A sample of testimonials from satisfied customers

Testimonials

"I can't tell you how much I love your clicker classes. It has produced amazing results with my Ridgebacks. As you know I show my dogs and was never too interested in teaching my dogs to sit. Clicker training has been so much more for us. It's not only taught my dogs manners, but given them so much confidence. It's been wonderful to watch them think! We will be perpetual students. Thanks so much Canine Connection LLC"

Muriel W.
Delhi, Iowa

"Scooter focuses on me, obeys better, loves our training sessions and we have a closer bond. Cindy clearly explained her training approach and how the dog was interpreting what we were doing. Cindy also spent time with each of the students & dogs (kind of a mini one-on-one) to address training issues specific to each dog. Lastly, Cindy would answer any and all questions/training & behavioral issues even if those questions/issues were outside of the course objectives. It's hard to think like a dog but now I feel I have a better understanding of a dog's mind and how a dog learns."

Mike M.
Dubuque, Iowa

"It is amazing how the six weeks have helped Banjo. He is much more well behaved. The thing I really came to class for was to get him to get along with dogs in the neighborhood and it has really worked. There was a lot of one on one time and I could ask any question about situations I was having a problem with. Banjo and I have bonded much more than we had before the class. The class met way more than my expectations. Banjo has greatly improved and settled down."

Kim T.
Dubuque, Iowa

"Cindy worked with my female German Shepherd's 'aggression' issues and I was extremely impressed that within 15 minute she had Ruby's full attention and cooperation - all with positive reinforcement. I have 2 other dogs that have been in training with Cindy Ludwig/Canine Connection, LLC. One of them is a 2 1/2 year old energetic male German Shepherd that has been difficult for me to train. In the short time that Cindy has been working with him, Morgan has gained confidence, learned to focus on the task at hand and the clicker training has actually calmed him down. I would highly recommend Cindy and her positive reinforcement training for any dog."

Debbie H.
Davenport, Iowa

"Stella & I participated in the Fall beginners class at Canine Connection. We traveled from the Quad Cities to see what this clicker training was all about. We had a great experience learning a new way of training without forcefulness. We learned a lot of the basics but also learned how to make clicker training work in any situation. Stella is a very enthusiastic canine & responded well to the training. I learned how to keep her focused. Our bond with each other also seemed to grow during the course of the class. We both looked forward to class every week & had a great time. Thanks, Cindy, for not only a fun time but making learning fun!"

Kim S.
Taylor Ridge, Illinois

"Cindy is very attentive to the needs of dogs! She is so in tune with them! She's the most patient person I know with dogs! She doesn't try to fit training to the dog. She doesn't use any cookie-cutter type training. If one way doesn't work, she will change the criteria to fit the dog. She's also very good with the owners. She talks to them and explains things so they can understand. She never gives up on any dog! She is so qualified, not just in dogs but also in wolves. I would recommend Cindy Ludwig and Canine Connection to anybody!"

Cathy N.
Maquoketa, Iowa

"Cindy, I just want to tell you that your class was the best thing we could have done for Matilda. She is a smart dog, but a little unruly because she is so young. Your class on clicker training really helped us to make her understand the proper way to act and communicate with us. Thank you so much, you are the kindest and most patient person I have ever met. Thanks again."

Abby S.
Dubuque, Iowa

"We live in West Des Moines and our 6 year old lab, Wrigley, had been growing increasingly aggressive with other dogs over the last few years. He had previously loved meeting new dogs and playing but after a knee surgery that kept him confined to the house for almost 4 months he started acting nervous and snapping at new dogs.

Even though Cindy lives in Dubuque and we were in West Des Moines I knew we had to work with her. I made many many phone calls around our area and the state and she was one of the best out there.

We took Wrigley to Dubuque for a 3 hour consultation with Cindy...she was extremely thorough in learning about his background and behavior tendencies. Wrigley was nervous about being in a place as usual, but he immediately warmed up to Cindy and was like putty in her hands.

Cindy spent most of our time with her in Dubuque getting to know Wrigley and getting to know us so that she could figure out the best way to help us make a plan. She helped us understand all of the possibilities that were making Wrigley act out towards other dogs. Then she walked us through the basic clicker training and taught us ways to help introduce Wrigley to other dogs slowly and in a way that will elicit a positive response. He responded great!

After our consultation it was up to us to work with him regularly back home. Cindy was wonderful in communicating with us whenever we had a question and checks in often to see how he is progressing. Since we live so far apart Cindy offered to use video to help with the training so that she could show us new techniques and see Wrigley's progress.

Wrigley has been making a lot of improvements because of the training strategies that Cindy taught us! I don't think he'll ever be Mr. Social again but we're starting to feel more confident and comfortable when we encounter a new dog. He gets to play with his old friends again and has even had a few spontaneous play sessions with new dogs, which was unheard of in the past!

Since we've been working with Wrigley using Cindy's techniques we've noticed that he seems more confident, curious and attentive. Our other lab, Tiger, also really enjoys the new learning and training sessions!

I think the most valuable part of working with Cindy was that she spent so much time getting to know Wrigley as an individual dog and making the training specific to his/our needs...she definitely is not a one size fits all trainer!

Cindy has a lot of knowledge to share and I'm happy that we got to work with her, I wish Wrigley could spend a month learning from her because even though we are doing our best at implementing the techniques with him, Cindy seemed to just have a natural connection with him!. Thank you for all your help Cindy!"

Sarah B.
West Des Moines, Iowa

"You are a great instructor, Cindy. You have a great love for animals, patience and good communication skills."

Gloria K.
Dyersville, Iowa

"I am sooo happy that I called you! She's [Erica] walking so much better! I really appreciate your patience and your time. You're a great instructor! You did a really good job!"

Amy T.
Dubuque, Iowa

"Clicker class was sooo fun! Lucy and I had a greyt time!! Can't wait til next week~!!!!

Jeanette L.
Dubuque, Iowa (greyhound owner)

"I live on a farm and my goal is to have free ranging chickens, but I wasn't able to let the chickens out of their enclosure until I called Cindy Ludwig of Canine Connection. Our dog, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix was killing our chickens whenever she had the opportunity! My husband tried tying a dead chicken around her neck but it didn't work.

I found out about Canine Connection from my vet and called Cindy to see if she could help. Cindy really listened to what I needed out of training. My first request was to get Elly to stop killing my chickens! I found Cindy quite knowledgeable about different dog breeds and their natural instincts. She explained that it was Elly's natural instinct to herd, and even nip at the heels of the livestock. She explained that Elly was very intelligent and needed mental stimulation and a job, so we built Elly an agility course out of things we found around the farm.

Cindy worked with Elly and me to teach us to better communicate with each other and work as a team. I told Cindy that I would like Elly to help me round up the chickens and so she taught me the rudiments of herding, and we were able to teach Elly to not only stop killing the chickens, but to work with me to round them up! We used a training method called clicker training which is the use of a clicker along with positive reinforcement.

The clicker makes a sound that Elly recognizes to know she has done something I like. It is a great teaching tool! Using clicker training Cindy showed me how to get Elly to voluntarily focus on me and look to me for direction and guidance. I now know how to get Elly's attention and change her behavior without having to resort to yelling or getting angry with her, which didn't work anyway.

Cindy's method of training has caused me to develop a different kind of relationship with Elly - it is almost like a friendship.It is as if we have respect for each other. I think this was only possible through positive reinforcement training.Years ago before I knew about clicker training I took a different dog to traditional training where I was taught that I had to be the 'Alpha.' I will say that positive reinforcement training is much more effective and the results are fantastic! Clicker training is great! It is the best experience I have had with dog training!"

Marcy C.
Delmar, Iowa

"Clicker training is an invaluable tool when trying to teach Duey anything now! Clicker training helped his separation anxiety by enjoying going into his crate, and when he sees his crate treats he sprints right into it! We couldn't be happier with the tools we learned in your classes or the end result of Duey being a more confident, well behaved, and mentally active member of the Family! Thank you from both Ashley and I! "

Sean C. and Ashley H.
Dubuque, Iowa

"I enrolled my yellow lab, Ernie, in the puppy classes at Canine Connection and was thoroughly impressed. This is my first experience with clicker training and I am amazed at how well he responds. In addition to Cindy being an excellent instructor, she has a wealth of knowledge in dog training and products. Ernie has made excellent progress and now is S.T.A.R. certified. I would highly recommend Canine Connection for all your dog training needs."

Abigail H.
Dubuque, Iowa

"Many thanks to you Cindy for all your wisdom and patience through training. I've got a much better understanding on how communication works with my dog. Learning clicker training has been the best decision I've made since having Harper! You've done such a great job of making class fun for both of us...it's always exciting to find out what we will learn next! Many, many thanks!"

Kira N.
Dubuque, Iowa

"I called Cindy for help with my five-year-old blue merle Shetland Sheepdog. I began fostering Montana and for seven months I would have to carry him outside to eliminate. Based on his history he had developed a severe case of anxiety. Unfortunately, because of the high level of anxiety he was experiencing, I was unable to train him to go outside on his own. Cindy came to my house and did an in-home consultation. Moving forward, she came to my house for four sessions with Montana. Cindy's multi-discplinary approach is vital to the success of rehabilitating your pet. She worked with my veterinarian and me and I got Montana a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication. After a month on the medication I was able to work with Montana and he was not so anxious. Today, I am very happy to say that he goes outside on his own to eliminate and he is slowly becoming more confident. I want to stress the importance of a Cindy's approach with training, positive reinforcement. We would have never seen Montana's progress if it wasn't for the approach employed by Cindy. I would like to say thank you...sooo much! Montana says thanks too!"

Jennifer D.
Dubuque, Iowa

"In September of 2010, I received my life-long dream of owning a dog. Because the previous owner did not do any type of formal training and because the dog only had minimal exposure to other people and other animals, I felt I needed to do something to help my dog be happier and more confident in his surroundings. It was recommended to me that I contact Cindy Ludwig, which I did. Cindy is a Certified Dog Trainer in the Clicker Method of Positive Reinforcement Dog Training. Looking back, that decision to contact Cindy was the best decision I could have made.

In October my nervous and fearful little dog (who was 20 months old at the time) and I walked for the first time through the doors of Canine Connection LLC. In clicker training I learned how to train my dog to intentionally perform desired behaviors by rewarding him with a desired consequence (treats, praise, petting).

My once nervous and fearful little dog is now unafraid and confident in his ability to perform desired behaviors and does so with the slightest of cues from me.

I was reading the newspaper one morning when I came across an article about a dog trainer who uses a shock collar to train dogs. My first reaction was, “You have got to be kidding; who in their right mind would want to train their dog by shocking them.” I guess as a society we expect that our pets should be intrinsically motivated to behave. Punishment seems to be a widely accepted method of training, and perhaps for a variety of reasons: 1) quickly and easily administered 2) terminates undesired behavior quickly (although usually only temporarily) and 3) reinforcing to the trainer. This type of training (learning) only produces reflexive or automatic behavior and is acquired without awareness. The animal only performs the desired behavior to avoid punishment.

On the other hand, positive reinforcement training uses praise/treats to reward your dog for doing something that you want him to do. Your dog will work to earn his reward. The reward makes your dog more likely to repeat the learned behavior. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool for shaping and changing your dog’s behavior.

I highly recommend The Clicker Method of Positive Reinforcement Dog Training and Cindy Ludwig as a Certified Dog Trainer for the following reasons:

1) The clicker always sounds the same, as opposed to voice commands
2) The meaning of the clicker never varies. Its meaning is clear; a reward is coming because of the behavior the dog performed immediately prior to the sound of the click
3) The reward is immediate and pleasurable and one the dog will work to earn
4) Because the dog has learned and understands the desired behavior, he retains it and the behavior is easy to recall even years later.
5) Cindy is a very dedicated trainer, and she believes in what she teaches.

She is very patient and has a very positive attitude.

Clicker training does take time and it does take patience. However, the rewards for you and your dog are worth it. Your dog will behave with eagerness and purpose rather than out of habit in order to avoid punishment. My dog and I have developed a very strong and lasting relationship; one built on loyalty through mutual trust and respect and I feel that I have Cindy to thank for that."

"Be Humane ~ Click to Train"

Sincerely,

Tara G.
Dubuque, Iowa

"I want to thank you for giving us a good start. I was having trouble adding cues so trying to emphasize verbal rather than hand signals helped.
She [Mocha] really has made a lot of progress, more than I expected! Part of it may be me getting questions answered so I am more efficient."

Cheryl B.
Platteville, Wisconsin

“I want to thank you for all your support and what you have done to get Moe stable. I would recommend you to anyone who would ever ask me about a trainer! Without you and your support things would have been much more difficult for me than they already were and still are! "

Denise D.
Dubuque, Iowa

"I was interested in continuing some training with my Shihpoo Wrigley, but wasn't sure where I wanted to do that. I drove by
Canine Connection LLC one day and thought to myself, 'This might be the place for us.'

I contacted Cindy and we were soon enrolled in 'Intermediate Training.'

I am so impressed with the knowledge that Cindy was able to pass along to me and the flexibility that her class offered. Cindy listened to my wants and concerns and always addressed any behaviors I wanted her to address. She always found a way to make class fun! One of Wrigley's favorite things to do in class was running through the agility tunnel! Wrigley learned tricks like high-five, wave hello/goodbye, dance, and turn. We also worked on down, leave it, and come when called.

Cindy has strategies and techniques for every behavior. I highly recommend Cindy and Canine Connection LLC to any dog owner who would like some training techniques and bonding time with their 'best friend.' I look forward to the next class that Wrigley and I take with Cindy, I think Wrigley would be a great student for her 'Focus Training' class!"

Jennifer S.
Dickeyville, Wisconsin

"I really enjoyed my puppy training with Canine Connection with Cindy. She came to my house and worked with Harper in his own environment. He was so responsive to her at such a young age of 8 weeks. Our other dog Henry also received the benefits of Cindy working with Harper.
Cindy has so much knowledge of dogs and behaviors. She's always available for questions or concerns. I really enjoy the clicker training and how fast my dogs responded."

Becky H.
Asbury, Iowa

"I honestly have to say, I did not believe in clicker training, until I tried it with Cindy at Canine Connection LLC. I did not understand how this little clicker device you hold in your hand can do more than your voice. I have a dog rescue. Cindy has helped us, through clicker training, to help a dog with dog reactivity, a dog that was mouthing, and a dog that was an escape artist. It is amazing, once you understand the technique, what you can do with it. I think the best reason I like it is, the dog is learning without being intimidated or scared. The dog actually enjoys learning, because they are not being treated harshly."

Marla T.
LaMotte, Iowa

"Awesome.....awesome. Dog Training! Cindy has helped me with my new pup Ruby. She is now 7 months old and the best dog I have ever seen! Everyone loves her and would like to kidnap her. Not going to happen ever!! Super excited to go through Scout Dog with Cindy!"

Cheryl L.
Dubuque, Iowa