Testimonials

Annie,

I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for Jessie and me. There has been such a huge difference in her demeanor over the past several months since we have been working with you. She is so much more comfortable in our home and the bond we share has been strengthened immensely.

Before I started our training sessions, I had no idea how much fun I would have working with Jessie. Now, it is something that I look forward to doing every day. I hope that Jessie and I can continue our training sessions with you in the future. I also plan to bring some of my other dogs to you for training as well.

I am so proud that Jessie earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen designation! If you would have told me two months ago that Jessie would be a Canine Good Citizen, I would have thought you were crazy! I am very thankful that you worked with us so that she could earn this designation. You truly have an amazing talent!

I will (and already have) recommended you to several of my family members, friends, and co-workers. I look forward to working with you again in the very near future. Thanks again for all that you have done for us.

With sincere appreciation,
Kimberly Chapman

Annie,

Thank you for the great advice and training tools you gave us regarding Travis. You advised us to exercise him more and spend more time with him inside the house. You were honest enough to tell us without these two essentials in his life he would have a hard time changing his behavior if he'd be able to do it at all. Well, we listened to you and took your advice. What a change.

We practically walk everyday and I look forward to it as much as he does. The clicker helped us to get him walking along side us, ok a little bit ahead of us but that's a shepherd. The point is there is no more dragging or pulling when you want to take a walk which makes it enjoyable for all parties.

And Travis is now a member of the household. He is inside the house more than outside which has made such a charming improvement. Travis is calmer and more at ease. He's like a protector and big brother to our indoor cats Sydney and Harry. Everything just feels so comfortable and cozy when we are at home and he is inside with us. We also got a place for him to lay like you suggested and he loves it. It's like his special place in the home. His personal space.

Jim and I both thank you for a life changing experience and a happier home for us all. I'd recommend you to anyone and have told my story many times.

Jim and Stephenie Fowler
Travis, Sydney and Harry

[Note: Jack is a rescue dog who was terrified of new people, especially men]

Annie: Dear Jack continues to amaze us ... not only us, but also our friends! He is eating every bite from Robert's hand without backing away ... very willingly! He leaves when Robert tells him, "That's all," and then remembers there is always a bonus and quickly turns around and comes bounding back. I really can't tell who is more thrilled, Robert or Jack. Life seems so much easier for him and he has more energy and interests now. What a blessing for all of us!

Robert is SO HAPPY with the results. Jack is willingly coming to him

Jack amazed my friend Barbara this morning. She comes for coffee every week and we always sit out on the patio and Jack joins us. Today, he instantly accepted her and wanted to play.using the play stance and joined a great play session. Poor Barbara has felt so badly that Jack had not been friendlier to her. She even brought treats and that didn't do the job either. Today was special! He took a treat from her hand and even touched her shoe ... true friendship at last! He even let out a whine when Barbara got in her car to leave..delicious icing on the cake!

With true amazement and appreciation!
Glynda Noland, Bertram, Texas

Annie,

I want it to be known by everyone what a wonderful dog trainer you are. My two dogs were biters and not socialized to visitors who came to our home. I felt I had no option but to get rid of these dogs I had grown so fond of. My veterinarian recommended I call you for behavior training (for me AND my dogs)!

Within just moments, you had my dogs under control and gave me immediate tools to achieve the alpha role as leader of my pack. You showed me by example which made it easy for me to follow suit. Your lessons were simple in theory and made sense to me. I diligently worked with my dogs just as you recommended and I was amazed at the obedience I received from them. My dogs now sit at the front door quietly and patiently with little prompting. Our guests now feel welcomed instead of frightened by two little ankle biters!!! Much more has been accomplished by our training lessons. We can now take our dogs for walks on leash and off (where appropriate) without incidence. Our family truly feels in harmony since the hierarchy has been established.

I cannot say enough about your talent and dedication to our four-legged family members. I feel so good about the decision to contact you.

Thank you again for giving me and my family the tools to redirect our unruly critters, who are now a permanent part of our family.

Karen Foster-Glass

I called Annie Phenix for some help when she started chewing everything in my apartment, and Annie made some great suggestions that changed our lives almost literally overnight. Yay for clicker training and soothing toys! Also, she suggested the exercise pen, since getting Bowie to go into a crate was impossible-but she doesn't mind the pen one bit. Annie was wonderful and I'd encourage any new dog owners to contact her-although we didn't end up using her services because of the distance, her suggestions gave us back our home and control over our pup, and she was wonderful and open and understanding.

Warmest regards,
Melissa Carr



"Hey Annie,

Thought I would let you know how Zipper did at a Frisbee tournament we went to in Dallas las weekend. I was very pleased with his behavior. What an improvement! It's easier to notice when he's around 50-60 strange dogs.

We had to meet in the center of the field to go over rules, and draw our order to compete. I did not bring a collapsible kennel to put him in. So I asked the photographer if I could hitch him to his chair and if he'd watch him. He did, but I forgot to mention Zipper's issues. 15 minutes later I look over and there are 5 dogs surrounding zipper and sniffing him. I almost had a stroke, but to my surprise he did not make a sound and there was no confrontation, he just wagged his tail.

Overall every dog there had to pass him where I was sitting with him, I did that on purpose, and he only had a reaction to 2 dogs out of the 50 or so that were there. His reaction was mainly whining and trying to tug, but he was easily corrected.

I'm pretty happy with how that turned out. And he finished 6th out of 20 in his division and about 18th out of 50 I think overall. He did good. We've been working on sitting every 3-4 steps now, and some on the obedience."

-- Owner Krista Havecker

[Note: Zipper came to Phenix Dogs to help with dog aggression issues. He's doing GREAT! His owner did her homework with him and Zipper is on his way to being a great canine citizen.]

Annie:

I have been meaning to write to you about Sophie and Bear. They are doing great and Sophie is becoming more social to the point that she now greets Jack and licks him when he comes over. He socialized with Jack and Carolyn at their house and played appropriately with Jack's dog, to the point that Jack's wife Carolyn, who would not come over because of fear of Sophie, came over last night and Sophie was a perfect lady.

I have been walking them by myself and they are doing fine, even when other dogs bark at them or when cars go by.

I will continue to work with them and if I get stumped by a problem I can't solve I will call you.

Thank you again for the help you gave us and I have recommended you to some people in the neighborhood.

Bill Demestihas

Annie, I gotta tell you that your training probably saved Sassie's life today!

I took her to the vet to get spayed. when we got to the door, she said, NO WAY and pulled out of her collar. she made a beeline for the road --- a very busy 4 lane highway. I freaked but quickly got it together ,remembering what you taught us....I knelt down and in my sweetest (scared) voice I called to her...she was almost to the road but turned and came to me and sat down. I was able to pick her up then! whew! thanks a million!

-- Nickie Johnson and Sassy, a Catahoula puppy

Thank you so much for all your help with my babies and for giving me more confidence in my ability to help them grow into happy, well behaved family members. You have been an incredibly valuable resource for me and I would recommend you to anyone looking for a trainer!

-- Bonnie Parnell, Pit Bull Rescue

You made a big difference with Bear in the time you had him. I am very pleased. Thanks for all your efforts.

-- Mary Beth Peoples and Bear, a Border Collie

Hello everyone, I just wanted to send you a website in case you or you know of someone who might need a wonderful dog trainer or help finding that perfect new family member (dog). Check it out and send it out. Also I met Annie a couple years ago when we were looking for a new family member (dog). Last year we brought Poncho (Annie rescued him from a bad situation) home and have been so happy w/him. Some of you have met him and know how much fun that little guy is. Well, Annie can help you w/Training or finding that perfect new family member.

-- Dianna Wallace and Poncho, a very CUTE terrier mix.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am the Executive Director for Austin Dog Rescue, a non-profit, mixed-breed rescue organization that saves dogs from Central Texas shelters, retrains them to be good canine companions and then rehomes them into loving homes.

I had the good fortune of meeting Leann "Annie" Phenix a few years ago when we both were volunteering to help a local German Shepherd rescue group, since that breed is deeply loved by both of us. When I started Austin Dog Rescue so that I could help mixed breed dogs as well as purebreds, I was put in touch with Leann again by a director from the German Shepherd rescue and I was told she would be an asset to any dog organization.

I am happy to report that after working closely with Leann for the two years, I can attest to her skills as a dog handler (she is also an expert marketing professional and she has been instrumental in helping us re-home almost 400 dogs in the past two years through her marketing efforts). She knows a lot about specific breeds as well as temperament issues that can crop up in any rescued dog, regardless of the breed. I know that Leann has fostered more than 100 dogs in her home over the past 10 years. For our organization alone, she has fostered at least 50 dogs.

The dogs she fosters for us quickly become acclimated to Leann's own pack of 5, well-behaved rescued dogs. Her foster dogs are always well behaved and she has often been told by the adopting families that her fosters are better behaved than their own current dog(s). Leann has achieved the AKC Canine Good Citizen ranking for three of her 5 dogs. She also is active in Agility and Herding with her three herding breed dogs. She has years of experience in evaluating the temperaments of dogs in shelter and we trust her to choose her own foster dogs directly from shelters.

Annie truly is an asset and she cares deeply about the well being of all dogs, but in particular about shelter dogs.

Joyce Martin, Executive Director
Austin Dog Rescue
www.austindog.org
Austin, Texas