The Training Retreat by Barks and Recreation

Jen and Tyler are awesome trainers, and we are thankful for the work they do for so many pups. By writing this review, we would like to take the opportunity to help others who are looking for knowledgeable and trustworthy dog trainers by telling everyone about our experience at The Training Retreat. We are very particular with whom we put Darla in the care of, especially when it comes to training. Darla is a rescue, so from the start, Darla came to us with her own unique issues. We worked with Darla to get some of her issues resolved but soon found out some of her issues needed professional help to overcome. That’s when The Training Retreat came into Darla’s life. After researching different trainers and then speaking to Tyler, we knew The Training Retreat was the right fit for her. Jen and Tyler are very knowledgeable trainers, and from the beginning, they met Darla where she was at in her training journey and built from that point. We were careful to find professional trainers who did not jump to the harshest forms of correction because Darla walked away from a previous trainer who misread her and left her with little to no confidence and wearing equipment that was not right for her, so that’s why this review is important to us. It was through Jen and Tyler’s training and knowledge of the equipment they use that they helped Darla ditch that unwanted equipment and find her confidence again. We could see how much Jen and Tyler truly cared about Darla and tailored each session to Darla’s needs, not theirs, not ours, but HERS! Her training did not end there, they made sure we were equipped to continue Darla’s journey. They gave us the tools and information to help us be better owners and understand what Darla needed from us, and for that, we are truly grateful. We enrolled Darla in the 3-week camp, and it was worth every penny.

We had such a wonderful experience with Barks and Rec’s Training Retreat! We adopted our pocket pittie/bully dog mix pup from VHS when she was about 4 years old, and they did an amazing job helping her build confidence while mastering basic commands. One of the biggest improvements was her leash walking—she has become so much calmer and more enjoyable to walk! What really set them apart was how personalized the training was. We’re expecting our first baby this Fall, and they went above and beyond by incorporating baby-specific training into our sessions. They used a baby doll and even played recordings of a crying baby while teaching our dog to “leave it” and remain calm. That extra level of care gave us so much confidence as we prepare to bring our daughter home. The trainers were knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely cared about setting both us and our dog up for long-term success. We couldn’t recommend the Training Retreat more highly!