There are not enough words to express how thankful I am for Jay Hemmingsen of Dog Ventures Training! When we decided to embark on our puppy journey we knew that we wanted to get a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The more research I did the more I realized a very common theme among Ridgeback owners and breeders; everything we read confirmed the necessity of finding a good trainer as Rhodesians have a tendency to be very independent and stubborn, they do not live to please their people like Labs or Retrievers! However, there was also a lot of research about properly approaching Ridgebacks as they do not respond to typical (intimidating) forms of obedience training! So, before even looking for a puppy, I started trying to find the right trainer for her and came across Dog Ventures Training's Facebook page! Even without having a puppy or a general date to start lessons, Jay was kind, responsive, and had tons of options and information for me! I knew right away that he was the trainer for us and our future pup! When we finally got our "Mouse" we decided to start puppy training at 12 weeks and from the beginning Jay helped us to understand the expectations we could have of her and what we were committing to! Throughout all of our sessions Jay would listen to my new concerns of the week, he would explain every detail of how to combat my concerns, and how to prevent the new ones that would arise as she developed into her own! He is truly an encyclopedia of knowledge on training and dog behavior! I can legitimately say that, without Jay, we would not have enjoyed this crazy stage of puppyhood as much as we have! He was (and is still) always available, even outside of our sessions, to chat with, to council, and to encourage me!
After we completed our puppy course we decided to do e-collar training with Jay as well and once again I was blown away by his knowledge and how differently he approaches training! Jay has a real love for his dogs and always approaches them in the kindest and most loving of ways! With Jay's approach to training, Mouse has not only become obedient and safe, but she has also retained her sweet nature, is so loving, and a true addition to our family! People are constantly commenting on how amazing our Mouse is, and it's all because of your knowledge Jay and your unwavering dedication to her and our family! Thank you so much! read more