We honestly can't believe the difference we've seen in Sienna since working with Lori and her team…read more
We've put a tremendous amount of time, money and effort into training Sienna, since she was a puppy. From basic and advanced obedience to agility and calm down classes, with multiple trainers and programs, we tried just about everything. While those programs helped build a good foundation, none really addressed her reactivity. We were often told it was typical Border Collie behavior, but as she got older, it progressively worsened and eventually turned into aggression. She reacted intensely to dogs, children, people, bikes, squirrels, and just about anything that moved. Once she became fixated, nothing seemed to get her attention back.
After researching and consulting with several trainers throughout the Bay Area, we found Lori. Her 20+ years of experience with obedience and behavioral challenges really stood out. She was knowledgeable, honest, and direct from our first consultation. We were hesitant about a board-and-train program and initially had reservations about balanced training methods, but decided to trust her experience. We're so glad we did!
Throughout the program, Lori shared videos of Sienna's progress. We sincerely appreciated each of the videos. Each time, we were amazed at how much she had improved.
Lori's facility is also professionally maintained, clean, spacious and has the right equipment setup, along with the proper 24/7 supervision. They even have shade canopies throughout! Her team truly cares for the dogs and clients.
One thing we really appreciate about Lori is that she doesn't sugarcoat things. She's straightforward, direct and will tell you what you need to hear, even when it means recognizing mistakes in your own training habits. You must be coachable to mesh well with her program and be the best you can for your pup. We learned that some of the methods we'd previously been taught were actually contributing to Sienna's reactivity. Lori helped us understand how to communicate with Sienna differently, and it made a tremendous difference. Sienna also absolutely loves Lori and her team, which means a lot to us.
After the board & train program we brought home a noticeably calmer, happier, and more confident dog. During a follow-up session, Lori took us into real-world situations around playgrounds, children, and basketball courts, all things that previously would have triggered Sienna. We couldn't believe how well she handled them.
We recently took Sienna to Los Gatos Creek Trail, and she walked calmly beside us, passing people, children, and cyclists without pulling, barking, lunging, or showing aggression. Not a single reaction to bikes passing right alongside us! For anyone who knew Sienna before, that's an incredible accomplishment.
We know there's still work ahead and that consistency is important, but Lori and her team have given us the tools and confidence to continue helping Sienna succeed. through her program, we've seen more progress than we thought possible. We are at a point we can trust Sienna walk with us off leash in a controlled setting, with the right tools and supervision, but understanding this will still take heavy work. We're incredibly grateful to Lori and her ENTIRE team and would absolutely recommend her to anyone struggling with serious reactivity or behavioral challenges. It's genuinely changed things for Sienna and our family in the best way possible!