Dogs in Harmony saved my sanity and helped me develop a loving relationship with my puppy! I cannot…read morerecommend the entire staff at Dogs at Harmony enough, but especially Shanni and Brenna. As a first-time dog owner raising a puppy by myself, I was completely overwhelmed. The staff has been with me every step of the way, even helping me decide on a Portuguese Water Dog's temperament to best suit my active running lifestyle.
My puppy Yumi, now 17 weeks old, has been through Harmony School from 9-12 weeks, which came with 4 group lessons, and 1 private instruction. She's still going to school once a week to help give me some much-needed relief, and I'm hoping to start private lessons soon after my travel plans.
Shanni and Brenna were instrumental during those first brutal two weeks with Yumi. I had major puppy blues - stressed about making sure she was okay, stressed about accidents, and desperate to set her up for success. This stress, combined with virtually no sleep (taking Yumi out every 20 minutes when awake and sleeping near her the first few days to soothe her), was a recipe for doubt and regret.
I was that pet parent who would call frantically about any diarrhea or accident, text essay-length questions, and send way too many videos and notes about the schedules and patterns I'd observe, obsess over, and worry about. This incredible team met every single concern with patience, understanding, and practical solutions.
The first time I dropped Yumi off at school was the first time I'd taken a break in a week - it was much-needed relief that allowed me to reset and find a routine that worked for me. Instead of fighting against her nature and her age (she's just a toddler!), I learned to work with her and celebrate every victory.
The resources and support I received have set both Yumi and myself up for success. Yumi has grown into a beautiful, confident, and sweet-natured pup. She's well socialized, sleeps through the night from 10-7am, tries her hardest to not jump when greeting others, and can now be left alone for 3-4 hours at a time, which has been huge. She's still a working dog with tons of energy, but Shanni has guided me through how to tire her out mentally via shaping, soft chews, increasing difficulty in fundamentals, and teaching me how to actually train my dog. Her guidance helped me learn to see Yumi for who she is instead of who I want her to be, and how to debug and break down behaviors to address instead of treating undesired ones as 'issues' (like barking, digging, or jumping on people).
It's been such a joy and privilege raising Yumi, but I definitely wouldn't have gotten here without Shanni and her team - the true village supporting my single pet parenthood lifestyle. Their approach is holistic, compassionate, and incredibly effective.
Highly recommend for both new and experienced dog owners!