Testimonials

Before I moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area, I owned a dog daycare/ training/ boarding/ grooming facility called Dog Days in Buffalo, New York.  Some of my Dog Days clients provided the following testimonials.   - Suzanne Harris

The first time I met Suzanne, I was immediately drawn to her personality, reputation, and rapport among the dog-owner community in Buffalo.   My two dogs, Alvin and Mitchell, felt the same way.  Alvin is a 6 year old cocker-spaniel daschund mix that was attacked two separate times on our street by a bull mastiff and a pit bull.  He became extremely fearful-aggressive with other dogs, with people walking by our house, even when we'd go for rides.  He was the worst on walks.  I'd always have to cross the street if another dog was coming. 

After months of this behavior, with no other ideas to try, I went to see Suzanne at Dog Days.  She came to our house and showed me ways to walk Alvin on leash without stressing him out, yelling at him, or making a spectacle of myself within our community.  After a few tries by ourselves, Alvin started being the old Alvin.  Within weeks I was no longer nervous to walk him or worry about meeting up with other dogs on our route.

The work that Suzanne did with us worked miracles in our life!  Suzanne and all of the Dog Days staff are remarkable people.  They truly love dogs as much as they love people, and the respect and affection the dogs had for them was apparent.  Dog Days, especially Suzanne, changed our lives, and made being a doggie-Mom so much more enjoyable and rewarding.  Suzanne is knowledgeable, patient, loving and kind.  Her experience speaks for itself and all dogs that have worked with and know Suzanne demonstrate her teachings.

I highly recommend Suzanne.   You will not be disappointed.

JoAnnah L. Piedmonte

Sr. Business Project Officer, HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

Buffalo, New York

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My dog, Mario, an Italian Greyhound, attended two training classes by Suzanne Harris.   His first class was puppy kindergarten, and his second class was more advanced AKC Canine Good Citizen.  Mario knows all his commands now.  ALL.  This is difficult with an Italian Greyhound because they are sight hounds and only considered moderately trainable.   Suzanne not only trains your dog but trains you as well.  For example, how you say things is as important as what you say.   She stresses how important socialization for your dog with other dogs is -- as important as socialization with people.  

I saw Suzanne with a number of dogs, and she had a reciprocal relationship with them, all respect and no fear, regardless of size.   She trains using food, positive reinforcement and other behavioral techniques.  She would never recommend striking your dog. 

I can not say enough about her.  She loves animals.  I was very disappointed when she left this area.  Mario now attends another daycare; he made the transition very smoothly because of his early training and socialization under Suzanne's supervision

Jeanette L. Zygaj

Buffalo, New York

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When our 4-legged baby was 7 months old we took him to Dog Days based on the recommendation of several fellow teachers.  I thought "puppy day care" was a joke.  I had never put my kids in day care and I sure wasn't going to put a dog in day care.  However, I knew that our JJ needed socialization and I was not able to walk him very much do to a knee condition.  So, I relented and took him to Suzanne's day care.  

When I went to pick up my little boy, he was exhausted, happy to see me, and received so much attention from the workers.  I very quickly saw not only the benefit of a day's play, but how happy my JJ was every time we went and every time he came home.

Over the course of time, I got to know Suzanne and appreciate the wonderful skills she had with the dogs and their owners.  If possible, she made me love and adore my JJ even more.  She took time to greet each customer and report on the day.   

JJ truly loved going to Suzanne's.  He knew when his day came and started very early reminding me by grabbing his leash and standing at the door.  Yes, JJ made me a believer!  I will never be able to thank Suzanne for all the great times we had.   The loss of Suzanne has been tough on all of us…especially JJ.  Sometimes we drive by Dog Days and JJ's nose is taking in all his favorite memories.  Thank you to Suzanne….she has become part of our family though very far away.

We remain a grateful Buffalo believer,

Sheridan and Lazlo Nemeth and JJ

Buffalo, New York

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I am writing with reference to the work, character and qualifications of Suzanne L. Harris, BSc, CPDT, the former owner and behaviorist at Dog Days of Buffalo, Inc., which then and since, was the  best dog day care, kennel and training facility in Buffalo, New York and its extensive northern suburbs.

Every dog owner I know still considers Suzanne's Dog Days a superb institution, without peer and beyond reproach.  Suzanne, her Dog Days and her excellent, well-trained and loving staff are sorely missed and have yet to be replaced in the hearts of any of us.

Believe me when I tell you that many tears were shed when Suzanne moved away. I still get filled up when I pass the building. I remember the dog birthday biscuits, the hilarious videos of the pups, the monitor on which we could secretly watch our dogs play, the great grooming, expert handling, the "class photos," the love and affection shown our hairy friends in life and even in death, when they were memorialized on Dog Days' walls.

It seemed to me that everyone I know had a dog who went to daycare there, like my  Collie Duchess, who misses it very, very much; or whose puppy or "behaviorally challenged" dog was very well socialized or trained there (many kudos for that!), or whose dog happily stayed there while the moms and pops were away from home. No one ever complained. Dog Days earned and deserved our implicit trust.

Former customers still discuss how grateful we were for Dog Days. Many people drove a considerable distance to deliver their 150-lb. "babies" every morning and then watch them run inside to cuddle up with some Jack Russell terrier wholly unsuitable as a mate.

The center was widely recommended to virtually everyone who had a dog.  Suzanne's reputation spread far and wide in Western New York and any anyone who has the opportunity to work with her – including people – are both fortunate and blessed.

Gee, I wish they'd come back.  So does Duchess.   I know this letter is effusive but I want you to know that I am not a relative or even a personal friend of Suzanne's, just a terribly grateful patron.

Patricia Donovan

Senior Editor, Office of News Services, Division of External Affairs

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

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My Hungarian Vizsla was enrolled in Suzanne's daycare program in 2002 and continued to attend daycare on a daily basis until October 13, 2006 when a freak ice storm caused the destruction of Suzanne's business.

The four years that we had the pleasure of knowing Suzanne were the best four years of Casey's life.  We attended dog obedience classes by Suzanne, which were ideal for me as I respected her methodology which was to reward good behavior and to use repetition to instill commands.  I had enrolled in another dog training program where the instructor used choke chains to "train" dogs.  Casey and I quickly dropped out of this program as I could not tolerate this cruel form of punishment.

When we first started with Suzanne, I was very impressed by her business sense, her dog savvy skills, and her warm, open and good natured personality.  She had a friendly and warm greeting for Casey and me every morning and an equally warm reception every night.  From time to time she had excellent suggestions as to techniques I could employ with Casey's behavior.  On the occasion that I had to go out of town, although I hated being parted from Casey, I was comforted and reassured by the loving care that Suzanne gave him.

Numerous members of our local legal community took their dogs to Suzanne.  Judges, Court Reporters, other lawyers, and Court Officers, everyone took their dog to Suzanne.  We knew that Suzanne provided the best daycare service for our beloved pets and it has been a constant theme since her unfortunate closing how much we miss her and wish that she would reopen her business.  Our loss, however, is your gain.  The dog loving owners in the Atlanta community should be extremely grateful and thankful that Suzanne is there to provide the benefit of her impressive array of skills to their pets.

Leigh Anderson, Esq.

Buffalo, New York