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Doggy Training Experience
updated: Sep 27, 2012, 5:08 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I am wondering if anyone has had their dogs trained at Camp Canine? What was your experience? How is your dog now?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 325021P	2012-09-27 05:32 PM
John & Mary Sorosky are wonderful people and extremely knowledgeable and skilled dog people. I recommend them without reservation for any purpose. I met a deaf dog that John trained -- mind-boggling. I think Camp Canine is great for boarding and daycare, maybe the best, though I have short-term personal experience with that. (They've done work for local dog non-profits also.) I think John is an extraordinary trainer. (No biz interaction with them here, just saying.)
COMMENT 325023P	2012-09-27 05:34 PM
I mean, I have had business with them. By "no biz interaction," I mean I'm not shilling for them. - 021P
COMMENT 325024	2012-09-27 05:38 PM
(It's actually pretty easy to train a deaf dog once you compensate for the sound factor. In some ways, a lot of trainers find the focus deaf dogs have on the face of the person makes it easier to train them in some ways.) My experience is that the training they do is old-fashioned and they were aggressive with my dog, which spooked him and put some of his progress back a few weeks imo. They probably are nice people, but I'd recommend Dioji. They seem to have better trainers who are more up to date with dog training and deal with the individual needs rather than a one size fits all training.
TISHERSELF	2012-09-27 06:21 PM
Not to steal this tread, just would like to give an update on the 'dog behaviorist' who helped the Kooikerhondje (the biter). Anne Swan, has done an amazing job with this dog. I would recommend her.
COMMENT 325053	2012-09-27 06:34 PM
At the recent Dog Fair, held at Girsch Park (Aug 26), I saw a man with an extremely well-trained dog. The dog obviously was tuned-in and eager to please. I liked what I saw, although I wondered a bit about the nearly over-the-top devotion shown by the animal. My friend informed me that it was John Sorosky. I continued to watch for a while, and thought how far too many people in Santa Barbara are in need of such obedience training for their dogs. The dog was happy and enthusiastic throughout the demonstration. I have obedience trained six dogs, via the training classes held by City Parks & Rec. A lot depends on how competent the trainers are. Sorosky looks like he knows his stuff. My favorite trainer retired years ago, but I still like to pass on her advice: "An obedient dog is a happy dog. Why? Because they are allowed so much more freedom." I.e., a dog that knows what's what and a dog you can trust.
COMMENT 325060	2012-09-27 06:46 PM
John is a phenomenal trainer, he worked with my dog, and also taught me how to work with her, to stop her from chasing our cat. More than one person told me it couldn't be done. I've also taken a few of the small group classes at camp canine, and learned a lot. And I've owned, trained, and shown my dogs in obedience for 20 years. Anne Swann would be the second trainer I would choose. She is also terrific.
COMMENT 325119P	2012-09-27 09:50 PM
TISHERSELF, thank you for the update on the "biter"! Could anyone give an estimate of how much a basic training, regular not dog show obedience, would cost?
COMMENT 325216P	2012-09-28 09:13 AM
I have a deaf and blind older dog and I wouldn't be able to get any out-of-town work done without Camp Canine. They have trained him into his daily routine and his exercise there, always remind him, keep him walked around and up to date on the CC geography, always keep the same beds and night kennel area so he doesn't get confused or roam. CC is the only place I've kept a dog where the dog comes out and goes in happily and doesn't show any "culture shock" about readjusting to home again.
COMMENT 325517	2012-09-28 03:50 PM
I trained my rescue Pit Bull at Camp Canine. I think the training there is very good. John knows his stuff. The take home lesson for me was that John trained the owner also, maybe more so than the dog; and the owner must continue the training - I train during our walks everyday. I have taken two group classes with Camp Canine, and each time, John was the lead trainer and worked with us as a group and individually when warranted. John also did a one-on-one with me and my dog. We worked on the "problem" on which I was most concerned - my dog not coming back when off-leash. I learned a lot. Training is not cheap, but I think worth it, because as someone has already said, a well trained dog is a happy dog because it has more freedom.

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