TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

As a teacher at John Reed Middle School in the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, I would like to add my voice to those already raised in praise of Mr. Bill Meisterfeld. Mr. Meisterfeld has visited my classes and has Worked with my sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. He is a natural teacher, able to impart his innovative techniques of animal training to students in a manner that is not condescending, but informative and understandable. Mr. Meisterfeld is able to capture and hold the attention of Middle School-age children, a task that is not easily accomplished.

Essentially, Mr. Meisterfeld teaches an animal training method that focuses on a two-way system of mutual respect between trainer and animal, in this case dogs. I've noticed that the dogs with which Mr. Meisterfeld works exhibit all sorts of signs that indicate that they enjoy the process; they respond with wagging tails and attentive ears cocked forward. Mr. Meisterfeld accomplishes this because he does not rely on fear in order to gain the mutual respect he seeks. His techniques have even enabled him to remediate severe training problems that have been caused by human ignorance of appropriate methods.

While living in England during the summer of 1980, I watched a dog trainer by the name of Barbara Woodhouse, who hosted a regularly aired television show on dog training. I was shocked to see her use 'heavy handed' methods with dogs that were frightened and intimidated by her techniques. Among other things, Woodhouse advocated immediate use of a choke chain collar for any dog. Her training methods seemed to work in that they got the results that humans want. However, what damage may be caused to the animal's psyche in the process?

Bill Meisterfeld has demonstrated to students at John Reed that love, kindness and mutual respect will get results, results that will leave dog and owner happier with one another. I would suggest that this is a valuable lesson for people to learn at any point in their lives - and the earlier the better. Hopefully, Mr. Meisterfeld will continue to be able to share his talents with more and more people.

Sincerely

Meri Gyves