— Breed of the Month —
The German Shepherd is rated as one of the most intelligent of all breeds and continues to be very popular around the world. The German Shepherd has a loyal fan base and continues to trend well amongst dog lovers, the breed ranks high in popularity in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.
We believe their popularity is due to their undying loyalty and naturally protective nature, which stems from their heritage as guarders of sheep. They originated as a wolf-like breed that was capable of herding and controlling sheep and a formidable force, capable of fending off wolves in the country and hills of native Germany.
They are very trainable but not the easiest dog to train, due to their determined, strong-willed nature. They won’t comply for just anyone and will need strong, determined leaders. Once trained correctly, they generally stay trained with only small amounts of regular maintenance and consistent rules needed.
Breed Traits and Characteristics
According to the American Kennel Club, here are some breed characteristic you can find in German Shepherds. test
- Height
24-26 inches (male), 22-24 inches (female)
- Weight
65-90 pounds (male), 50-70 pounds (female)
- Life Expectancy
7-10 years
- Coat Type/Length
Double/Medium
The German Shepherd
German Shepherds are slow to mature. In some cases, reaching full maturity can take up to 4 years before you see the personality of a mature dog kick in. Meanwhile, you might have to contend with a puppy’s brain, housed in a full grown powerful dog. The wait is worth it!
It is for that reason, we recommend that you practice some good management of your German Shepherd puppy from an early age on to reduce any property damage, while they mature and develop.
Don’t leave your puppy confined for long hours. Not only will they not like it, but they need to have their intellect challenged on a daily basis, so make sure you provide the right kind of entertainment for them. Ideally, they need to be mentally stimulated and busy or they will find something to occupy their brain that could result in the damage of your precious possessions.
German Shepherd Breed Facts
Breed Capabilities
It is the German Shepherd’s inherited attributes that has seen them become the most selected dogs for police work, assistance, therapy, support dogs and scent detection dogs. They are adept at all types of detection work, including drug and bomb detection.
They will master any task you set out for them, but you will need patience and determination to get the best out of them.
The German Shepherd does very well at obedience training and agility work. They love to be kept busy and to have an outlet for their energy and intellect.
Search and Rescue
They have great scenting attributes and are ideal for Search and Rescue work. You can start your German Shepherd puppy off with simple scenting tasks.
Start by hiding food and getting your dog to find it. Then hide their favorite toy and encourage your dog to follow the scent trail.
Energy Levels
The German Shepherd has very high energy levels and can be the type of breed that will charge through the house, jumping on everything and everyone, sweeping knick knacks off the table with their tail as they go.
Their strength is something that their owners complain about and find hard to control
Address some of these energy levels by exercising your dog’s mind and body. Hiding treats around the garden or home can help and providing the right toys and obedience training that stimulate their active mind.
Personality & Temperament
The German Shepherd’s temperament/personality is generally energetic, outgoing and stable.
The breed’s natural wariness of strangers is what makes them the ideal guard dog.
The AKC describes the ideal German Shepherd as having a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence, and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.
They are a highly intelligent breed with a high level of energy that needs lots of activities to keep them entertained, content, and mentally challenged.
The breed’s natural wariness of strangers is what makes them the ideal guard dog; however, they do need to be strictly controlled or they will over-step the mark and someone could get hurt.
The German Shepherd is a powerful dog that needs an owner that has the patience, understanding, and knowledge of how to stay in control of their behavior.
Some are over friendly and others are at the other end of the scale making them wary of strangers or aggressive.
This can be dependent on its breeding; the dog’s bloodlines as well as its upbringing; the type of environment it is raised in, and the education it receives as it grows and develops.
Points of Interest
- Has a very dense undercoat, that needs regular grooming and ongoing care.
- All around versatile dog that adapts to any surroundings.
- Great watch dog, but needs education and training to ensure they are not allowed to take liberties and can control their watchfulness.
- Great family dog, providing they receive early basic canine education and consistent, ongoing management.
- A loyal and loving nature.
- Energetic and athletic – a great companion for the fitness-loving dog owner.
- Fearless personalities, that can be prone to aggression if not educated correctly.
- Staying power and high energy levels.
- Need lots of brain stimulation and interactive toys.
- Big barkers, which stems from their natural protective natures, so stay in control of this.
- Highly intelligent and capable of being trained to do almost anything. They are strong-willed so you might need expert advice and help.
- Natural suspicion of strangers, but will make friends if introduced properly.
The American Kennel Club on the German Shepherd
The first impression of a good German Shepherd dog is that of a strong, agile, well-muscled animal, alert and full of life. It is well balanced, with harmonious development of the forequarter and hindquarter. The dog is longer than tall, deep-bodied, and presents an outline of smooth curves rather than angles. It looks substantial and not spindly, giving the impression, both at rest and in motion, of muscular fitness and nimbleness without any look of clumsiness or soft living. The ideal dog is stamped with a look of quality and nobility - difficult to define, but unmistakable when present. Secondary sex characteristics are strongly marked, and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex.
There are many reasons why German Shepherds stand in the front rank of canine royalty, but breed experts say their dogs’ most important attribute is character: loyalty, courage, confidence, the ability to learn and retain commands for an amazing number of specialized jobs, and the willingness to put their life on the line in defense of loved ones. Well-bred German Shepherds of proper training and socialization will be gentle family pets and steadfast guardians eternally devoted to their human flock.
The AKC Standard says the German Shepherd "has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence, and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them.
That's a great description of an ideal German Shepherd.
Unfortunately, it's very difficult to find an ideal German Shepherd today. Nowadays, this breed is all over the map in temperament. Lines that are bred for protection, work, and the sport of schutzhund tend to be "hard-tempered" and businesslike. Show lines personalities range from mild and mellow, to hyperactive and skittish, to downright dumb and dopey. And many German Shepherds bred by backyard breeders have risky temperaments and suffer from a host of health problems.
Energy levels vary from vigorous to laid-back, but all German Shepherds, to maintain their athletic shape, need brisk walking every day and all-out running in a safe, enclosed area as often as possible.
Mental exercise (advanced obedience classes, agility classes, schutzhund, tracking, herding) is even more important for German Shepherds. This is a smart, thinking breed (at least the good ones are!) and his intelligence is often wasted in a home that simply wants a casual pet.
Finally, early and ongoing socialization is a must to develop a stable, confident temperament.
One of the most capable and trainable breeds in all of dogdom, here are some things for you to consider:
Legal liabilities.
German Shepherds may be targeted for "banning" in certain areas, or refusal of homeowner insurance policies. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a guard dog should be considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.
The wide range of temperaments.
German Shepherds are so very different from each other, and different breeders produce very different temperaments. If you want a family companion, you do not want high-energy working lines, and if you want a dog for protection work, you do not want show lines. With German Shepherds more than any other breeds, you must carefully research your lines or you will end up with a dog who isn't at all what you were looking for. Unfortunately, many German Shepherds are badly bred by unknowledgeable people. The result is that obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see lots of German Shepherds with neurotic behaviors, especially aggression, skittishness, and extreme fearfulness. Again, you need to carefully research your lines.
Most German Shepherds have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone really does act abnormally.
Potential animal aggression.
Most German Shepherds, when introduced at a young age, are very good with other dogs and cats in their own family. But many German Shepherds are dominant toward other dogs of the same sex, which can result in aggression if the other dog feels the same way. Some German Shepherds develop predatory behavior toward cats.
Heavy shedding.
German Shepherds shed only once a year – for 365 days. In other words, they shed constantly. You'll find hair all over your clothing, furniture, and carpeting. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life. Make sure you're really up for this. Most people have no idea how much hair these dogs can produce. I know – I've lived with them
Finding a healthy one and keeping him healthy.
From hip and elbow dysplasia to heart disease and cancer, to stomach disorders and skin diseases, German Shepherds are, unfortunately, one of the riskiest breeds in terms of long-term health. The list of serious health problems to which they are susceptible is dismayingly long. Once you have your puppy home, you need to keep him healthy, starting with feeding the best food.
Providing enough mental stimulation.
German Shepherds are so intelligent and capable. I hate to see them chosen by owners who just want a dog to hang around the house and yard (instead see our section on Labradors). German Shepherds thrive when you find interesting things for them to do that challenge their minds. Bored German Shepherds, especially when young, can become rambunctious and destructive.
German Shepherd Common Behavioral Issues
German Shepherds have their fair share of behavioral issues, things such as barking, aggression towards strangers and over-protectiveness of home and family, which can stem from their natural suspicion of strangers.
Pulling on a Leash
Pulling on the leash ranks quite high in their list of behavioral and training issues as they have this innate need to always walk ahead of their owners, regardless of how much they are corrected.
Getting your German Shepherd to walk correctly on the leash, by your side, needs expertise and the right walking technique or you could struggle to control such a powerful dog.
Other issues can be things like ‘dog aggression’ which in some cases, can take time and effort to effectively solve this behavior satisfactorily.
Chewing or Over-exuberance
Chewing or over-exuberance are usually more prevalent in German Shepherd puppies. Like all breeds, they need entertainment to satisfy their intelligence levels, as well as exercise and education. Don’t take on a German Shepherd dog/puppy unless you have the time to devote to them and the energy levels that they deserve.
German Shepherds will generally attach themselves to one person in the family, but they can still be a good family dog.
Although they have their fair share of behavioral issues, these generally stem from a lack of leadership on the part of their pet parents. They are very trainable but they do have strong personalities that need the right type of pet parent and the right type of training that is just and fair. Then you will see how wonderful they can be.
They are definitely worth the effort if you can stay the course and they will repay you tenfold. If you can just spend time educating and training, you will reap the benefits in the long run.
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Sibling Rivalry with German Shepherds: A Case Study
Adding Another Dog to Your Family
If you already have a dog and want to add another, there are some things to consider before doing so.
If possible, match the size of the dogs and look to add the opposite sex. Female dogs traditionally ‘rule the roost’ and adding a neutered male will cause few issues. Adding a neutered male to the family when you already have a similarly-sized neutered male will normally go off without a hitch, providing you treat them equally.
However, matching two females is a good bit harder and we do encounter many situations where we are asked to treat what is commonly referred to as “Sibling Rivalry’’ even if they are not true siblings.
If you encounter such a situation, separate the dogs and call us. Bark Busters is always here to help.
Sibling Rivalry Case Study
Bess a 12-month old German Shepherd was the apple of her owner’s eyes, whom we will refer to as John and Shirley.
John and Shirley had nursed Bess through a serious illness over many months. They felt that she was a special dog and believed that she was such a gentle soul that would never harm a fly.
One day while John and Shirley were out visiting a friend who worked at a rescue shelter, they spotted an adorable female Bull Terrier puppy named Snowflake. It was an instant attraction and they both fell in love with this cute, white wriggly creature. They just knew in their hearts that Bess would love her too. They felt that she would be a great friend for Bess who John and Shirley felt spent too much time alone while they had to work.
They signed the papers and immediately adopted Snowflake.
Things appeared to be okay in the beginning and both Bess and Snowflake seemed to get along. Bess would tolerate Snowflake jumping on her and biting her face and tail. At night, Snowflake loved to be wherever Bess was and would always curl up nearby or climb into bed near her when she settled down for the night.
Things continued like this for months until one day when Snowflake was about eight- months-old and the two dogs got into a fight. John and Shirley were shocked because they had to drag them apart. Thinking this was just a minor disagreement, they immediately put them together again but to their dismay the same thing occurred.
Soon the two dogs seemed to hate the mere sight of each other and John and Shirley had to have them living in separate parts of the home, each in their own room. This was an impossible situation with dogs and humans on edge all the time.
Bess was still the love of their life and they still held a special place in their heart for her and if anyone had to leave they knew in their hearts it had to be Snowflake. They were conflicted because they had adopted ‘Snowflake’ in good faith. Over time, they were wishing they had never brought her home.
The Reality of the Case
The reality was that this was a miss-match from the start. John and Shirley had made a common mistake of not seeking professional advice before choosing another dog and in believing that if they loved a dog that their other dog would too.
Female dogs generally rule the roost in most households. In our research, we have discovered that if there is an issue with Sibling Rivalry or dog fights in the home, it will usually be the female dog that instigates them in some way.
We advised John and Shirley that this was not going to be an easy fix and we needed their dedication to make it work. They were adamant they wanted to try.
The matching of two or more female dogs can work, but more times than not, it doesn’t and fights and battles to be the “Top Dog” continue to occur.
The better situation would have been to match a neutered male with a spayed female of equal size and energy. However, Shirley and John were determined to making it work by following our training advice to see if they could rectify this issue.
There was also another issue that we uncovered during our training in the Bess and Snowflake case -- it was John and Shirley’s deep affection and sympathy for Bess who had been sick and ailing for a long time. This caused them to deal with her differently. They tended to be firmer with Snowflake than they were with Bess, which had caused an imbalance in the relationship. Therein was one of the root causes of many of the fights.
Once we were able to have John and Shirley put in place some ‘canine communication’ and instilled in them the importance of treating both dogs equally, the fighting stopped and dogs and humans were able to live together again.
Footnote:
The main causes of sibling rivalry (dog fighting with other dogs in the household) is where owners treat dogs differently, where they have a favorite or where one dog has been sick or injured. Once we point that out and people change their approach and then put in place some canine communication, we can usually rectify the problem. It takes dedication and commitment from the dog parents.
German Shepherd Health
Common Illnesses and Injuries
Your German Shepherd’s health concerns will change over the course of their life. A puppy might be more prone to ear infections as their immune system develops, a 2-year-old GSD may be more likely to show signs of hip dysplasia, and a senior German Shepherd is far more likely to develop arthritis or cancer as they age. German Shepherds also have personality and physical traits that may make them more prone to certain conditions—a German Shepherd with hind limbs that are low to the ground may develop more joint issues than the average dog.
At any stage of life, there are some of the most common injuries and illnesses you should be aware of when bringing home a German Shepherd:
- Allergies
- Vomiting and Diarrhoea
- Joint Problems
- Cruciate Ruptures
- Ear Infections.
- Masses
If you are ever concerned about your dog’s health, your local veterinarian is a great resource—no matter how small the question.
Genetic Health Concerns
Like many popular breeds, the German Shepherd has its fair share of hereditary based issues, like hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy. Most reputable breeders now have their breeding stock checked and scored for these hereditary ailments by a veterinarian. You can request proof that the puppy you are purchasing comes from parents that have been checked for these issues.
No dog with identified genetic faults should ever be used for breeding purposes or you will just pass on genetic faults to their offspring.
Because many other health issues are also hereditary, you should do some research on the ancestry of your puppy and any health issues of that particular breed.
Other German Shepherd health issues to watch out for:
- Hip dysplasia and elbow problems
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Von Wilderbrand disease --a bleeding disorder
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency that requires a pancreatic supplement that has to be given with food-speak to your vet for more details
- Retinal dysplasia
Some of these ailments may not be hereditary but could stem from environmental or dietary issues. Be sure that your dog is fed on a healthy diet and receives regular vet checks to ensure it always stays healthy.
These are heredity ailments and you can learn more about these by speaking with your veterinarian. It is always wise to ensure your German Shepherd has regular veterinary checkups throughout its life and that you seek their advice on any medical issues.
Tips for Every Dog Owner
One Step at a Time: A Guide to Successful Dog Walking
Walking our dogs is a great source of exercise for both pets and pet parents. It not only helps keep our canine companions healthy and physically and mentally stimulated, but also strengthens the bond between us. There are several factors for pet parents to consider, however, to keep walks fun and safe for all.
Tips for Every Dog - Why Training?
All dogs need some form of training and education. Love is vital to the bond you and your dog share, but on its own and without all the other elements of a strong relationship, your dog won’t feel fully fulfilled.
Tips for Every Dog - Socialization
Dogs are social animals and like to be part of a structured social group. In the wild, their pack provides this purpose, but in the domesticated world, this consists of the humans they live with and other animals that live in your home.
Tips for Every Dog - Four Basic Needs
At Bark Busters, we believe that every dog has four basic needs. When these needs aren’t being met, misbehavior will likely follow.
Hear from Bark Busters Clients Who Have a German Shepherd
Theresa Nichols, thank you so much. We found a stray German Shepherd, paid for all medical and housing, and thought getting some training would help. Theresa was the only trainer of all that we contacted who found a way to ensure that Bruno could get the much-needed training. This demonstrated Theresa's character showing that she cares about her community and the community’s pet’s well-being. Theresa was very informative and knowledgeable, as we see changes in Bruno after only two days. Theresa understood our needs, was effective in teaching not just Bruno but us also, and was professional. Bruno has a better chance of finding a home thanks to Theresa.
I have nothing but amazing things to say about Holly. In just the 2 hour initial training we learned so much!! We recently adopted a German Shepherd who was struggling to fit into our pack. Turns out we were sending mixed signals which was in turn causing havoc. We finished the training feeling a sense of relief and a new confidence in our leadership skills. 🙌 We have emailed questions to Holly and she was quick to respond. We look forward to you 2nd session and are absolutely thankful we found Holly! 10/10 highly recommend!
Needed help with our 2 yr old German Shepherd rescue who was exhibiting signs of dominance with us. Keith’s initial visit to the house lasted several hours. He assessed us as dog owners, reviewed the questionnaire we completed and then met Ace. He provided us with really helpful tools and training techniques to be able to correct Ace's behavioral issues. He made a follow up visit to see how we were doing and reminded us to use the techniques he taught us. We have seen great improvements in Ace's behavior and couldn't be more happier with Keith and Bark Busters! Would highly recommend him to any family looking to train their dog!
Erin, was fantastic. Full of knowledge. And the tools that she gave us are just amazing how well they work. The difference of our German shepherd is like night and day. We are very, very grateful for Bark Busters.
Marc was kind and really helped us out. All instructions were east and quickly effective.
Very professional, working with our trainer. Dogs seem to take to the training impressively quickly! Very happy with the outcome!
Jared is AWESOME! My husband and I have two dogs (7 year old 100lb, and 3 year old 40lb) and a baby, and needed help calming the dogs' energy before going out the back door (along with a couple other things). We tried many training approaches unsuccessfully, which is what eventually led us to seek out a trainer. While at work, both sets of grandparents watch the dogs and baby, so we needed to include them in training. Jared worked with all of us during individual visits, and tailored coaching to all of our unique needs. He was VERY patient and encouraging to all of us. After just one visit we noticed a change in our dogs. I would recommend Jared for anyone needing help to get through to their dogs. Any age. Any breed. Any owner.
The trainer helped/trained me to solve my problems.
Very informative and impressive training! Happy with the depth of knowledge of the trainer!
Jerry is an AWESOME dog trainer & Tattoo is trying very hard to do what Jerry has taught us as a team. Jerry is very pleasant & calm when teaching & training me. I LOVE JERRY & BARK BUSTERS. # 1!!!!
We are absolutely amazed! We have a 3 year old co*ckerpoo that we purchased during COVID. Because of that, she didn't get the socialization that she would have received. Ellie Mae was anxious, barked all the time at anything, people walking their dogs by our house, delivery trucks, basically anything or for no reason. We have had 4 trainers for Ellie Mae in 3 years and we never saw a difference in her behavior. That is until we found Jenna at Bark Busters!!
Oh my goodness! What a huge difference! Our home is so much more peaceful! We now have the tools to stop the barking before it escalates. Now when she barks, which is less and less, we stop it! Bark Busters are dog behaviorists and that makes all the difference.
There are still some things that we are working on, like when people come to the house and how to keep Ellie Mae in her place when we open the door to let our guests in, but we have such harmony and Ellie Mae seems so much happier! She's not on guard all the time and not on high alert. She is much more relaxed!
We had friends over the other night and they couldn't get over the change in Ellie Mae. It's so noticeable.
We are absolutely thrilled and so grateful to have found Jenna and Bark Busters. We are clients for life!
JENNA, YOU ARE AMAZING!
Thank you so much,
M~ & M
Our family selected Bark Busters for our in-home training needs and it was the best decision we made. Max is 4.5 years old Pitbull, Beauceron, Lab mix, 80lbs & was adopted into our home 2.5 years ago. We were discussing the process of re-homing our beloved dog Max when I found Bark Busters on google. Max was aggressive when visitors came to the home and we had to keep him lock in a crate or separate room. He would incisively bark at mail man, delivery persons, neighbors walking by the house on the sidewalk. Max began becoming aggressive with my oldest son and his girlfriend over the last 8 months. After doing a ton of research and reading countless reviews regarding correcting aggressive and protective dog behavior I was willing to give it a try in hopes we could enjoy many more years with our dog. From the first phone call to the first visit; the service was 10/10. Marcus called and completed a thorough intake of Max and the behaviors we had experienced. We were sent instructions to follow leading up to the first consultation. We sent videos of Max prior to first meeting to allow our assigned behavior specialist an opportunity to observe Max behavior. The first visit was extremely educational. The trainer went into depth about why Max behaves the way he does and helped us develop communication skills with Max that he understood that would allow us to correct these behaviors. Within in the first 2 hours Max went from a dog that would jump through a window to guard this house from anyone passing by on the sidewalk or attempting to approach the door, now he sits calmly on the floor not triggered in the slightest by the Fed Ex delivery people. Our walks have become more enjoyable and easier now that Max understand that I am his pack leader. There is respect, boundaries, trust and communication. All things that were lacking for the last 2.5 years since we had adopted Max from the shelter. Our first visit with Bark Busters was 2 weeks ago and Max continues to build on his confidence daily in learning to trust his humans and that we will handle any situation. Max is much friendlier, calmer, respectful, playful, chill. The family is learning to exhale and trust Max again and the children are also building confidence in correcting Max when if he is triggered.
Theresa has been amazing throughout this entire process. When we started training our dog Diva, she couldn’t relax at all and was aggressive towards everyone. After one session we were able to get her started on the road to being a much better behaved and well trained dog. Using nothing but positive and vocal commands we’ve been able to train Diva to do a number of things she hasn’t been able to do the entire time we’ve owned her. The biggest improvement though is Diva’s interactions towards people now. Before she would bark and snap constantly at them, now Diva will investigate the person and then calmly come lay down and relax with a complete stranger in the room. We can’t thank Theresa enough for the amazing job she has done and continues to do to this day.
I adopted a 3-year old rescue from the Humane Society 7 months ago. She is a sweet and wonderful dog but has some behaviors that need correcting that I haven't been able to do myself. Theresa came today and started teaching me how to effectively train Willow. I have seen an improvement in her in just one lesson and am so excited for what's to come. I highly recommend Theresa.
Today we had our first session.it was above and beyond my expectation.Theresa is awesome! I was at the point of giving up training our puppy. She is very knowledgeable and thorough making sure our goals were being met. Not only was my puppy learning, but we were also learning. I’m so pleased with the progress my puppy made in the first session and moving forward.
Amazing! Joshua is incredible and patient. Very helpful and structed, and easy to follow!
Wonderful! Life saver! Thank you, Josh, for helping us to know and be able to connect with Bunny!
5 stars... a big thank you to Bonnie and Bark Busters! Incredible insight into what makes our little guy tick. Top shelf program for both pets and pet parents.
Very thorough and caring. I feel confident that we have the tools to take care of Bogey.
Trainer (Josh) was very clear, concise, and directed us how to train our dogs directly. He teaches us how to train which is critical. He addressed all of our challenges and gave us homework and stressed constant consistency is critical.
I'm shocked by the effectiveness of some simple concepts applied. I have a lifetime of dog ownership (mostly poodles) and now a 7-month old Yorkshire puppy who was a challenge. I saw the behavioral changes before my eyes in the first training! Let's be clear tho....the training is for the human not the dog. It was what I did (not the dog) that completely reset our relationship and as a result turned a wild puppy into a well obeyed puppy who actually looks at me and listens! Jared is the best! And he came back to check on me (not the dog) to see if I was practicing and was having a good experience. I bought the "for life" package and could not be happier.
Wonderful trainers and an awesome system that I recommend to anyone seeking humane training. Love these guys!!
Josh did a wonderful job training Trixi. She responded very well. He was very thorough plus patient. He is a miracle worker!
Working with Bonnie was an absolute pleasure: She was prompt, professional, and expert in describing and helping us implement effective training strategies! We felt empowered to practice and make progress after just one lesson, and we feel great about the prospect of her ongoing support.
Dogs did better than I did today!
Great session in a short amount of time. Marc ws great with Hunter. Hunters attitude changed within the time Marc was here.
Josh took the time to understand the particular issues we were challenged with specifically pulling on the leash, barking at passersby, and respecting personal space. We implemented corrections that were effective immediately. We are excited to keep practicing and enjoying more freedom with our furry kids!
We learned a lot! Great communication,looking forward to learning more.