When my chocolate Lab, Raider, was about six months old, I enrolled him in a group training class. It was a disaster. He wouldn't listen, and any attempt to walk him ended with him dragging me around. I actually became known as "the lady the dog walks."
We thought putting up a fence would solve everything, but it didn't. We gave him full access to the house and the large backyard, but things only got worse. He would bark at me constantly, jump on me, and even try to climb in my lap while I worked--and keep in mind, he's not a small dog. Raider weighed about 100 pounds, and I couldn't control him. I couldn't even walk him anymore. He'd pull me down the street, lunging at people and dogs--not out of aggression, but because he wanted to say hi and play.
I tried walking him with my pockets full of cheese, pleading with him to be gentle, and praying no other dogs or people were in sight. The anxiety was overwhelming--and he sensed it. When we tried to leave the house, he would bolt out the door. His separation anxiety was intense; whenever I left, he'd destroy whatever he could find--usually my son's things. I was frustrated and at a complete loss.
One day while we were gone, my mom let him out. Raider adored her, but that day he growled at her, and it scared her. That wasn't the sweet, wild Raider I knew. I realized then something had to change--and fast.
I started calling around for help and even booked a few appointments, but ended up canceling them because none of the places felt right. Then my mom told me about Cory and her training business. We went in for a consultation, and from the start, I knew it was the right fit. Cory explained that it would take about three weeks to help Raider and that a board-and-train program would be best. Unlike other places that only offered a week of training focused solely on walking, Cory's program addressed the root behavioral issues.
Dropping him off was tough--I was nervous but hopeful. And let me tell you: when we picked him up, I was amazed. I had a different dog. I could walk him again. He was calmer, happier, and the separation anxiety had improved dramatically. Our friends couldn't believe the transformation.
I love my new and improved Raider. He's not perfect--walking is still a work in progress--but now we can enjoy him, take him places, and not live in constant stress.
If you're on the fence about board-and-train, just do it. Think of it as an investment in your family. If your child needed help, you wouldn't hesitate--and the same should go for your dog. This was absolutely the best decision I made for Raider and for our family. Thank you Cory and Team. read more