NorCal Canine Academy

Samantha was a blessing to find in a sea of dog trainers. I began working with Sam when my dog, Hunter, was just shy of a year old. He was a disaster of fear and reactivity, with a bite record to boot. I was completely over my head. I had tried several other trainers, spent a significant amount of money, and had very little success. When I met Sam, she immediately dove in, listened to my concerns, and helped me create a plan and path forward. What made her different from other trainers was that she didn’t just train my dog—she trained me. She taught me the skills and tools I needed to successfully train Hunter myself and build a strong, trusting relationship with him. Sam was incredibly supportive throughout our entire training journey. Whether I was struggling with something and needed guidance, reassurance, or simply had a question, she was always responsive, caring, and helpful. She truly wanted to see both Hunter and me succeed. Over the years, Sam and I have remained in contact. She has continued to guide me whenever new issues arise and has taught me fun tricks and skills to practice with Hunter. Those experiences have helped strengthen the bond between us immensely. Today, Hunter lives an amazing life. He hikes, swims in the lake, travels, and gets to enjoy so many experiences that I never would have thought possible when we first started working together. Sam gave both Hunter and me the tools we needed to not just manage his challenges, but to truly enjoy life to the fullest. I will always be incredibly grateful to Sam for the impact she has had on both of our lives. She is an exceptional trainer, a wonderful teacher, and someone I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for help with their dog.

We attended a 5 day intensive bootcamp at Yorkshire Canine Academy last week. Our German Shepherd Jax was one of 11 reactive dogs and we all learned so much. The team of trainers was headed up by Sam who was helpful in showing me where I had been going wrong (old habits die hard). The whole team was constantly keeping a watchful eye and giving advice. We came home with a truly different dog, walking calmly to heel past distractions and generally passing other dogs without incident. There have been a couple of flare ups but successfully dealt with using the techniques learned during the week.

I just spent a week with Poppy my reactive dog, under the careful tutoring of Sam Lee. She was impressive leading the team managing 11 of us. Her knowledge is profound, her personality amazing. She understands the dogs and even better, their owners. All 11 graduated with honours! Well Done Sam and thank you so much for helping Poppy (formerly known as knobhead…) have the calm and happy future she deserves.