~~Sophie~~
When my mom brought that big dog home, his name was Bruno, I didn’t like him one bit. I growled at him and tried to make him go away. We even got into a fight because he was standing closer to mom than me. One day my mom and dad took Bruno away and when they came back, he wasn’t with them. I was so happy! I had my mom and dad all to myself!
Then one day, a lady named Miss Lauren came to our house, and she brought Bruno back. Oh no! But Bruno was different. He didn’t jump up on the furniture and he seemed nicer, but I still didn’t like him. I heard my mom and dad talking one night and they said that Bruno had good manners now and that they wished we (Paco and Sophie) had good manners too. Can you believe that! I thought I had perfect manners. I liked to sleep on the couch and bark at everything that moved so mom and dad would know about it. I would race Paco out the door and bite him if he got ahead of me. I didn’t see anything wrong at all! Not long after this, mom took me and Paco for a ride and we went to Miss Lauren’s house. I thought we were there for a visit, but then mom and dad left me and Paco there all alone!
I was really scared. I had never been anywhere but my own house, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think I liked Miss Lauren, but she was nice to me anyway. Miss Lauren wanted me to do all kinds of things like SIT, DOWN, STAY, but I didn’t want to do any of them. Sometimes I got mad at Miss Lauren, and sometimes I was just scared. One day I bit Miss Lauren. Miss Lauren let me know right away that she did not appreciate being bitten.
After a while I wasn’t so afraid. I started to listen more to Miss Lauren and do the things she asked me to do. Then I realized it was really fun! I began to prance and be happy every time Miss Lauren put on my leash for our lessons. Pretty soon I could do everything Miss Lauren wanted me to do. Sometimes when her friends came over, I got to show them what I had learned to do. I really liked that! My brother Paco was there with me. I know he had lessons with Miss Lauren too. He was a lot more afraid than me. He always tried to sneak away from Miss Lauren and get back in his crate. Miss Lauren was really nice to him too, and he learned his lessons.
When Miss Lauren took us home, I thought everything would be the way it was before, sleeping on the couch, barking all the time, but nooooo, mom made us follow the very same rules that Miss Lauren taught us. After a few days at home, with mom and dad reminding me of the rules when I forgot, everything was better. Mom is very proud of me. She tells me all the time that I have good manners. I even like Bruno now. We play together and run outside together. We even go on walks together. People in the neighborhood always stop my mom and tell her how well behaved we are. That makes me and my mom happy.
Miss Lauren is the best!
~~Sophie~~
