Common Scents Dog Training

I adopted Willadean from the animal shelter under what I can only describe as false pretenses. I wanted an older dog. A nice companion. Something to hang out with me and enjoy the quiet life. What I apparently brought home was a 6-month-old English Bulldog with a lengthy criminal record and absolutely nothing to lose. Willadean had no rules in her previous home. No manners. No respect for personal space. She hated other dogs. She wasn't particularly fond of humans either. At one point, I couldn't even go to the bathroom in peace because Willadean would attack me while I was sitting on the toilet. Nothing makes you question every decision you've ever made quite like being held hostage in your own bathroom by a 40-pound meatball. I genuinely wondered if I had ruined my life. Then we found Common Scents Dog Training. With training, management, patience, and what I can only assume was a small amount of holy water, we slowly started seeing a completely different dog. And I mean completely different. The dog who couldn't safely interact with other dogs became great with them. The dog who terrorized me in my own home became so well behaved that she visited classrooms with kids and even volunteered at a music school. Yes. THAT dog. I'm pretty sure if you'd told me that during the bathroom-hostage era, I would have laughed directly in your face. Was it an overnight transformation? Absolutely not. Did Willadean and I both learn a lot? Unfortunately. Do we all have a little PTSD from the experience? Probably. But today, Willadean is an incredible dog, and I honestly don't know where we would be without Common Scents Dog Training helping us through the days when I was seriously considering changing my name, moving states, and leaving no forwarding address. If you adopted a dog and are currently thinking, “What the hell have I done?" Call Common Scents. Apparently, there is hope. Even for Willadean.

Definitely the place to go if you hit the “what the heck is going on with my dog” moments. I reached out to Emily because I was way over my head when it came to handling and understanding my puppy during the “teen/fear/reactive phase”. I was in tears daily not knowing why my puppy was freaking out, barking, and lunging at lots of random things. Emily is very knowledgeable in dog behavior and was able to explain the season we were in was fairly normal. I always had so many questions every time I trained with her and she would gladly answer. You can tell that she thoroughly loves what she does and truly cares about being professional and ethical with her clients. My dog and I have come so far with the help of her expertise and encouragement. Is my dog magically fix? No, that’s not realistic, BUT she empowered us by teaching me what was necessary to make progress as my young dog continues to mature. Even though I’ve moved, I continue to make virtual appointments as needed and Emily is always ready to help. Additional Note: I did a mix of virtual and in person trainings. My dog passed Star Puppy and CGC.

I highly recommend Common Sense Training. We approached Emily due to our dog’s reactive issues. Emily’s approach is straightforward and non-judgmental. Her training instructions were easy to understand and put into practice. She has a deep understanding of dog behavior and has helped us understand our dog better. Walks are getting easier and our dog’s confidence has grown. I only wish we had approached her sooner.