My experience with Lara was very positive and productive. She was able to help me understand my dog and how to clearly communicate with her. She kept us both really motivated to practice and the results were awesome. Not only am I happy, but my pup is much happier too! Now we frequently receive compliments on my pups behavior. We go for long walks without pulling or acting crazy when she sees another dog. She was jumping, nipping, not listening and destructive. My grandchildren were frighteNed by her. Now they are able to play with her and life is good! I highly recommend Lara without reservation! read more

Those who know me know that my entire world is run by two miniature schnauzers. Granted, they are cuddly, cute, and have personalities the size of St. Bernards, and because of these reasons (amongst many), they have turned me into one of those crazy dog ladies that swears up and down that I'll never be able to have children because how -- HOW I ASK YOU?! -- could I possibly love anyone or anything more than I love these two creatures? Yes, Harry & Daxter are the fluffy little loves of my life, and boy oh boy, do they know it. It's not that they're bad dogs, really, it's just that they know how to get away with all the bad things that they do. Because, you know, they're cute. And while they have both gone through basic obedience and already knew how to do all the "normal" dog things like, sit, stay, and even high-five (Daxter gives excellent high-fives, FYI), a few commands does not a perfect dog make. And between the barking at every living thing (and sometimes even non-living things -- hello UPS truck) that passes by the house, Harry's penchant for eating my leftovers straight off of the coffee table, and how Daxter literally backs away from me when I say "come," it eventually got to a point where I needed to call in some professional help to turn my pups into more than just cuddly bed buddies. So thank GOODNESS for Lara and For Pup's Sake training! Under Lara's patient tutelage, my dogs now actually know how to go to their "place" before mealtime, and we're working on sending them there when folks come to the door as well. Their recall is better, they're generally more obedient, and, heck, better mannered, too! After all, a tired pup is generally a well-behaved pup, and with Lara's training these boys definitely get a mental work out. Lara comes and works with you in your home, so your dogs are learning in their environment, and gives you all the tools to continue the training when she's not there in person to guide you through it. We've worked on everything from leash-training to place-training to perfecting their patience and willpower with variations of the leave-it command I didn't even know existed. Beyond that, Lara truly cares about your dogs and wants to make sure they're set up for success from the get-go. My boys still have a bit of a way to go before they're truly the perfect pets (and I have a LONG way to go before I'm the perfect owner, hehe), but I'm so happy to have Lara and For Pup's Sake leading the way there. read more

If I could rate higher than 5 stars I would. If you're debating getting a trainer, or can't decide who to go with, take my word for it and give her a call! You'll be so glad you did!! When I got my Golden Retriever puppy I knew I wanted to get a trainer. I did my research and decided Lara seemed like a good fit. Sessions with her were absolutely worth every penny and I'm confidant that my puppy has the foundation necessary to grow into a really well behaved dog. I purchased multiple sessions, but even after just the first I saw results. She really understands how to communicate effectively with dogs and had my puppy engaged and responding to commands after the first hour. After four sessions we got rid of puppy biting, he fully understands sit, down, touch, loose leash walking, drop it, leave it and how to go to and stay in his bed. Lara is a dog training superstar! read more

Lara quickly understood my hound and her personality and had her walking one a leash with out pulling. We now enjoy our walks. She also helped with my very scared rescue and showed great patience and understanding. Lara is lovely to work with. read more

My wife and I own a 3 year old labrador retriever that is 85 pounds. He is generally well behaved but he was a terrible walker. He used to pull really hard on our walks and he has pulled me off my feet a couple times. We decided to get him walking lessons and looked around. We found Lara online and we are glad we decided to go with her for several reasons. First, you can tell that Lara is experienced and knowledgeable in dog training. Lara not only teaches your dog how to become a well-mannered walker but she also teaches you on how to train and walk your dog. She tailors the lessons based upon your dog's problems. My dog already knew most of the major commands pretty well so Lara focused on his walking. She observes you and your dog's tendencies and she provides personalized suggestions and solutions. Second, she is easy to get along with and she builds a trust and relationship with you and your dog. My dog instantly listened and responded to her and her training methods. She cares about your training and she will even check up on your progress between lessons via text/email. Third, all lessons are at your house and in your own neighborhood. This is convenient due to our busy schedules and it helped our dog learn due to the fact that he wasn't distracted by being in a new place. In addition, she provides all of the needed training supplies and treats, so you do not need to do anything to get ready for the lesson. Overall, Lara is an excellent, knowledgeable, caring, and experienced trainer. I highly recommend her! read more

Our energetic beagle mix was about 6 months old when my husband and I decided we needed help. Lara was recommended to me by a colleague. At the time, my husband was skeptical, thinking that we could find "just as good" training at the local pet store. We are glad that we did not take that route. Lara is the epitome of a caring professional. She doesn't just teach the basics. Instead, Lara learns what triggers certain actions and teaches the owner(s) how to avoid/counteract them, always embodying a positive instructional style for both canines and humans. Lara takes the time to get to know the dog, the family and the surrounding environment. She even provided guidance on supplies, ensuring that we were equipped for success. We have a family of six, so many variables were at play. Each session, Lara would go through the steps with each of us to ensure that we were all capable of clearly communicating with our pup. Not only did we enjoy the sessions, but so did our dog. By the fourth lesson, guests began to notice a difference in our dog's behavior. And now, after eight sessions, we have a happy household, and are able to communicate with and understand our dog. Lara also taught me how to clip my pup's nails. This was a dog who needed three people to restrain him. I'm still amazed at the results. Additionally, through her love of what she does, Lara left me with a true appreciation for trainers and dogs. It took my relationship with my pup to the next level. I think the only way you could go wrong is by not hiring Lara. We are looking forward to having her come back out this spring to teach us even more! read more

Lara Tal Cohn of For Pup's Sake is terrific. She has a very strong understanding of how dog's think. Of course, as with all dog training, our trainer was mostly training us, but she took the time to observe where our communication was not making sense to our Pup. And she explained that "dogs think I'm pictures". My wife and I came to Lara with a headstrong 4 and a half month month old Standard Poodle that wouldn't announce when he had to do his business. So in addition to other concerns with puppy we didn't trust him at all in the house. Frankly, we've had poodles for many years and training has always been a breeze (on our own). This fellow - Remy- as Lara said, "had his own opinions". Remy jumped on us non- stop and always used his mouth/ teeth to lead. In addition to that - it appeared obvious to us that this pup knew what we wanted, he just didn't want to do it. Lara progressed through various training collars (non-electrical) until we found a combination that Remy seemed to understand. And she taught us how to appropriately reward our pup (as opposed to bribe). The first month and a half of training was frustrating - we didn't see that miraculous change into a wonderful poodle. Lara encouraged and continued to teach my wife and me in the simple techniques to get Remy to pay attention to us. Lara's service includes access to her by phone and email. That so very helpful. She is ready available for chats We asked Lara to document in an email what we worked on during our session and what to expect next. She did that very well. Remy is now coming up on 8 months old. He's a big poodle - already about 60 lbs but he is now housebroken, does not use his mouth/teeth for anything but eating or chewing on his toys and he does not (usually) jump up on strangers. Walking him on a leash is a pleasure. When we walk past barking, lunging dogs Remy simply keeps on walking as if he hardly noticed We strongly recommend Lara and For Pup's Sake Lenny and Jinny Marsh Fairfax Station read more

I highly recommend Lara at For Pup's Sake! She did an excellent job helping me with my 6 year old corgi mix, Gabby. I have a very nervous dog with separation anxiety, and Lara was able to give me the knowledge and skills to help calm her. Lara is extremely patient and friendly and has an extensive background in dog training. My dog is much more calm and better behaved, and I believe happier, after our sessions. I'll continue with the training, and Lara no doubt set us in the right direction. She is awesome! read more

Lara Tal Cohn is amazing. She knows dog training is about reading humans and dogs and is so observant with both. I called her to work for a short period of time while I had my daughter's dog and she made a plan and schedule that was just right for me. You will always be glad that you made the decision to call Lara. She is knowledgeable and magical, Just the right combination for puppy success. read more

Lara has been working with my dog for a couple weeks now and I've already seen improvement. My dog is newly adopted and has a lot of bad habits, but Lara has helped me every step of the way and never seems discouraged by his behaviors. She is in contact with me frequently, just to make sure things are going well and checking in on his progress. I really feel like she cares not only about his obedience and behavior, but also about the relationship him and I have. I would highly recommend hiring her if you want a kind, passionate person with all the skills to help you train your dog. read more

I can't say enough good things about Lara! When my 9-year-old Beagle mix and I moved to Virginia and into a house with two cats, I was ready to do anything to make the transition go smoothly. Lara was great about answering my questions and giving advice through email leading up to the move and came very prepared to the first visit, showing us new harnesses and leash options to help me get a better handle of potentially scary situations in and out of the house. We had five sessions that focused on correcting behaviors like chasing other animals, getting overexcited at the door, being overprotective when I shake hands or hug someone, and meeting other dogs. My family had previously considered our senior dog beyond hope for a lot of these behaviors because she had consistently reacted badly for years but Lara proved that with patience and determination my pup and I could have GREAT interactions with other animals and their owners. Lara's training techniques were consistent and creative. She introduced us to a dog gym (Frolick in Alexandria) to practice at, trained us in PetSmart, and even brought her husband and one of her own dogs to demonstrate proper introductions. I was so thankful for her flexibility and she was always available to chat between sessions if something came up. She never made me feel bad about asking questions or being an overly anxious pet owner. In fact, she helped me remain calm in otherwise tense dog situations and showed me that when I'm calm, my pup reacts accordingly. She was great at teaching me, not just my pup, how to proceed so that we were set up for success after Lara left. After five sessions, my pup was able to relax and eat within 5 feet of the cats, we meet new dogs on a weekly basis without an issue, she walks more calmly, and trusts me to handle "scary" situations for her. We still have some work to do with greeting people at the door, but I'll be honest, we have so few visitors that practicing that one has fallen to the wayside. She has picked up some unexpected great new habits: barking less at passing delivery trucks, not jumping on family or friends, and waiting for permission at doorways. My extended family has noticed a huge difference in her demeanor and calm temperament and has complimented us on the work we've done with Lara. I would absolutely recommend For Pup's Sake to anyone looking for a more tailored dog training than the generic, often chaotic group training classes out there. read more

Lara is just the best to work with. When my husband and I rescued our dog, Mabel, at 3 months she was adorable, energetic, and had a major attitude. Lara helped us address all the puppy issues we faced, including potty training and crate training basics, battling nipping and biting, and walking on a leash without freaking out every time she saw another dog. The best thing about Lara is that she is able to give you a rationale for every recommendation she makes and will model everything for you She's incredibly patient when explaining things and really works to "train" the owner so that you know what to do even when she's not around. She also recognizes the hard work that you, as the dog parent, put in, which is very reinforcing! Mabel loves Lara, and so do we. We still have lots to work on but learning from Lara has helped us develop a loving bond with our pup. read more

We adopted a 2yo black shepherd. She is super sweet with the family but was VERY protective. She was exhibiting fear and leash aggression towards other dogs (barking like crazy and bared her teeth a few times.) As soon as we started working with Lara, we could see a change in our dog. I don't speak dog and our dog doesn't speak human; but, Lara taught me a ton about how to read the dog's needs and effectively communicate with her. I needed as much coaching as the dog and Lara was the perfect blend of knowledgable and nice to be able to help us! I highly recommend her for any of your dog training/people coaching needs. read more

Working with Lara has been wonderful. Her approach to training is great and we acknowledged that we needed training just as much as our two dogs. Scheduling a time with her was very convenient and enjoyed that she came to our home to work with the dogs. We noticed major progress with each lesson. I would recommend her to family and friends looking for training and will use her in the future. read more

Lara was great. From day one she instantly connected with our puppy Lola and showed nothing but results each day that she came. She had one hour sessions one day a week for 4 weeks. Throughout this time she was very specific in milestones she was looking for from Lola and things for us to do with Lola. She learned to sit and lay down within 20 minutes of training with her. We were very pleased with the experiences she gave us and look forward to working with her again soon. read more