Master's Way Dog Training

WOW, what a transformation! We have a 2 year old standard poodle, Augustus Rosario Assenza, who was like “tigger” on a leash when we walked him. Friends no longer enjoyed coming to the house because our dog was hyper and bouncing all over them. Auggie enjoyed meals off the counter and out of the trash and he barked like crazy at everyone who came near the house. A neighbor recommended Rick and after we saw his dog’s good behavior, we knew we had to get help. We were skeptical that it could actually work for Auggie but after a brief consultation we signed up. We don’t know what happened in Auggie’s first 6 hour private session with Rick but when we met afterwards for our 2 hour human training session, Auggie was clearly a changed dog! He was well behaved, listening and smitten with Rick. No treats involved. He was also completely different at our house. Rick is always on the side of the dog and doesn’t sugarcoat it when the dog’s owner messes up… even telling us he wished he know a good doggy attorney after one of our mistakes. Did I say he has a good sense of humor? Not only did he train all 3 of us, but we also learned SO MUCH about dogs in general. He has endless knowledge of the history of dogs and how to care for them. It is quite fascinating to spend time with him. We have changed everything we were doing with Auggie and it is so rewarding to spend time with him now. We are even going to take him on our summer vacation! Rick is truly a dog whisperer.

It is hard to find words to describe the positive transformation in my dog and me! Rick is a talented trainer that teaches handlers fair and firm strategies in training. Beyond that he helped me understand my own limitations that interfere with the owner/dog relationship, and exactly what I could do to improve that. I am amazed at the results we have experienced and Rick has taught me how I can continue to build on that.

We can't thank Rick enough for his help. When we first adopted our dog, we were not sure if we could handle him. He had behavioral issues, he growled and barked at strangers and was very timid. Through this training, we have grown to be more confident as handlers, and our dog has become more confident in us. Rick doesn't just train the dog, he trains you. No treats, no gimmicks. It's pure relationship building with you and your dog. Rick is a straightforward guy who doesn't mess around, but his love for the animals is clear. Expect to put in a good deal of effort outside of your training sessions, because it is required to ensure you build a good relationship with your dog. He provides free consultations, so at least take the time to meet with him. It's well worth it!

I don't know where to begin...we cannot thank Rick enough for the time he spent with us and our dog. We had family dogs growing up, but Vader is the first dog we have had on our own so we wanted to go to a reputable dog trainer to learn as much as we could in order to raise our dog successfully. Everything Rick said was extremely helpful, and he was brutally honest which we appreciated. While Rick is very personable and relatable, he didn't "baby" us - he let us know when we were making mistakes and how to fix them all while being fair to the dog. Vader learned very quickly...it was us who needed the training!! We learned how many of the traditional dog training strategies were not fair to the dog nor did they make any sense, so we learned to eliminate those from our routine with Vader. He shared strategies with us that really made sense and allowed us to get into the mind of our dog which enabled us to establish a closer bond with him, therefore making training successful. Everything Rick did had a purpose and a bigger goal. He helped show us training is so much more than "sit, stay, come." If you are willing to put the work and commitment into this, your time and energy will be worth it. Rick used zero force, intimidation, or fear when working with Vader. Vader felt confident working with Rick and it was great to see how they interacted when working together. Rick is constantly checking to make sure everything is fair to the dog...he is never mean or harsh. On our final day of training, I drove away with a huge smile because I knew life here on out with our dog would be a breeze if we continue working with Vader every day and actively use what Rick taught us. I would recommend Rick to anyone looking to train their dog, whether it be a puppy like ours or an older dog. We are so appreciative for what he has taught us. He was incredible and truly has a gift for working with animals. His compassion and dedication to dogs is obvious...I wouldn't want my dog trained by anyone else!