Several months ago, I found a husky mix on the street. As an experienced husky owner, I named her…read moreSky and decided to bring her into the family. However, I realized almost immediately that she had some serious behavioral issues--specifically intense leash aggression and barking--that I simply wasn't equipped to handle alone. After researching local options, I gave Bill at Sierra K9 a call. It was clear right away that he has a genuine passion for what he does. He took the time to listen to my specific goals: I needed Sky to truly become part of my "pack" and be well-behaved enough to join me at breweries, and events. Bill outlined his methods and experience in great detail, and we sat down to map out exactly what it would take to get her there. I opted for the two-week intensive Board-and-Train program. Bill made it clear that the training wouldn't end when I picked her up; he committed to meeting with me for as long as it took for me to feel confident. Throughout those two weeks, Bill and his wife, Shelby, sent regular progress reports, photos, and videos. Seeing her thrive gave me so much peace of mind--it was obvious she was making strides and was incredibly well cared for. On pickup day, Bill and I had a thorough hand-off session. While I was impressed with Sky's progress, Bill was honest with me: the foundation was there, but the real work was just beginning for both of us. When we got back home, I'll admit I struggled. The leash reactivity and pulling returned, and I felt completely hopeless. But Bill and Shelby didn't leave me hanging. They checked in daily, "talked me off the ledge" more than once, and quickly scheduled an in-person session at my house. When Bill arrived, he could tell I was frustrated. He calmly reminded me of the process and took Sky's leash; she immediately "snapped back into shape"--no pulling, no barking, just focus. He carefully observed my handling, gave me manageable homework, and, most importantly, helped me reframe my mindset. He taught me that training isn't a chore; it's an exercise in patience and a form of therapy for both the owner and the dog. Fast forward one month: I've been working with Sky every day and meeting with Bill weekly (and he is always perfectly on time). The transformation is night and day. While she's still a little better on the leash with him than with me (haha!), she is truly a different dog. I know now that with time and Bill's continued guidance, Sky is going to fit in perfectly. I'm actually enjoying the work, we celebrate the wins together, and I am sincerely grateful to the Sierra K9 team.

I had an incredibly positive experience with Sierra K9. I was dealing with a really stressful…read moresituation where my dogs were constantly fighting, and I honestly wasn't sure if they could ever safely live together again. Bill was patient, knowledgeable, and very understanding of how overwhelming it felt. Bill took the time to assess each dog's behavior and explained everything in a way that made sense. The training methods were clear, consistent, and focused on building trust rather than fear. Over time, I started to see real progress, not just in my dogs' behavior, but in my own confidence handling them. Thanks to Bill's guidance, my dogs are now able to coexist peacefully, and the atmosphere at home is so much calmer. I'm truly grateful for his help and would highly recommend him to anyone dealing with similar issues.

My pit mix, Hazel came into my life after spending some time alone on the streets of Bakersfield…read moreand then getting placed on the euthanasia list at the local shelter. Whatever trauma she endured there started showing itself through fear-based aggression toward humans; after trying on my own to address the behavior, both Hazel and I were stressed, frustrated and scared. I realized I needed professional help and I wanted it to be provided by an educated, dedicated trainer who came from a place of empathy. Tiffany fit that description perfectly. From the moment of our first Zoom "audition," I could tell she was no nonsense: she could train Hazel, but it would also take work, honestly and dedication from me, as well. Prior to drop off, I was provided with specific directions, a handbook and easy to follow instructions on exactly how the training would go. The minute I dropped off Hazel with Tiffany, my heart felt hopeful for the first time in months. Hazel immediately recognized Tiffany as a kindred spirit who commanded respect but made sure her first job was to connect with my dog. From there, I was receiving daily, lengthy updates that included videos describing what/how she was training as well as lectures that provided guidance I could follow once she came home. The part that made me realize I had made the right decision was that, within a couple of days, Tiffany had identified Hazel's root issues that were leading to her aggression and adjusted her training accordingly. It was amazing to watch her with Hazel: her focus, her calm, quiet demeanor and Hazel's response to her: trust. Once Hazel came home, the real work started and Tiffany is available 24/7 the first 72 hours and then available during her normal work hours for the life of your dog. That's an incredible commitment for what you're paying to know that your dog is in the best hands possible. I can't speak highly enough of Tiffany (and her sweet husband). I've been an animal person my whole life and there is no one else I'd recommend to help you connect more and understand any issues or behaviors your dog might be experiencing. Thank you, Tiffany.

Tiffany and For the Love of Dog has been nothing short of transformative for both me as a dog owner…read moreand for my dog. I was fortunate enough to book a month long board and train with Tiffany for my dog, who was a pandemic pup who had some medical trauma that robbed us of important foundational training time when he was a puppy. He's a strong guy as an adult and I was having a lot of trouble instilling training into him since he was not a food motivated dog, especially when it came to walking on a leash. He'd pulled me off my feet a few times and I knew I needed a professional to really help me become the best and safest dog owner I could for him. Working with Tiffany and For the Love of Dog doesn't just instill amazing training in your dog, but educates you as the owner in ways I didn't even realize was possible. I feel so much more prepared and educated now, through Tiffany's training, her educational videos, her to-the-minute updates on my Dog's progress and how she teaches--both the dogs and the human owners. She breaks down everything in such easy to follow ways and her insight on behavior, both dog and human owner behavior is nothing short of brilliant. I also know I can reach out to her at any time for any hurdles we encounter and will receive her insight and knowledge, which is worth its weight in gold. She quickly identified not only my mixed dog's breed (the genetic test totally confirmed everything she said!) but the underlying anxiety that he felt. The month he spent with her has transformed him from an anxious worrier with deep feelings who would pull me off my feet on walks to a calm dog who knows he can do hard work and that I'll be beside him to help as we tackle any new situations. The difference in him is profound: he's calm, he's walking on a loose leash, he's happily obeying commands and he's more confident in his place in the world and in our little pack of three. And I feel so much more prepared and understand him on a deeper level through Tiffany's insight, education and help. If you've got a pup facing a hard problem or anxious behavior or any issue at all, invest the time and money into Tiffany's training. You will be so thankful--and so will your dog! I cannot recommend her enough. This experience has strengthened my bond with my dog, educated me as a long-time dog owner and introduced an order into our lives that has truly changed it for the better.

We had Anna out for our first session yesterday. She was AMAZING. Our dogs learned so much in…read morejust one session - but also, so did us humans. We've always had door greeting chaos. She showed us the best ways to work on calming things down when visitors arrive, and also provided ways our children can help be involved training - and making sure our dogs are responding to small children in appropriate ways. She had so much knowledge to share, and seemed to pick up on their personalities very quickly. I am so grateful we were able to get on her calendar so quick after her year of traveling. We will definitely be referring her to anyone we know looking for a dog trainer. Hank and Waffles look forward to their next session.

Anna was seriously the best! We have peen putting off training our little pittie puppy who we love…read moreto pieces, but isn't the best behaved dog (jumps, barks, doesn't listen, is scared of a lot of stuff), and we were nervous we had waited too long. Anna gave us so many tools that our girl ACTUALLY responded to. She brought out the sweet dog that we see all the time, but others don't because of how excited and anxious she gets over everything. We learned a ton about reading body language and how to help build our dogs confidence so she can enjoy more of this world. Anna was super funny and was constantly teaching us things about our dogs and how to read them and reminding us that we are doing good! Not once did we feel judged or insecure about anything. we look forward to our next training session!

After the first meeting with Alyssa, I noticed meaningful improvements in the behavior of my dog…read more She provides excellent consultation and support of behavioral needs. I learned an immense amount. Every minute of the time spent with Alyssa was valuable, informative, and high-quality. Thanks to Alyssa, the quality of life for myself and my dog improved drastically and very quickly. She is easy to talk to and clearly enjoys her job as it is an obvious passion and something she takes very seriously. The quality and level of service is excellent. I highly recommend Alyssa Hosbach Dog Training! Thank you so much, Alyssa! You're the best and worth every penny!

From the owner: As a Certified Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant with 10 years of professional experience, my…read moremission is to provide effective, fun, and scientifically sound dog training and care to each of my clients and their furry family members. I use techniques that science shows are best--force-free, positive reinforcement only. I love coaching people about how to communicate with their dogs and how to get the behaviors they want. I specialize in fearful, reactive and aggressive dogs, using desensitization paired with counterconditioning for long-term results.

I can't say enough good things about the dog training and the trainer Taylor who I refer to as "The…read moreDog whisper". My dog has made incredible progress in such a short time.The training methods are positive, effective, built on trust and easy to follow. Every class felt supportive, encouraging and the way they explain everything makes it easy to practice at home. If you are on the fence about training, this is absolutely worth it. It's made a world of difference for both myself and my rescue dog Ozzy. My dog has graduated Basic Training from Take the Lead and is already signed up for the Intermediate classes in two weeks.

We have taken 2 of our dogs to Take the Lead Canine Coaching with Taylor and they have both…read morecompleted multiple training courses. Our Golden Doodle will be enrolled in advanced training this spring and we have a new dog registered for her Basic Obediance Class later this month. Taylor and Sarah are the best trainers we have used. The dogs, and the dog owners, respond well to the training and it's amazing to see the progress of all the dogs in the classes. Many of the dogs can be seen together walking on Mill Street, often on Wednesday afternoons, and they always get lots of attention from everyone. We highly recommend Take the Lead Canine Coaching.

Joanna is incredible. Our dog, Lucy, though very smart, struggles with a lot of anxiety and was…read morevery difficult for me to train. We've trained a number of dogs, but she just did not handle our style well, and seemed to crumble with any correction. We contacted Joanna and did a 3 week behavior mod board and train and it changed our lives. Now Lucy knows what we expect and we know how to keep her on track without eroding her trust... In fact we have built such a stronger bond. I could not say enough to describe how happy we are and how much I recommend Jobu!!!

From the owner: As a certified dog trainer, my passion is dogs. JoBu is my own company, and I work from my house to…read moreprovide home-style dog boarding and training. High quality care at affordable prices is my mission, so that dog owners can rest easy knowing their furry family members are in good hands.