Sam
We adopted Chilli Dogg one day unexpectedly from the SPCA. When we first saw him, he was covered in mange, he could hardly stand, let alone walk as he had no muscles in his back legs. We made up our minds there and then that we couldn’t leave without him.
We brought him up as best we could (with the limited knowledge that we had) but his previous traumatic experiences affected him in a huge way.
He was extremely nervous of men. He avoided every uneasy situation. He used to eat stones to give the illusion that his “stomach was full”.
I did the Level 1 Instructors Course. WOW. I learnt so much. My mind was blown by how all of a sudden I started understanding Chilli so much more.
On Level 2 and 3 we were allowed to bring our dogs. Chilli was so nervous. New smells, new people, new dogs. It was all so overwhelming that he threw up everywhere.
We struggled for the first few days to get him to approach anyone but we persevered and we made it to the end of Level 3 (with a little help from me crawling through the mattress to give Chilli the confidence to do it).
Straight after, I enrolled him at SADTC as we couldn’t get enough. I couldn’t get over how his personality was changing. He was going up to a few people to get scratches and treats. He was understanding what I wanted from him.
After enrolling him in bite work, he became a new dog. He had this new found confidence. He realises he no longer has to be scared of people, even big scary men. He now defends instead of hiding behind me.
Now he walks up to everyone, demands scratches and if they stop scratching, he nudges for more scratches.
It’s been nearly 2 years that Chilli and I have been at SADTC and I am so proud of what we have accomplished and we still have so much more to still look forward to.
I will forever be grateful to SADTC! They have changed our lives like I never thought possible. I trust Chilli with all of me and I know he feels the same.
The bond we share is truly one of a kind. BEST dog in town!
What an inspiration!
Hi Biata
One of the first few words Alexia spoke (apart from Mamma, Dadda and the usual) was “hondjie” and so the begging and pleading started to get a puppy…
To make a very long story short, a friend of mine took in a rescue schnauzer and over a cup of coffee I fell head over heels in love with this awkward looking, bearded lady called Lily. I have never even seen a schnauzer, new nothing of the breed but the personality I glimpsed that fateful afternoon sent me into a flurry of research. The more I learnt the more I was convinced that this is the dog I’ve been looking for and about a year later when Alexia turned 7 I brought Elliot home.
Once the initial euphoria wore off and reality set in, I was like a new mother worrying about food, toys, potty (house) training, shots and off course education 🙂
In December 2017 we were devastated when we sadly lost our much-loved male Boerboel, Blade, to Spirocerca Lupi. His absence left a big gap in our lives and after dropping many hints with my husband about getting a smaller breed puppy, such as a PUG, he surprised me one day by bringing home what I now realise has become my new furry BFF. 1 year, 50kgs of growth, buckets full of slobber, 4 pairs of shoes and plenty of torn washing later, I can’t imagine my life without him. 
As a kid, I did a bit of dog training with my Dad and our Bullterriers, and I remember how it used put me on a natural high. I live pretty close to Walkerville, and have often driven past the SADTC grounds and looked in longing for the opportunity to train a dog from puppyhood. My own kids have finished school and recently started working/studying, so in an attempt to side-step any feelings of empty-nest syndrome, as soon as Zeus had his final puppy inoculation, I knew exactly where I would be able to spend my time and reignite my love of dog training. 
Looking back, I realise that these early puppy classes which included socialisation, moulded his amazing nature with kids and other dogs. The proof of which is his Canine Good Citizen award in November. 
Our journey with Colin has been filled with tears, laughs, frustration, games, but mostly lots and lots of love. We decided to get Colin for protection reasons as my dad, Warren, travels often for business. We had never really had a big dog before and had no idea what we were actually getting ourselves into. Those of you who know Colin, will know that, although he is super cute, he can also be quite the handful.
After about 2 weeks of having Colin, 3 T.V remotes, a pair of Nike running shoes, sunglasses, a handbag strap and the dustbin lid, we knew that we had to get him into training, and FAST! My dad being who he is, and an extensive researcher, was determined to find the best training school for Colin. We wanted a training school that first and foremost, loved animals and focused on cruelty-free methods, as well as offered both Obedience and Protection work. And we found so much more than that at SADTC! 
Since then, Colin has come a long way. He even won his Obedience competition!! (This was a huge surprise victory in our house – my dad even wanted to replace Colin’s certificate with my graduation photo…) He has started to settle down at training and has become quite popular, especially in his agility class. We are even able to take him to the park and let him run off leash without worrying about pandemonium breaking out. 
We are so proud of Colin, and so thankful for SADTC and all of Colin’s instructors for all their help, support and guidance. 
What a humbling yet exciting privilege it is for Lucy to be nominated as dog of the month. Our story is a journey of dedication, perseverance and overcoming individual obstacles, fears and difficulties. Our story starts at chapter 1 as usual but with a twist. My dad was invited to take a puppy from a litter of x border collie pups. Mom a working dog on a plot nearby. We were told that they are getting rid of the pups, one way or the other (if you know what I mean) So Dad decided to get the little red one. We were told that she is 8 weeks old. But from pics included and education I now know she was taken at a very young age. She didn’t get any imprinting a young pup needs. But little did we know these things. We took her home and that is how the journey starts with my Dad as her owner.
We could actually sit between people in the clubhouse provided the dogs do not make direct eye contact. Wow! We then did some socialization with some of the placid dogs at school. We waited till every one went home and under the watchful eye of Chris. We let the dogs out. I think I was more nervous than anything else. But it worked. 
I am tremendously proud of my little girl Lucy. Changing my life for the better. I would always be grateful for your sloppy kisses and your hair al over my clothes and bed. With all the challenges we have to face I could not imagine it without you my little therapist. Listening to me when I’m sad and bringing the ball so we can go and play and forget about life for a while. We achieved so much together. 
Volde, short for Voldemort, came through for a private lesson.
This beautiful girl is Matilda. She came through for a private lesson as her owner recently took a tumble while out walking her and then got a bit nervous to take her out on a walk again, and had someone else walking her instead. 
This handsome fellow came to us this week for a private lesson. He had been trained at another club but they weren’t sure what to do about his ‘aggression’ issues. 
This man, Jerry Selwane, is very special to SADTC. He came out one night about 7 years ago to help with a dog that been hit by a car. 
