I have worked with three different dog trainers over the past two decades and the three dogs we've had in that time. (I even consulted once with The Dog Whisperer, before he became ultra-famous.) I would happily choose Adam over any other trainer. Here's why...
When we adopted our current dog a year ago, I knew we were in for a challenge. She was absolutely horrible on a leash (think of a Marlin fighting on the end of a sportfishing line). She would lunge and dart at any squirrel within sight, attempting to tear any handler's arm out. She was actively defiant, had zero interest in listening to us and was convinced she was the pack leader. Worse yet, she was sporadically and unpredictably aggressive with small dogs and would attempt to kill them (literally) without any warning or provocation.
Due to the high demand for Adam's skills, we had to wait several weeks before we were able to start working with him. In that time, I was at least able to improve our dog's leash habits, but that's about it. But once we started working with Adam, things began to change for the better. Not that it was easy. The whole point of working with a dog trainer is to get yourself trained so that you can train your dog. And even then, with our dog's intelligence and defiant streak, there was much work to be done.
Under Adam's steady guidance and no-B.S. approach, we slowly began to make progress. You should know that Adam's personality and training style are informed by his unique mix of passion, philosophy, consistency, thirst for knowledge of his field, methodical nature, and his no-BS ability to diplomatically call out and teach owners when they're not stepping up.
You should also know that Adam teaches a leash-and-collar/corrections training method. There is no treat training or positive hopefulness or whatever. But to me, and most of the other trainers I worked with this is the most effective method. Done correctly and responsibly, it does not harm your dog. In fact, it can greatly enhance the bond between dog and owner as I have now experienced with all three of the dogs I have trained.
Our dog pushed everyone's patience. It wasn't until about 8 weeks in that the transformation Adam had promised began to materialize. So it wasn't easy. We had to put in the work. And even Adam had to put in a little extra work to deal with our dog's personality (think overachieving, too smart for her own good teenager). But we all hung in there with each other, and eventually our dog transformed before our eyes. It was nothing short of miraculous.
Thanks to Adam our dog became a mellow, responsive, easy to walk, obedient dog that we can confidently take just about anywhere. She is perfectly behaved at sidewalk cafes or chaotic places like the Home Depot. In fact, she is generally so good, that I have been asked by passersby if I was a dog trainer myself. And with all of this, our bond with her grew more than I ever thought it would.
Simply put, anyone with any dog should work with Adam. Book him now before he gets famous! read more