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America's Canine Academy Rss

New York

ROCHESTER,

NEW YORK

sy_potter_and_dogs

Sy Potter

Certified Level 2 Canine Specialist

585-329-7165

email: SY POTTER

Monroe Westside and Orleans Counties

I became interested in “Dog Whispering” because I have seen so many dog owners struggling to control their dogs in a variety of situations from vet offices to dog parks. I myself had a dog aggressive female when walking on a leash. Instinctively I knew obedience training does not alter the issues that many dog owners, including myself, face daily. Through online research I discovered Mark German, America’s Canine Expert, formerly known as America’s Dog Whisperer, and NY SY WALKING DOGCEO/Founder of America’s Canine Academy. I particularly liked his methods because they are consistent and work with all dogs. The methods I’m referring to are the Four Essentials to a Stable Dog (c). I’m now proud to say that I am a Certified Level One Canine Specialist, currently working toward Level 2. With each new case comes more success and hope for the dog and the owners.

Check Out New York’s Dog Whisperer


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Hello Sy,
It’s Nykki, (my e-mail address used to be atlantisangel98@hotmail.com). I had adopted Pia on May 21st, 2009, and today is the two year anniversary of what I have deemed as “Puppy Freedom Day.” It was that summer that you helped change everything. I wanted to send you an update as well as a thank you.
Pia has turned into quite the traveling connoisseur! We have moved 3 times since she has been home, and has never skipped a beat with adjusting. Our most recent move was from Rochester, NY to Redwood City, CA (20 mins south of San Francisco) on March 31st of this year. I wasn’t exactly sure of what to expect on the 10 hour trip (we flew to our new home in California with a 2 hour layover in Chicago) but she did amazing. She stayed on my lap cuddling the whole time. No anxiety, no fear, no shaking, no growling, no accidents. I did not put her in a carrier. She absolutely loves it here in California. She was never really one to play with toys that often, and now you can pretty much see her favorite toy not far from her. She has always LOVED to be outside, but she seems to love it even more out here.

She is quite the intuitive young “lady”. As far as her and I are concerned, she has completed her service dog training, and has made leaps and bounds over my expectations. She is both my medical and psychological service dog, and she always known just what I need and when. There are many things that there was no way for me to train her for, I have severe nightmares partly due to PTSD and also some other factors, and when they get really bad, she without fail wakes me up calmly and gently, and the way she wakes me up, I forget most of what I was dreaming (I have always recalled everything about my dreams, every night, including the most gruesome details, and the smallest details like it was a movie that I had watched a thousand times). She also reminds me to take medication, and wakes me up if I don’t hear my alarm due to the sedative effects of some medication. Recently, (my fiancé, Rob, has severe night terrors) on her own, she has even comforted him during an episode, soothing him and interrupting the cycle. Rob has a cat, and they get along well (it was a challenge the first time they met, but I remembered what I was taught by you and corrected it from the beginning and it has been smooth sailing ever since). If something is wrong with Anakin, she comes and gets me (for example Anakin ate too fast one night and threw up in another room and I didn’t hear it, Pia checked it out and came and got me right away). I did not train her for that, either.

The almost instantaneous bond that her and I have has not wavered, in fact it gets stronger as the days pass. She has taught me to not only live in the moment, but she has taught me that life is worth fighting for. I have several health issues and I take around 20 pills a day to stay alive, and for years I was begging for death to end my severe pain (I’m in as much pain daily as a cancer patient in the end stages of cancer, and I was a cancer patient as well a few years back) and suffering that is due to a few illnesses that have no cause or cure, and I’ve tried most treatments which have failed miserably. She doesn’t give up on me, and she taught me, and continues to teach me, to never give up on myself.

She has helped to get me out of my personal isolation that I experience due to my illnesses. When we are out, people often approach us and ask about her and give her compliments. We use that opportunity to introduce her as a service dog, tell her story and give them examples of how far she has come to raise awareness of puppy mills, and to raise awareness about one of my illnesses which is a rare disease. I always mention you also!

I have taught, and continue to teach her that she doesn’t have to be scared anymore, that I won’t leave her side, and she’s coming to be the free spirit that she was meant to be. Since her training with me is completed, I am dedicated to exclusively teaching her progressing socially. Unfortunately, I was not physically able socialize her with both dogs and people in conjunction with her service dog training. I was rarely able to go out, and I do not have much family or friends (my Mom and my Brother are all I have; kids my age have a hard time accepting the harsh reality of my health situation, it ruins their “buzz” since I used to be somewhat of a party chick in high school) and she learned to socialize with my mom and my brother shortly after you and I met, I actually have pictures of the first time she ever sat on a male’s lap shortly after your visit.

Rob and Pia get along famously. She even approaches him for pets, love, and endless kisses. He has even taught her a few obedience commands of his own to strengthen their bond, after asserting himself as a pack leader with the guidance you taught me. She no longer growls at people, including men. We have broken down a major wall, she even sits next to me patiently while I introduce her and a guest, and is excited to say “hello” which is giving kisses on the hand to the new guest. It’s so cute, after she says “hello” she wags her tail, smiles, and gets excited when I tell her that she is a good girl for saying hello. After saying hello for the first time, she gets really happy, wags her tail and enthusiastically says hello again on her own! It seems like she is so excited with herself that she did it, that she wants to do it again and then prances around happily because she is so proud of herself. Well, that and pleasing her pack leader lol.
She continues to learn new commands and social skills within minutes and retains that information. Even if it is months later, she still remembers what she is supposed to do.
We truly have the world in our hands (and paws!) and thanks to you, you have given BOTH of us a new, stable lease on life. I wouldn’t have made this much progress with my health without you, and I am forever thankful and grateful for that. Pia and I are the PERFECT team! You have been an inspiration to me, and as I work to do my best to hopefully get well again, I would like to someday do what you, Mark, and Janice do. I have had my time saving human lives as a firefighter/EMT, and hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to open the second chapter of my life, saving dogs (and hopefully people again, too!).

Thank you again for your guidance and expertize in helping us to be a stable, happy, and confident team! We are tipping our hats and raising our glasses to you, Sy.

Thank you for everything, I hope you are doing well,
Nykki Baritot (soon to be Saurini!)


ACE WEB DIVIDER1

Testimonials

sy potter dogsHi Sy: I hope this note finds you well and continuing with your dog whispering. I thought I would share with you the latest picture of Backus with his two good friends — Chewy (yes, Chewy) and my boyfriend’s newest addition — Zume. Notice … no muzzle. Backus is an amazing story, as you well know. He is a different dog and so happy and content with his new pack. Zume is another rescue and she is such a sweetie. She loves to play with Chewy and Backus will contently watch while the two play, with no signs of aggression or fear. You will recall only a few months ago, play would have but Backus in an immediate attack zone. Zume even tried to jump on Backus and all he did was look at me and walk towards me. Unbelievable.

I still can’t thank you enough and please continue to help others as you have helped me. I sing your praises constantly.

With sincere thanks,

Penny.

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n November 2008, I adopted Backus from the Rochester Animal Shelter. To the best of our knowledge, Backus is a husky / rottweiler mix. He was found wondering in the inner city in October and after a month at the Shelter, there was still no one who wanted to adopt him. It was obvious to see Backus had a rough life — a piece of his ear missing, a scar under his eye, on his tongue and a chipped incisor. His gentle eyes and sweet demeanor begged me to take him home. I couldn’t refu
Backus adapted well in my home and with my 5 cats. I began to notice on our walks, however, that Backus did not react well with larger dogs. He would howl and whine in what appeared to be fear. Calming him didn’t work; it actually intensified the reaction.
It was at this time that I realized I needed help to understand what was wrong with Backus so he could adjust to his new life. Thankfully, I found Sy Potter — NY’s Dog Whisperer. She literally saved Backus’ life!
Upon our initial meeting and training session, Sy instantly pinpointed the issue — Backus was a dominant dog with fear aggression issues. Backus associated large dogs barking and/or playing with aggression. His mentality — attack or be attacked.
The need and importance of this training intensified when Backus attacked my boyfriend’s dog, without any warning. Backus latched onto the face of the other dog in the same manner as a pit bull attack. It was horrifying and at that point, I was going to put Backus down.
I contacted Sy the very next day and she immediately came to my house. She explained Backus could be rehabilitated and stressed the importance of her training techniques. I agreed to give it a try and follow the techniques to a tee
I’m so happy to report after 2 months, Backus is a different dog, and I’m a rehabilitated owner. Backus is now co-existing with my boyfriend’s dog and accepts that I’m his pack leader and that I make all the decisions.
Without the help of Sy Potter, Backus could have been euthanized for all the wrong reasons. Backus’ issues were no fault of his own; it was his prior life and he just needed someone to take a chance, make an effort and rehabilitate his life. Sy provided all the tools and one-on-one instruction which changed Backus’ life. I will forever be grateful to her as NY’s Dog Whisperer in association with Mark German, America’s Dog Whisperer.
Anyone who has a dog with behavioral issues, needs to contact Sy Potter. Backus is proof that an aggressive dog can be rehabilitated and become a wonderful addition to a family.

In November 2008, I adopted Backus from the Rochester Animal Shelter. To the best of our knowledge, Backus is a husky / rottweiler mix. He was found wondering in the inner city in October and after a month at the Shelter, there was still no one who wanted to adopt him. It was obvious to see Backus had a rough life — a piece of his ear missing, a scar under his eye, on his tongue and a chipped incisor. His gentle eyes and sweet demeanor begged me to take him home. I couldn’t refuse.

Backus adapted well in my home and with my 5 cats. I began to notice on our walks, however, that Backus did not react well with larger dogs. He would howl and whine in what appeared to be fear. Calming him didn’t work; it actually intensified the reaction.

It was at this time that I realized I needed help to understand what was wrong with Backus so he could adjust to his new life. Thankfully, I found Sy Potter . She literally saved Backus’ life!

Upon our initial meeting and training session, Sy instantly pinpointed the issue — Backus was a dominant dog with fear aggression issues. Backus associated large dogs barking and/or playing with aggression. His mentality — attack or be attacked.

The need and importance of this training intensified when Backus attacked my boyfriend’s dog, without any warning. Backus latched onto the face of the other dog in the same manner as a pit bull attack. It was horrifying and at that point, I was going to put Backus down.

I contacted Sy the very next day and she immediately came to my house. She explained Backus could be rehabilitated and stressed the importance of her training techniques. I agreed to give it a try and follow the techniques to a tee.

I’m so happy to report after 2 months, Backus is a different dog, and I’m a rehabilitated owner. Backus is now co-existing with my boyfriend’s dog and accepts that I’m his pack leader and that I make all the decisions.

Without the help of Sy Potter, Backus could have been euthanized for all the wrong reasons. Backus’ issues were no fault of his own; it was his prior life and he just needed someone to take a chance, make an effort and rehabilitate his life. Sy provided all the tools and one-on-one instruction which changed Backus’ life. I will forever be grateful to her.

Anyone who has a dog with behavioral issues, needs to contact Sy Potter. Backus is proof that an aggressive dog can be rehabilitated and become a wonderful addition to a family.

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