Strategic K-9 Training

I worked with Sydney virtually training my golden, Bow. She was great at problem solving barriers to being virtual, making virtual as effective as being in person. She offered solutions to issues I was having and is clearly truly an expert when it comes to dogs! As a therapist, I also appreciate her background in psychology and how this can be translated to animals. Sydney truly loves animals and does a great job at balancing compassion and structure in working with dogs. Training feels more manageable instead of overwhelming, and I feel empowered after our sessions to continue working towards our goals on my own.

I came to Strategick-9 in desperate need of training for my reactive dog, Odin, after a biting incident involving a family member. Here’s my experience. Sydney appeared on the surface to be a knowledgeable dog trainer but she lacks effective communication skills and applies questionable methods in her training of reactive dogs. While my primary issue resides in her poor communication I do recall one occasion where she pulled Odin’s slip lead so tight while he was barking at a dog passing by that you could hear it choking him. We had multiple sessions that had same day cancellations on their end. Which is a double standard considering their policy for their customers requires at least 24 hours notice or it will result in a loss of a session or a $65 fee. They definitely value their time and money more than yours. On one occasion I had to reach out to her the morning of our scheduled session to confirm we were still on. She responded 6 hours prior to our session that she had an evaluation that was going to overlap because she forgot to follow up with me. The appointment was rescheduled. On a separate occasion we had a group training session scheduled but the other dogs canceled an hour and a half prior to the session. She said she would reach out that day or the next to reschedule. Two weeks had passed and I hadn't heard a word. I had to reach out to her. She replied by saying "my b for not getting back to you, weekends have been busy busy." We had an exchange via text and she ultimately decided she no longer wanted to work together and she put me in contact with Joe. He offered two sessions with him or a $250 refund. I paid $2,500 up front with the agreement that Odin's training didn't have a set number of sessions but rather we would work with him until he was good to go. Joe undermined that agreement when he offered only 2 sessions. Had he decided to honor my previous agreement with Sydney I would have taken that offer. I didn't agree on the $250 refund since they had only accomplished basic obedience training with Odin. Which he was already well versed in when in a calm environment. One session consisted of her feeding Odin Pirates Booty from a muzzle for 40 minutes. They said in their session confirmations that the session will last an hour. Very rarely was this the case and most of our sessions ran below that time frame. Odin's real issue was resource guarding and his reactivity to other dogs and children. That training was never completed. I do take responsibility for removing the rubber piece off of the e-collar because I thought it was on there to protect water from getting in and I was attempting to charge it. However, the new e-collar they ordered had been in for some time and we never began working with it. Also, they get the cheapest e-collars they can pass with. You're better off buying your own. Which I did. Even though I didn't agree on the $250 refund Joe took it upon himself to refund it to my account anyway. I also never received the new e-collar which he stated was the reason he wouldn't refund more. As a side note, they claim to make training plans that adapt to the dog and the owners needs. Sydney never asked me to demonstrate how Odin walked with me on leash. Rather she had a generic format she implemented instead. At the end of the day I feel they're highly dependent on the e-collar for their training, have very poor customer service and need to develop a stronger work ethic. I would highly recommend seeking training from a more reputable, professional and qualified trainer.

I cannot recommend Joe enough! He helped us immensely break some of our rescue dogs weird behaviors and showed us how to help him gain confidence. Teddy came to us from St.Lucia. He is our 3rd rescue dog so we are no strangers to giving them love and time to feel safe enough to open up. But after a year, Teddy never warmed up, he was always on edge and always put himself on duty to protect at all times. He's an anxious guy and rarely would you see him chilling on the couch or snuggled up to take a day time nap especially with guests over. Since training, I have seen such an improvement in Teddys behavior overall. He is now more sure of himself, eager to listen for a command and more comfortable at home overall. He is an excellent leash walker now and will snuggle up with us as the day winds down. I'm really proud of how far he has come and cannot wait to see what continued training will do for him. I would recommend Joe and his team time and time again!

Our German Shepherd, Ajax, has always preferred being a little naughty—ever since we brought him home as a puppy. We spent a small fortune trying everything: treat-based training, private trainers, online programs, and countless websites, all with little success. Leashed walks were a constant battle, and general misbehavior felt like the norm. That all changed when we found Strategic K-9 Training—specifically, Sydney. In our very first session, she had Ajax walking on leash like a perfect gentleman. Since then, he’s become noticeably more obedient and has made huge strides overall. Sydney has truly been a miracle worker. Thanks to her, Ajax is no longer a source of daily frustration but a genuine joy to have in our lives. If you have a reactive dog, do yourself a favor and sign up with Strategic K-9 Training. It really does make all the difference.