FirstBark
Hiring Dion was one of the best decisions we ever made for our dogs. Our dogs were reactive but fairly manageable—unless we encountered another dog that was lunging, jumping, or barking. That’s when everything escalated quickly. One of our dogs even redirected aggression toward …Read full reviewClose full review
Hiring Dion was one of the best decisions we ever made for our dogs. Our dogs were reactive but fairly manageable—unless we encountered another dog that was lunging, jumping, or barking. That’s when everything escalated quickly. One of our dogs even redirected aggression toward our other dog, and I was bitten in the process. After being approached by several off-leash or out-of-control dogs, I knew that for our own safety, I had no choice but to address our dogs’ behavior. Other dogs’ behavior is unpredictable, but ours didn’t have to be. When we first started working with Dion, I was extremely reluctant—and my husband was strongly opposed—to using training tools like the prong collar and e-collar. I had been conditioned to believe these tools were traumatic for dogs. Training began with leash walking, which I didn’t fully understand at first. I felt like I needed immediate help handling reactive encounters on walks, not focusing on structured leash work. I’m so glad I trusted Dion’s education and process because that leash work became the foundation for our dogs’ incredible behavioral transformation. Within weeks, they were walking beautifully and were far less concerned with outside distractions. Through Dion’s training program, our dogs have become noticeably more relaxed and calm throughout the day. Many of our houseguests have even commented on how calm and balanced they are. Although we didn’t specifically seek out Dion to address other reactive behaviors—like barking at dogs on TV or reacting to random noises—the training eliminated those unwanted behaviors as well. I am now a supporter of using prong collars and e-collars when they are used correctly and responsibly. I was initially afraid of these tools, but they helped create a major behavioral shift in our dogs in a relatively short period of time. I firmly believe that avoiding these tools earlier only prolonged our dogs’ stress and anxiety. If you are willing to put in the time and effort and follow Dion’s instructions, you will absolutely be rewarded with well-balanced pups. We are incredibly grateful for the transformation in our dogs and in our daily lives. Thank you, Dion!!!