Cumbria Dog Training - www.cumbria-dog-training.com

My wife and I have a lovely Black Lab called Rosie. At four months old, we enrolled into puppy classes but soon became disillusioned with the one size fits all approach and felt we could do better for her.

So we did a Google search for dog trainers in Cumbria and came across the person I dealt with .

We started training afresh and this time it was in the "real world", as the person I dealt with says. We trained outside and with all the distractions that a dog - and owners - would face. My wife and me certainly learnt with Rosie and I feel that we're better owners as a result.

Six months on, we have a young dog who's a joy to own. She's excellent on the lead and very responsive to commands once off it. We also use a whistle for her which is one thing I would never have thought of doing, but it is very effective.

I can (and have) recommend the person I dealt with.

I had got a young Weimaraner, having had Vizsla's for 45+yrs, when I went to collect him I should have walked away but this skinny little boy was not being given correct feeding so, I paid and took him home. All was going well until I had an accident and fell onto granite rocks, just 2 weeks after he came home. I sustained 17 fractures and had reconstruction, I also had my wonderful friends, looking after us. Time came that I was on my own, silver boy, loving but almost weighed as much as me so as I was on two crutches, looked for a trainer. Having asked and research, she was my first choice,she was so understanding, did not in any way make me feel a failure (which is what I felt having never asked for training help before). The whole family are amazing, they tailor training to your dog and needs. When I went to collect him, we went onto the fells and they had taken into account my needs and his so he did not inadvertently knock me over. My big boy is 45kg of happy muscle and now, six months later, because of her and family has not been re homed.

I rescued two adult rottweiler dogs in July this year. After having tried some training with another trainer who put an e-collar on one of the boys straight away, I knew I had to look elsewhere. The full day session we had with Janet was brilliant. She asked a lot of questions to make sure she had the full picture - both of me and the dogs as well as how we all work together. I'm fortunate in that my dogs were already pretty good, but it was clear they needed more training, especially as we live in an area with lots of livestock about, which they got a little too excited about! Janet took us back to basics with some heel work, then sitting exercises. I had never seen my boys so calm and obedient. We then progressed to long-line work and eventually work in a field with sheep. I had been worried that could end up with some dead sheep, but everything went fine and by the end of the session, neither of my boys wanted anything to do with them! Janet's approach with the dogs was always firm but fair, and I personally really appreciated the way she listened to what I had to say and was very supportive and encouraging. We left with lots of great tools and tasks to complete for homework and I am confident that both the dogs and I are better for it! Well worth the money.

We rescued a 6 year old dog with multiple issues associated with her previous treatment. I have had dogs for many years all of whom have had challenging behaviour issues but after 6 months and 3 trainers (all we'll qualified) there was no improvement. Not only was the dog unable to be let off the lead she wouldn't even walk and a halti had no effect. In January 2013 I booked a 2 day personal training course with Cumbrian Dog Training preferring for me to be involved in the training of my dog so that I could understand her technique and continue on our return (after all consistency is key to long term success). She was amazing and had got my dog walking on a lead, to heal within an hour- this is something 3 eminent dog trainers had failed to achieve. We then progressed to recall and chasing livestock and yet again by the end of the day my dog was calm and responsive to my commands. At all times she was extremely firm, fair and consistent with the dog and my dog responded to this. At NO time was she cruel to my dog it was not the way she worked however in the early stages she would put her foot in front of my dog to prevent her from putting herself in danger-in no way was this cruel and it saved my dog from hurting herself. I have worked consistently with what she started and in the 12 months since this training course with my dog is a happy relaxed responsive and well behaved dog. Before the training she had done some research on this rather obscure breed and she assessed her very quickly. On the second day of the training she informed me that we didn't need the full 2 days and she only charged me for what I had. On numerous occasions since the training we have made the one and a half hour journey to home board our dog. We certainly wouldn't travel 80 miles each way if she wasn't so good. Before we met her we were told by the rehoming centre that if we felt we couldn't cope we could return our dog but with her issues they would be unable to rehome her. We now have a happy, well trained but much loved family dog who is exercised off lead daily but who is trained enough to not put herself or others in danger. I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for our family, it has enabled us to find the truly adorable dog that was previously locked inside a dog that displayed stressful and manic behaviour. I am in no way linked to her, she doesn't even know I am writing this review and she has NEVER asked me to write a review. This is only the second review I have written about anything but my experience was, and continues to be, so very different to what was written by one reviewer that I felt compelled to tell you about my experience of her work with my dog over a rather sustained period of 12 months.

We have an 18 month old working cocker called Henry. He has a particular liking to sheep, especially when they start to run ( usually away from him!). He just chases them, no nipping or biting.

Having a lot of sheep around our way we did not want to upset them or give the farmer the opportunity to shoot him. So I turned to the net and found Janet's website.

we had a 3 hour 'training' session with her last week (and spent a few extra days in the wonderful Cumbria coutryside).

I am pleased to say that Henry now shows only a limited interest in our local sheep and within a week or two I expect his interest should be zero, provided I keep up the 'training'.

Can't thank Janet enough as it will make our walks with Henry in the counryside more relaxing.

My 2yr old German Shepherd Milo should be very grateful that I found Janet Ardley when I did as I was seriously thinking of giving him to the local animal rescue centre.

He had become too much of a handful and in truth I was starting to become wary of him.

Sometimes he would give my hands what I thought were playful nips, even though they could be a little painful.

Other times he would race to the door when the bell rang and it would be quite a battle for me to get him into a different room before I could open it.

Then out of the blue he started getting into my armchair rather than on his bed or another chair I had allowed him to use. Trying to get him off sometimes provoked him into giving a very quiet growl which was beginning to scare me.

When Janet came to my house two days ago, she just sat quietly, listened to my concerns and observed Milo's behaviour.

Then she got up and things started to change !

She sorted out the nips, the rushing to the door, my armchair "problem" and a number of other issues. And made Milo realise he has one place to lay - his own bed.

Seeing Milo behave as he did with her gave me tremondous confidence. Janet's no nonsense approach to his shenanigans and the way he behaved for her was such a relief.

I feel such a weight has been lifted by Milo's behaviour being changed and I'm determined to follow all of the advice Janet gave me.

So I would personally like to thank Janet and tell other people that there is someone who can sort out a badly behaved dog - and in a very calm way.

Anna Chapman

Garstang

Janet Ardley and her Cumbria Dog Training have turned our lives around - and for the better!

She helped to make our dog Bailey into the type of dog we wanted but didn't know how to get.

He has stopped jumping up onto our sofa, our chairs and us !

And he still waits at doors and gates when told to do so.

On Janet's advice we have continued to use the whistle to attract his attention on walks. We just blow it, Bailey's ears go up and he comes running over to us.

We would thoroughly recommend Janet - who is also a lovely person!

Jill & Brian Wentworth,

Grange over Sands

My wife & I have had a really good Christmas made even better in the knowledge that we'd chosen the right place to board our dog Stoker.

Janet Ardley's Cumbria Dog Training was not our first choice. In truth we had already booked him in at his " usual " place, only to be let down very late on!

I then went onto Google where The Review Centre then her website were more than enough persuasion for me to give Janet a call - and she saved the day!

As soon as we met her we felt things were going to be good. She's a lovely person who made us - and more importantly Stoker - feel very welcome.

It was just the same four days later. I think the world of my dog and it was a great feeling to see the way he reacted to Janet when we collected him.

Marion & myself are going away for a fortnight over Easter - and we've already booked Stoker in with Janet.

Jim & Jeanette McCall

Dumfries

Very impressed by Janet Ardley and her set up.

I read a number of reviews on the reviewcentre and the comments about her plus her website persuaded me to contact her.

We took our 9 month old mongrel Alfie to Janet, as we'd not had much success training him ourselves, what with work and so on.

Our lovely puppy had started to give us a few problems as he hit the "terrible twos"!

Thankfully Janet took control and not only taught Alfie to listen to her but showed us what to say and do.

We now have a dog that does as much as we allow him to and who listens and acts on our commands. I couldn't have asked for more.

Judith & Jim Michaels,

Annan

I sent Banjo to Janet's for a one week training course and have absolutely no regrets. She's a lovely person who really knows her stuff - suffice to say that Banjo is,(after two other trainers), finally trained!

If you get to read this Janet, many thanks - and yes he is still coming back on the recall !!

Elin