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Beethoven
Breed: Black Lab
Owner(s): Susan Weems
"BEETHOVEN"
Colorado
Dear John and Diann,
Here is my testimonial about Beethoven. Let me know if you want me to add or delete anything. Beethoven is doing great and he has gotten so much more attached to me and I to him.
I adopted a 14 week old, totally deaf, black Labrador puppy. I had worked
diligently with a trainer using positive reinforcement and hand signals. But this method relied upon him looking at me at all times and when he was distracted by anything or trotted off in another direction, it all fell apart.
 I worried that, being deaf, my dog could wind up in a dangerous situation and I wouldn't be able to warn or save him or, due to his gregarious
nature, that he might intimidate someone who isn't comfortable around dogs. I had reached my wit's end and both puppy and human were very
frustrated and confused. That is when I met John and he introduced me to the e-stim collar. I was nervous at first about using such a
device on an already confused and very sensitive puppy. John taught us both that it was to be used strictly as a way of communicating
clearly, "our electronic language", and never as a punishment. He demonstrated that my dog's frustration and erratic response to me
was because he wasn't sure what I wanted. There was a learning curve on both of our parts but the results have been utterly wonderful.
I now have a very happy, social, and safe young dog who is relaxed and can go with me anywhere. We still rely upon hand signals but the
collar has given me a way of getting his attention when I need it. He is far better behaved than most hearing dogs when we walk on open
space or other trails. Beethoven is a happy, well-adjusted, friendly, playful, confident dog and I am a relieved guardian thanks to John's
work with both of us.
Susan Weems
Colorado
P.S. I have friends with hearing dogs who have worked with John and are also using the collars and what a relief not to have them constantly yelling at their dogs during our walks.
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