This should really be 10 stars, not 5!! I am blown away with the results after a 4 1/2 week stay training our 1 year old Golden Retriever!!
This entire experience started with a conversation in a park in Boston with the owner of another retriever that I was really impressed with. The owner told me that about 10 years ago they had sent their dog to this place call "Quinebaug" and it was game changer for them. So I continued my walk getting pulled and yanked all over the place by my 75 pound Golden, named Hamachi who I just couldn't seem to control. When I got home, I logged on to the computer, all the while, Hamachi was barking at me showing all sorts of bad behavior ugg, no respect. After a few searches I found Quinebaug Kennels and read every single page, watched all the videos, read about the owner, Jen Broome and thought I have to give this a try, I have nothing to lose.
So I signed up for a 6 week deal, 2 weeks on leash, 2 weeks off leash, 2 weeks bird hunting....that was the plan. We showed up on Aug 3rd to an absolutely gorgeous facility, and I mean gorgeous. The main facility looked and felt more like some sort of facility for humans, not dogs! It was so clean, the grounds had incredible flower beds, just everything was top notch. The staff were in uniforms very professional, they were all very happy to see my dog (as if they already knew him!) and seemed to be enjoying their work....on a Saturday no less. I mention this because as a small business owner myself, it was obvious the pride Jen has with her business and it showed in all aspects, start to finish, top to bottom.
We didn't really have huge expectations at drop off, because I can tell you this boy exhibited every bad behavior in the book...and it turns out we were really the ones who were propagating much of his bad behavior!! Hamachi couldn't get into a car, would bite his leash at the end of walks, would not come when called at the dog park or anywhere for that matter, unless you had a T-bone in your pocket, dug up our gardens, would nip and bite at night between the hours of 6-10, would tug/pull you any chance he got on the leash...you get the picture, despite all of our our efforts to use emotion, choke collars, treats, dog classes at the local pet store, reading books, etc....nothing was really working well, and he was getting stronger and it was just not that much fun having him around.
Fast forward to today September 6th when we scheduled our 2 hour pick up lesson, all I can say is WOW!! (btw we picked up a week early because my dog was all show, just not an ounce of hunting genetics from what Jen saw in training) Anyway, Jen and one of her head trainers, Chris spent about an hour going over all sorts of topics related to dog behavior/psychology and how we humans should adjust our way of thinking to become better leaders (and I am talking about a dog pack leader) if we want to have a better relationship with our dog(s).
Jen went off to get Hamchi from the kennel and the plan was for us to observe her handle Hamachi in the obstacle course....I couldn't believe it. Hamachi healed, stopped when she stopped, jumped right up into a mock flatbed pick-up, went up and over a steep plank, jumped right up on barrels, stayed put when told, basically he did everything he was asked to do, he even did it off leash, a far cry from the maniac I dropped off 4+ weeks earlier!! We then joined Jen and we did hands-on training for about an hour with the wonder lead, and with the e-collar overlay which is a little tough to get use to, but the methodology is something the dogs really understand and they respond to it well. Hamachi was wagging his tail, he seemed calm and well adjusted assuming his new role as an obedient dog.
My wife and I were a little worried that once we had him back home, all the bad stuff would re-emerge....and we will see, but I don't think that is going to happen as long as we continue to "step-up" as Jen says, and show our dog that we are the pack leader, not the other way around as we were doing. I just got back from my first walk with him....what a fun walk!! I was BARELY using the lead, I did use the e-collar a bit to promote the right kind of behavior but he seemed happy as a clam, to be relieved of his duties as the Alpha Dog, now letting me do all the hard work!
The best part of the walk was watching all the other dog owners get yanked all over the place and to know those days are behind us!!
Thank you to all the staff at QB, keep up the GREAT work!
Jim
...just a disclaimer, I have no affiliation with QB, or anyone who works there or has ever worked there, I am just a happy customer who will now enjoy his walks with his dog!:-) read more