Balanced Pooches In Home Dog Training

Hiring John was the best decision I’ve ever made for my dog! I was a bit unsure what to expect, especially having a dog that isn’t quite a puppy anymore. But John’s approach is wholistic. It wasn’t just training for my dog, it was training me how to support, love and protect my pet so she can just enjoy her life. John was patient, kind, and very informative. The price is very reasonable and worth every penny. I can not recommend his services enough! I appreciate all that he did for me and my sweet lunes. If you want a stronger bond with your pup, to feel more confident in your abilities to protect them and overall just have a calmer, happier pup, Balanced Pooches with John is the way to go!

This is it! John is who you're looking for. If you're anything like us - struggling with your dog and totally at a loss, not knowing how to change their behavior, how to manage them in and out of the house, or honestly just what they need from you - call John. Truly. He is the best. We rescued our dog, Mr. Man, back in January (good ol foster fail). He's the sweetest, most sensitive soul, but he's also a big, strong staffy with a ton of energy. I was really having a hard time with his size and strength and we felt kind of overwhelmed and unsure what to do. More than anything we just wanted things to feel safe - for Mr. Man, for us, and for anyone (person or animal) who interacted with him. The first session, Mr. Man gravitated straight to John, which was the last thing we expected - he's really timid with new people, especially men. He literally stayed glued to his side the whole time, did everything he asked, and tried to follow him out the door when he left. He'd found his best friend. John has really a gentle, calm, and patient presence, and his training was completely tailored to Mr. Man. He focused on rewards and positive feedback, read him constantly, and adjusted in real time based on his personality, sensitivity, and what he actually needed. Nothing felt generic or one-size-fits-all. I think the biggest takeaway is that he really trained us. He gave us simple, intuitive tools that actually work. We're not stressed or second-guessing ourselves anymore. After just three sessions Mr. Man was calmer, focused on us, and so much easier to redirect - and we finally knew what we were doing. Keeping up with the training has been fun instead of stressful because it just works, Mr. Man has a blast, and it's easy to stick with. Also - just as a bonus - we absolutely loved having John in our home (he's still Mr. Man's favorite person to date), and we were genuinely sad when the sessions were over. Thank you, John! We miss you!

What an amazing experience!!! We didn’t know what to expect when hiring a trainer to teach us how to be good dog parents and provide us with the tools to ensure our 8 month Yorkie Willy knew where he belonged in the family packed as well as use the same tools on our 11 year Yorkie. Is not easy having two male dogs but now they each know where they belonged and they haven’t been fighting any more. John is sooo amazing and my dogs love him. Willy was so sad on the last session because he gained a new friend. Also, he comes to you and does real life scenarios at home how we can improved their lives but also ours. Don’t think about it… book with John :) you won’t be disappointed and your dog will thank you.

John is fantastic. He has been a great help to us and is extremely knowledgeable. We got our dog from a shelter, about 1 year old, and she was very high anxiety and reactive to any new people or dogs. I was nervous about bringing in a trainer and did a lot of research beforehand to find someone reputable and with techniques I felt comfortable with (hands off, no bark collars etc.) John had so many stellar reviews and the description of his training plan seemed like a good starting place for us. In the initial phone conversation, I gave the overview of our struggles and was prepared for him to say it was going to be too much to take on. But John seemed to understand right away what the situation was and felt confident he could help even in the first session. Our first training session was extremely illuminating and he helped set us up for success with some significant foundational changes to our behaviors and the hierarchy of the house. He gave us daily homework and exercises to work on. I admit, I wasn't expecting the level of time commitment required, but the benefits were noticeable almost immediately and have absolutely been worth the effort. Our dog actually loves doing the training, it helps her burn some of her energy and build her confidence. I waited about 2 months from her adoption to give her time to decompress, but in hindsight, I wish I had started training earlier and not waited in order to help her destress sooner. We are still working on her reactivity, but overall after 3 sessions, she is much more calm and comfortable in the house and she's learning that she can trust us to handle situations that used to overwhelm her. I really appreciate the unmatched knowledge and experience John brings to the table and we may still be calling him if we need more help or guidance along the way. Highly recommend John! My two cents: be prepared to do the homework, make the time, and give the process your full attention. It’s worth it!