We are incredibly happy with the results of our investment!! TLDR: We had 2 new and fairly challenging dogs and while training is a lifelong thing, after going through this program they are so much better equipped with the skills needed to be the best dogs they can be. While not…Read full reviewClose full review
We are incredibly happy with the results of our investment!! TLDR: We had 2 new and fairly challenging dogs and while training is a lifelong thing, after going through this program they are so much better equipped with the skills needed to be the best dogs they can be. While not inexpensive we feel that we have gotten more than our money's worth. The long version: We adopted 2 dogs pretty close together. The first one (Mia) was pretty chill at home and responsive when there was not any particular stimulus but as soon as something caught her attention it was as if we didn't exist, (people passing by outside, bunny/squirrel on a walk, etc). The other one (Ryder) was pretty much ferrel and did not understand the concept of learning at all. Though he was kind and affectionate with us at home he also lacked any sort of impulse control or ability to understand what we needed/wanted from him. We did the board and train program where we had them home on weekends. We had some homework on the 2nd weekend and the last weekend, (we had a split week so our last day was mid-week). And while it was a little tough to discern all of the skills on those weekends, once we had our final day training for us with Mason we were able to fully realize the outcome of the training. Teaching us how to utilize the tools and new skills was also quite important and VERY helpful. We were somewhat hesitant about the notion of the E-collar at first but after utilizing it durring the first few weeks after training it became clear how effective it was durring the training. At this point we rarely even need to utilize their functions. The dogs are so responsive even without the collars that it almost seems unnecessary. But that said, we do put them on when going out and only seldomly do we need to apply any sort of correction. And I think a very important thing that really sunk in for me was that corrections aren't really punitive. Rather they are exactly a correction. And those corrections aren't just to tell your dog that they are doing something wrong but also to guide them to the place (physical, behavioral, etc) where they can feel safe. The best example of this is that Ryder, in addition to being sorta feral, he has a pretty significant anxiety around cars, bikes, scooters. When on a walk, the skills that he has learned for heeling has really helped him know where he needs to be so that he can know that we will keep him safe from those stressors. And having that place right next to my leg helps him breathe easire when we encounter those potential stressors while out and about. Mia has become incredibly responsive while out and about to the point where I have zero worry that she will run off to investigate people, dogs, or critters. Her recall is near perfect. She is still very interested in alerting to the mail person or delivery drivers while at home or with me at work, but she is quite responsive when we ask her to go to her place (bed). She is still a puppy (1.5 years old) so this is not unexpected behavior but now it is very managable which is really what I can ask for. I feel like with continued use of their skills and ours we will get to a point where even the E-collars are completely not needed. I almost feel like I can go without them now. Also we do continue to ultilize the boarding facilty for daycare and somtimes boarding. Occasionally we will see Mason or one of the other trainers there when dropping off and they have continued to offer assitance with Ryder's progress (since he had the longest road to travel in his education) with tips and pointers here and there. While we wrestled with the costs of the program and we were struggling with our ability to handle Ryder long-term , after the training, his potential for being the best boy is only just starting to blossom. We were so happy that he was able to gain the skills that allowed us to see a future where we could all thrive together. Sorry for the essay but hopefully helpful for anyone unsure of the results of this program.
