To those who have taken the time to share their kind words with us, we thank you and we are madly in love with you.
Dear Jeff,
My dog Nowda and I attended your Florida seminar in February this year, and it’s a bit late but I wanted to send in my testimonial. It’s long (sorry) but feel free to post portions if it will help educate anyone. When we discovered you, we were already well on our way in training, but the progress we’ve made from switching to your methods has been the best and fastest. So first of all let me just say - THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Nowda is my first dog, ever. I love him, but the rescue honestly made a bit of a mistake allowing us to match. He was ~6 months old and had been burned by chemical acid 1-2 months prior. His skin and fur was still healing and he had massive issues with strangers and reactivity toward surprises. He was such a terrified little guy. I was told he would need “patience” and he had a “back injury” – they clarified this injury after I had him. Anyways, fast forward a little bit and we were struggling a lot. He barked at the sound of a door opening, he barked at my roommate, he barked at any stranger we saw, he barked when garage doors opened if we were on a walk. And not just barked... it was a full on reactive episode. I didn’t even know what reactivity was until about a year after adopting him, so finding good resources to help was difficult. We went through a couple of trainers, he made a good deal of progress, but public outings were still pretty stressful for me since he might react at someone if they got too close, or he got surprised. It was hard to introduce him to my friends, or to have people come over. In our dog training classes, we were often separated by little barriers so he couldn’t see the other dogs or people. This helped in the immediate event by preventing reactions or him pulling toward the other dogs, but it was not empowering. We were the “weird ones”, set off in the corner, to learn the tricks but not the life skill of how to be calm around people and dogs. I was told to basically just shove treats in his face to countercondition, constantly. I spent so much money on treats. We did nose work and it definitely helped his confidence, but he was not allowed off leash because he couldn’t be trusted not to run up and bark at someone. After these experiences, I didn’t think he’d ever be able to have off leash freedom, or be able to be around dogs and strangers calmly.
Finally someone suggested your YouTube page. I was hooked, ordered a prong collar immediately and signed up for the Pierson FL seminar the next weekend. I started seeing changes immediately. He stopped pulling my shoulder like crazy every time he saw a squirrel. He stopped looking like he was plotting his lunge when he saw a person that was very close. The seminar weekend was awesome and I saw a lot of incredible changes there too. He loves dogs, and usually pulls to meet them (I don’t let him, but he would pull a lot). The prong changed that. He was able to relax, it was incredible. He even laid down calmly in the circle next to a strange man and strange girl and their dogs on the second morning, and that was a huge triumph for us.
We are still noticing changes. Things that used to scare him on walks are no big deal to him anymore. Most importantly, his emotional state seems changed. These triggers aren’t even triggering him to feel anything anymore. We go on walks all the time now, he sits calmly next to me while I talk to neighbors that he used to be afraid of. I’m so excited by how our world has suddenly grown, and our vet is very impressed since the acid burn likely occurred during an important developmental/fear period and a lot of dogs don’t recover from that. But if we can do it, anything is possible with the right knowledge and tools. I have finally been empowered to train my dog, and train him in a way that works, and I can’t thank you enough. I had been concerned about using a prong collar – what will people think, what will they say? I don’t care anymore! It’s my favorite tool now, and I’d be happy to tell them where to look to learn more about it if they did ask. Total game changer. Nowda and I are enjoying a much more adventurous stress-free life now.
Thank you,
Arien W.
I decided to become a dog trainer in late 2016. I took classes and "certified" as a pet obedience trainer. It was GREAT! It was so fun and rewarding taking these sassy, crazy dogs and teaching them manners, sit, down, place...etc... Then I started volunteering with my local Humane Society. Some of the dogs I fostered and worked with were just misplaced pups. A little obedience, some socialization and they were adoption ready. As I read other fosters comments in our fostering community, I realized that there is so much more to these "rescue" dogs than simple obedience. Anxiety, aggression, biting, destructive. So many cries for help. There were so many issues that needed addressed and I just didn't know how. I started fishing the internet for "Dogs with behavioral issues." I found Jeff Gellman and Solid K9 Training. I found TONS of advice, HUNDREDS of free ( FREE) videos on how to deal with so many different behavioral issues in dogs. I found his Youtube channel and was totally absorbed in his "What Would Jeff Do" Q and A show. Hundreds of random questions from dog owners, trainers and regular people like me! He had an answer to every question! Real, sound, easy to understand solutions. (Did I mention that this stuff too, is FREE?" I learned so much from Jeff's videos that I was able to help more dogs with more serious issues. In watching Jeff Gellman and Solid K9 Training's videos and following their Facebook page I discovered RVTrainer.com!! Jeff Gellman actually travels the US (and the world) in an RV and teaches dog training! I have 3 dogs of my own, one of which is Lucy. Fearful, anxious Lucy. I could never quite understand her nor how to teach her through her fear and anxiety. The RVTrainer.com seminars give you the option to come with or without a dog. So, I brought Lucy! Jeff evaluated Lucy and gave me a game plan to start working her through all her issues and I have been making progress with her ever since. The most amazing thing about the seminar I think was the flow between Jeff, the students and the dogs. Jeff is an amazing teacher and worked so well with each student and each dog individually, all the while incorporating the entire group in the lesson. I was a little nervous about going in front of Jeff, and all these people that I didn't know to get help with my Lucy, but my fears were unfounded. Jeff made me feel at ease. He didn't make me feel like I was "dumb", but instead made me feel like I was important. Like my story and my problem with Lucy was just as important as any one else's problem with their dog. The seminar was fun and interesting and not only dealt with the issues of the dogs present, but a whole bunch of other issues that many struggle with. I highly recommend anyone who is struggling with training issues with their dogs to try to go to one of Jeff Gellman's seminars. Through his teaching and guidance I am becoming a better and more confident dog trainer. Thank you so much Jeff and Solid K9 Training, you make the dog world a much better place!!
-Jodie M., Madison Florida
Jeff, I just wanted to thank you SO MUCH for the training seminar last weekend in Nazareth.
We rescued our boxer Missy in October and she's just over a year old, maybe almost a year and a half. Some of her issues were her high excitement, jumping on people and counters, stealing shoes, destroying belongings, and pulling on the leash. Thankfully she is not aggressive, just a bratty little kid!
I was at my wits end with finding what would work best for her. We had a few training sessions with a trainer in February that was horrible and rude. He had zero people skills and his personality turned me and Missy off. I had no interest in what he was saying because of the way he treated me and acted at the trainings. I reached out to my mom in desperation trying to find a new trainer. She found one of your youtube videos and sent it to me. It was life changing. I watched hours of your videos and followed all of your social media sites. That day I went out and purchased a prong collar and introduced it to my dog. I was actually able to take her for a walk! When I found out you would be nearby in a month and a half I could not wait to sign up for the seminar. While waiting to attend the seminar we worked on place, kennel up, and going for walks. My 12 year old son, Nathaniel, still struggled a lot handling her and there was a lot of yelling and frustration even though I told him she wouldn't listen to it.
Your seminar was the second life changing miracle we needed. The difference in our house after just two days, and now after a week is incredible. Missy only learned how to do a down-stay last weekend but after a week she is almost an old pro! Nathaniel loved the seminar so much he wants us to do another one and said he feels so much better and knows he can handle Missy without getting frustrated now. It made me so happy to hear him say that.
Also, thank you for teaching us about how effective the e-collar is for training. I could not wait to purchase one and learn how to use it at the seminar because I knew it would be the extra bit of guidance Missy needed.
Thank you so much for being real, your videos, your seminar, and giving us peace of mind. We love Missy so much and I cannot thank you enough for showing us the skills and tools to help us give her the structure and obedience she needs to keep her safe and calm for years to come. And I'm sure you will see us at another seminar soon enough!
Sincerely,
Ginger
“I went to Jeff’s seminar in Pierson FL this past weekend. I was a little intimidated at first.....seemed like most folks there were trainers themselves or from rescue groups or just knew a lot more than me. I was like what am I doing here? I am just your regular dog owner. I work full time, have a life, a house that needs taking care of and 2 dogs I’m crazy about. Been struggling with one of them for 2 years, leash reactive, fence runner, out of control excitable. Well all it took was Jeff showing me how to hold the leash and how to make a leash correction, not sure that’s the right word..”snap the leash”. I swear I have a brand new dog. Gracie’s looking at me during our walks, passed 2 dogs on this morning’s walk, no reaction. Standing in the front yard tonight talking with a neighbor, bicycles, people and dogs passed by the fence, she usually acts like a beast, runs the fence barks like crazy. Tonight all I said was no when she saw the first person; she remained laying down by my feet (I didn’t even put her in a down, she did that on her own). Yesterday I waited for her to do her regular nonsense at the fence and corrected her high (was afraid to do that before). Anyway that’s all it took. Everyone said I was nuts for spending $500 for a weekend of dog training. It was worth every penny. Still cannot believe how fast she responded, I don’t even know how it’s possible. It took me 2 years and Bam, Gracie got it like that.”
Thank you thank thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Camille
I recently attended a seminar hosted by the wonderful and skilled Jeff Gellman. I found Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 training when I was searching YouTube for DIY dog training videos. I am amazed every day at the amount of free content, resources, how-tos, and support that Jeff and his team puts out! I started applying the techniques on my former stray Odin and got a well-mannered young dog at home. He respects boundaries, understands what we ask of him and is so pleasant to be around. But the obedience wasn't enough. He had developed a severe reactivity to unfamiliar dogs when out on walks. During the first two months of leash training him, he was chased/attacked on 7 different occasions by dogs off leash in our neighborhood. Each time, his reaction got worse. In turn, my reaction did as well. I was scared! Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I signed up for a free Skype with Jeff who talked me through how to de-escalate my dog and to better manage him on walks. This worked really well until the other occasions of off leash dogs approaching him. We needed one on one time. I probably spent 12 hours in total on the phone with different trainers around me, none of them seemed to click with me or have the same ideas as me, that we should be able to have this dog walk in a neighborhood, where there are other dogs, without incidents, and without taking years to do. We don't need him to be friends or go to the dog park... just walk nicely past other dogs. We did find a trainer who was willing to accept us and teach us more finesse of the remote collar heel, and polish up the place command. But it wasn't enough.
I was struggling with my confidence, and the last 2 incidents with an off-leash dog charging at us ended up getting me bit by my own dog in his fit of reactivity. I can't count how many times I cried out of sheer frustration, fear, or defeat after my dog caught sight of another dog and lost his mind, so I just took him home. I was running out of hope, running out of courage, and the end of my budget for dog training. We felt hopeless. I kept trying. I kept watching. I watched and participated in every weekly Q&A session to absorb as much as I could. There were some incidents that were so frustrating that we thought maybe we will never be able to walk this dog in public... maybe I should just build an agility course in our backyard and never bring him off the property. We had already invested $1000 in training and it had only been 4 months! It was at that moment I had an idea- with all the FREE content Jeff publishes, I put a dollar in a jar to save up for the seminar every time I watched a video. This was the best decision I have made in regards to our dog.
Jeff applies an absolutely genius method of triage at his seminars. He mentions the idea of 'stop the bleeding' which addresses the most concerning issues first and empowers owners to continue their training journey with their dogs. In my case, my confidence soared, seeing my dog exist near other dogs and keep his composure so that I can continue working with him. In the week following the seminar, we have seen 3 dogs while on our walk, and my dog kept his composure, and I was able to keep his concentration on me and correct responses. I am so thankful for Jeff, and all of the free content that he and his team puts out, and the RV Trainer Seminar. Jeff has truly changed our lives and the life of our dog, forever. Thank you Jeff, for changing our lives!
-Jasmine
I attended Jeff’s dog training seminar in Providence RI weekend of 3/24/18.
My dog has been ecollar and prong trained for 2 years. We hired a local trainer that taught us and we put a ton of work into her training. And she’s pretty amazing. (She was very close to being returned to the shelter for major issues ) I had a couple of issues I still struggled with and wanted to become more confident using ecollar. In addition because of my journey with my dog I have added dog training services to my business and wanted to learn even more!
I have followed Jeff on social media and have a couple of friends that have attended his seminars. I had very high expectations! And I will tell you he blew me away and I will tell you why!
Jeff is the real deal, he is incredibly talented as a dog trainer. In addition he is very kind and patient. And when he talks to you in a room full of people, you know he is totally focused on you and your concerns. Plus he has a great sense of humor. He really wants to help people and it’s genuine.
Thank you Jeff! I am so inspired and look forward to learning more every day. I hope to be able to attend a T3 training seminar in the very near future!!
-Robin L. and Gracie
Hey Jeff!
I know you get these e-mails all of the time, but they are totally warranted so I just wanted to take the chance to say thank you as well!
I attended your seminar in Gilbert, IL earlier this year with my deaf dog Ellie who had MAJOR anxiety issues (we got her checked out, no neuro problems, only weird responses to high stress situations apparently haha). Driving up from KY to attend this was probably one of the best decisions I could have ever made for both her and my husband and I. She recently had to have surgery for a luxating patella. Before your seminar, confining her to a crate for 6 weeks would have been a complete nightmare. But thanks to the way that you empower and educate owners we have a dog who has been able to begin the healing process without distress and in (relative) comfort.
Bonus picture: Before she started having knee issues, this pup who used to get wayyy too overexcited around other dogs was actually able to participate in some local pack walks. She had an awesome time, even while wearing one of those horrible inhumane e-collars ;)
So I just wanted the chance to say thanks again, because there are few things as awesome as watching your incredibly anxious tuned-out pup begin to focus and put their trust in you to guide them. We have a pup that is ridiculously happy, two humans that are ridiculously happy, and a rich family life that Ellie gets to be an active part of.
Thanks,
Stephanie R.
Jeff,
I was at your RV Training Seminar outside of Austin, TX the weekend of Nov. 11, 2017. I had the 110lb GSD that was leash reactive and was starting to growl at my 11 yr old son. Your help on the leash reactivity was spot on and Leo continues being great on and off leash. No more pulling when he sees other dogs, deer and cows. Having my 11 yr old son do trick training with Leo was also spot on! The bond my son had with Leo is back and they are doing great together. I even purchased the trick training packages through your website and Leo now plays dead.
Leo is down to 100lbs after having successful TPLO surgery after your seminar. Like I told you before, you are a rock star.
Thanks,
Jared F.
“I wanted to take a quick minute to send you a personal thank you, not just for this past weekend's seminar but for all the hard work you do. I've been a huge consumer of your free content and what a huge help it's been. My pup had such a hard time with his kennel but through reaching out to you on your live show you provided me with ideas on how to fix it and to no surprise bonking the kennel and practicing duration fixed things. But your content doesn't just help issues, it also allowed me to learn techniques for obedience. Joining the seminar this past weekend, seeing you handle not just my dog but all the other attendees' as well, really tied everything together for me and i left with so much confidence in being able to train my dog to be the great dog that i want him to be. You and Joelle are great at what you do. Once again, thank and best of luck to you both.”
Kindest regards,
Juan and BammBamm
"I just want to thank Jeff and the staff at solid K9 training. I just attended the ecollar rv seminar, and I've done the board and train, along with utilizing your free videos, and Im just so grateful for all that you guys do and all the information you make readily available. I love the way you put the power in the dog owners hands and show us how to step by step communicate with our dogs with varying tools. Because of your work Im able to have the best dog he can be. I was able to take my dog with me across the country, we're able to go offleash and he knows boundaries with people and other dogs. Being able to see each person work with their dogs with their own issues was just incredible and even helped me with my own dog. It really just shows that theres so many different ways to get results with your dog and that there's always hope if you take accountability and really put in the effort to work with your dog. Having Jeff be such a balanced person and trainer just made me want to strive to be a better person for regular life and for the life of my dog. You all are amazing."
-Liz N.
"I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for all the knowledge and confidence building that I got from attending your seminar this past weekend. Yesterday Violet (the white pitbull) and I went walking with the remote collar for the first time. We had worked some in the backyard before leaving my property to help prime us both. For the first time ever, she gave me eye contact while walking down the sidewalk, which she normally only will do if she sits since I won’t start moving again until she does. Today, I didn’t use the prong collar to correct her for anything, it was all with the e-collar, and she responded well. We walked past the middle school about 10 minutes after it got out, so there were lots of kids milling around, bicycles, and although she looked several times, she never drifted from heel next to me and I could use a quick tap on the momentary button at working level to get her looking forward. I have not met and passed another dog on the sidewalk as of yet, but I am confident that we will be able to without her acting on her naughty thoughts with a little practice. I was amazed that she could sit and down so close to other reactive dogs during the seminar and noticed in the video posted today of you walking the reactive shepherd, how as she grew uncomfortable with the dog walking so close she adjusted her position and looked at me instead. That is great progress in so little time and I am so glad I was able to attend. Thank you so much, you have helped to create a whole new world of possibilities for my dog.
It was a great pleasure to meet you in person, and safe travels for the rest of your tour.
I will promise to send you a photo (in the near future, haha, not this week) of Violet downed at an outdoor cafe somewhere here in Vista, something that over the past several months with her dog reactivity I didn’t have the courage to even contemplate doing with her, and would never have actually done without attending the seminar. That photo will have the caption “ Impossible becomes possible after meeting Jeff Gellman. Accomplishing that will be a great moment for me and Violet."
— Heather B.
“Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training’s RV seminar this past weekend was truly one of THE best experiences of my life and sharing it with my training partner Jana and her board and train Basset Isabelle was the icing on the cake! Jeff is amazing to watch and his rapport with people is incredible. In two days all of the dogs were changed for the better and everyone there walked away with more powerful knowledge and confidence. Thank you Jeff Gellman for everything you do for dogs and people everywhere!!!”
— Julie S. and Jana M.
"The reason I drove 2.5 hours to this seminar is because my dog wanted to attack every dog we walked by on the street. So it was either a) return him to the shelter like the previous TWO owners did b) never let him leave my house or c) actually do something to FIX the problem. That’s how I found Jeff. And guess what — I’m taking my dog on successful walks now. Training, dedication, patience...it pays off. Follow up 2 days after seminar: Guess what Jeff? I took my dog on a structured walk last night with the ecollar and my new skills I learned over the weekend. We live in a very historic town that is extremely dog friendly, there are always a ton of dogs being walked on the streets. I used to have to zig zag, arc wayyyy around them, cross the street, control my lunging 90 pound dog. Last night we walked past SO MANY DOGS, something we have never done before, and after about 3 dogs I didn’t even have to use the ecollar anymore. Just walked on by with Riggs looking up at me or straight ahead. No lunging. No growling. No barking. I was in tears but this time they were happy tears...much better than that night I didn’t think it would ever get any better. And what a simple concept. THANK YOU."
— Julie B.
"Hi Jeff, I attended your RV training this past weekend. As a foster mom through Last Hope K9, I was so thankful that you gave us the opportunity to attend this session (for free to boot!). My only disappointment is that I didn’t get to go earlier (I’ve been fostering for over a year)! I really enjoy fostering and have taken on some of our tougher-to-place fosters to help put them in the position to be successful in their furever homes. Your guidance on how to approach different situations has been invaluable. Your interpretation of dogs’ actions (whining, jumping, etc) was eye opening. I cannot thank you enough for not only your generosity this past weekend, but also your generosity to our entire group. It was an honor to meet you and attend the seminar. I can’t wait to practice my new learnings with my dogs as well as my future foster dogs!"
— Maura
"I had the pleasure of hosting Jeff Gellman’s RV seminar in June 2016. As a new trainer, this was the first seminar I have hosted and I have to say I am so happy with everything. Jeff is truly an amazing trainer and person, he is kind and genuinely cares about owners and dogs. Jeff was more then willing to give advice and insight to any questions, as well as expressing his interest in what we offer. Hosting the seminar also gave my new business a boost in awareness, Jeff happily promoted me and the facility. I have since been contacted by people who may have otherwise not known about the services I offer. I would gladly host Jeff again and again, not just because of what I took away from the seminar but also because of how comfortable and welcoming Jeff made me feel. Thank you to Jeff and his assistant Lauren for making my first time hosting a training seminar a delight. From discussing dates to finalizing everything, everyone was incredibly friendly and accommodating. "
— Jordan D., Sakura K9 Inc.
"Jeff is an asset to the dog behavior world. He is fair, knowledgable and able to work with the worst cases. He’s able to help dogs that otherwise would be euthanized. Just went to his “RV Dog Trainer” seminar in Florida, and so thankful I did. I’m a trainer, so I came looking for more tools and the knowledge that I can help some of the same dogs. If you’re a trainer looking to do more behavior rehab, I highly recommend going to this seminar. One day I’ll make it to a T3! Thanks Jeff, you rock!”
— Melody O.
"I took a weekend seminar in Fergus Canada with Jeff last weekend. When I got there I was shaking a bit because I was so nervous that my dog would be bad, I was a bad owner, a bad handler, and I felt hopeless. When I took my dog to get his first shots at 10 weeks, the vet told me he was concerned that I basically had a “bad puppy” that was going to grow up to be a “bad, uncontrollable dog”. I let that yahoo get in my head and I spent the next three years afraid and paranoid that my dog would hurt someone. (Never me, I was never afraid for myself). I went through 3 training facilities before this one and heard nothing but excuses from the trainers because he was a German Shepherd and this was the way it was. Jeff helped me see that he’s an AWESOME dog and I had nothing to be afraid of. And as soon as my mindset changed, my dog changed. It’s been two days and I already have the most amazing dog and I know he’s capable of being even better. Thank you so very much. Sometimes it’s not the dogs behavior that’s the problem."
— Kori R.
"Attending Jeff’s 2 day RV seminar was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever done for not just my dog, but my own peace of mind. Jeff helped me to control Willard and offer the discipline I couldn’t do alone, but also gave me the tools I needed to continue moving forward with his training. Not only did I walk away with more knowledge than I had ever expected, but I also was able to network with other great dog trainers in my area and am now working with someone I met at the seminar! The price is well worth the money.”
— Tiffany N.
"It has taken my a while and a few attempts to write a review about attending Jeff's seminar in Ottawa. The reason being is I am having a hard time putting into words how much he has changed my life. Before attending the seminar I had heard many things about this man, mostly training gossip among other trainers and people in our industry. Therefore I attended the seminar with no expectations at all really. I figured I would see him put way to much pressure on dogs and see his ego take over training. This is what I had been told about his seminars and overall personality. Wow. That could not be farther from the truth. Jeff was amazing with every dog and client who attended the seminar. He was patient, kind and explained things to people in a way they could really understand and implement in their training programs at home. Everyone who attended was very please with Jeff and the results training had on their dogs in simply two days.
Now Jeff as a person , amazing. Jeff has taught me so much and given me the confidence to put myself out there. He has been so supportive and keeps in contact with me to ensure my success. Why? I have no idea, he isn't getting anything out of it. He seriously just likes to help people. That's what makes him so amazing. He is in this business to help people succeed and see things in a different light.
With all Jeff's help I have already double my clientele and I am rocking it in business now. I still have a ton to learn and will never stop learning. Jeff gave me the inspiration and the hope that I can do this. In this industry we ALL need that from time to time. We need the support and help from colleagues. Jeff is always ready and willing to help me. Even when he is traveling and super busy, he makes the time. That is the key word, he makes the time.
Amazing person and I am really fortunate to be able to call him a friend. Thanks, Jeff."
— Cher W., Ottawa
"Have you ever been dressed down, called "colorful" names and told never to take your dog in public again? I have. And, although my three dogs are small, a collective bad reaction to someone's off-leash dog can knock me to the ground. I've been a conscientious dog owner, I've taken classes, read training books and diligently practiced what every expert I've employed has promised would work and my naughtiest dog has her CGC! Imagine a place where everyone supports your goal, respects you, a place where you are not judged harshly for your dog's behavior and someone will generously share decades of training experience with logical step-by-step sequences of training. This was my experience at Jeff's seminar. Every handler brought a different challenge, each dog a different history and Jeff was eager and able to teach through every challenge. I'm focusing on being quiet with my dogs. Contrary to what we've been told, it's of no benefit to them to receive constant praise and chatter. This week we are working on eye contact and default sits. Quietly. Calmly. Publicly!"
— Gratefully, Mardi on Maui
"I wanted to take a minute and thank you - personally - for spending the weekend sharing your knowledge and skills with a group of dog lovers at the beginning of April. I was one of those participants in Mansfield, and I brought my dog, Ruby, with me. I imagine that you come into contact with so many people and their pets that remembering one or two is hard to do ... but I will not soon forget the game changing information and tips I learned from you.
I have been working with both of my dogs since finishing your RV Seminar although I only brought Ruby with me. I wish I had more time to work with them, but I give them what I can and, so far, I have seen some significant improvement in both.
Ruby especially has been responding well to my work with her. I am extremely happy with the improvement in her behavior (with the e-collar) as it relates to her ability to socialize appropriately with other dogs .... I have been SO SUPER impressed. In fact......I took her Sunday to a fundraising event for the rescue where I adopted her. They had a 5K walk and she was wonderful (as she usually is - ON WALKS). But the event was teeming with dogs all over the place. While we walked in and around them before and after, she was great.
Later on the same day I had her at a local store that was also holding a fundraiser for another rescue and Ruby spent some quality time meeting another dog (face to face) with the least amount of interest I have ever seen in her. I was really pleased and am so happy that she is making better choices around other dogs.
I went to my regular pack walk last night (have not been there in about 5 weeks) and the trainer said he thought she was doing great. She was able to sit next to me while I had a conversation with someone else and was just minding her own business. She sniffed at the other person's dog but never got snarky at all.
In other words, I can't thank you enough for giving me the faith in Ruby that she deserves and for giving me the tools to use to help guide Ruby into being a better and more calm dog around other dogs. Your weekend in Mansfield was SO worth the time and expense. Getting to meet you and learn from you have been a great pleasure.
THANK YOU for helping me with my dogs."
— Anne R. (Oberlin, Ohio)
"I attended the RV Trainer seminar in Rhode Island with my lab/cow Josie. My expectations were that Josie and I could gain a comfort level walking, being and existing around other dogs. Josie was raised in a dog park, socialized from puppyhood. After a few reactive incidences, I lost all confidence and was not enjoying the things I had done with Josie in the past. Josie went as many places as possible as a family dog. Not only was I NOT enjoying having Josie in public places, I was a nervous wreck about the possibility of dogs attacking Josie and then having Josie react. Jeff, you have changed our lives ... and I can hear you saying, "No, you are changing your lives." But without your videos, Periscopes, and then RV Training, I would not have gotten my confidence back ...
I had been to trainers who told me Josie could never be around dogs again ...totally unrealistic, irresponsible and not helpful information. I also paid a heck of a lot more money for them to tell me that! ... During our weekend training, you said, "We have to help people who are struggling with their dogs." That statement helps me to have more empathy for others as well as myself. All your positive energy inspires me to be the best I can be and to expect the best from Josie. I started following you through social media nine months ago. I was really hesitant to attend a workshop, just scared that I couldn't do the work. I went to Rhode Island thinking, OK, I'll get some basics down and then attend the Philadelphia workshop this summer to really succeed and brush up. It's a heck of a lot closer -- 30 minutes instead of 5 hours. However, I am pretty sure I will have NO reason to attend Philadelphia other than to express my gratitude to you. Jeff, I thank you. Josie thanks you.
You have changed my life and there can be no better feeling in the world than raising, educating, inspiring someone as much as you have helped me."
— Laurie P.
"What a great seminar! I highly recommend it to any dog owner struggling with any obedience or behavioral issues, or any new dog owner. I foster dogs with behavioral challenges and work towards rehabbing them. I’ve gone to more than several trainings, both group and 1:1, to work with these types of challenges. Jeff’s no-nonsense approach and presentation is not only extremely informative - he’s hilarious and it makes learning fun. I’m already using some of the techniques and tools I learned about this weekend with AWESOME results! Will definitely attend future seminars for a refresher."
— Caroline D.
"I could not be more impressed with Jeff and his techniques. As a new dog trainer, I’m constantly looking to add to the toolbox my wife and I brought our personal dogs to his RV seminar at his facility and he was awesome! He has such an amazing feel for a dog’s energy and a natural way of communicating with owners to help them help their dogs! Thank you for all of the wisdom Jeff Gellman! It is truly appreciated!!"
— Michael B.
“You have a special gift-not just with the dogs but also the ability to communicate with people and get them to understand what they need to do. YOU made all the difference in getting Turbo manageable even before I attended your wonderful seminar. This is because of the wonderful videos you posted- l studied them and did what you said-and as you know "it works.' One more comment from the seminar. I was able to learn so much just from watching you. I still shake my head and am amazed at how by the end of the day you had transformed those 2 pities from violent Cujo's to calmly laying down beside you enjoying a few pets and treats. Never seen anything like that before. I was an Animal Control Officer in a large midwestern city once and when the seminar began those 2 were as bad or worse than any that we had to go up against and deal with. There would have been Ketch poles and property damage and people and dogs possibly getting hurt and most likely police "backing us up" had we needed to deal with them. But you calmly and quietly transformed them right before my eyes. I will forever be grateful for your help with Turbo. Once I found you and was able to study your videos and attend your seminar the major issues I had been having with Turbo just quickly went away. In fact in some things like loose leash walking he is now a stand out thanks to you. And by having helped us you are still helping many others also--because he serves as a Search & Rescue dog now.”
- Donna L.