Scamperman, my Labrador puppy and I began working with Cerena in Adobe's puppy class when he was just 11 weeks old. Scamper is my fifth Lab and by far my most challenging pup - way too smart and active - in need of boundaries and guidance. Cerena was a godsend for us! She guided us through Puppy 1, 2 and 3, then on to Intermediate, Rally-O and Canine Good Citizen, always in a loving and caring manner.
Under her guidance Scamper and I became not just dog and owner but a team! My older Labrador, Puck, has also become a better companion and family member by benefiting indirectly from Cerena's classes by participating in Scamper's training at home (and he was already an awesome dog!).
We loved the Saturday morning Puppy Playgroup and miss not seeing Cerena each week (Scamper has aged out of the group). I continue to rely on Cerena's advice and guidance for issues that come up with Scamper and am always willing to join any class that she conducts that might further his (and my) learning's. I strongly recommend her classes to everyone and anyone looking to have a partner as well as a pet.
To sum it up - kind, gentle, caring and above all, a good friend to all.
Cheryl Klynn and Scamperman
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Cerena's class is THE best! We had NO ideal how to train our dog, or how to get the good dog we wanted! We had been working on a trick with Quincy for THREE MONTHS and one evening in class Cerena taught it to him in two minutes!
She is amazing, the class is SO much fun, the dog and I both look forward to going! And of course I did have the class cognition: we really aren't training the DOG....we're teaching the PEOPLE how to teach the dog! Even better!!
THANKS CERENA.
Best,
Teri Berwick (and Quincy)
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Cerena,
I wanted to take a moment to Thank You for all the valuable training classes you have provided for Casey and me. Casey is now over a year old. Your Puppy I, Puppy II, Canine Good Citizen and the Puppy play classes have contributed tremendously to his behavior and well being. He is well behaved, listens (ok he has his moments), loves kids, adults and other dogs big or small. He is very well socialized and has such a great demeanor. Signing up for your training classes at the early age of 12 weeks was the best decision I made for both of us. I have learned so much being a first time dog owner. The information sheets, homework, your words of wisdom and patience proved to be very effective. I also appreciate your enthusiasm, encouragement, candor and the love you show the dogs and most of all it was FUN !
Thanks again,
Casey and Rose
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Without Cerena's training classes, we would have been lost, trying to raise our bulldog Bacon. He has grown to be a well mannered pup who loves to play and eat eat eat. Her classes are worth more than money can buy. An awesome experience and would recommend over and over again.
Nancy Lam
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Lucy is a 2.5 year old BT. Since she was 12 weeks she has attended classes given by CZ. Last spring she passed her CGC. Lucy can sit, stay, down, stand, spin, catch, recall, walk without leash, play with children, dance, jump through hoops, balance on a ball, shake, wave, beg, sleep, go to her mat/crate/bed, say hi, up in a chair, off and read cue cards, oh and obey commands given in the spelling format and more. This is possible all due to our abilities to train her using positive reinforement as taught by Cerena. She can respond to clicker, voice, and hand signals. We have a fantastic BT all because of our involvement with Cerena. And now, we begin again, with Lucy's little BT puppy sister, Phoebe. We would not go anywhere but to Cerena's classes.
Lisa Horel
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I have to say without reservation, that Cerena Zutis' dog training classes literally saved my sanity and made my dog a much happier and better behaved pooch at the same time. She uses reliable methods to train both dog and owner and she does it in such a fun way! Her whole approach is positive, positive, positive! Everyone feels successful! And if you have a particularly difficult problem, she can think outside the box better than any other trainer I have tried. She is great!
Ann Pianetta
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When we decided to get a Vizsla puppy from a very respected breeder, we thought we had done all our homework and knew what we were getting into. We couldn't have been more wrong. Casey was almost more than we could handle. Without Cerena's puppy training classes, puppy play group and some intense one-on-one training, we would not have been able to keep Casey. With Cerena's help, Casey has turned into a wonderful and loving family companion. We are very grateful to Cerena and recommend her to all new puppy owners.
Jon
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Dear Cerena,
Thank you so much for your help with our Brittany Luc. I called and desperately asked for help with our out-of-control puppy. It only took one hour with you to turn him into a manageable, enjoyable pup. You taught us how to be better owners and it made a world of difference. We enjoyed your Puppy 1, 2 and 3 classes with both our dogs and your tricks classes as well as your socialization sessions are fantastic. Thank you for all of your help.
Noelle & Jeff
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My dog is smart, full of energy, and loves people. That sounds great until you realize those traits can result in a dog that causes havoc just by trying to find ways to expend energy, stay entertained, and get attention from humans. I love my dog, but I needed help. Cerena's classes made all the difference in the world. With her help, my dog is calmer, well-behaved, and welcomed by my friends. Cerena focuses on each dog's individual personality and behavior, so she is really teaching you how to train YOUR dog. Although I had years of experience using traditional training techniques with previous dogs, Cerena showed me that rewards-based training strengthened the bond between my dog and me, while letting us have fun together and producing a happy, obedient companion.
Kathi
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Cerena is an outstanding trainer, very "wise in the ways of dogs, as Jack London used to say. Her classes are enjoyable for both the dogs and their owners, and all her training methods are positive - making learning fun.
I have taken several dogs through her puppy classes and liked the combination of socialization and training very much. Her homework handouts are very useful, and Cerena's own dogs are evidence of her training skills. We would recommend her classes very highly.
Joanne Nash
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To Every dog owner:
My husband and I got our first dog, Monty, who was a very lively and social Labrador retriever puppy. We went to Puppy I, II and III Classes with Cerena. We learned a lot about how to train our dog and how he thinks. She gave us good practical advice and tips so that we now have a wonderful, well-mannered dog who we can take anywhere! Without Cerena's guidance, life would have been much more difficult, and less enjoyable, for all of us.
The Puppy Playtime was also invaluable. It was a safe environment for all of us to learn the 'right' and 'wrong' ways for dogs to play together and we were able to have him play with other dogs, and not worry that they would get hurt.
More than anything, Cerena taught us how to be great dog owners and great guardians for Monty.
I strongly recommend her services to every dog owner.
Mary Marley - owner of Monty, the perfect 2 year-old Labrador Retreiver
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I have always taken classes with Cerena and my dog has never forgotten a single lesson. Cerena makes it fun for dogs and people to learn. She uses training methods that stick and that actually work!
My dog was attacked by another dog at a dog park. After recovering from injuries, my dog became aggressive and fearful. I was scared to deal with his new fears and mine. Cerena helped build our confidence and found ways for us to help and manage his fearful behavior so that we can have a fulfilling life together. She has always gone above and beyond what has been asked for her and truly takes her work home with her. I wish there were 10 of her!
I have never hesitated to call Cerena with questions ranging from dog products to dog training. I have always been able to count on her quick response and expert opinion, which I trust completely.
Suzanne G. Sickel
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I have utilized Cerena West Zutis for Training my own German Shepherds & several Foster Dogs as I am a Volunteer with German Shepherd Rescue. I have owned German Shepherds for over 30 years & have attended many different Dog Training classes from Basic Obedience, Agility to Schutzhund work over the years. Cerena I find has the best people & dog skills of any Trainer I have used, it really takes being good at both as you are training the person just as much as you are training the dog. I have had many Trainers that were great with dogs but had no people skills. Cerena is very dedicated to her profession & really spends time with each student to help them through any difficulties they may be having with their dog. The skills Cerena teaches will be with you for the life of your dog. Nothing is better then being around a well behaved dog. I often reccomend Cerena's services to new Adopters & they have been equally Happy with her Services.
Kelly Wilson
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Cerena, has helped me to understand and to work with my GSD. It has given me a lot of confidence. She is very professional with deep knowledge in dog behavior and obedience training.
Through all the classes I have taken, the training is always fun and it is always with the dog's best interest in mind.
I highly respect all the work she put in the dogs and owners.
Gunilla and Nestor
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Cerena is an outstanding trainer, both of dogs and their owners. She makes classes fun, keeps everyone active, and tosses out tips about canine psychology and behavior that help you develop a more understanding relationship with your dog. Her handouts give excellent guidance for completing the homework assignments, which means you accomplish a lot each session.
Chris Witzel
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I have had the chance to put two of my Min Pin pups through training with Cerena and both times not only did the puppies learn but I did as well. Cerena is engaging with the animal owners and the dogs all respond to her as well. The material that Cerena hands out each week is valuable reading for new dog owners. Cerena is very willing to work with owners on special issues they might have with their new puppys. A great trainer!
Ellen Lyon, Violet and Sweet Pea
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I adopted a young rescue pup who was afraid of everything and everyone. I could not take her out in public without worrying about her reactions to environmental stimuli (bikes, strollers, etc.), kids and other dogs, she was afraid of just about everything. She didn't know how to play with other dogs, she was fearful of them.
After learning about Cerena's puppy play group, I decided to give it a try. At our first play group, Cerena recognized right away that my pup was very shy and that it would take some time for her to feel confident around other dogs. In the beginning we sat on the side and watched the other pups playing because my pup was too scared to participate. I learned a lot just watching and listening, and my puppy slowly warmed up to the other puppies. After attending several sessions, my pooch finally began to play. Each week she got better at it and now I have a dog who loves to play with other dogs!
We also took Cerena's training classes and they are educational as well as lots of fun. Her years of experience, skill, and expertise really show! She incorporates everyday situations into the training, which benefits not only the dog, but the owner as well. Instead of simply learning to "sit" in the classroom, she takes us outside and the dog learns to "sit" with people walking by. She uses positive reinforcement, which enhances the dog's learning; it makes them want to do the behavior. Cerena also taught me how to help my puppy get over her other fears and how to protect her.
After working with Cerena in group classes and attending puppy playgroup, I no longer worry about taking my dog out and wondering what's going to happen next. We frequent the dog park, we play at the beach, we stroll the downtown streets of San Carlos and Los Altos and frequently dine out at doggie friendly spots - she is a well-mannered, confident pooch who accompanies me just about everywhere and has fun wherever we go!
I recommend Cerena's playgroup and classes to everyone – she's just great!
Melody and Dakota
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We brought our puppy, Schatzi, to your training class and to a few play sessions for young dogs.
We were very impressed with your competence training dogs and your follow-up announcements and activities.
We regret that we haven't been able to participate further, but we fully recommend your classes. They are a good way for starting out young dogs, not only for their training but their socialization with other dogs.
Kind regards,
Farideh and Harold Stombs
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A well behaved dog is welcome (almost) anywhere. Cerena's training of our mini-Aussie, Dakota,( and us!) has made him a great pet. We got off to a great start with puppy training and then took a follow-up good canine class. I also learned a lot about training people in the process. We're a better family for learning from Cerena!
Marji Karlgaard
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My son has a two-year dog that was trained by Cerena when the puppy was four months old. They continued and were in three of her succeeding classes. I would go to observe, and I found Cerena a very capable teacher. . She kept her classes small, and it seems as if the dogs always acted well with each other. She seems to be able to keep a more dominant dog from mistreating a more submission one. The dogs were amazing in how quickly they learned their lessons. She was able to teach the owners how to produce the right results. The one thing that I notice about Cerena is that she treated the dogs in a very natural way. Often she would thank a dog if it did things that were right, or did things for her like bringing her something that she wanted or giving up a thing that it shouldn't have. I would definitely recommend Cerena to anyone who would like to train their dog in a positive and rewarding manner.
From an observer whose dog is quite obedient!
Fran Hogan
Palo Alto, CA
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Cerena has helped us turn our female, standard dachshund, Maddie, from a shy, nervous, unsocialized dog into the joy of our home, neighborhood and the town we live in!
We had previously had 5 dogs (4 other dachshunds and wonderful mutt). Maddie was a little more high strung and nervous than the others had been and we sought help. Adobe Pet hospital in Los Altos put us in contact with Cerena Zutis. She worked wonders in everything from teaching Maddie tricks to now being able to go out to dinner with us at local restaurants (with outdoor seating).
Specifically, Cerena instilled confidence in Maddie that overcame her shyness, nervousness and lack of socialization. She no longer shies away from people and other dogs. She is the social center of her dog-walking group. Maddie welcomes the attention of old friends and new people we give permission to greet and touch her.
When we take her out to lunch or dinner she is the model of decorum, correctness and cuteness. She sits on the ground between us and waits patiently to be introduced to new people.
At home Maddie barks twice and runs to the hallway between the front door and the garage when someone comes to the house. If we know who is at the door, a simple "Maddie, garage" and she goes into the garage. Otherwise she stands quietly just behind us to encourage whoever is at the door to treat us nicely.
Looking back, Cerena made everything look easy, and turned Maddie into the best-behaved, greatest canine joy that we have ever had. We cannot think of anyone more qualified to train a dog (and the owners of dogs) than Cerena. We recommend her to anyone with a pet in need of training. She has an unlimited capacity of love and patience for all animals and works tirelessly to assuage their fears and the owners anxiety.
Our home life has been blessed by having Cerena Zutis. We are doubly blessed by having her as our friend.
Thank you Cerena!
John and Janice Ahlstrom
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Hi Cerena,
We are the owners of Andre the Beagle and one time model at the new Pet Smart in Mt. View. We started with you in the Puppy training I and II through Syrus dog training back when Andre was 3 months old. Andre is almost 4 years old now this May......
Our experience with you has all been positive and with great results, thanks to you. The techniques and specific instruction is delivered with authority, sincerity, and genuine interest for the well being of our pet. The first training was actually training the owners, which is the key to our success. As a direct result of your instructions we have a well rounded, well behave Beagle that listens to our commands. We are happy owners of a Beagle who actually obeys us. He walks with us off leash and knows "with me" command by heart. Has anyone ever seen a Beagle fetch a ball and puts it right back on your hand?? Now that is the ultimate obedience! We found that your well documented instructions and organized method of teaching a wide variety of owners and Canine breed is also one of the key to our success. Another important key we learned from you was to help us think like a dog. If you learn this then the training instructions are easier to understand and know how to use the instruction as well as know how to extrapolate to your own dog training exercises.....
You also accommodated schedules, locations of the training, and the additional help you brought into the class, your assistant and pet, is a living proof of your ability to train dogs with accuracy and completeness. We would recommend you to anyone we know, which we have. Thank you so much for your dedication and the love for Canine and their owners.
Proud owners of Andre the Beagle, Curt Peterson and Susan Domingo
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Cerena Zutis www.k9essentials.com
Mail Address: 1773 Lake St., San Mateo, CA 94403 Email: cerena.gooddog@gmail.com
Training classes in Redwood City
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