Blackhawk K-9

I have been Sam’s and Eliza’s apprentice since November and I am so incredibly grateful for all of the knowledge that they have imparted onto me. I’ve seen them work dogs who just needed a little bit of a boost in their confidence to be happy puppies; to dogs that needed more clarity on how they were expected to act in certain situations after being reactive. They have worked with shy dogs, goofy dogs, spunky pups and aggressive dogs and have done an incredible job working with every single one of them. They personalize all of their training to the dogs and the clients needs. They make sure everyone feels welcome and understood. They have an incredible bond with all of the dogs they work with. I would not hesitate to have my own pups be trained by these two incredible women!

We hired her Sam and her team for a six week board and train as a last resort for rehabbing our rescue dog. In a short amount of time our pup gained confidence, obedience and all of the necessary skills to fit into our family. The training wasn’t just for our dog but for us as well. We learned how to lead our dog, respect her boundaries and advocate for her in so many ways. Our relationship with Blackhawk didn’t end after the training period. We were able to ask questions and seek guidance beyond the board and train. From intake to graduation our dog was respected and cared for by the highly skilled trainers at Blackhawk.

Sam is an amazing trainer and when I say this, I’m saying this as someone who’s gone to bigger dog training facilities. I had private lessons with her for my fear aggressive shepherd. My shepherd is now a completely different dog because of how she TRAINED ME. She told me it would be a lot of work and I kept it up so my dog could live his life to the fullest. Sam explained things in a way that made sense and if it didn’t, she would show you. For us, she couldn’t just take the lead with my dog so for her to show how I need to implement a training method without my dog, illustrates how devoted she is to her clients. She adapts to her environment and really strives to be there for you and your dog. She is wonderful and very knowledgeable on reactivity and how to live a life around that reactivity. I would recommend her for anyone who wants to live fully with their dog, reactive or not. She chooses the best training method that the dog responds to and makes them comfortable and happy. I was able to witness some of her BNTs and they were amazing as well because she puts her all into her training. That’s what you want in a dog trainer!

I met Sam in the dog training community. We quickly became close friends because we are both trainers. Although she only recently started her own business, she has been training at a remarkable success rate for quite some time now. I have seen many of her client's dogs come into her home completely untrained, and leave completely transformed. I have stayed in her home for weeks at a time, where all of her board and trains are trained and cared for. I have seen the ins and outs of her program and lifestyle. I cannot stress enough that if you have the PRIVILEGE to get your dog trained by Sam, you will not be disappointed. She also spends quite literally ALL of her down time researching new techniques, attending seminars, reading dog training books & articles, learning and growing from other trainers and decoys. THIS IS IT when it comes to being an excellent dog trainer, she will always have the newest and best techniques to use to help you and your dog. I have personally attended some of the TOP ecollar seminars with her, so I can confidently state that she knows and utilizes the safest, most effective, and most fair use of training tools and is a true balanced trainer. She is so motivated and hard working. Knowing a lot about quite a few training companies in the area, I can confidently state that she is THE BEST option. Not only is she one of the best dog trainers and handlers to have ever come into my life, but she is one of the best and most beautiful people, inside and out, that I have ever met and come to love. She truly cares about animals and other people in a way that I have just simply not seen anyone else match. When I go away on weekend trips, or long vacations, I ALWAYS leave my personal dogs, rescues, and B&Ts with Sam. She is the ONLY one I trust to keep them safe, trained, and healthy! The time, love, blood, sweat, tears, and care she puts into her work, is unmatchable. I have personally learned a lot from her and cannot stress enough that you and your dog NEED to sign up for training with her. Like seriously just do it, it will be the best thing you ever do for your dog.

When I first scheduled our evaluation, I was a bit nervous because I always knew that our dog, moose, needed some training but I never had the time to commit to training him. Sam explained the whole process to us and we even got report cards during mooses board and train! It was adorable. Moose had major reactivity issues to other dogs and sometimes people, he was sort of unpredictable. Sam was able to change him and turn him into an amazing dog that I know he is capable of and Sam knew he was capable of too. I can’t wait to return to do more privates with Sam, she is so nice and very enjoyable to be around.