Our family acquired a 10 week old Golden Retriever in the Spring of 2000. My wife and I were anxious to begin training him in a structured environment. While at the veterinarian clinic we found a "TLC Dogs" advertisement in a magazine that they endorsed. Initially we thought we would attend only for a session so that "Ruckus" could learn some fundamental behaviour and at the same time teach us how to continue to reinforce what he had learned. We attended as a family, my wife and two young boys. Ruckus had a terrific time socializing with the other dogs and learned the behavioural techniques really quickly. The family quite enjoyed our evening out once a week and what resulted was pursuing more advanced levels in four subsequent sessions. I'm often complimented on what a "great" dog I have and how well behaved he is. A great deal of credit is owed to Karen. I've promoted TLC Dogs more times than I remember. Steve McCartin Angel was rescued from a shelter where she was locked in a 5 x 3' pen that was covered in dog feces and urine. She was there from ten weeks to ten months (that's where we stepped in.) When we brought her home she destroyed a couch, peed on everything, and chewed anything in her reach. She started to become aggressive and she was a total terror. We didn't know what to do. We didn't want to take her back to a shelter so we looked for another home for her. We started to become attached to her so we stopped looking for another home and started looking for an obedience school. We looked into others but they didn't offer what we were looking for. I found the TLC Dogs pamphlet at a pet store and it was exactly what we were looking for; a place where we could interact with the dog, where the dog could interact with other dogs and people, and where we could have fun and enjoy ourselves. The levels focused on exactly what Angel needed. I called for more information and after a chat with Karen, I knew that TLC Dogs was perfect for Angel. Karen knew exactly what we were going through. The first class Karen told us that the dogs would sit and stay for one minute by the end of the six weeks, I laughed and thought “never.” At the end Angel came out on the top of her class, we were so surprised and proud of her. The socialization has stopped Angel's aggression and she can now be left alone and the house is still standing when we get home. Karen has been so supportive and always encourages us to call if we have any problem or questions after class. If it was not for her, Angel would not be with us today. Thanks to TLC Dogs, Angel is now a well behaved, pleasant dog who we could not image our lives without. Bandit My name is Kathy and when I was 5 months pregnant I rescued Bandit, from the Siberian Husky Rescue Mission. Bandit came with quite a bit of baggage. He was extremely shy and nervous of people and other dogs (to the point he would cry whenever either approached him), suffered severe anxiety separation and more ... but what can I say ... It was love at first sight! We signed up and attended an obedience school in Markham, where I was humiliated in front of other students when it seems we were just not 'catching on' as quickly as some others in the class and after one class, left in tears and very upset, when I was told to get rid of Bandit because he was untrainable, useless, would not be good with children and was not worth the effort!! Needless to say, I didn't go back, nor did I get rid of Bandit. Then one day, I spotted Karen's TLC DOGS' pamphlet at our local pet store and decided to give her a call. I attended and observed one of her classes and waited to speak to Karen after the class was over. It was clear after watching Karen in this class that she was very passionate about dogs of all kinds and with all kinds of issues...in other words...there were no favourites. She took special care and patience with each and every dog and their human companion. Karen was very approachable, informative and didn't hesitate to answer any of my questions, no matter how silly they may have sounded at the time. Bandit and I attended and looked forward to our TLC class every week for all 3 levels. Bandit and I both overcame our fears and shortcomings together, enjoyed our special time together, had fun doing it. Through Karen's never-ending patience, passion for animals, education (including our human expectations), Bandit is not only obedient, loves to socialize and play with other dogs, is friendly towards people, but most of all...he's my best friend, he's guardian over my 2 year old (who can command him with both hand signals & verbal commands) and is a very important part of my life, one that I now can't imagine having ever done without. Karen and TLC DOGS, you really did prove to me that it is all you really need. Thank you! Kathy Green (Pickering) Zena & Zeus I rescued Zeus & Zena (brother & sister) from a family who no longer had the patience for them. They were crated 12-14 hours every day and had no socialization at all.  When I say that they are a handful, that is putting it mildly. My house was almost destroyed the first 2 weeks by them, I was a nervous wreck every day I went to work worried what I'd come home to, so much so that my employer let me come home at lunch to check on them, I couldn't walk them and they wouldn't listen to me. I tried an obedience school in the Markham area, where I attended two levels of classes, but that wasn't enough, something was missing and I didn't know what it was. My dogs were not allowed to socialize with other dogs there, they were muzzled, there was no educational aspect of the training nor voluntarily offered. Then my daughter gave me TLC DOGS' pamphlet, where I attended and watched a class. I knew right then and there...that this was it...this is what it's all about. The clients were laughing, their dogs were enjoying themselves and there was a definite feeling in the room that I wanted to be a part of and experience that for myself and my dogs. At that point...our journey began. I took each dog through all 3 levels at TLC DOGS. Karen's classes are limited to 6 dogs per class (with 2 or 3 instructors) to allow each canine and human companion that special attention that they deserve. My first two weeks with Zeus had me in tears. I was insecure, frustrated, embarrassed because he was acting out in class, but Karen was right there for me and within minutes had me laughing and had Zeus bouncing around her like a puppy. By the fourth week, Zeus & I were having fun and he was playing OFF LEASH with a Sheltie and American Eskimo! It brought tears to everyone's eyes watching this (it was so comforting to know that other students in the class were actually routing for us!) Karen makes sure that the owners are right in amongst the dogs that are playing and interacting to learn how, why, wherefores and the unexpected. With TLC DOGS, you're learning all the time. Karen takes the time to answer any and all questions that you have and provides any literature she can on the topic. Not only did Zeus & Zena finish at the top of their class, but Karen helped me compete in obedience trials and Agility with Zena (until health problems put a halt to that for Zena) I now have more confidence than I ever dreamed I would, I have learnt more that I ever expected or would have from any book, and the joy & fun that the 3 of us share...is that one thing that was missing, and thanks to Karen...I now have. Each day is a learning experience and a new challenge, but one that I can now face with confidence! Lenore Manuel (Pickering) My husband and I owned 2 dogs (3 now) and 2 years ago we decided it was time to take for some more obedience training. After meeting several instructors and sitting in on many classes we were discouraged and decided to make one last phone call. It was then that we met and became friends with the one and only trainer that made a difference, Karen Straghan of TLC Dogs. Karen came to our home for a one-hour consultation and we were thrilled to see that our dogs took to her immediately. Karen listened to what we considered to be problem behaviours of our dogs (and were told so by other trainers) only to show us within minutes that our dogs were not the problem...WE were! An hour later, we were signed up and ready to attend TLC's Level I class with both dogs (a Sheltie and a Spring Spaniel). We were in awe when after our first class our dogs were actually sitting on both verbal and hand commands! This was the first time we had seen any instructor incorporate hand commands in a Level I class. By the end of our six weeks our dogs were walking BESIDE us without a lead and were "coming", "sitting" and "staying" when told to. Karen delivered as she promised she would and she taught us that it was important to take what she taught us and make it part of our lifestyle when dealing with our dogs. My husband and I (and dogs too) looked forward to our once a week class and thoroughly enjoyed that special time with our dogs, not to mention when our dogs saw us turn the corner towards the building, the whining and howling of anticipation began. What stands out most about Karen and TLC is that we were shown how to teach our dogs to listen to us while having fun at the same time, something no other trainer or obedience class teaches. We are grateful to Karen and know she is one of the few people we trust to love and care for our dogs the same way we do. Karen, you truly are the Dog Whisperer. Thank you. "I had never owned a dog before so I had no idea what to expect. I think I got more out the classes than did my little Hercules. The small class size and individual attention to detail that Karen offers was exceptional. She greatly put my fears at ease (a challenge at times) and both Herc and I learned so much. The socialization skills alone for the dogs is a benefit that I could not even imagine going without. A supervised "play and learn" was better than anything that I could have done for him alone." "Group socialization is very important for the well-being of any animal. I am a cat person, however, Hercules is my first dog. Had I not enrolled in Karen's classes and learned about/how to care, treat, train and love my dog, he would have turned into a right little antisocial devil afraid of everyone (he's a shih Tzu); and I would have continued to be overprotective!!!!!!!! He learned at a very small age to interact with all kinds of dogs in all kinds of sizes and people, and it has helped immensely, as he has no fear of any dog that we meet in the streets now -- he wants to play with everyone!!!! Karen's ability to individualize the class when needed was a really nice thing to see -- she actually cared about all of us and our needs, not just getting the lecture done. Karen's approach and techniques with people and their canine friends is unique and it makes learning so much fun. That personal approach is very hard to find and the value is priceless." Shelly Tyron (Markham)