Testimonials
From a Fellow Dog Trainer…
I have known Ana for several years, and we have taught many classes, workshops and seminars together. If I were looking for a class to attend or for personal help with one of my dogs, Ana is the first person I would call.
She takes the time to understand the needs of both the dogs and their people which is necessary for a successful outcome. Ana is great at reading dogs, and can pick up on the subtle signs that most people miss. She is a great listener and an effective communicator with both dogs and people. A trainer who is great with dogs but can't coach the people how to work with their own dogs is not going to provide lasting long-term results. She can help people teach their dogs the basic skills such as come, stay and leash walking but she also understands that helping people learn to use these cues effectively in everyday life is even more important.
Whether someone wants to compete in agility, learn to address their dog's aggression issues, or just have a great family companion, Ana can help to look at the big picture and address all issues that are contributing to the end goal. She understands that there are often factors affecting the issue that might seem unrelated but are really quite relevant. She addresses the entire picture which results in the most effective program for success.
Sue Brown, MNM, CDBC, CPDT
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Love My Dog Training
Denver, CO
Major and Max…
My name is Jennifer Tomajko and I want to share with you what Ana and Training With Grace has done for me. I’ve had dogs for the last 16 years. I currently have two Rottweilers, Major and Max. Prior to finding Training With Grace, I constantly had problems walking my dogs, getting them to listen to me, food aggression issues, dog aggression issues, separation anxiety, fighting over toys. I thought this was what most dog owners went through, that this was normal. Thank God I found Ana!
I started going to Ana’s classes in September of 2007. Max was 13 weeks old and we started going to Ana’s puppy socialization class. From the very first meeting, Ana was showing me how Max was communicating through his body language and calming signals. It was amazing! I knew I had found a great trainer.
I talked to Ana about some aggression issues that Major had, both with dogs and people. Major had lunged at my Vet and tried to bite him last year. Ana came and did an In Home Session with me. Ana saw a number of behaviors from Major that she was concerned about that I hadn’t even recognized as issues. She gave me very specific things I needed to do with Major and a few weeks later we began walking Major in the park with her leash lungers class.. I still cannot believe the difference in Major. I can walk him now and he pays attention to ME. I no longer worry about taking him on walks, or to the Vet, or anywhere there are other dogs. My Vet also noticed the change in Major! We no longer need a muzzle for Major at the Vet. In fact, Major loves going to the Vet now.
If you have aggression issues with your dogs, I highly recommend that you call Ana. She has restored my sanity and shown me how to bring out the true potential in my dogs.
Max and I have completed Basic Manners 1 and 2. We are currently in Ana’s “Control Unleashed” class and I continue to learn something new every session. Max has become a truly balanced dog, and I have become a more confident leader for my boys.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Tomajko
Conifer, Colorado
Feel free to contact me at markjenncon@msn.com
Aggressive Puppy
When my new puppy began acting aggressively towards other dogs, I was overwhelmed with advice, good and bad, helpful and not so helpful. It was very confusing and sometimes frightening. Ana helped sort through all the information and made sense out of the chaos. She developed a program appropriate for this particular dog and his specific issues.She has been available every step of the way to progress him to each new level. Best of all is her consistent encouragement and support of both the human and the dog throughout the process!
Lori Hansen
Denver, CO
Greyhound Foster Dog
In December, 2003, a greyhound that I was fostering for Colorado Greyhound Adoption exhibited a behavioral problem that I was not equipped to handle. When seeing strange dogs in the park, three year old Chester would lunge after them. When I tugged on the leash to correct him, he would turn around and bite me on the leg. Knowing that Chester was not adoptable because of this behavior, I was put in touch with trainer Ana Melara who had generously consulted with CGA in the past.
Ana visited our home for an on-site evaluation of Chester. She observed him for his level of reactivity, ability to accept leadership and fitness for rehabilitation. She provided us with recommendations for reasserting our authority and started us on a program to deal with his leash aggression and re-directed aggression. Ana also suggested that I purchase and read Feisty Fido, to complement our lessons. We practiced daily in the neighborhood and had weekly sessions with Ana.
We began with the “Watch” command at home and, once mastered, practiced in our neighborhood, well away from other dogs. Gradually we worked on this command closer and closer to other dogs. Months later, as Ana had promised (I was incredulous at the time), Chester sat with his attention focused on me at the training center while Ana’s dogs approached him. After months of Ana’s positive training, Chester was a changed dog! We incorporated “Sit,” “Stay,” “Wait,” “Down,” “Up” and “Speak” into our lessons. It got to the point where Chester would see another dog, look at me and sit for a treat! We eventually met all sorts of dogs and Chester mingled peaceably with scores of greyhounds at CGA events. In September, Chester finally found a home of his own!
Without Ana’s help, Chester’s miraculous transformation would not have been possible. She trained me to communicate, using positive reinforcement, what I wanted Chester to do. We achieved our training goals without the use of any punishing choke collars or yelling. In fact, he was fitted with a special harness that left his neck and muzzle free, so that no pressure was exerted when seeing another dog. I found it revolutionary that instead of hurtful things (choking collars, yelling) when seeing another dog, he experienced only good things (treats, praise).
At our sessions, Ana provided a running (and often funny) commentary on what Chester was thinking. This helped me to read him better. It was truly amazing to observe this rambunctious, dog-aggressive greyhound become a well mannered boy who amused all who met him with his repertoire of tricks! And it was no less miraculous to see him happily and confidently meeting strange dogs in the park…
Ana has become Chester’s and my hero! She is a wonderful trainer - of people and dogs alike! Ana’s training methods have become my gauge of what excellent, effective training should be about.
Sincerely,
Judy Greenfield, Colorado Greyhound Adoption
Denver, CO
No-Fluff Approach
Ana has a way with dogs, her kindness and human methods are creative and effective. I love the fact I could throw that terrible choker away and have a more humane way of teaching my dog right from wrong. Her methods are not the sort of things you would find in any book widely available to the public. Ana is precise and in control as are her three dogs Grace, Argos, and Meg. They are an inspiration to me and my dog. A true testimonial to what can be achieved by learning how to have great human-dog communication skills. Our dogs are trying to tell us something, we just need to learn what they are saying. Ana is straight to the point and honest no bushes to beat around, just the facts. Her no fluff approach has been a huge asset to our family, and the mental health of our dog. I only wish we would of started sooner. I trust Ana implicitly with the development of our dog and our family relationship with our dog. I really can't describe the huge effect she has had on our home. Ana has helped us turn our dog into an asset for our family, rather than the liability we feared she was becoming. Thank you Ana for saving our family, we love you.
Ryan Kramer and Phara Williams-Kramer
Denver,CO