Specialty Dog Training

We had a great experience working with Braelyn Chapman training our 6 month old Pit mix Terrier Annie. Braelyn took the time that Annie, myself and my spouse Kendall needed during our training sessions. Braelyn was able to train Annie and the both of us. She pointed out and corrected us of bad habits that we had developed with other dogs. We now have the tools that we need to continue training Annie on our own. We know Braelyn will be available for us if we need refresher sessions or will answer a quick question when needed. I strongly endorse Braelyn and Specialty Dog Training. Dog training isn't only about the dog, more importantly it's the training of dogs owners that is the hardest part. Thanks

From the moment Graham Bloem entered our home, I knew we were in expert hands. He is incredibly knowledgeable, professional and he put me at ease immediately. We had taken our ten month old Cotton de Tulear, Banana, to three other trainers previously. We had some success, but only with a few tricks. Banana, is a humane society rescue, she was found in the streets of Oceanside, with two of her siblings, at 3 months old. This left her insecure, needy and with separation anxiety. She also feared men, particularly with hats on. She would bark and whine if left alone or someone came to the front door. I had to be with her constantly. If I took her to my work (I own a hair salon) she would bark at the clients when they came through the door. Not very welcoming to say the least. The worst problem was, she would pee on my armchair and the sofa. Also our brand new outdoor furniture. Graham told me the reason why she was doing this on the first meeting. She also ate so many of my favorite shoes and chewed the furniture as well. I fell in love with this crazy dog, but could not deal with the huge list of problems. I enrolled her in a four week boot camp at Specialty Dog Training, We dropped her off and I was sad to see her go, but Graham assured me she would come home a more secure and happy girl. Well, he was right. Although I missed her, I was happy to know she was safe and happy while away from us. Braelyn Chapman is one of Graham's top associates. She is also amazing with animals and Banana took to her right away. She took on Banana's case. Braelyn completely turned Banana around. She also took her on several outings while in her care, texting me pictures and info regularly. She took her to a coffee shop, mall and other areas to teach her how to behave around distractions. All of the above issues are completely gone. Her behavior is top notch now. I really can't believe that Braelyn could be so successful in only four weeks. People actually stop me and ask where and who trained her. (really). I could leave Banana in the middle of the park, walk away and she will now sit stay until I call her to me. She no longer pees on the furniture or anywhere in the house and the barking and chewing is gone too. The first week home was hard for me as I was not completely up to the task of being strict with her, but Braelyn has shown me how to behave too and now I understand how to be a better doggy owner. Braelyn is truly amazing, completely professional, smart, kind and sweet. Thank you so much for a really fantastic experience. Well worth the money and time.

Taking any test is nerve wracking but taking a test with your personal pet adds a whole new level of stress! Thanks to Graham Bloem of Specialty Dog Training I was able to put the anxiety to rest. He worked with my dog Bruno and I to prepare us (as a team) for the Therapy Dog International (TDI) certification. We practiced basic obedience with emphasis on repetition and homework assignments (daily training with Bruno). Once we were able to perform the basic obedience tasks at 90% we began dry-run tests in various environments with other dogs present. We practiced our tests as a group providing ample distraction; most certification tests are conducted with up to 15 dogs. Another thing I wasn’t expecting was the level of obedience from the 14 other dogs and their handlers. Most of the dogs could only sit for a fraction of a second and behaved more like family pets at a dog park. Having worked with Graham on my leadership and Bruno’s obedience allowed me to bond with my dog in a way I never expected. More importantly it gave me the ability to deal with any situation that may arise. I am happy to report that the quality of preparation Graham provided enabled Bruno and I to pass with flying colors. We are TDI certified members of the Shelter To Soldier Pet Therapy Team.

In 2013 I decided to join Therapy Dogs International with my chocolate lab , Cody. This was the beginning of journey that not only helped and cheered others, but had unexpected benefits for my dog and me. Cody and I began working with trainer Graham Bloem to prepare for the intense certification exam we needed to pass in order to be a member of Therapy Dogs International. Graham’s insight, high standards and balanced approach were just what we needed to become a high level therapy team. We spent a lot of time re-programming both Cody and me. For instance, my delivery of a command was soft and gentle (you could almost hear a “please” after the command). Cody’s response was “Whatever! I’ll get back to you when I’m done sniffing here.” When I became a stronger leader, Cody got inspired. This was possible thanks to Graham. Now we both feel a sense of doing something that matters. It’s magical to watch a small child overcome her fear of dogs and interact with my “chocolate moose” or see the stress of finals week melt away from a college student as Cody calmly rests his chin on their lap. As a bonus, I now have a dog that has beautiful public manners. He waits at doorways until I give the IOK to enter, he sits by my side in the bank while I complete my transaction and he’ll lay down in the boutique and wait while I’m in the dressing room trying on clothes. I would strongly recommend Graham Bloem’s training to anyone who’s interested in pet therapy.