Animal Behavior Specialists, Inc.

Our Labrador Retriever, Murphy, has made big improvements with the help of Karlene and her team. We have attended Puppy class and Basic obedience twice. We plan to continue with additional classes. He has also attended daycare a few times. They foster a friendly environment in their classes. I found myself rooting for progress with all of the dogs and owners, not just my own. I read a review that was very discouraging, and although I have sympathy for that owner and her dog, my experience has not been similar. We started with a different trainer using positive reinforcement mainly in the form of food treats and that didn’t work well for us. In the ABS classes, we were taught that it was okay to grab the dogs by the scruff of the neck to direct them away from an unwanted behavior. This is how their dog mother would have taught them. ABS never would have accepted hurting or mistreating the dog, but instead emphasized a relationship of love and respect where your guidance is helpful to your dog. I am very thankful for them. Instead of treats, we reward our dog with praise and love. Murphy is a puppy - full of energy, love and curiosity and Animal Behavior Specialists has helped to make him more manageable and enjoyable for our family.