A good question, don't you think? I am Andrea Joubert, born 1971 and I grew up with many types of animals, having had the privilege of living on a smallholding. My favourite animal has always been the wolf. Therefore it was easy to love a dog. We always had about 5 dogs at a time as we had the space to keep them. The dogs taught me about pack behaviour, hierarchy and Leadership. They taught me about canine body language and also how to successfully train them.

Obviously I grew up, got married, owned more dogs who taught me more, and then I acquired a very special little white Bull Terrier bitch that I named Ayla's White Flash. She was not my first Bull Terrier but she is the most special dog I have had the privilege to own. She is also the founder of my Dog Training Institute, the instigator to get me to study and research all about dog obedience training, behaviour and almost everything there is to know about dogs to such an extent that I am now fully qualified in Dog Behaviour and Obedience Training, making me a fully fledged Canine Health Ethologist (definition: Health Ethology is the scientific study of the needs of domestic animals in their usual environment. The Health Ethologist aims to place the animal's needs in balance with its environment.).

Please note that although I specialise with the English Bull Terrier breed I am not exclusive to them, but rather I am very knowledgeable about most breeds and my methodology is geared to train them all. I use DOG SENSE, to raise and train the dog! I am also constantly researching about dogs, be it behaviour, nutritional needs, health, genetics, you name it and I have probably researched it, or will be doing so very soon.

I am also the proud author of "The Bull Terrier Training Manual" 1st & 2nd Edition (now off print due to printer/publisher issues)and also "Raising & Trainig the dog using Dog Sense" which is an adapted version of the Bull Terrier Training Manual but applicable to all breeds with some extra chapters such as The Guard Dog. This book can be purchased from me in CD format.

Our dog training institute accepts all breeds of all sizes and shapes.

At our dog training school we aim to take you and your pet dog and turn you into an effective team. This means we will help with you and your dog's relationship building, obedience training, and therefore turning your dog into a canine companion who is trustworthy, who can join you on holiday and fit into your family's everyday life. We will educate you on responsible and effective dog owning, problem solving, understanding why your dog does what he does as he does it and turn you into your dog's leader so that he will obey you out of love and respect, not because of fear.

The methods we use for training the dogs are designed to be positive, no violence! If the owner follows our instructions and methods correctly he will experience success quite quickly in the training of his dog. Please note however, that a dog cannot be trained over-night. Teaching a dog anything requires patience, consitancy, time and the willingness to form a decent relationship with the dog.

We train all breeds and all shapes & sizes.

Ali An Der Auter 1982-1996	Ayla's White Flash Easter Rand Show 1999

My most treasured canine companions out of all the dogs I have ever had the honour of living with.

Ali was one of the last real German Shepherd dogs with a super wonderful temperament. Even physically he was one of the last GSDs' with a straight back, saber tail and a large square head. All traits that the GSD Breeders only dream of.

Ayla is my mentor (if such a thing can be said of a Bull Terrier) and my best friend. It is because of her that we have a dog training school. When I acquired her we went about training and socialization as any other dog owner would but none of the dog schools wanted a Bullie in their schools for fear that there would be aggression. Thankfully one school accepted us and Ayla has turned out beautifully. It was only when we started with Agility that heads really turned as Agility requires the dog to do all obstacles off collar and off leash. The control and bond you need with your dog to achieve this has to be very strong. Ayla is trustworthy and very well socialised due to starting her training and socialising at 8 weeks of age, and did she turn heads. Soon people with GSDs', Labradors, other Bullies, came up to us and asked for help as they were struggling to train their dogs and as I had managed to train one of the most untraineable breeds, surely I could help them. And this is how our dog school came into existence.

Ayla's achievements list as follows:

A dog begins to learn good and bad habits the day he arrives in your home. It is your responsibility to teach him what is correct and what is not from the moment he enters your home. A dog understands “always” and “never” not “sometimes”. At our Canine Institutel we will help you teach your dog the appropriate behaviour he will need to know in order to live in harmony with you.

Remember that your dog's bad or good behaviour reflects directly back on what you have or have not taught him. Remember also that your 4-legged friend is a dog, not a human and cannot be treated like a human. Also, he does not know how to behave if he is not taught using the correct methodology.

If you scroll down you will see all the different classes we offer for the different age groups of dogs. In the meantime..........

How to enrol ... (for dogs who are not aggressive)

Class space is limited because we offer small classes in order to deliver a quality service to you: so enrolments must be done early. Hurry and enrol now to ensure your space in class! Read up more about our classes below. Please feel free to contact us to get information on the dates and times of your particular class. We now also have access to an indoor training facility for those rainy days.

At the moment we have worked out the following dates for the next lot of Training Cycles for 2011. A Training Cycle consists of one Foundation lesson and four Saturday lessons. The below mentioned dates are subject to change without notice.

Training Cycles for 2011:

March 2011 - Foundation Lesson 8 March, first Sat lesson 12 March, second Sat lesson 19 March, third Sat lesson 26 March, fourth Sat lesson 2 April.

April 2011 - Foundation Lesson 7 April, first Sat lesson 9 April, second Sat lesson 16 April, third Sat lesson 30 April, fourth Sat lesson 7 May.

Please phone us so we can fax you the appropriate enrolment form. When you receive your enrolment form please fill it out correctly and fax it back to us with your deposit slip.

Our prices are affordable so that everyone can take their dog for quality obedience lessons.

You may also sms us by providing us with your dog's age, fax number and to whom the fax should be addressed to and then we will pop an enrolment form into the fax for you to peruse.

We start new classes each month and need the correctly filled out enrolment forms so we know who is in which class.

AGGRESSIVE OR ANTI-SOCIAL DOGS

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

If your dog is aggressive or anti-social towards other dogs you may want to phone us and set up one on one lessons before joining a class situation. Please note that it is very difficult to deal with aggression and anti-social issues in a class situation. Classes focus on obedience training only.

Puppies join this class between 8 to under 16 weeks of age. This is when the puppy is at it's most impressionable age .

Puppy Training Class covers the following:

1. It will help with socialization and habituation and your pup will have the opportunity to play with other pups of similar ages.

2. You will be given advice on frequent pup problems such as dealing with potty training issues, chewing, jumping, digging etc.

3. This is the right time to introduce the pup to the communication skills he will require for obedience training.

4. We will be covering confidence building and relationship building exercises too.

Puppies remain in this class until they reach the age of approximately 4 to 5 months as then they are mature enough for the next level.

Please note that we have an indoor training facility available to us so we will be able to continue with classes during the rainy season.

Please note: All Bull & Terrier breeds & Mastiff breeds should begin the Puppy Training & Socialisation process from 8 weeks of age due to their special socialisation needs - read below (All Breed Dog School) for further information. The other breeds may begin from 12 weeks of age but are welcome to begin at 8 weeks of age

The Obedience Class usually follows on from the Puppy Training Class and this is where we establish control over the dog. We teach the dog to walk nicely on the lead without pulling, sitting, downing, standing, staying and coming when called. We also do quite a bit of problem solving and Leadership exercises.

Dogs who are already 16 weeks and older and did not have the priveledge of puppy class are welcome to begin in the Obedience class.

Our 4 week Obedience Class is very popular, is a small class and therefore fills up very quickly.

The Obedience Class is for dogs aged over 15 weeks and any dogs who are very socia from that age upwardl. However, if your dog is anti-social (at any age) then it's best to organise one on one lesson.

Please note that we have an indoor training facility available to us so we will be able to continue with classes during the rainy season.

Please note that dog's, like humans, take time to train and I have yet to meet a dog who is fully trained or social after only 4 lessons of training.

Did you know that Commercial Dog Food is barely 60 years old? Did you know that cats & dogs are the only animals forced to eat an artificial diet? What did dogs eat many years ago before dog food was invented? Who declared that Mother Nature made a mistake and feeding a natural diet to dogs is wrong but feeding artificial dog food is correct?

Does your dog present the following issues:

Itchy skin, Rashes Dandruff, Dull and rough fur, hot spots, Is your dog over-weight, does your dog present with brittle bones or Joint problems, Do you have to pick up a lot of dog poop, does your dog have stinky skin odour, Foul flatlulance, does your dog suffer from obsessive licking, Scooting on bum, Bad breath, Food intolerances, Food allergies, Kidney problems, Does your dog have food issues, Does your dog chew everything, Is your dog bored & miserable or does your dog perhaps eat it's own poop?

Your dog could even be perfectly healthy for now but that is not to say that he will still be healthy when he gets older and all those toxins that have been fed into your dog finally catch up to him and his poor body can no longer tolerate that same undigestible food that is dog food.

Alot of the above problems can sometimes be due to the dog's current diet.

Since 1965 there has been a general deterioration in pet health and young animals now display diseases usually only seen in older animals. I have even known of young dogs who break their toes while playing or running after toys. The so called balanced diets that dog foods are supposed to be are causing quite a bit of damage. Remember that carbohydrates (eg Maize) are for cows who have 4 stomachs to digest them or other herbivores who have very long digestive tracts. Dogs have a very short digestive tract designed to digest meat.

All living organisms are meant to eat their natural diets. For organisms such as humans and dogs a diet consisting of a variety of fresh raw foods is the only way to maintain top health.

What can you do to improve your dog’s health and to help your dogs live a long healthy life full of vitality?

Contact me for a Consultation in Natural Nutrition for Canines and I will teach you how you can feed your dog so he/she can reach optimal health status. I will teach you the safe ways to present the food to your dog and also which ingredients are safe and which are not, all in line with the particular age group for your dog in mind.

I would also like to mention that Ayla, my Bull Terrier, used to suffer badly from Pyoderma whilst on some of the highest quality dog foods. When we changed her to Natural Nutrition the Pyoderma dissapeared, her allergies & intolerance disappeared (she has amazing skin and fur now), her compulsive licking stopped, her scooting decreased immensely, her flatulence stopped, and her overall health improved significantly. Not to mention that she absolutely loves the natural diet. My now 13 year old looks almost like a 5 year old and is the picture of health.

Dogs of all ages will benefit from Natural Nutrition. Also note that feeding Natural Nutrition is cheaper than buying all those fancy high quality dog foods.

One on One Obedience Lessons:

For dog owners who are unable to join the class lessons due to working commitments, and dogs who are not very social - We offer one on one lessons - obedience training according to you and your dog's needs. Please note that young social dogs under the age of 9 months must be in a class as they are still in an impressionable age where they should socialise with other friendly dogs - unless they already show anti-social behaviour.

The One on One lessons comprise of a half hour Assessment lesson where the dog is assessed and the foundation work is given and a week later the first of several one hour lessons commences. The one hour lessons can be spaced anywhere from one to two week intervals.

One on One lessons are held during the week and cover obedience training and certain other special issues.

If your dog exhibits problem behaviour such as:

Tail chasing, spinning, aggression, aggression towards humans or dogs, hyperactivity, Major destruction, Digging, Barking excessivley, Extreme Dominance, Urinating inside your house, Seperation Anxiety (screaming/howling/ destruction upon your leaving), Compulsive Behaviours, Eating strange items like poop or other non-food items, Chasing cars/joggers/ cats/ rabbits/ motorbikes etc, Extreme fear or phobia of noises, escaping the yard etc,

Are you being growled or even bitten by your dog? Is your dog growling at your children or perhaps already biting them? Are you afraid of your dog? Is your dog wanting to bite your visitors or perhaps fighting with your other dogs? Need help introducing a new puppy into the home? Need help because there is a baby on the way?

Please contact us as the above is not the normal behaviour of the dog. We will then set up Behaviural Consultations in order to address the problems being experienced. Our fee is very competitive. I am a fully qualified Canine Behaviour Advisor (Dog Behaviourist) with many years of experience and good results. I am a registered member of the South African Board of Companion Animal Professionals.

Please note that most of the above problems cannot be solved telephonically and will require an in-depth Behavioural Consultation.

Minor issues as listed below can be attended to via the phone.... please scroll down to find out more about telephonic consultation.

TELEPHONIC CONSULTATIONS etc…

Some problems are minor enough to warrant a minimum of fuss in solving them. Occasionally dog owners only wish to get advice. This may just be the way to deal with these situations. Should you require advice on the following then please keep reading to find out how to go about getting answers and solutions:

* Buying a puppy - doing it correctly! Everything you need to know from choosing the correct breed, breeder and exactly when to bring that puppy home in order to avoid future behavioural problems.

* Minor problems: digging, barking, destruction

* Fear or noise issues: thunder, fireworks

* Bull Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers etc that do not guard

* Chasing (cats, people, vehicles, livestock etc)

* Crate or Kennel training - some dogs need a bit of help to enjoy the benefits of crates or kennels.

* Help I'm having a baby - how to I get my dog to accept the newborn?

*Potty Training for puppies (dogs older than 5 months that relieve themselves in the house will require a Behavioural Consultation).

* Other: please e-mail the problem and we will let you know if it falls into the category of Telephonic Consultations or whether a Behavioural Consultation is required.

In order for us to advise you on the above please follow all of the following steps:

1. Step 1: A deposit for R300-00 per * to be paid into the following account: Nedbank Savings account, branch Clearwater code 182 505, acc nr 28 25 00 64 16, in the name of A. Joubert

2. Step 2: please complete a) b) and c)

a) E-mail or fax the proof of payment to us to 011 475 7525 or andreaj@iburst.co.za

b) Please write down clearly your chosen *

c) As we need to find out certain things to help us formulate accurate quality advice on the above * we will require certain information from you. We will be needing to forward you a "Canine Analyser" so please also send us your e-mail or fax number when you attend to a) and b). Once you receive the analyser you are required to fill it out promptly and send it back to us.

3. Step 3: The Canine Analyser will require you to choose a method of how you would like us to present the advice to you.

4. Step 4: Once we have the completed Canine Analyser from you we will analyse it and help find the most suitable advice to your particular *. We will then contact you as per your requested method and forward you the advice.

For anyone who does not have the time to walk their dogs, we will do this for you. We will also do a little bit of training while we are walking.

We have really competitive prices. Phone us for more information.

Dog owners cannot always take their pets with them on vacation and so we offer to visit your property during your vacation to feed, play with and ensure your pets' safety.

Bookings regarding the Holiday Service must be placed in advance and a 50% deposit will be required upon booking.

We have really competitive prices and you may find us more affordable than most. We give loving care to your pets and much more which will make us worth your while.

We firmly believe that all dogs should be exposed to a variety of dog breeds and so we will accept all breeds into our school.

But please take note of the following: