I found Happy Hound via a Google search, and I could not be happier with the results of their…read moretraining. I have just recently finished a Happy Hound training program with my 14-month-old Poodle mix with Tara Siefring of the Happy Hound, and the difference in our stubborn little girl, Jackie, is like night and day.
Jackie is not an aggressive dog, but she is quite hard-headed, and like most young, confident dogs, she wants to do what she wants to do. But after our first session with Tara, Jackie was already responding, and by the third week of training, I felt comfortable enough to take Jackie into the park near my home off-leash. Of course three weeks is not the whole story, and Jackie and I have a lot more work to do, but we are on the right path. And not only is she better behaved, but maybe even more important, I have a clearer idea of what it takes to lead her to better behavior. So Jackie and I have both learned a great deal about better behavior from Tara!
Tara herself is knowledgeable, dedicated, and great to work with. She'll come to your house for private training, or board your dog for more intensive work. After your dog finishes a Happy Hound program successfully, Tara offers ongoing Saturday morning group sessions for socialization and learning new techniques/tricks. She also maintains a Facebook group for her clients, and her Happy Hound website is packed with all sorts of dog information.
Our training involved the use of an electronic collar, but STOP! Don't go away because of that! These are not the scary "shock collars" from years ago. Tara had me hold the receiver unit in my hand before she ever put it on Jackie, and even at a setting of 20 (out of 100), I could barely feel a buzz. And that was MUCH lower than the setting we use for Jackie. Jackie has now learned that when the collar goes on, it's time for fun, so it is effective, but it's not a threat to her. So, if you have reservations about using an electronic collar, I hope you'll re-think your position and give it a try. You won't be sorry.
It should be clear by now that I highly recommend Tara Siefring and the Happy Hound for your dog training needs! You and your dog will be happier for it!