I truly cannot say enough good things about Arcadian Canine…read more
Our experience started under extremely stressful circumstances. One day, my husband, baby, and Golden Retriever were driving when a large German Shepherd ran directly in front of our car. What we didn't realize at the time was how difficult it can be to locate an owner or place a found dog with a shelter--especially when shelter hours are limited. That night, the dog stayed with us, and initially there were no issues. She was sweet, calm, and seemed to get along fine with our Golden.
We did everything right--returned her to the shelter, posted notices, and let them know we would adopt her if no owner came forward. At the time, we had a 4-month-old baby, so this decision was not made lightly.
Adoption day was chaos.
The German Shepherd's anxiety exploded. She was intensely reactive, unpredictable, and quickly got into three very serious fights with our Golden. We later learned that our Golden is also a defensive dog with strong female alpha tendencies, which made the situation even more volatile. We were overwhelmed, scared, and completely in over our heads.
I had already planned to work with Arcadian Canine, but they weren't scheduled to come for a few more days. Desperate, I called at 7 a.m.--before they were even officially open. Taylor answered. I was in tears. He immediately gave us practical advice to help stabilize things and arranged for Haddyn to come to our home as soon as possible.
Although it was technically just a consultation, Haddyn stayed with us for an extended period of time. She thoroughly evaluated both dogs, asked thoughtful questions, and within minutes had a clear understanding of their personalities and dynamics. We felt immediate relief and confidence in our dog's future. Most importantly, she never pressured us to keep the German Shepherd or commit to training. Hearing that--knowing that whatever decision we made would be respected and supported--was unexpectedly grounding during an incredibly emotional moment.
We chose to move forward.
Because of the intensity of our situation, we actually trained both dogs. We worked with Haddyn twice a week before the German Shepherd began a 2-week hybrid board-and-train. Throughout the board-and-train, we received daily videos and updates, which helped us feel connected and confident in the process. Arcadian Canine even accommodated the timing over Thanksgiving, which was a lifesaver since we were hosting and managing a new baby.
By Christmas, we hosted again--this time with a family member who has a highly reactive, defensive small dog. I was extremely nervous. Haddyn proactively worked with all three dogs beforehand (and that session alone was intense). But Christmas Day? It was incredible. By the end of the day, all three dogs were calmly coexisting--and yes, even off leash (unintentionally, but successfully).
It's now been almost three months since we brought our German Shepherd home. If you had told me then how far we'd come in such a short time, I would not have believed you. These months were challenging, emotional, and at times scary--especially while caring for a young baby. But we now have a peaceful, happy household.
Not only is our German Shepherd thriving, but our Golden is also a noticeably better and happier dog. Many small behaviors we had previously brushed off were improved through training, and the overall dynamic in our home has completely changed.
This program is an investment, and it absolutely requires consistency and effort from the owners. But it is worth every bit of it. We would not be where we are today without Arcadian Canine--and especially without Haddyn. I cannot recommend them highly enough.