Mid-Atlantic Dog Training

Estelle, thank you so much. I certainly value your opinion and feedback, especially being you had a great deal of prior experience with dogs, and even working with dogs and their owners within your own profession. You had also already established a very solid obedience foundation to work from, so that made my work easy. Both you and Darcy were excellent students and quick studies in terms of what I shared. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I’m grateful I was able to be of assistance to you working with your handsome Doberman.

Thank you so much for the review! It was a pleasure working with you. It was clear that the training was a priority and you understood the work needed, and the maintenance thereafter. Ozzie’s off to a good start and has a good foundation to build on thanks to you. You can can expect a few more challenges as he approaches the peak of his adolescence, but if you and your family are consistent and continue to make it clear what you expect of him, i.e. what he can and can’t do, your family and Ozzie will benefit immensely. Dogs thrive on structure.

Eric, thank you for the review. Adolescence can be a tricky period for many dogs, i.e. hormones are kicking, they are maturing and their perceptions about people and dogs often begins change and seems uncertain. The more people tap into meeting the needs of their dogs, as opposed to just giving them affection, the better off their relationship will be. Milo’s a good dog, but like many dogs I meet, he was primarily needing more direction, structure and clear consistent leadership. When balanced with rewards, discipline is a good thing, and being strict only implies that expectations are adhered to. Dogs thrive on structure. You often remarked at how good Milo was around me, and that was primarily due to me being clear about my expectations. When you delivered the same requirements, he was equally good with you. Dogs prefer following strong leaders, so they don’t have the stress of figuring out what to do every day, especially in unfamiliar situations. With continued practice and maintenance you have will that same consistency and Milo will feel just as calm and secure with you on a regular basis. I hope to see you on a future pack walk, which I think would be a great exercise in confidence building for both of you.

Kim, thanks so much for taking the time to write a review. You, Lance and Finn were all terrific students! Finn is pretty much at the peak of his adolescence, and that’s often when dogs present more challenging behaviors, and when owners learn that their initial training as a puppy isn’t keeping pace with them. Finn knew his obedience commands, but his training wasn’t truly functional, meaning he was largely lacking in self-control and still too prone to being reactive to a multitude of distractions, dogs, people, sounds etc., whether at home or outside. Dogs thrive on structure and that’s what’s lacking in many pet dog households today. He’s a high energy breed and requires a good deal of both physical and mental exercise. Once you began making it clear what you expected and wanted of him, in terms of rules, limitations and boundaries, he soon started to relax and exhibit a much calmer demeanor and become less reactive. You are correct in the training doesn’t end after our lessons, rather will now need to be maintained by you. Practice makes progress, and I have no doubt Finn will continue to make you proud.

Rez, thank you for the review and feedback. As first time dog owners, going beyond your initial big box store training and seeking out private professional training at the very beginning was the right thing to do. It was clear you wanted to do the best for him. Although a bit fearful and timid in the beginning, mainly due to lacking adequate socialization, Teddy is a terrific little dog. In addition, once dogs recognize and sense consistent leadership from their owners, they can begin to thrive. Having rules, limitations and boundaries, i.e. knowing what’s expected of them, really does help them feel more secure and relax. I’m very glad to hear Teddy is doing well in your new community. Best of luck in your new home and keep up the good work.