Man's Best Friend

The staff at Man’s Best Friend and Shannon the owner far exceeded our expectations. My dog Lenny is a nervous, fearful dog and had issues in the past with reactivity and aggression including bites. We took him to a large franchise board and train in Portland hoping for tools to calm our dog and navigate different situations more confidently. The training we received at this franchise was to use the corrective e-collar frequently and with every command. Over time we adapted to that training but we felt like it didn’t really make a fundamental change in our dog. 2.5 years of that and a couple more hard-to-navigate situations later, we found Man’s Best Friend. Shannon and Amy at Man’s Best Friend trained Lenny in a way that felt more intuitive to dog behavior and his natural tendencies. We still correct Lenny with an e-collar but that is done more sparingly and with good reason as opposed to doing it with every command which we now see as unfair. Lenny now knows the best thing a nervous/fearful/reactive/aggressive dog can know — he knows how to calm down. We can walk him by his former triggers and keep him calm easily and we can down him for over an hour where he does nothing but stay calm. My wife and I are very thankful for Man’s Best Friend and would recommend them to anyone looking for obedience or help with a reactive dog like ours. Bonus photo of Lenny.

Shannon Walker is absolutely the best! She is very well versed in what it takes to train dogs in all disciplines. She is able to train all dogs to conform to the handler of the dogs. She is able to train any dog. Whether your dog is big, small, aggressive, doesn't listen, jumps on you or has other bad behaviors; she can train them. She offers a 30 day boarded training that is world class. The cost is about the same as some other places, but the training your dog receives during that time is far above average for the cost making it well worth the cost and a better deal than you would get elsewhere. Her training also includes a three hour training session with the owner at the end of the dogs boarded training. During this time she teaches the handler how to handle the dog in a way that both the owner and dog understand what eachother wants and expects from eachother. Shannon was able to train my dog, a breed that is well known to be stubborn independent. Her training allows you access to very educational and helpful videos. She gives you a lifetime of help with the dog. Shannon would be an outstanding choice for a person looking to have their dog trained properly with someone who has the proven knowledge and skills to train the dog and the owner for a life time.

Shannon, her staff, and Man’s Best Friend facilities are top notch, professional and safe. There is no question that Shannon Walker leads a team of qualified and dedicated people. They all care about the success of your dog’s training and wellbeing. I have had two follow-up visits with Shannon since my dog Rex, completed his 30-day boarded training. The follow-ups were not refreshers for Rex, they were for my wife and I. Rex knew what he was supposed to do, it was my wife and I that needed additional training and support. We received personal training from Ms. Walker herself, and the training boosted our confidence and our relationship with Rex. Part of that greater confidence is knowing that I can schedule additional visits, call or email questions or concerns, absolutely free for the life of Rex; and I can count on the same professional and dedicated service each and every time. This outfit has a high reverence for military and first responder veterans. It’s very obvious on the grounds, in the buildings, and among the staff. If you are a veteran that just needs a well behaved four-legged battle buddy like myself, or a fully trained service animal; these are the people you need helping you. Larry W. Jordan, MSgt, (Ret).