Flint is a 3 1/2-year-old purebred miniature poodle. We brought him home at 5 months of age. He was our first puppy, so I knew we both needed to go for training. For the first year, we did basic and intermediate obedience classes at a “big box” pet store. The training was treat/food-based which was only partly successful (Flint is not particularly food-oriented).
The “classroom” was in the store, with lots of distractions and noise which was not conducive to early training with an excitable young dog. Although we “practiced” daily I did not feel we were progressing well. I started asking around at the dog parks for other recommendations for further training. The name Saro and his business Jonah’s Ark kept coming up and after checking out the website I decided we would try it.
Flint was about 1 1/2 years old when we first found Saro. Upon meeting Saro I saw very quickly that his method of training was quite different to what we had experienced before. No treats/food/clickers or force was used.
Saro is a dog lover…he is kind and caring and oh-so patient with the dogs AND their owners. The training with Saro was using rewards with praise and encouragement.
Before working with Saro Flint was quite fearful of trucks, cyclists, skateboarders, the mailman and some reactive dogs.
We started training Flint using Saro’s program. With encouragement and consistency, Flint is a very different dog from when he started. He walks well on a leash; his recall is good. Trucks, cyclists, and skateboarders no longer bother him. He is more confident and more balanced thanks to following Saro’s training method.
Saro is NOT a miracle worker BUT if you are willing to learn and be open to new ideas, he will teach you the tools to train your dog to be balanced. He will encourage you and your dog to be the best that you can be. I work with Flint every day building on what I have learned and learning new things. Currently, Flint and I are having fun and cementing our obedience training.
I do not hesitate to recommend Saro at every opportunity and I know Flint would too. Try it for yourself and see what a difference can be made to YOU and your DOG!
Sheena Cunningham
and Flint
Tiger is my first dog, and he’s both adorable and sophisticated. When I adopted him, I was completely inexperienced, and I felt overwhelmed. To be completely honest, I blamed myself for hastily deciding to adopt a 1.5-year-old, male, unfixed Beagle until I discovered Saro. After scouring the internet for guidance on dealing with a beagle, I stumbled upon Saro’s insightful videos on YouTube. Joining his class proved to be a game-changer, especially with the weekly coaching calls being the highlight. Saro made himself available anytime we faced an issue or had burning questions, providing invaluable guidance and support. I can’t imagine navigating dog ownership without such dedicated assistance.
Without Saro’s training, it would have been a disaster with Tiger. While various training methods exist, many heavily rely on treats, which Beagles, like Tiger, adore. Some methods even resort to aggressive techniques. Saro’s training not only helped me connect with my Beagle but also transformed our relationship entirely. As a busy working woman, it took me a while to take the lessons, but with each one, my bond with Tiger significantly deepened. With my schedule, it took a few months to establish a solid bond with Tiger that transcended reliance on treats. A few months of maternity leave further enhanced our relationship.
Saro helped me understand my dog’s behaviour; for instance, when Tiger chewed my shoes, Saro explained it was a message, perhaps indicating a need to pee, go for a walk, or hunger. He was spot on.
When Tiger had accidents indoors, Saro pointed out it was a human error; we had forgotten to take him out on time. Saro’s availability was unparalleled, making the experience feel more like having a reliable coach than merely attending a course. I’ve grown to love Tiger just the way he is; there was no need to ‘fix’ him. He pays attention to me and craves connection. With the arrival of our new baby, Tiger has become even closer to me. We now cherish our walks together, with him happily trotting alongside the stroller. It’s an absolute joy to venture out with both of them.”
I highly recommend Saro’s training course over any other, including in-person treat-based or head halter-based methods. My priority is ensuring my dog enjoys his life to the fullest, and Saro’s training approach aligns perfectly with this goal. It’s humane, enjoyable, and incredibly helpful. Lessons are self-paced, and Saro is always available to provide support whenever needed. Choosing Saro’s training for your cherished companion will prove to be a decision you’ll appreciate.
Sima Maleki
and tiger
I have a beautiful mix-breed dog named Josh. He is now 9 years old. Our story begins 8 years ago when I brought him home with me from the SPCA. Our journey has been the best I could ever dream of, but it took commitment, dedication, and love.
In the beginning, I met with dog trainers and tried different programs that I thought would be best for Josh. It was a very confusing time for both Josh and me. We weren’t getting very far until we met Saro.
Before we started training with Saro, Josh and I were both feeling confused which led to Josh having challenges with recall and listening to my directions. I was struggling with my own confidence and emotions. When we met Saro and were introduced to his training program I felt a great sense of relief. I watched Saro with Josh and learned that I was influencing Josh’s behaviour. It was no longer confusing for Josh and me as we continued through the program with Saro. It took time and patience. I learned that the greatest treat or gift you can give your best friend is time and training without treats or alpha moves.
We continued to train with Saro and can say that Josh’s challenging behaviours changed as we learned together how to communicate. I highly recommend Saro’s dog training program. Josh does too! We are so thankful for having to meet and work with Saro.
Thank you.
Heather
AND josh
“The course was great, I have a friend who spent a lot of money on a course and they did not address all the issues such as feeding”.
“There are no treats involved in the training at all”.
“He never howls or barks, it is going really well on our daily walks”.
“When I meet dogs or strangers he simply sits and waits for them to come”.
“I bring him everywhere, in the car, to my friends at school when I pick up my son”.
“The vet is amazed how well behaved he is.”
Maude
AND yugi
We got a dog for my daughter’s birthday and she ended up picking a Beagle puppy. It was super exciting at first but then we quickly realized that it was similar to having a baby in the house. We had to doggy-proof every room and wake up to let her out to do her potty business in the middle of the night. We quickly became tired and frustrated when we realized there was a lot of training to do.
We came across Saro from his helpful YouTube videos and decided to hire him as a coach. He is very compassionate and understanding and also encouraging.
Even though at first we had a lot of success training her with food, she didn’t listen to any commands if we didn’t have the food. Saro’s no food and treat system and reward with play and praise were great. It did take time for our puppy to adjust, but now she comes, sits, and stays without any food or treats.
There were also a lot of little questions that came up along the way that we were able to have Saro help us with. Questions about sleep, eating, walks, how much chewing is too much, and gear.
In general, I also like that his approach is holistic and natural.
Now we have a lovely 1-year-old Beagle who is much calmer on walks and easier to manage. We feel much more relaxed and loving with our dog.
N.E.A & C
Tommy is a rescue dog, he was only 5 months old when we adopted him. We never had a dog before, so we started from ground zero. It became clear very early on that he was a sweet dog with an easygoing nature. However, he had no training, no leash training, no potty training, nothing.
Having followed Cesar Milan for many years on TV, we knew that having structure and boundaries and being a leader is key for a healthy relationship with your dog. So we knew that some basic obedience training would be very beneficial for both, Tommy as well as us.
Our first meeting with Saro was very important to us. We learned a lot, but more importantly, we knew that Saro has the tools, mindset, and in-depth knowledge required to teach dog owners how to train their dogs in a gentle and humane way.
I truly enjoyed listening to Saro, learning about the five essential needs for dogs and following his instructions. He provided us with the right amount of learning, tools, and exercises which we still use today.
Tommy was very eager to learn and because of the education we have received from Saro, we have been able to build a trusting and loving relationship with Tommy which we hope to maintain for many years to come.
Thank you, Saro for your wisdom and leadership.
Manuela
AND TOMMY
I have two Duck Tollers, but the one who has benefitted most from Saro’s method of dog training is Qantas. Qantas came to us at nine months old. He was to be a show dog and was co-owned by his breeder and another family who, unfortunately, did not treat him well. His breeder repossessed him and asked if we could take this unhappy little dog and give him a loving, forever home as a pet rather than a show dog. Qantas arrived with the type of attitude and baggage that I had never had to deal with before in a pet. He was undisciplined, unbalanced, unsure and reacted adversely when confronted by approaching strangers. He had a frightening habit of jumping up and nipping when disciplined in any way. I felt I had to get some help and advice and through an Internet search found Saro.
We instantly signed up for Saro’s program – no tricks, no treats, no force, hand signals along with quiet commands – simply offering praise as a reward. Qantas was receptive to this form of teaching and responded well. He’s strong-willed so I had to be relentless about not letting a day go by whereby I didn’t practice the training techniques I was taught. If there was a loophole, he would find it and regress. His rehabilitation did not happen overnight. It didn’t take much for his old ways to resurface if I became lax in working with and training him. As Saro often claims – he just provides us, the owners, with effective ways to train our dogs. We must take what we learned home with us and practice, practice, practice – consistency being the key – forever.
Qantas is still a work in progress – he has an incredibly strong prey drive and goes from zone 1 to zone 10 within a nano-second of spotting anything that moves rendering him blind and deaf to my commands. The trick is for me to recognize an upcoming situation “before” he reacts which means I have to see the moving target before he does. If I’m too late, I can eventually calm him using Saro’s training methods by having him sit and stay until he settles down.
Qantas is six years old at the time of this writing – he’s still a high-energy dog that needs constant watching. But on the flip side, he has developed into such a loving, trusting dog – as long as we’re consistent with the rules! He’s now devoted to his family as we are to him.
Levi, my second Toller, now five years old, arrived as a puppy and also attended Saro’s beginner’s class. He’s bright and quick to learn and also benefitted from the no-treats reward system of training. Even though he’s extremely food-driven he’s quick to respond to commands without offering treats as rewards with no hesitation. He’s a very sensitive dog so quiet but firm commands work best with him otherwise he gets upset and shuts down.
I highly recommend Saro’s training system. Be prepared to pay attention though. You will need to take everything you learned back home and you will be expected to teach your family members the same training methods. This will only work if everyone is on the same page at home.
Cheryl Smith
with qantas & levi
My dog just turns away her head, ears pinned back if I try to give her a treat as a reward. She doesn’t want them, I’ve tried so many different types from premium brands to raw meat but she’s not interested. I used to think she’s too aloof and stubborn to be trained, she almost never listened and just did her own thing. You helped me to understand her and adapt my training and rewarding methods and we both (and our relationship) have changed for the better. Now she’s actively seeking me out instead of running away and we both listen to each other. She still has her quirks but instead of getting frustrated and angry I just laugh and I feel she’s laughing with me and now I can honestly say I love her for being her. She’s the bestest girl and I could not hope for a better friend and a companion.
V.K.
