Our pittie mix rescue, "Moo," used to overreact to other dogs, people, trucks, lawnmowers, strollers, etc., and spent most of the day barking at our front windows. When I took her for walks, she would screech, bark, and lunge at anything that triggered her and pulled me down a few times when I couldn't physically restrain her. I became hesitant to walk her and was afraid that she would one day pull free from my grip and hurt another dog. Although she is the sweetest and most affectionate dog when inside our home, we realized that for our safety and the safety of others, we had to get help with her behavior.
A friend suggested that I call Sophie, who came to our house for an initial assessment. Sophie was immediately able to tune in to Moo's behavior and had her following commands within minutes! I could see that Sophie was a good match for Moo, so we signed up for her program.
Sending her to Happy Tails Dog Training's residential program was truly a gift to us all. Moo's anxiety and reactivity have significantly decreased while I have learned to be a better leader for her. (Both dogs AND their people learn through this program!) Moo now follows commands and is more easily redirected from negative behaviors. She and I are both more confident on our walks, as Moo now can walk at a leisurely pace on a loose leash instead of constantly pulling and anticipating danger.
With consistent reinforcement of commands and boundaries, Moo continues to improve every day. I am eternally grateful for Sophie and Rachel's expertise and commitment to helping Moo become her best self! read more