Pavlov Dog Training - Portland

Kylah is the real deal. We opted for the 2-week board & train program for our then-5 month old pit bull puppy and in those 2 weeks Kylah succeeded in laying a strong foundation for Reggie that using other resources we had failed to accomplish for months. Relevant information: Concerns about training tools, such as prong collars? We had been using exclusively positive reinforcement and treats in our training. This did not work for our Reggie - no treats were going to be more exciting than other dogs, other people, chewing us, etc. We were nervous about using prong collars. Kylah utilized the prong collar, which yielded less lunging, better heeling, less puppy biting. Kylah taught us the appropriate manner to use the prong collar and relayed the reasons it is a safe and appropriate training tool. Note: After the training Reggie was overjoyed to see Kylah everytime we had a follow-up session, assuaging our fear that Reggie would see the prong collar and person holding it as a scary thing to only avoid. Setup of program? The house is in a forested area with lots of room for the dogs to get out, be active, and practice obedience before hitting potentially high-stress areas like neighborhoods or stores. We received several high-quality updates throughout the 2-week period showing Reggie’s progress in different settings, on different tasks. Follow up training sessions? Easily the part of the process we’re most impressed and thankful for. Not only is Kylah well-versed in training dogs, she’s well-versed in helping you learn how to read your dog’s behavior and set them up for success. This is where she taught us when and how to effectively use the prong collar, where she showed us how to establish boundaries around heel, stay, and other commands, and where she showed us how to transfer these skills to new environments. Kylah has also answered several questions we’ve had after the sessions and provided valuable insight and guidance. Is Pavlov worth it? For us, yes. We were exhausted trying to navigate what was standard puppy behavior and what were issues we should be addressing now. Other methods we used (group classes, dog parks, reading guides, reading books, watching videos, phone apps) left us making no progress and feeling helpless. Pavlov was a big investment, but one we’re glad we made. We feel closer to our dog than before, have more trust in him (and vice versa, I’d like to believe), and have been able to take him out of the house more successfully.

I cannot say enough good things about working with Kylah! My dog struggled with reactivity and we had worked with trainers in the past but found very little progress. Kylah has so much knowledge and expertise and has helped transform my reactive dog. We’ve been able to go to busy coffee shops and that is something I would have never thought possible before this program. My entire experience has been great start to finish and would highly recommend!