Good Doggy!

We are very grateful to Nadine for the 3-week training she did with our bernedoodle. Walks were always a tug of war ... lots of pulling. Bella had dug many, many holes in our backyard and often jumped over a low fence into our gardens. The yard is fenced with lots of grass areas for the dogs to run and play. We did not have a reliable recall ... more like she would come when she felt like it. We avoided inviting people over because we could not control Bella's jumping up behaviour. Nadine's training program has transformed Bella. We have all been trained and as owners, we have learned so much about dog behaviour, how to advocate for our dog and how to deal with all of the issues we had. As owners, the reading materials, videos and training session with us have been unbelievably helpful. We just continue the training Nadine did. Bella is an absolute joy now! And Nadine is more than happy to answer any questions we have.

BEWARE - Our dog almost died. We selected Good Doggy! based on a professional website with "certifications" and an introductory meeting with Nadine. We hoped to get Maui socialized with other dogs and strangers in a safe setting as he is a 136lb mastiff and we are not dog trainers. Nadine was confident she could help based on her experience. We chose the Board and Train option as he would be with her and her family and be exposed to other dogs through her training in a safe setting for everyone. We received a call from Nadine after 18 days of Maui being with her that he was "depressed and was not taking to the training" and that we should come pick him up. What we found was a dog who was severely dehydrated, emaciated, skin and bones and could hardly walk. He weighed 106lbs when we got him to the vet and required emergency surgery and extensive medical care as a result of his time at Good Doggy!. I will not go into all the details however more info is available online. We have not shared much about our experience with Good Doggy! previously as there have been Provincial Court charges that were laid against Good Doggy! and it's owner Nadine Francis through Provincial Animal Welfare Services. These charges were laid as a result of the experience our dog Maui had during board and train at the Good Doggy! facility in Oct/Nov 2020. The court proceedings have recently wrapped up with a guilty plea to 2 of the 6 charges. Please, please, please - do your research when picking any trainer. This should never have happened from a "professional".

From the moment we connected with Nadine she clearly loves dogs and is very competent and knowledgeable. The skills she helped us develop to set our puppy up for a lifetime of success was invaluable. She continues to be committed to her clients even when they are not actively taking one of her awesome classes. The added value of the pack walks, reinforcement of drills and skills on her social media posts and a resource to ask questions to make us highly recommend her if you are looking for a trainer.

Nadine is a lover of dogs. There is no question about that. She is also firm and confident when dog handling. My 10 month old Border Collie spent 4 weeks boarding and training and learned a lot of good behavior under her guidance. The biggest skill our pup learned was self-regulation. Now he's a pup that can relax, walk without pulling and stay on place for up to a couple hours avoiding destructive behaviour that comes from boredom and reactivity. It's like a magic trick. Pretty cool work Nadine does.

I'd would like to express my sincere appreciation for all the positive help we received from Nadine, Good Doggy. Being our first Australian Shepherd Blue Merle, we weren't exactly prepared for the exuberant amount of energy. Fortunately, we were able to complete a 6 week training course with Nadine. We were completely overwhelmed with the positive changes in Riley. At almost 9 months old, he is obedient, much calmer and a complete joy to have in our lives. Practicing on our own now, Riley continues to astound us with how smart this breed truly is. The patience Nadine has with her clients is truly professional as she empowers us to be able to handle Riley. I know Riley enjoyed the challenges put before him to help him gain confidence in his willingness to please. He'd get so excited hearing Nadine's voice on the numerous training videos we watched. Riley loved meeting and learning from Zeus, Nadine's Doberman. From walking without pulling, learning place, stay, come when called, no more body slaming or jumping up on people, nipping, and off, our Riley has come a very long way. We love him to pieces and he is so affectionate. We cannot thank you enough for sharing you expert advice and guidance through this journey. If anyone is wondering about training classes for your dog, Nadine at Good Doggy, gets 5 stars from us and comes very highly recommended.

I have been a basset owner for nearly 50 years. I love the breed but have always assumed that they would not be obedient as I was told by the very first training I did with my first basset that you could only do show training and not obedience with the breed. Well Nadine changed that! Her techniques are gentle and affirming and our dogs LOVE being worked with. She gives us confidence that we can teach our pups and the dogs confidence in themselves. I have recommended her without hesitation to my friends and family. ( we have so far done the 5 week puppy course- and it has made having two pups together a pleasure)

I would highly recommend Nadine and Good Doggy. Nadines training program set a very effective foundation for my dog and I to bond and learn together as a team. She’s a very experienced trainer setting dogs and owners up for success. Her ongoing support, pack walks and group lessons are extremely valuable. We look forward to continuing her training programs and activities.

Nadine is a miracle worker! Moose was lacking obedience and did not listen well to commands. He also struggled with leash walking. We tried dog training elsewhere when he was younger, but the training didn't transfer beyond the training centre. With Nadine, she brings you to different environments so the dog can transfer his knowledge. After completing the program, we have seen immense improvement! She helped build trust and respect between me and my dog! I also feel so much more confident bringing him to public places and allowing him to be off leash! Thank you so much, Nadine!