FirstBarkWendy is amazing. Her training methods are so positive and my dog, Teddy,learned so much! She is very responsive and professional. Her puppy socials were a big hit with Teddy! I also learned how to keep working with her after our lessons ended but I know she is there if I ever need any help!! Highly recommend!!
The Life of Riley
Prospect, Kentucky
About The Life of Riley
Seeking harmony between you and your canine companion? The Life of Riley Dog Training & Pet Care Services is your answer. Wendy Taylor, a Victoria Stilwell Academy graduate, employs positive reinforcement techniques to transform your dog's behavior. Experience a calmer, more obedient pet, all while strengthening your bond.
Training & services
Training goals
- Obedience training
- Puppy training
- Socialization
Behavior support
- Fear and confidence
- Reactivity training
How training happens
- Owner coaching Customer-reported
Dog age
- Puppies
Your dog’s background
- Rescue dogs Customer-reported
Training approach
- Positive reinforcement
Additional services
- Dog walking
Other listed services
View 3 additional details
- In-Home Pet Sitting
- Fitness Programs for Dogs
- Dog Behavior Consulting
Confirm current programs and availability directly.
Questions & answers
From GoogleWhat people have asked about this business.
Why does my dog act like a lunatic when it sees other dogs?
Reactivity on leash could be a result of frustration when the dog wants to go see whatever it is that it sees but can’t, or fear which would result in the dog barking and lunging for the purpose of creating more space from the person, dog or thing that it sees. Both of these can be modified through the use of positive reinforcement for an alternative behavior or counter conditioning and desensitization methods.
Community answer · The Life of Riley · 2024-09-21
What is the most challenging behavior you experience with your dog or puppy?
Some of the most common behavior challenges I experience with my clients include pulling on leash, reacting to people or other dogs while on leash, anxiety to unfamiliar people or places or when getting in & riding in the car, barking at things they hear or see, and separation anxiety. Most often, these behavior issues are a result of fear or frustration. Dogs need to feel safe in order to be able to learn. All of these are behavior issues that I can help dogs overcome using positive reinforcement, counter conditioning and desensitization, creating new positive associations, or teaching the dog and alternative behavior that is incompatible with the unwanted behavior.
Community answer · The Life of Riley · 2024-09-21
Why doesn’t my puppy stop peeing in the house?
Learning to hold its bowels and bladder and communicate to the human when they need to go potty so you can take it outside to eliminate where you want it to is a behavior that needs to be taught to your puppy. Otherwise, your puppy will just go when the need arises wherever they’re at, which is natural for them to do.
Community answer · The Life of Riley · 2024-09-21
What is learned helplessness in dogs?
A dog may seem to be emotionally “fine” with an experience when it is actually shut down emotionally because it has learned that it has no choice but to endure the experience. A common example is being groomed. Often the experience of being bathed and having loud, intense air driers blown at them is not an enjoyable experience, but the dog has learned it has no choice and is physically restrained from expressing how it feels about the experience - this is learned helplessness.
Community answer · The Life of Riley · 2024-09-21
Public community answers. Authors are not verified as business representatives; details may have changed.
Customer reviews
Google listing5
95 Google reviews
Mentioned in reviews
- Confidence building 14
- Understanding dog behavior 12
- Puppy socialization class 6
- Reactive dog training 6
- Customized training 5
- Flexible scheduling 3
All 10 topics
- Connected to dog 2
- Responsive to questions 2
- Studio training 2
- Written instructions 2
Google review topics, not confirmed services.
Wendy was absolutely wonderful to work with and taught me as well as my two sweet goldendoodles so much. She is so knowledgeable about dogs and their behavior. She was so patient and kind while working with my girls. I feel so fortunate that I found her. We had 5 very successful training sessions. She is the best!!!
Wendy knows dogs. Full stop. She helped us learn how to best manage our puppy’s behaviors with positive reinforcement. More importantly, dog training is a partnership between human and canine; Wendy made this clear. A 5 cookie review!
Wendy did an excellent job training us and our rescue puppy! We saw results right away. Her methods of positive reinforcement and explanations on why to do things a certain way were fantastic. She always left us with reading materials and homework for the next session. She helped transform a stressful situation into a very happy one.
I have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Wendy for the past couple months with my dog Ridgely. I was between her and the other board and train that has Canine with Double H's. I am SO glad I went with her. Ridgely was INCREDIBLY reactive, to the point where anytime there was a…Read full reviewClose full review
I have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Wendy for the past couple months with my dog Ridgely. I was between her and the other board and train that has Canine with Double H's. I am SO glad I went with her. Ridgely was INCREDIBLY reactive, to the point where anytime there was an unexpected noise (not even a startling noise, just something like a door closing, someone dropping a pen, very small things like that) he'd be darting away. He still has his issues, but now I know how to address these and they have gotten MUCH better in just a matter of a couple weeks. She is always on time and works with you on your schedule, not the other way around. She will make sure times/dates work for you and be there. One thing I'd like to say is she's not a dog trainer. She's training the dog trainer, which is you. She comes in and meets the dog, and she starts to train, but what she's doing during these sessions is showing you how to train your dog, since she's not always going to be there. The 'board and train' train your dog, but aren't training you on how to train once they're done with your dog, so you never quite know what to look for, what to expect, and how to further your dog training, whereas she's making sure that once that one hour session is over, you'll still be able to work with your dog since you'll be spending the most amount of time with your pup. Nobody is going to know them like you. Ms. Wendy comes in, asks exactly what you're looking for, what commands you want to teach, how your dog reacts in certain situations, and molds her training sessions on exactly what you want to see out of your dog, then will train you on how to train those specific behaviors/commands. It is EXACTLY what I was looking for. While Ridgely and I have a far way to go when it comes to reactivity and learning to trust his surroundings, i feel MUCH more confident after having her come over and teach us. He is currently sitting beside me after having our last session with Ms. Wendy and is playing with a toy she recommended. Before she came, I couldn't get him to play any sort of games with me because he was that skittish, always waiting for the other shoe to drop (literally and figuratively). Now, he chases a tennis ball, plays tug of war with me and even wrestles. I could not be happier with my experience. There's a reason she has 5 stars. In a one sentence summary: Look no further, this is the trainer you want.
Original customer experiences from the collected Google data. Ratings without comments follow written reviews.