A very overdue review for No Bull Rehab…read more
A little background on our dog, Bubba: we adopted him from the Inland Valley Humane Society after looking for a young adult dog who would fit well with our two small kids. Bubba, a 2-year-old shepherd bulldog mix, seemed perfect -- sweet, potty trained, and a staff favorite. We fell in love immediately.
Once we brought him home, though, we realized he had some significant behavioral challenges. Bubba was highly reactive to other dogs and had severe separation anxiety. He was destructive when left alone and even injured himself trying to escape two metal crates. Managing his anxiety while also handling his reactivity became overwhelming for our family.
I've had dogs my whole life, so at first I tried working through it on my own. Eventually, though, it became clear we needed professional help. We met with several trainers, but nothing felt like the right fit. Many approaches seemed like temporary fixes that didn't address the root causes of his behavior.
When we were expecting our third child, I knew we needed a real solution, so I started researching behavior-focused board-and-train programs. After a lot of searching, I found No Bull Rehab through a rescue organization they worked with. From the very first interaction, Sarah was incredibly responsive, empathetic, and informative. That communication alone stood out immediately.
We brought Bubba in for a consultation with Drew and Sarah, and after just one meeting, we knew they were the right people for him. Their ability to read and explain his behavior was such a relief. Drew is so calm and completely in tune with all things dog. We enrolled Bubba in their 8-week behavior modification board-and-train program focused on his reactivity and anxiety.
Throughout the process, communication was excellent. We received regular updates and always felt informed and supported. At one point, Bubba injured his foot by puncturing in between his toe on a walk during training, and they took incredible care of him -- coordinating vet visits, follow-ups, and adjusting his training while he healed. We trusted them so much that we chose to leave him there during recovery rather than bring him home.
What really made the difference was that Drew didn't just train Bubba -- he trained us. He showed us realistic, sustainable ways to structure our daily life so Bubba could feel safe, calm, and successful. Unlike other programs that required hours of daily training, No Bull's approach fit naturally into real family life.
The change in Bubba has been incredible. He's still himself -- a little anxious and quirky -- but now we have the tools to manage him safely and confidently. We can walk him daily, leave him home alone, and enjoy life with him instead of constantly living on edge. Most importantly, he's happier, and so are we.
Even after training, Sarah and Drew have continued to be responsive and supportive whenever we've had questions. We live in Orange County and still bring Bubba back to No Bull whenever we travel because they know and understand him so well.
Living with a behaviorally challenging dog can feel isolating and exhausting, but No Bull Rehab truly changed our lives with Bubba. We're incredibly grateful for everything they've done for our family, and I cannot recommend them enough.