So... I ignored the negative reviews about being ignored when reaching out to this place, and reached out anyway. There was no response to my email. I reached out again after a week. Still no response. I understand it's the holiday season, but customer service 101 is to respond to email and phone calls. I definitely feel like I dodged a bullet using someone who doesn't even have the courtesy to reply to TWO emails. read more

We called to sign up for training that started at $2300. We were super excited to get registered early. They did not bother to return our call, despite leaving clear return contact information. We are very disappointed and are looking elsewhere. Thank you. read more

Sarah Kalnajs of Blue Dog Training has unique qualifications that sets her apart from other trainers and behaviorists in Madison. She has transformed the way I communicate and interact with my dogs, bringing some much-needed serenity into my home. I adopted a young White Shepherd that started to exhibit fear aggression. After countless books and DVDs, I wasn't getting very far. Pinch collars, shock collars (never again!), positive reinforcement, negative punishment, you name it. I was stressed, resented my dog, couldn't rehome him, and feared he'd end up euthanized. Sarah invited me, my roommate, and both my dogs to her location for an assessment. Despite my dog's fear aggression, I felt safe and confident while there. She was even willing to introduce her dogs to mine in a safe manner, which really helped illustrate his issues. I was given an impressively comprehensive rehabilitation plan, addressing the problem from all angles: training programs, medication recommendations, potential medical issues, behavior modification tools, and new ways to interact with my dogs that stimulate their minds. One of the most useful parts of the rehabilitation plan was MY education. I thought I understood dog body language pretty well, but Sarah's "Language of Dogs" DVD corrected many misconceptions I had. With a newfound ability to interpret my dogs' body language, I quickly realized the things I thought they loved actually gave them significant anxiety. The Blue Dog hands-free leash is worth every penny. Nothing raised my stress more than having my dog jerk my arms around when his arousal was increasing. The hands-free system allows me to remain safe and calm when taking my dogs outside, preventing me from sending "bad vibes" through the leash. Sarah has remained committed to my dog's rehabilitation and has shown genuine concern for him. She is happy to answer questions as they come up and will periodically ask how everything is going. Try getting that level of attention at a typical dog training facility! I have been seeing more and more trainers popping up telling people to slap shock collars on their dogs and assert their dominance. Run far away from these people! Sarah is, hands-down, the most qualified person to help you modify your dog's undesirable behavior. She has dedicated her life to understanding animal behavior, and is the only Certified Dog Behavior Consultant in the Madison area. There really is no other choice, in my book. read more

I found Blue Dog Training & Behavior after my dog began developing some behavioral issues. After reading a handful of promising reviews elsewhere, I was excited to begin working with Sarah -- even at a hefty price -- with the promise that the behavioral issues could be changed. After making half a dozen phone calls, leaving several messages and attempting to contact Blue Dog Training via online channels, I was sorely disappointed to not even receive any acknowledgement of the fact that I had attempted to contact them on many occasions. From my understanding this company is still up and running, but if not, a notice should be put on the website or voicemail greeting. I'm not sure if this company is swamped with work or just unorganized but it is unprofessional regardless. read more

My daughter has been trying to get help with her dog. She has reached out and been told she would get a call. Three times, while she waited for the call, none came. If you don't have time or can't take on any clients, then say so. People are looking for help with their animals and to get stood up three times is ridiculous. read more

Left a message w/nbr & never got a return call. Are they too busy or too disorganized, either way Blue Dog didn't get back to me & that's good to know b4 I got invested. Update: Owner got back to me and seemed pretty concerned. So that's cool. read more

Sarah Kalnajs is not only an excellent trainer, but she is respected worldwide as an instructor for other trainers. All of her methods are force-free, based on up-to-date scientific research, and have proven results. If you're looking for training in Madison, you can't do better than Blue Dog Training & Behavior. read more

We consulted with Blue Dog Training & Behavior BEFORE we adopted our Australian Shepherd. We were neophytes to dog adoption. Sarah provided us with a *curriculum* - specifically her Puppy ABC's. Pups are like children but develop in FAST FORWARD!!!.....We were amazed that her guided *priming* of our pup's early experiences would lead to a well adjusted socialized community canine. She expanded our interests with fabulous recommended reading. Her experience and continued canine research has given rise to a thorough consultation and training practice. Her inspiration and enthusiasm led our family to become AKC Safety Ambassadors promoting her lead and goal for all dogs to have the opportunity to be thoroughly socialized and community awareness. read more

I was hesitant to reach out to Sarah initially, believing the internet to be a useful enough tool when learning how to train my ACD puppy. After an in-depth phone conversation with Sarah, I was sold. I still had not paid her yet. Throughout the next few weeks, Sarah went out of her way to reach out to breeders and rescues, inquiring as to whether or not they were reputable. She spent countless hours on the phone, guiding me through the puppy's transition into the household and kept me from making several mistakes that the 'internet' recommended. I still had not paid her yet. Our appointment was scheduled for a week and a half after I received the puppy, and during that time she continued giving advice and made herself available at all time. She stepped out of family functions to call me, to walk me through certain steps. I still had not paid her yet. Finally, I had the appointment. She was able to derive my puppy's personality, and curtailed the training and socialization to him perfectly. His behavior before and after the consultation is night and day. He is an independent, head-strong puppy, who challenged me daily. Already, he has learned how to behave in the house-hold and if not for Sarah, it is very likely that I would have ingrained many poor behaviors into him and would have had my hands full for the next 15 years. I absolutely recommend hiring Sarah. When you compare the costs to both yours, and your dogs, quality of life over the next 10-15 years, you'll come to realize that it really isn't all that hard of a decision. She truly cares about the dog, and you, and will strive to make sure that you both have the best possible life together. read more

We chose Blue Dog Training and Behavior for our new puppy, Sherwood, based on amazing recommendations from our family members that had Sarah train their dogs in the past. We reached out to Sarah on the way to pick up our new puppy (7 hours away) and she spent a considerable amount of time talking to us about what to look for in our puppy, questions to ask the breeder, etc. All of her recommendations proved to be invaluable in choosing our perfect little guy! Upon our return, we met Sarah at a puppy playgroup session she hosted. This brief encounter getting to know her and watch her interact with Sherwood and all the other dogs convinced us that she would be the perfect fit for us, Sherwood and our family. We met with Sarah for a 2 hour Puppy Head Start with our family which helped get us started training Sherwood using positive reinforcement and consistency. We began using all of Sarah's recommendations and methods immediately. We purchased the recommended food, treats, toys, books, and began exposing Sherwood to as many people, animals, and experiences as possible. The strategies we learned made all the difference in getting Sherwood on a pee/poop/eat/sleep regimen that made potty training incredibly manageable. Because we both work nearly full time and have a very active household, we decided to do the two week Board and Train with Sarah to reinforce the concepts she originally taught us and to introduce new behaviors. Having Sherwood with Sarah for two straight weeks allowed him to get an incredible learning foundation that we can easily continue at home. The best part is that everything we do is positive, fun, encouraging and enjoyable. Our friends, family and strangers alike are amazed by his confident demeanor and training abilities. Then, they find out he is only 4 months old and they are stunned! Going above and beyond is just the norm for Sarah, as we quickly found out. She has been there for phone calls, impromptu questions, etc. We felt the fee that we were charged for her services was reasonable and fair. Some things are just priceless and this is one of them! For us, realizing the importance of positive reinforcement on the long term personality and health of our dog has been eye-opening. And, remarkably, using positive reinforcement when training specific behaviors allows the behaviors to be learned quicker and reinforced easier. And better yet, we feel better about ourselves and our puppy!! Thank you Sarah! And we look forward to many more positive interactions with Sarah in the years to come for our stellar little learner! read more

I met Sarah by pure chance while she was on holiday in my home state. she was putting her boat in the water when I approached her to meet her 2 dogs that were with her . We quickly got to talking 'dogs ' and I mentioned the new addition to our family, a 2yo sheltie that we got from the spca after they had rescued her from an awful abuse case. she Is suffering from ptsd and having a hard time, Sarah took the time to answer any and all questions I threw at her, she gladly gave me advice and has stayed in touch with me and given me resources in order to help our girl adjust. I was a total stranger and she took the time out of her day (as she was literally ready to step into her boat) to help a dog family in obvious need. Her kindness, compassion and the wealth of knowledge she has and shares so willingly Is priceless. I could not be more disappointed that we live so far apart!! read more

Sarah & Blue Dog Training came very highly recommended, and after we did a two-week Board & Train with our 10 week old Australian Labradoodle, I can say they far exceeded those expectations! Lots of folks were telling us he was too young, etc. But as first time puppy owners we were struggling with training, especially mouthing and other bad behaviors and decided to give it a try. I could not be more pleased... not only did Sarah & Andrew do a wonderful job with basic training - using only positive reinforcement techniques - they provide videos and tutorials of them working with your puppy, showing and teaching you how to do the techniques - which is a blessing for first time owners like us. Their love for dogs is obvious, and they cared for ours as if he were their own. Sunny came home with many of the basic commands mastered, and we now have the tools to continue his training at home. I strongly encourage any new puppy owners, and especially first time owners, to give Blue Dog Training a try, you will not regret it. read more

We started our puppy right away with Sarah with a board and training sessions and couldn't be more pleased. Sarah is both a seasoned behaviorist and trainer and is incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate in her interactions with both our dog and with us. Her use of positive training methods particularly impressed us as we know there are plenty of others out there who depend on methods that range from ineffective to fear based such as shock collars or aggression. We truly appreciate her dedication and her passion for dogs that are well cared for and make great companions, helping their humans understand them! When we travel Sarah and Andrew care for our dog as if their own and he absolutely loves being there! read more

Sarah has helped our family so much! So far, we have only had one meeting and several phone calls, but it has helped us so much already. She gave us simple ideas that were easy to implement. We had no idea we were inadvertently training our puppy to be a guard dog on constant alert. She has calmed down so much, you almost would not know it is the same dog. We have a ways to go to get her to where she should be, but we are confident that with Sarah's help, we can get her there. Thank you, thank you, thank you Sarah for helping us bring out in our dog what we knew was hiding under that puppy excitement! In reference to a previous review, Sarah had some health issues and needed to reschedule us a few times as well. She was worth waiting for! Please give someone a break when circumstances beyond their control come up. While we were waiting for our meeting, we had phone calls back and forth to assist us before she even met our dog. Though not the ideal situation, she asked for no payment from us and did what she could. Her consultations include a DVD and unlimited telephone support. We have also communicated via text, where I have sent pictures of updates on how well our dog is doing. read more

I have used Sarah Kalnajs' excellent DVD, The Language of Dogs, extensively in my business. I require all of my employees to watch it, so that we may share a common understanding of the ways that dogs indicate stress and levels of arousal. It helped me so much to formalize the indicators I had been observing for years but lacked the ability to convey to others in a concise, standardized way. The Language of Dogs also gave me added confidence when deciding whether a dog is a good candidate for daycare, and made it much easier to illustrate for training clients the exact signals they should be looking for in determining if their dog was in a good frame of mind to proceed with desensitization and counter-conditioning protocols. I highly recommend the DVD to others, and look forward to someday seeing her speak in person, as I understand she is a dynamic speaker in addition to her obvious expertise. read more

As an update to my previous post and in the spirit of taking seriously the consequences to the business owner when one posts a poor review, I want to advise that after my post, Sarah, (as well as Andrew) contacted me and deeply apologized for their abrupt cancellations of my appointments. While I have not chosen to reschedule time with Sarah, it is noteworthy that she did apologize and take responsibility for the error of her ways. read more

I have had the pleasure of attending some conferences at which Sarah was the guest speaker. I've also watched both of her DVDs, used her hands free leash with my own dogs and several client dogs. I've consulted with her regarding a client dog of my own. I can say without hesitation that Sarah Kalnajs is a dedicated dog trainer and behaviorist. She has a deep love and respect for animals and their people. She is patient, considerate and takes her time explaining to make sure that the pet parent/colleague understands what she's talking about. She is clear in her language - both verbal and body language. She is passionate about training and modifying behavior without using aversive tools such as choke chains, pinch/prong collars and electronic shock collars. She avoids compulsive techniques such as yanking/jerking on leads, forcing dogs into uncomfortable and vulnerable positions, preferring instead to work WITH the dog cooperatively to gain compliance. She sets the dog up for success so that she can tell the dog, "YES! Do that again!!!!". She does not set the dog up for failure so that she can then correct the undesired behavior. Sarah has a clear understanding of learning theory and recognizes that teaching the dog what the RIGHT behavior is from the very beginning provides for much more long lasting, consistent results than compelling the dog to do something out of fear of unpleasant consequences. I'm sorry that someone had what they viewed as an unpleasant business encounter recently. Sarah has had a rough year with some health issues and has been sick. I'm not surprised that this interfered with her ability to schedule appointments for a while. But that should not distract from her skill and dedication to the dogs of Madison and their people. I hope that those considering Blue Dog Training & Behavior for their pet needs will put more stock in the reviews that discuss her actual working methods - how she treats dogs - and not so much in one unhappy review that never actually worked with Sarah. Everyone has moments in their life when they're not at their best. We shouldn't define them based on that moment. We should define them based on their "norm" not the exception. read more

When our vet was impressed that we were going to have training for our new puppy with Sarah at Blue Dog, we thought we had made good decision. When we spent 90 minutes with her training me, my husband and our puppy, we knew we had made a great decision. She also makes sure to be available for any questions or concerns we have as training continues for both dog and owners. read more

I brought my golden/lab mix in to Blue Dog after trying multiple suggestions to try to reverse her habit of guarding her food, which had gotten to the point it was scary having her living in a house with a child. Sara gave us a wealth of information, and the only advice that helped, and did it ever!!! My dog does not have any scary tendencies, I feel totally safe having her around food and children now. It is absolutely amazing how effective her plan worked! I would recommend her training for anyone looking for behavior modification or just really good dog advice. Don't waste your time listening or looking anywhere else! read more

We consulted Sarah with Blue Dog training after we had an "incident" with my 4 year old Sheltie, Bella and 5 month old baby. Sarah was able to calm us and correct us and just a few days after our behavioral session training with Sarah, my husband and I are much more clam, relaxed and understand why our Sheltie does what she does. We feel very committed to giving our dog the best and with Sarah's advise and training techniques, we can't go wrong. She is VERY knowledgeable and wont stop until you fully understand all techniques. And the best part, she has free phone/email consulting after the appointment. She just doesn't leave you high and dry. Without Sarah, we were afraid we would have to give our pup away... not anymore. Thank you, Sarah! read more

Always wishing for my dog to have the very best life possible, I wanted to contact a behaviorist to get advice regarding several issues we were having. I had made contact with another person calling themselves a behaviorist, and had scheduled an appointment. I mentioned this to our trainer, and she immediately said "You really want to get in touch with Sarah Kalnajs and make an appointment with her." This trainer had taken seminars with Sarah and had really admired her compassion and the manner in which she had interacted with dogs. Loving our trainer and so respecting her opinion, I immediately cancelled with the other "behaviorist" and contacted Blue Dog Training and Sarah and Andrew. I have since found out that anyone can call themselves a behaviorist- just as they can call themselves a dog trainer. Sarah is a Certified Behaviorist, which to me is just as important as knowing that the person who is calling themselves a veterinarian does, in fact, have the training and expertise to have the title of Doctor. I have loved dogs my entire life, and I consider myself pretty good with all dogs- but is that the qualification to make me a behaviorist? Not hardly. Sarah and Andrew have been so very kind and helpful in all ways as we work to get my pup to her full potential. Sarah has given me insight to think as my dog does, and in doing so, has given me a new understanding of why she does the things she does. Sarah's ability to "read" animals is brilliant. The DVD, The Language of Dogs, is absolutely an eye opener, and has helped me to see things in other dogs that I should be alert to. There are many key elements that should be part of every child's education to grow up safely around dogs- both their family pets and dogs they meet outside their home. I look forward to a long relationship with Sarah and Blue Dog Training. She has much to teach, and I have so much to learn. Before you make the decision as to who should be the one to help you with your beloved 4 legged family member, maybe the first question you should ask is "Are you a Certified Behaviorist and Trainer?" read more

I desperately needed an in-home pet sitter for my dogs during the holiday season and unfortunately, Blue Dog was unable to pet sit for me but Sarah went well out of her way and helped me find another sitter. She showed that dogs and their well being are top priority caring to her and Blue Dog and not just a business! Thank-you, Sarah! read more

Sarah Kalnajs is an excellent trainer and has gone above and beyond to make sure my little doxie has adjusted to being with us. He came to us after being passed around for the first two years of his life and he's now an irreplaceable part of our family. I would recommend Sarah to anyone since she helped me become a better dog owner. Thank you Sarah and know Happy is doing great! read more

I should preface by saying that I have one pretty stubborn dog. She likes to bark, chew on things, jump on people, and even bite sometimes. Despite the training my dog had as a puppy, this behavior has been relentless. I have contacted and consulted with Sarah Kalnajs at Blue Dog Training & Behavior about these issues, and I am immensely impressed with the great care she has taken in helping me. She did everything from finding the right treats for reinforcing my dog's good behavior to making special videos to demonstrate her approach. She is incredibly professional, smart, and always provides really useful, detailed advise that truly works. While other trainers have immediately recommended that I resort to punishment (foul sprays, restrictive leashes, even force - all of which only made my dog more nervous and angry), Sarah uses positive reinforcement methods, which function by simultaneously eliminating problematic issues and developing the human-pup relationship. She loves dogs and evidently loves helping people. Without a doubt, Sarah is the best-qualified trainer I have encountered, who is well-prepared to improve even the most problematic canine behavior. read more

We recently started using Sarah when our 11 week old puppy was just under 8 weeks. We are a busy family with 4 children and wanted a well trained dog but didn't have the time to do it the right way on our own. Before we bought our pup I searched for "in-home dog training" and thankfully found Sarah at Blue Dog. Right from our first phone call I could tell that I found the right person. She knew her stuff and is more than willing to share it whenever needed. We opted to go for a full puppy program that started with helping us get ready for our new puppy (showed us her favorite products, what to do when we first brought her home, etc.). After bonding with our puppy over a weekend Sarah did a 5 day (plus threw in an extra day free) board & train. After being woken up in the middle of the night to let the puppy out for a few nights we were happy to put her in Sarah's hands for awhile and were happy when she came back already having learned some things and sleeping through the night. After having her back home Sarah came to our house to do "Puppy ABC's" with us going over a ton of information on training our new puppy. This really helped our confidence in dealing with the new puppy as we were afraid that she would un-learn what she had learned with Sarah. She effectively taught my husband and I and our children so much during that time that we have been able to use with our dog since. We still have a two week board and train where our puppy will go stay with Sarah for more intensive training as well as more in-home training coming up. I have no doubt that our puppy will be a super-star dog when she is done. We were so happy that we opted to have Sarah take our puppy for weekly socialization outings for 6 weeks too because we knew how critical all of those experiences would be to her as a puppy and we just don't have the time to do it. Throughout this time we have also received emails with information, training videos (with Sarah training our puppy as examples!!!), and fun pictures and videos of our puppy from Sarah and her husband, Andrew. I have to mention, too, that we have always had dogs and this is the first time that I feel that we are doing it right. Buying all of these services is a bit of a splurge but I consider it a long term investment that will really pay off for the life of our dog. It is so worth it when I see our puppy really thriving and happy and fitting in wonderfully with our family and when I text Sarah dozens and dozens of questions and know I will get thorough answers back. She really goes above and beyond and we are so happy we found her! read more