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Testimonials

I am a short doxie but love to socialize and perform in class.  Cindy provided some great tips for me and now I can sit, come, and heel!   She taught my owners how to deal with my sitting and down issues; now I just need lots of practice. Her treats are really the best and she gave me lots of individual attention. I hope to attend another class soon to reinforce my skills and learn more!

We enjoyed your class very much!   Judy, Glenn, and Fritzi

 

 

If you want a normal, well adjusted life versus “dog’s” life, take Cindy’s class (rated 5 out of 5 stars)!  

We didn’t realize how much our dogs ran our lives and were systematically training us until Cindy’s class provided positive training techniques that restored fun into working with our family pets. Her helpful training tips expanded well beyond the classroom as she personalized her training methods to work with any doggie (or human) behaviors. We loved the Surviving Puppyhood, Adult Basic, and Advanced classes for both dogs and the K9 Nose Work combined both fun and challenge for our energetic dog that needed focus on other than…”squirrel”! 

Gerry & Debbie

   

 

We have very high standards for how we treat our dogs and how our dogs treat other dogs and people as well.  Our goal was a gentle, thorough training using positive rewards and praise.  We were not looking for a “cookie cutter” puppy class.  We wanted to find one that looked at our individual dog with his own personality and breed traits, and then teach us how to train him in the best possible manner.  Cindy Smith and The Right Steps Dog Training Program was just the right fit for us.  Cindy uses a store front located in a small strip mall to hold the class.  There are no outside distractions, just the owners and their pups, and Cindy.  The floor has a rubber mat surface which was also good, and the place has air conditioning which is most appreciated in the summer months.   We enjoyed the class and Gus thinks his toy is GREAT!
Thanks for doing a good job Cindy.

Sue …very satisfied dog owner!

 

 

 

The Rights Steps training is the right place for my dogs. Cindy is absolutely the best trainer around in my opinion. Our dog Sara was adopted and had very little training and somewhat a fearful . We attended the Surviving Adolescence training class and she got along really good. Cindy is so gentle and never takes her focus off the dogs in the class. She understood Sara’s needs more than I did, which made me feel very comfortable. She gave us lessons to work on at home which helped me become more creative in coming up with ideas to further Sara’s training. Sara had fun and learned to socialize better with the other dogs and because we liked the class so much we attended a second time to give Sara a bit more exposure. The Private Training at The Right Steps is also amazing. Cindy came to my house to help me resolve some barking and jumping issues with Sara and my other dog. She is so knowledgeable and kind I loved watching her with my dogs. Both my dogs are doing great. Thank you so much Cindy.

Linda

   

 

Thought you might enjoy of your little pupil's latest achievements! This is an ad that will soon be the USA Cavalier King Charles magazine. After Tad's latest show and only 2 months in the ring he has 13 pts and one major and won winner's dog and Best Breed 2 days of this show--beating the Specialty National Championships who were there including his own father who is ranked 5th in the nation! Everyone is buzzing about little Tad! He is doing so well and has never had a conformation class! Only The Right Steps training with Cindy! Tad is now 11 months old and will be in the upcoming Sacramento show and Vallejo next week--only needs one Major to finish his championship--keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks a lot of all your help training our Tad O Magic! Sue

 

I’ve had numerous dogs throughout my life including several Aussies.  I’ve been able to train them to the basics with fairly good luck.   Along came Aussie # 6, Rose, a high energy blue merle.  At 12 weeks I realized she was more active and smarter than previous Aussies, bringing a ball back without asking.  Other episodes made me realize I needed someone to help and started the hunt for just the right trainer.  I remembered an ad in my Vet’s office, dug it out and gave a call.  From the very first meeting, both my husband and I were impressed with the cleanliness, friendly attitude and caring about our dog, Rose.  Cindy guided the Doggy-parents in how to teach our dogs the basic commands.  I took Rose into an agility class, since she lacked some confidence and had shyness (common trait for Aussies).  Both Cindy and I saw Rose grow and I saw how it mentally challenged Rose.  The ‘Box’ adventure was fun to watch Rose figure out what I wanted.

And as a true Aussie person, #7, Angel, started classes with Cindy at about 10 weeks.  Cindy can tell you I was super cautious about taking such a young pup into classes, but her reassurance that the room was kept clean and all pups needed proof of vaccinations helped.   Angel has shown some of the shyness but Cindy has been helpful in suggesting classes that builds Angel’s confidence.  While Rose is the tornado, Angel is the breeze, yet the 2 play rough and tumbles and get along great.

Cindy continues to show caring and mentoring for her Doggy-parents, supplying helpful class handouts and alternative sites/books to help us be responsible owners, having a well rounded dog.  She listens to our questions and makes helpful suggestions and support.  I know if I need 1 on 1 time, Cindy would be the person I’ll call. 

Carol W.

 

Soon after we adopted Bear, we knew we needed to get some training because it became clear that if we didn't train him, he would be training us!  Not having any experience with dog training, Cindy broke each command down so we could understand how the dog's mind works.  This made it easier for us to do our homework with Bear.  He started out in the adult class and then moved on to advanced class.  She also recommended the Sense-Sation harness for Bear which has done wonders for his leash manners. Because of the training we received at The Right Steps, Bear has calmed down a lot and we have learned to manage his environment so he doesn't get into trouble. Now that we have a pretty much well-behaved dog, we can take him for hikes and he loves swimming in creeks and lakes.  Now we can do the things with Bear we dreamed about when we adopted him.  Thank you Cindy.  We have highly recommended The Right Steps to anyone that will listen.

 

 

Hi Cindy, Thank you for helping me with Emma. When she started her training she was so shy and has really come out of her shell. Now she is a social butterfly and gets along well with other dogs. The recall training has really worked for Emma she will come running from all the way in the back of the yard as fast as she can if you say danger. Can't wait to get her in the follow your nose for fun class I think she will love that.

Cindy Z.

         

 

"Cindy uses a simple, gentle approach that teaches concepts any dog owner can immediately implement to produce mannerly behavior while building and strengthening the handler/dog bond."

Regards, Cheryl

 

SIT ROCKY, SIT LIKE A STATUE. YES, then treat. Rocky is the enjoyable, lovable dog that he is today because of the training that both he and I got at "The Right Steps" with Cindy Smith. I knew nothing about owning a dog or how to train one. We started with the puppy classes then went on to the advanced classes. Soon I wanted to do more with Rocky so we took a Tricks class. Now we are in the Agility & Fun classes. The classes are fun and helps to build the bond between the owner and pet. Everyone who meets Rocky is impressed with how well behaved he is. It does take a little effort on your part, the owner, but the results are well worth it. You'll have a happy dog and one that you and others will enjoy being with.

Thanks, Cindy, from, Carole & Rocky

 

The Right Steps was the RIGHT choice for my puppy, it was the only positive puppy class I could find in my area. I'm very happy that I chose to participate in this type of training. My puppy learned how to work in the presence of other dogs without any negative associations like leash corrections, it as all positive. By the end of my class my pup worked easily in the company of the other dogs, a far cry from her first class where she was so wound up I had to keep picking her up & facing her away from the other dogs. I feel now she has a good outlook on seeing other dogs - proof is in our walks where she will look at other dogs & choose not to get reactive, or even bark! The environment was excellent, my pup always seemed to be focused in classes. Can't wait to sign her up for another one!!

Lacy F.

 

We were at our wit's end and in desperate need of training when we came to you with Samy our adopted shelter dog. Little did we know that he had cleverly disguised himself as a sweet, demure little black lab so we would take him home with us. When we got him home he revealed his true self: that of a hyper-table-dancing-armchair-chewing-nipping-jumping maniac! Thankfully, we heard about your positive reinforcement program and took a six week class. We learned how to reinforce the behavior we wanted from Samy and redirect his less than ideal behavior to something more constructive. The first four weeks of class, Samy was very anxious and easily distracted by the other dogs there. But you provided him a safe place to learn by using an extendable fence with a blanket on it so he couldn't see the other dogs. This gave him and us the opportunity to be part of the class because he was much less distracted. By weeks five and six the fence had been shortened and Samy was able to come out into the main room and help demonstrate commands. We continue to use the methods we learned especially the "Samy Hustle" call back command to which he responds about 85% of the time, although we strive for the elusive 100%. We are so pleased with Samy's behavior changes because it allows us to take him more places with less anxiety and he gets to live a fuller, happier life.

Much thanks and gratitude, Samy, Amy, Donna and Ray

 

We were referred to the Right Steps by our vet who had taken her own dog to Cindy and highly recommended her. From the start we were impressed with her professional communication and friendly attitude. Her facility is very clean and comfortable and our dog was very relaxed during the indoor training classes. We truly enjoyed our 8 training classes and looked forward to all the outdoor locations. Cindy has a knack with dogs and she gave us lots of tips that we are still relying on. We loved the small class size and the individual attention she gave us- even though we have one of the tiniest breeds. Our class had a mixture of breeds and sizes and she was able to give us each specific instructions that were customized to each of our dogs. She made the classes fun and relaxed so the training wasn't stressful. 

We would highly recommend Cindy and have referred other clients to her- you can't go wrong!

Sincerely, Karen and Rick K.

   

 

Cindy was recommended by my Vet who describes herself as being "picky" about trainers, and who strongly advocated positive reinforcement type training. I had adopted a beautiful, energetic, and very naughty Lab--Bella.I soon realized I was in over my head when it came to keeping Bella in check. And I feared that, without training, as Bella grew older and bigger, she would become completely unmanageable. Bella started in Cindy's Puppy Socialization classes when she was 10 weeks old and quickly earned the nickname "Wild Child." Cindy's calm approach and depth of knowledge helped me form a daily training regimen that kept Bella occupied with learning instead of destruction. Cindy also suggested games that burned up lots of Lab puppy energy while reinforcing her training. Cindy's instructions were age-specific, and helped me through the various stages of puppy development. Cindy also suggested useful tools, like the Gentle Leader harness, to help with specific issues. Without Cindy's guidance, I would have wandered around the pet stores and ended up buying a lot of things that didn't address Bella's needs. Bella progressed through Junior, Senior, and Field Trip classes. Her new nickname became "Mild Child." Today, I have a well mannered, calm, beautiful Lab. I get many compliments on my Good Dog. I can take Bella everywhere and she is unfailingly calm, sweet, and well behaved, even in noisy and crowded venues. I am grateful to Cindy for providing us with the training tools to get from Wild to Mild. 

Kathy & Bella

   

 

There are no bad dogs or dumb owners at Right Steps, only the untrained and the uninformed. I learned as much as Jasper at our classes. We both had fun, and he's a better behaved pup than when we started. We'll be back for more training in the future!

Thanks, Cindy!   Liane L. and Jasper

 

Hi, we have a Standard Poodle named Rufus. He is smart, loving and fabulous but very very hyper. We went through 2 training sessions with Cindy and she was wonderful. She gave us so many wonderful ideas to help calm Rufus and valuable training skills. Cindy is very calm and patient and I am not at all! She helped me not get so frustrated with Rufus's over zealous outlook on life! He is still a work in progress but we have so many more skills to pull from the before. Thank you Cindy!!!

Debbie and Don H.

 

Hi Cindy, I just wanted to let you know that Jagger and I passed the Delta Society Pet Partners evaluation on Sunday. I wanted to thank you for helping us train our dog. He has been enrolled in your classes since he was 11 weeks old and he is turning a year old on 4/11. The evaluators mentioned how uncommon it was for a dog of his age to pass the test the first time. I am sure that your training helped. It's hard to believe that 9 months ago he was going to your puppy socialization classes. How time flies! I'm sad that we are coming to an end of our last class with you for a while. It was worth every penny to continue on with his training and go thru all your classes, as it only helped him become a well adjusted dog. My favorite class was the outdoor class you held. I am somewhat new to the area, so you introduced me to some really cool places to go with him while we were training. You were such a wonderful trainer to work with. We try to take Jagger anywhere we can and are constantly getting compliments on his behavior and asked what kind of training we did with him. I am always telling people about you and what a great job you do. I know I don't need to say too much though because they can see the results first hand. He is such a polite dog and listens to us. I attached some photos of him for you. I will always recommend you to people that ask. Thanks again for helping us achieve our goals!

Sincerely, Charity

   

 

My wife & I have trained our dog Ollie with Cindy at The Right Steps and have enjoyed the experience. She is a good trainer and has a wonderful love for the animal. We highly recommend her. Here a some pictures of Ollie at varying ages - he is now 2+ and neutered - still a love bug.

Jim & Anne E.

        

 

I've been handling animal-assisted therapy dogs for 7 years, and knew that getting my new Rottie pup Sophie off on the right start would be essential to reaching our goal of certification at 12 months of age. Cindy understood my goals, familiarized herself with our particular needs and helped us focus. Her guidance and patience helped Sophie and I establish good communication and get us (me!) in the groove of learning together to be as a new team. We attended both Junior Puppy Class and Puppy Plus classes, and made sure we were there to take advantage of play time with the other pups not only to burn off some steam and have some fun, but to have supervised play with a trained professional to spot behaviors and body language I should be aware of for Sophie's physical and mental well-being. Cindy's methods were clearly communicated and easy to understand, and she was always willing to give a visual example of what she was explaining if it was complex or seemed confusing. Her class handouts were equally easy to use and we used them every day to work on our new skills.  Sophie and I passed both our Lend A Heart AAT and Delta Pet Partner certifications on our first try, and I am confident that working with Cindy was a huge contributor to our success.

Thank you, Cindy!  Jackie G. & Sophie

           

 

Cindy Smith of "The Right Steps" could be called "The Dog Whisperer" of the Sacramento region.

When Rex, my large German Shepherd was just 6 months old, I knew he was going to be the size of a horse and could outsmart me, too, when I saw that he could even 'open doors and gates'. Oh lordie, due to just his size alone, I knew he would definitely need training so that I could handle him with his strength. Thank goodness Cindy trains horses, too. A client of mine suggested that I call Cindy Smith with "The Right Steps", saying that Cindy was so tuned into her dog and would gently but firmly teach her dog so many things. Cindy connects to each dog with her genuine love and faith in them to teach them all of the many things they need to know to be loved and accepted at home and safe in the outdoor world, too. Cindy's knowledge and her confidence shines on through everything she does and it shows with her success with the animals.  Because of the difficult summer I was having last year, and also had two geriatric dogs at home, I decided to sign Rex up for a 3 week training/boarding program she offered with VCA Greenback Pet Resort. Rex not only had a wonderful time, but learned so much. She had trained him in the commands with hand signals, too, to sit, go down, stay, crawl and come from a distance. She taught him to retrieve the Frisbee (his very favorite playtime toy) and to roll over. As much as I missed him those three weeks, he learned a lot and lots of social skills, too. You can now often see me walking with Rex through Lowes, Home Depot, Petco, Orangevale Copy and even Washington Mutual. He goes with me everywhere and everyone loves him. He looks like a very big canine police dog, but with the sweetness of a saint. Everybody stops to touch his big, black smiling face. And, at the dog park now, others are so impressed with all that Rex can do with me.....thanks to Cindy Smith.Another thing I love about Cindy and her training is that she uses the harness and gentle leader for those dogs like mine that want to pull us along. She doesn't believe in the 'choke' and 'prong' collars. Like everything she teaches, it is with gentle persuasion and positive reinforcement. It is also pretty embarrassing at times when my dog gets the best of me, but she doesn't criticize me for it, she just teaches me how to 'undo' it and how to 'do it differently'. Gotta love her...what else would you expect from someone who loves your '4 legged human kind' as much as you do.

Susan S. and Rex der bar 'Rex'

 

Cindy has a very special way with puppies and dogs. Tilly and I have attended Senior Puppy, Puppy Plus, Trick class, and multiple Small Dog Play sessions. I believe that dogs "read" people and I haven't seen a dog that didn't positively respond to Cindy and her training techniques. She works with each dog and owner, providing insights and suggestions for both creating positive responses and correcting negative ones. Her techniques are gentle and consistent. Cindy is patient and positive. Right Steps classes provide valuable training and socialization opportunities. I would recommend her classes to anyone!

Thank you! Nikki

 

Tobias was a rolly polly 15 pound Australian Shepherd puppy when we began classes with Right Steps last year in Orangevale. We enjoyed the puppy classes, right through to semi private lessons with Cindy appreciating her expertise, advice and counseling. I think the only class we have not taken is Trick Training! The classes were fun and we made many new friends, both human and canine which have lasted into his adolescence. Tobias is now 55 pounds and a handsome 17 month old black tri colored Aussie who is enjoying learning Rally-O and taking Competition Obedience! We count Cindy as a valued friend who we would and have highly recommend to anyone just beginning with a new puppy or young dog. Two pictures of Tobias are attached from the reunion of the Southern California Aussie Rescue Group Reunion in Lancaster, CA in April, 2006.

Kathy P. & Tobias

    

 

My testimony of Pee Wee Play/Small Dog Play Group: I would say puppy play every Saturday night has been a wonderful thing for my little dog.  Her name is Pretzel and she is 7 years old.
She came from an abused beginning (puppy mill). I got her when she was 2-1/2 years old. She was so scared that when I come on Saturday nights she would just sit under my chair. She did that for months. But, finally she felt comfortable enough to come out and start running with the other dogs. Pretzel used to sit under my chair for months and now - she lets other people pet her and even strangers too...so, that is a big plus...being around other people and know they are not going to hurt her...Now she is happy to drive up to the center and pushes me almost out of my seat. Her tail starts wagging and she is eager to get in the middle of things. She plays one-on-one a little now. She even drinks a little water while there - which is a rarity but, she keeps feeling more and more comfortable and others have noticed the BIG change in Pretzel over a couple of years. So, I am thankful that Cindy opens the center on Saturday nights - means a lot to us both to be there. Thanks, Cindy

Doris M. & Pretzel

*Photo Pending*

 

The Right Steps classes that we have taken have allowed us to train our bearded collie "Izzy" in a positive manner. She has responded well to this method and looks forward to each training session both at home and at class. The beginning socialization with other puppies allowed Izzy to become very friendly around other dogs. Cindy is very talented in matching dogs of similar personality for this socializing. I would highly recommend The Right Steps to anyone with a young puppy.

Steve L. & Izzy

     

 

We first met Cindy thru Folsom Parks & Recreation when we got our American Bulldog Zach. We really liked her non force way of training, so when we got our Springer Spaniel Daisy May, there was no question that we would take her to the Right Steps. Daisy May is still a work in progress, but with the basic techniques that we learned from Cindy, we are making wonderful progress.

Thank You, Rick & Tracy

 

Roxxy is a graduate of The Right Steps with Valerie {Puppy, Jr. and Sr. class and also Puppy Agility (offered a few years ago)} and has turned out to be the best dog. We can take her anywhere and never have to worry about her behavior. Tudie is still in the learning process and has made great steps to becoming as well behaved as Roxxy. Cindy is great to work with and makes class fun for both participants. She takes great care to ensure play time is fun and safe for puppies of all sizes and ability. Cindy has also made my kids, 14 & 10, feel welcome and helped them participate with Tudie during class. I would, and do, highly recommend The Right Steps for any new puppy owner. The rewards last a life time! Here is a photo of Tudie (9 mos) and Roxxy (5 years).

Angela H.

 

Hi Cindy: We are so pleased that we had you out to look at Stanley. Your reassurances really helped. Then, when we saw how frightened he was at the class we really worked at his training, all according to your positive methods. Even though we aren't finishing the class we still believe that you helped us to discover how great he is. We are going out of town and Stanley is going to be neutered but we plan to consult you further. Thanks so much.

Darrel and Colleen F

 

Hi Cindy, I just want to thank you for the good experience Mia and I had in your dog training classes. Thinking back on our private lesson I recall that you just talked to us (me) but didn't put Mia through any commands or ask her to perform in any way. However, you kept massaging her entire body during that lesson. I don't know if that touching was the cause of the dramatic change in her behavior during the group class the following day, but that is the only new factor introduced in her training before the last group classes. Maybe those in the past who had called you a "dog whisperer" were correct. The change was pretty miraculous. I didn't realize the degree to which Mia suffers from a fear problem until I tried to take her for a walk the day after "graduation." She was like a spooky horse! She shied away from a neighbor out washing his car, water in the gutter, a couple cars which drove by, etc. We only covered about a quarter of a block during our walk. I will try to desensitize her in little steps with short new experiences. Mia and I need further training and I look forward to joining one of your future Puppy classes and possibly join the small dog play group.
Thanks again for showing me that reward based training works effectively with Mia while dominance based training does not.

Grace L. with Mia the Shih Tzu

*Photo Pending*

 

We started training with Cindy when our border collie, Tippy, was just 12 weeks old. Cindy read her shy nature immediately and guided us through a training process that was adjusted to be just right for Tippy. Cindy understands the nature of dogs. She reads the "pack dynamic" quickly and accurately and creates a safe place to socialize and train a dog. She is equally as good with people which makes her an outstanding trainer. Tippy is now a confident, well mannered adolescent border collie and a great deal of the credit goes to Cindy. Cindy is professional, kind, and fun. I am so glad we trained with her at The Right Steps. She got us off to a great start with our puppy!!

Tish C.

    

 

Ruby and I really enjoyed the Puppy Primer and Jr. Puppy Class at The Right Steps. Cindy is an excellent trainer -- kind and patient with the pups and their parents. Ruby was always so excited to see Cindy and was a very eager student. As a first time puppy parent I thought it was really important to get started right. Cindy equipped me with the information and tools on how to deal with common puppy issues. Ruby is growing up healthy and well mannered and it really is because Cindy set us down the right path. Thanks Cindy - Ruby and I look forward to future classes at The Right Steps.

Michelle S.

        

 

When over a year ago Rascal found his way into my life, Cindy was the first person I called. After I have decided that I was able to keep him, I enrolled him in every class possible with Cindy. I learned my lesson with my first dog, who I did not provide any training at his younger years. Cindy taught me so much and really strengthened my relationship with my babies. Cindy is very patient and only uses positive reinforcement. It is amazing to see when Rascal responses to her right of way. Thank you Cindy for helping me become a great and responsible mom to my dogs. Here's a picture of Rascal with his big brother Keanu both sitting nice for the picture. It really helped that I had some treats!

Sandra, Keanu and Rascal (Chihuahua)

 

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