The Balanced Dog

Choosing Joanne as our trainer was the best decision we could have made for our us and our dog. To say we struggled with our reactive 1.5 year old coonhound is an understatement, even after working with a previous trainer. After talking with Joanne for the first time on the phone, I could already tell the experience with her would be different and so much better. She was incredibly thorough and helpful before we even decided to schedule our dog’s 3 week board and train. Our dog's reactivity was not magically fixed after he completed his 3 week board and train, especially since he practiced reactivity for so long, but Joanne gave us the foundation and knowledge we desperately needed. We still work with our dog everyday and will probably always need to manage his reactivity, but the progress he has made is incredible from where we started, and we can’t thank Joanne enough for that. I truly cannot believe he is able to attend Joanne’s group class with 15-20 other dogs and be calm. His house manners are also much better after his board and train and Joanne helped us understand his breed-needs. We have a much happier and fulfilled dog now! The lifetime group classes included with our board and train are amazing and have provided the most significant change in our dog’s mindset around other people and dogs, especially since he is reactive. I have gained so much confidence as a dog owner since attending the classes - it’s so worth it. Even after our board and train, Joanne has been there to answer questions via text or phone call and has even met with us in person to continue helping us learn. Our life with our dog is so much more enjoyable now and it’s very clear that he is happier too. We still have our stressful moments, but I truly never thought we would make it to where we are now with our progress, and it’s only been 3 months since the board and train and since we started classes. I am confident we will continue making progress, thanks to Joanne and all of her knowledge. If you are struggling with your dog, Joanne is the person to have in your corner. She truly changed our life with our dog.

Joanne was incredible to work with. Although my husband and I had experience with dogs in the past we had our hands full with our new persistent and assertive pup. We sent our dog to Joanne for a 3 week board and train and we amazed by the results. She help reset the hierarchy in the home and gave us the tools to maintain order. She is very relational with us and our dog and taught us so much about being the leader for our dog. It has been over 6 months since we got our pup back and the fruit of Joannes work is still evident. This dog still keeps us on out toes and from what we are learning about his breed he always will; however Joanne has been available to us for phone calls, followup group classes, and even additional home visits. We are so grateful to have met Joanne and are benefiting from her knowledge of dog behavior and training!

Highly recommended Joanne. I had taken my boy as far as I could and knew we needed help. I had hired 2 other trainers before I found Joanne. Not every type of trainer works for every dog. When I had contacted her my boy, had issues with jumping, pulling me to the ground, among other problems. I had told Joanne at our accessment that I have tried everything to hit a break-through and that my goal was that he would one day be able to be a service dog. I sent him away for a total of 3 weeks for her board and train with Joanne and have contunied with her weekly obedience classes on weekends for the past 7 months. He came back a different dog and with both our contunied work, my pup flew for the first time on Sept 19, 2024. He was absolute perfection, we got complimented from the moment we arrived. All of our hardwork paid off and without The Balanced Dogs help this accomplishment would have never happened. We got a card when we landed from the flight crew. He was flawless and has turned into a wonderful companion and helper. If ur dog has any sort of behavioral problems or u need help with task training, Joanne, with the balance dog is worth all she does and more, in gold. A+++++

Joanne changes lives. She changed our lives in two short weeks. My husband and I wanted to get a puppy. When the puppy came we were overwhelmed. We were taking in person and online classes but the information was conflicting and had no clear directions or motives. We had our cute Corgi stay with Joanne for two weeks and it was life changing. We were most of the problem. Joanne gave us clear, concise guidance. Our puppy loved the structure and so did we. We continue to take the follow up classes and learn something new each week. We are all working on the same page and Joanne continues to check in and keep us moving forward. Joanne is a force. So blessed to have her with us on the journey! Thank you much Joanne. There just aren't words enough.

We sent our 8 month old Labrador puppy to The Balanced Dog for a 6 week board and train, and later went to group obedience classes. We had tried reward-only training like with our previous dogs, and that worked for some things (like sit and down); but we had major problems with him pulling very hard while walking, attacking his food bowl before it was put down for him, and jumping on people. We realized that we needed expert help. During the board and train, Joanne sent videos of him playing with other dogs, as well as snippets of her training our dog. For example, she sent videos at various stages of training him to wait until his bowl was put down and he was told it was OK to start eating. It showed the way she built up the behavior, and how she corrected him when he made a mistake. That was super helpful later, as we were reinforcing and correcting the behavior at home. When Joanne brought him home, she had several tools (included in the board and train cost), which she showed us how to use. An important one was a prong collar for walking (to increase our control, and reduce his attempts to pull). She gave us a quick in-home lesson on how to put on and take off the collar, and how to use it properly on walks. Joanne kept in frequent contact via text message, to see how he was doing, and whether we had any problems or questions. After a couple of weeks, I was having trouble with him pulling on walks again. So Joanne made a house call to watch what I was doing, and help me correct my technique (after all, our dog knew how to do it; I just didn't know how to require it from him). Joanne came for another house call when our dog kept getting more aggressive while playing fetch. She gave me some strategies for keeping his focus on the toys, and not using me as a toy. We practiced until we could play safely and consistently. Group obedience class was helpful both in training me (since our dog already knew it), and for practicing and honing technique in higher distraction environments.