Dog Gone Amazing

Click here for your FREE evaluation/consultation

There are dog trainers and then, there is Malaika. We are owners of an amazing chocolate Labrador retriever, Bailey, who is now almost 1 ½ years old. She was not so wonderful in the beginning when she became part of our family.  She had a mouthing issue as puppy that was questionable in nature. As she got older, the mouthing got just more worrisome.  We had reason to be concerned because we have an 8-year old boy and we are around children a lot.  So, we decided to attend a dog obedience class when Bailey was about seven months old.  This class was run by a dog trainer who used choke and pinch collars as correctional method to make the dog obey.  This method did not produce the results we wanted but luckily, we run into Malaika in one of her shows and got a chance to learn what her training method is about. Malaika incorporates e-collar training while adding additional tools to fit your dog’s individual needs. There are number of misconceptions about e-collars. In fact, the e-collars have come long ways and are not correctional tools as often thought of but instead, the e-collars are the best way to communicate with your dog when used properly. What separates Malaika from many other dog trainers is that she offers training packages for life (she offers other packages as well if you feel the lifetime training package is not for you).  I have trained with her for about eight months now and have come to understand what her training is about. It is about building a life-long relationship between you and your dog.  Her training is about having a happy and respectful dog who will look up to you as his/her leader. Our Bailey is now self-confident, happy and an amazing family companion. I only wish I had met Malaika earlier. She is truly amazing!

Thank you Malaika,

The Powers Family

Do it! That is our advice to anyone considering a board and train program. Before the training, our 1 year old golden retriever, Skeeter, exhibited all of the behavior of an untrained puppy – pulling on the leash, random response to sit and come commands, and general chaos when the doorbell rang.

After 3 weeks with Malaika, Skeeter came back a new dog! He is a pleasure to walk on and off leash. He learned that sit means sit not pause and move on. We now have no fear of letting him run for exercise because Malaika taught him disciplined recall. One command of “let’s go” brings Skeeter back to my side.

Access to the group classes which follow the board and train program is huge bonus. The group classes are a great way to reinforce the training, socialize with other dogs, and to get exercise for Skeeter and us. I’m not sure who looks forward to the class more, Skeeter or us.

We constantly get comments on Skeeter’s good behavior when we take him on walks. Other dog owners often say they wish their dog was as well behaved as Skeeter. We answer, “It is an easy cure, call Malaika at Dog Gone Amazing!” It is the best gift you can ever give to your dog (and yourself)!

Thank you Malaika!

Steve, Beth & Nicole

Macy got out just a little while ago when Joe was putting back the lawn mower and she came back when he called her, thank God we started this training with you!:)

Carol

As my German Shepherd, Hannibal, phased out of the puppy stage and into adulthood, he became more and more difficult to control. He pulled on the leash and barked at dogs throughout our walks, leaving me out of breath and extremely frustrated. I tried numerous types of collars and harnesses, but none of them made a difference. It got to the point where I could only handle taking him on five minute walks around our condominium complex, which were totally pointless in terms of getting him the exercise he needed. He also began jumping at the fence every time he was let into the backyard, causing my husband and I to fear that he would escape and get hit by a car.

I told a friend about these problems, and she recommended that I make an appointment with Malaika at Dog Gone Amazing, who had trained her dog with great success. I was a little hesitant about the use of electronic collars, but at this point I was willing to try them, especially when reading that they cause no harm to the dog. When Malaika came over for the free demo, Hannibal immediately responded to her and the e-collar. We let him outside and he ran for the fence, but stopped and turned around when she hit the button. I signed up for training sessions immediately upon seeing this. When she left, he even watched her through the window, wagging his tail the entire time.

It has now been three months since Hannibal began lessons with Dog Gone Amazing. In that time, he has stopped jumping at the fence, learned to walk on the leash without pulling, and now knows how to properly greet other dogs. I can have visitors over without Hannibal jumping on them and trying to eat their food. He absolutely loves playing with the other dogs in the group classes, and gets very excited every time he sees Malaika and her assistant, Heather. I have signed up for six more months of group classes because of the continuous improvement that I have seen in his behavior. I cannot thank Malaika and Heather enough for the excellent training that they have provided. Hannibal has become the happy, well behaved dog that I always hoped he could be.

Kristen Harris

“To make a long story short: thank-you, thank-you, and thank-you. Our gratitude goes out to you and may you reap the rewards of fabulous customer service many times over. Since working with you, I have enthusiastically referred you to any person or family even thinking about adding a dog/puppy to their lives If ever anyone would like to speak to a happy client please do not hesitate to provide us as a reference. And, Otis Joe says thank you too, for providing the tool his family needed to be able to set boundaries, limits and expectations for him in a way he could understand and they could execute!

See you soon,

Kimberly E. Drakulich”

I first contacted Malaika with Dog Gone Amazing when I was in desperate need of help!  I have two mix breed girls that I’ve had since they were puppies.  Over the last two years they have been great dogs overall, but have had dominance issues at times leading to some nasty fights with each other.  I could not stand to see them continue to have brawls resulting in stitches, limping, blood, human injuries from intervention, and of course late night emergency vet visits (and the bill that comes with it!)

Walks were impossible – even with pinch collars, my food disappeared off the counter, I came home to broken fence boards, barking resulted in complaints, etc.  I needed help.

Yes, Malaika improved the situation so drastically that I still can’t believe it!

Once I got a Dog Gone Amazing consultation and saw what Malaika’s girls could do and how they behaved, I was sold.  I was on a mission, to stop the fights AND gain some doggy manners that I had given up on trying to teach my two.

After just our first individual session I felt so encouraged that there was light at the end of the tunnel.  After four individual sessions, I was still in shock that my two trouble makers no longer had that title!

The specifics that I gained are behavior and aggression management, recalls, heeling (truly amazing), sit & stay, and the dogs actually listening to me.

Thank you Malaika!!

Nathanial Rhodes – human (26 yrs)

Hyphy – mix breed (2-1/2 yrs)

Penny – mix breed (2 yrs)

The best way to do this is to examine the meaning of the letters of Malaika’s name:

M-aybe the best person your dog could ever meet.

A-bsolutely committed to what she does.

L-oves making a difference in your experience with your dog.

A-lways there for you and your dog.

I-n touch with what makes you and your dog happy.

K-eeps the focus on high-quality training methods.

A-llows you the best possible experience you could ever hope for with your dog.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherman and Linda Lofgren -

Proud owners of the best standard poodles ever -

Lilly and Sadie

Dog Gone Amazing is EXACTLY that!  I have seen thousands of dogs over the last 13 years of owning Scraps stores that could have benefitted from such effective, fast training!

After decades of personally owning German Shepherds, we decided on a Belgian Malinois (they don’t have the genetic health issues like the Germans).  We got more than we bargained for with our puppy “Caine”.  They are great dogs… but high maintenance, way too smart for their own good…and very testy!  Malaika has helped us turn our little monster into a sweet, confident, happy dog… and he’s only 4.5 month old!  We get compliments everywhere we go… because we can take him everywhere we go… off leash!  I would recommend this training for most dogs… whether its a problem child, or in need of fine tuning manners… this training is the best!

Christy Cranmer, Founder, Scraps, LLC

Truffles

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Went for a mile-long walk tonight with Truffles

…without a leash!!!!!!

Amazing! So far, so good….

-Valerie Acklin with 1 year old Truffles, Miniature Poodle

I’ve been meaning to thank you for helping Rufus. He was so afraid of people and any new experiences that everything I tried either made him more nervous or just didn’t work. His anxiety and destructiveness was frustrating and I didn’t know what to do for him. That is why I talked to Malaika at the home show. I have to say I nearly canceled our first meeting when I realized that you used e-collars. I didn’t see how that could work for such a frightened dog. That first night Malaika showed me I was wrong about the collars -that they were for communication not punishment.
Sending him off for his board and train with Heather was difficult but definitely the best thing for him. He came back so much better – more confident, less anxious, more obedient. I don’t think he will never be an outgoing bouncy dog but I don’t think he will ever hide under the deck again or eat a couch,either!
Thanks again
Dani

Our dogs are so well behaved that we can take them anywhere and not have a problem.  We walked by this huge dog the other day and both boys just stayed with me without hesitation.  If I had to have them on a leash, they would drag me all over town. Thanks Malaika for you guidance.

-Prim Walters with two 9 month old Golden Retriever males.

Having chased my 4 year old German Wirehaired dog “Jack” for the fourth time up and down my street that week, I knew something had to change.  Other previous training classes through other programs worked great in the classroom, but applying the discipline back home was another story.  This program, and training collar changed our lives.  I worked with Jack as instructed, and now I can take him anywhere and know he will behave.  It is such a nice feeling not to worry he will jump on someone, run-off, or be out of control when we are out and about.  I enjoy him more now, and know he is happier because I am not always hollering or chasing him, and he gets to be out in new environments more often. The program worked great for our family, and Malaika is a doll to work with.

-Debbi Strickland and Jack

We have two Jack Russell Terriers and they used to rule our lives.  Although they are both loving dogs, they had absolutely NO manners. What little we had tried to teach them was ineffective.  They listened when they wanted to and if they felt like it.  On the occasions when they were able to get out of the yard or off their leash we had no means of getting them back.  Many times it was pure luck that they were not struck by a car and killed.  As their owners, my husband and I knew that it was our responsibility to make sure they were safe.

We were at our wits end, always apologizing for our dogs behavior.  THEN we met Malaika and our lives have changed! Now we are in control of our dogs’ behavior.  The amazing bonus to this program is not only that I know they will be safe and obedient but I am PROUD of them as well.

Now that I have seen progress with my dogs I can imagine a future that I could not have imagined before.  My dogs will be able to play off-leash and it won’t have to be in a fenced-in dog park.  I can picture a day when we will be able to take them anywhere without a leash and they will understand what I want from them and LISTEN.

Thank you, Malaika.  You have provided amazing customer service and care every step of the way.  I can’t imagine what we would have done without you!

-Heather and Chris Banks with Sam and Pearl, Jack Russell terriers

My name is Laurie and we have two Pit Bulls who are very loving but are behavior nightmares at times! Malaika and her dog training has been a life saver! Ziggy is 2 and Lucy is 9 months. I have to say I was skeptical that any training could help our dogs. With my 81 year old Grandmother coming for the holidays my first concern was the dogs jumping on her and knocking her down. We called Malaika and she came by and thoroughly went over the program with us. She told us she was certain that this training could help us with the situation. My grandmother was arriving Dec 15th and our first lesson was the 9th. I’m thinking to myself… NO WAY can she keep these dogs from jumping in such a short amount of time (to be honest, my son and I were making side bets as to whether it would work)! It is now January 2nd and my grandmother has come and gone, Our Ziggy and Lucy did not jump on her once! I still can’t believe it. That was not the only problem these loving misfits had… walking them was nearly impossible, Ziggy barked at everything (while dragging you down the street) and if they got past the front door…forget it, they were gone! My son and his girlfriend can now walk the dogs around our neighborhood and they stay right at their side. Ziggy managed to get past the front door and did not leave our driveway before stopping. This training is truly amazing and it’s all due to Malaika and her unbelievable patience and knowledge (Thanks to Chase too)! Due to Ziggy being a bit more of a problem, she has done more than the three classes with him. Her concern is getting the dogs trained right, no matter how long it takes. We still have work to do, but at least now I know it is not an impossible task. I would recommend Malaika and this dog training program to anyone.

Laurie Roza and Ziggy and Lucy, female and a male pit-bull about 3 yrs old

“Gunnar is SOOO good now! She sat from far away and she is so much more aware of ME!”

Mindy Prohaska, Scraps Tahoe City

We recommend Malaika’s training to everyone!! We used the board and train option, and our dogs came home to us as a well behaved lady and gentleman. We noticed a definite change in their overall behavior—especially our male who was very shy. He had so much self-confidence. We think that a trained dog is definitely a happier dog, one that knows what you expect from him, and knows that you are pleased with him, and thus he is pleased with himself. We never have to use a leash anymore, and we know that our dogs are under control at all times.

Malaika is a sweetheart, and definitely loves the dogs she works with. This is the best thing you can do for your dog and yourself. Educate your dog! You will not be disappointed!

Jim and Julie Paschall

After working at an animal hospital for 24 years I know a good trainer when I see one. Malaika is a refreshing change. She is knowledgeable, dedicated and experienced with all types of dogs. Not only will you teach your dog, you will develop a relationship with your furry companion for life. Sign up now and get ready to learn and have fun!!

Cheryl McCuistion, Baring Blvd Veterinary Hospital

“Malaika and this entire training program are great! We saw a drastic improvement in our dog Lucy from the very first day! This training is well worth the investment. We have recommended Malaika to all of our friends.”

TeriAnn & Jesse Stafford

I just wanted to write you a note to thank you again for the wonderful training you gave Tucker. It is really quite impressive the progress you were able to make in just 2 weeks.

I have to say though, when we first sent Tucker to stay with you for his board and train, there was some doubt on both Christy and me about whether we were doing the right thing by him. Was it too soon? Would he lose his personality? Would he be turned in to some sort of robot dog. We just didn’t know.

Well, we worried for nothing. I could tell after our 1st week visit with you and Tucker at the park, that you took a lot of time and had a lot of pride in your work. Just as important to us was that we could tell that Tucker liked you. This showed us that even though you worked Tucker hard, you weren’t some angry drill sergeant trainer.

We love Tucker very much and it is never easy to relinquish control and care of a family pet to someone else. But your care and concern and calls to us to keep us informed about Tucker’s progress sure helped to put our mind at ease.

Tucker is the same playful spunky dog he always was but now he can come, sit, stay, place, fetch, and heel on demand. Thank you again, keep up the good work. I will always recommend you highly.

Sincerely

Mike Atencio, DDS

Malaika’s Dog Gone Amazing training has given our dogs the freedom they deserve and our new found trust in their behavior.

Juan & Jane Rosales

Our newly adopted dog, Jake, was pushing his limits and testing our patience, we weren’t able to get him to calm down or be obedient in any way. He’d run away if he was off leash and destroyed many an expensive item he felt were good chew toys. We had tried exhausting him with endless play and walks, but it just didn’t help. Luckily for us (and Jake) we enlisted Malaika’s help and Jake is now the awesome, well behaved dog we thought he could be! He listens and obeys, he no longer bounds off to see other dogs, he’s stimulated mentally and hasn’t eaten sunglasses in ages! This training worked wonders! I’m a huge fan!

Robyn Theiss DVM

We are new participants in Dog Gone Amazing with two mini-schnauzers who need a little help with some non-aggressive behavior issues. In just two in-home sessions we’ve seen a big difference in “the kids.” Now we’re preparing ourselves for the group classes and look forward to the next level of training. As a hyper-sensitive dog owner I’m very impressed with this program. Now the biggest behavior modification is on us owners:) Thank you Malaika & Heather!

Mary Brock

Maxy is a 2 year old Bichon that we got when he was 5 months old. From the beginning he was nervous and afraid of everyone and every thing he didn’t know. He didn’t even want to be with my 9 year old granddaughter or my husband. We took him to a training class but he never would respond to treat training. Any kind of distraction would make him unable to “hear” any commands. At first we thought he was only fearful (not aggressive) but then he began to bark and go after any other animal or person he saw. Walking with him was stressful to both of us and I found myself walking where I thought we wouldn’t run into any people – and if I saw someone coming, I would cross the road or somehow get out of the way. And then he bit 2 visitors in our home and 2 while we were walking and he was on a leash. I knew that we couldn’t keep a dog that would be a danger to other people but I couldn’t imagine not having him. In desperation I looked online to find someone in Reno who might be able to help when I came across Malaika’s ad. We arranged for her to come to our home and meet Maxy – and he bit her! That’s when we signed up for her training. It was couple of weeks before Christmas ad we were expecting a crowd of guests over the holidays so we opted for the 2-week all day training with her and Heather. Heather came each day (even in the midst of the snow and bad weather) to pick up Maxy and returned him in late afternoon. At first I had to push Maxy out the door but by the second week he was excited to be going with her. At the end of the 2 weeks Heather and Malaika spent time at our home teaching Denis and me how to continue the training. And now we go to the weekly classes for follow-up. And what a difference in Maxy. We can walk without him pulling on the leash – even when there are other dogs and people around. I haven’t gotten brave enough to take him on walks off leash yet but I know it will come. At home we can eat a meal or just sit and enjoy a drink without Maxy demanding attention. He responds to commands such as Place, Sit, Down and Come. He is happy and playful as always but he now knows that we will set some boundaries. I feel as if Malaika’s training program saved Maxy for us – and I would highly recommend this program to anyone who loves their animals and just wants to have more good times with them.

Thanks, Malaika and Heather,

Marianne Thomas

“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot little puppies.” – Gene Hill