K9 Pawsibilities

I went to Terri for help with my dog and human reactive dog. Before coming in, I emailed back and forth letting Terri know that my dog was reactive because I didn't want to put other dogs (especially small ones) at risk. I've had some bad experiences with vets, so before I came in, I asked her about her training style and other such information. I wasn't able to get any information on that, and was instead told to pay for and come to a class. When I came in to the first class, she asked if I wanted a choke collar. This was my first indicator I shouldn't have come, but I came for three out of four classes I believe, just to see if there was any redeeming qualities. Next, she sprayed my dog with water when she became reactive to a dog being too close to her, as a reactive dog naturally would. I find this uncalled for, unhelpful (especially because my dog sees this as a toy, and only made her more excited and therefore more reactive), and frankly just rude because I wasn't even asked before she did this. I believe it was the same class that Terri also forcibly made a dog lie down and stay lying down while she demonstrated something. If you knew anything about dog behavior, you could tell this dog was uncomfortable and did not want to be in the situation. Terri lifted the dogs legs so that it would be unstable enough in the sitting position so that it would lie down. When it got back up, she repeated the process and then stepped on the dogs leash so that it had no choice but to lie down. I don't believe this taught the dog anything at all except that this human is now someone the dog knows will force it into things it doesn't know how to/doesn't want to do. If you want a dog trainer that does not force your dog to do things, doesn't use harsh aversives, and believes that the dog should be taught to WANT to do the behavior instead of simply to do the behavior, I don't suggest Terri. I want to make it clear that I don't feel any bad feelings towards her, nor do I want anything bad for her. I simply want people to know what they're getting before they go to this trainer. I can't condone the actions of a trainer that does these things to dogs and then claims my dog is "a little aggressive" because she's frustrated she can't interact with another dog in the class, especially after I made it very clear to her and everyone in the class she is reactive.