Taking the Lead

Very uncomfortable and was judged. My dog is aggressive first thing mentioned was to euthanizing my dog. She didn’t want to train him which is fine but before coming I was told 10 year experience with aggressive dogs and this was not the case. I’m not sure how aggressive you expect someone’s dog to be. But when I hear “ aggressive “ I think of the most extreme. She judged my dog and went from there. She has a certain “ audience” which is fine but stop saying you have experience with aggression and you do not ! Also my dog didn’t turn on me he was very scared and uncomfortable and it was an absolute horrible experience!!!!

Taking the Lead Dog Training has been an absolute game-changer for us and our mini Aussie, Sampson! We reached out right after his first birthday because, while he is incredibly smart (sometimes too smart!), he developed some VERY sassy habits—barking nonstop, ignoring commands when he felt like it, and demanding to be the center of attention at all times. I had no more patience, and we needed help! From the start, the team at Taking the Lead was amazing, clearly outlining the program steps and reassuring us that they had seen similar cases before. They were confident that Sampson’s barking would improve with the Day Train program while we focused on his manners and our communication during training. This was exactly what we needed—the results have exceeded my expectations and truly strengthened our bond with Sampson! My favorite part was seeing how quickly he progressed! The e-collar was a total game-changer, giving my husband and me a way to communicate with him effectively—without resorting to yelling or ignoring him, which most of the time only led to more barking. It was like a lightbulb went off for all of us, and suddenly, we had a dog who wanted to listen! Now, Sampson is doing great! We continue working on what he learned in training regularly, and even people who already thought he was well-behaved before training have complimented on his amazing manners and level of calm. That is such a rewarding feeling as a dog owner! He still gets excited (And he will always have little springs in his feet!), but he has learned how to calm himself down and mind his manners even in exciting situations. One of the biggest wins from training for us has been the place command—it has been an absolute lifesaver! Before training, we never imagined Sampson would actually stay put quietly while we ate dinner or had guests over, but now, he settles in his spot and waits for direction. Our home is so much more peaceful, and we are beyond grateful for that! If you’re considering training, DO IT! Taking the Lead gave us the tools, support, and confidence to help Sampson be the best version of himself, and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you so much for everything!

If you are looking for a training facility to help your dog become the best version of itself, I would highly suggest Taking the Lead. The trainers are amazing and the techniques they use are so effective. Our Charlie was struggling with multiple issues. She's an amazing dog but I needed to harness her energy and focus. Something as simple as jumping into the car was becoming a huge challenge (as Charlie was getting too big for me to lift). I took her to be evaluated at TTL and on our way out, Lindsay had her jumping into the car on her second command. Needless to say, I signed up on the spot. From that point on, Lindsay and her amazing team focused on helping Charlie learn to self sooth, stay in place, heel as we walk, leave items she shouldn't pick up, and drop them when she wasn't quite ready to "leave" an item. Our walks went from stressful, crazy, and tiring to pleasant, enjoyable, and fun. Charlie still has some learning to do and is a "work in progress," but she has become such a different dog since training with Lindsay and her team. I love them so much, I've signed on for more lessons just because I love their training and results so much. Charlie and I are finding a wonderful rhythm that I don't know if we would have had without the exceptional training she received. I went from wanting to give her up (not really, but I was so stressed) to realizing I couldn't live without her. All thanks to Taking the Lead. Their knowledge of dog behavior is beyond description. I was extremely pleased with the results of my dog Charlie’s training. I can’t begin to express my gratitude to everyone who worked to make Charlie’s experience the best it could be. The picture I included is of Charlie in her "place."

Honestly, I was hesitant to try Taking the Lead. My German Shepherd, Ruby, previously had a horrible experience with a board-and-train program. Unfortunately, she returned from that program with high-anxiety and fear of anything that moved. I was devastated. I did not want to repeat that experience for either of us. Ruby’s anxiety and reactiveness to people and dogs limited our time out in the world. Also, she did not like anyone or any dog in our house, in our yard, or within a 3-foot radius of us, so our social circle was diminishing quickly. During the transformation session, Lindsey assured me that Taking the Lead would be a good option us. And she was right! During our training, Taking the Lead educated me on Ruby’s reactiveness and the tools to help her. I think I learned more than Ruby! The education gave me confidence to become a strong leader, and Ruby recognizes and responds to my new confidence. The staff went above and beyond and willingly met with us in real-life scenarios so we could practice what we learned. This is exactly what we needed – support in real-life situations. Now, Ruby and I have the confidence to go places and meet up with friends – and now we actually enjoy it. The Alumni events provide more opportunities for us to learn together while having fun. In addition, Taking the Lead offers lifetime support should I have more questions or should my dog develop new behavioral issues. Ruby and I are looking forward to a lifetime of friendship and support with Taking the Lead.