Beyond the Dog

When I first started working with Dr. Savage, I was looking for help with a highly reactive and anxious dog. By the time I found her, I had already consulted a number of other behaviorists, and none of them had been able to crack the code for my dog. Like many owners, I had spent a lot of time hearing advice that focused on obedience, control, and managing behavior. What stood out about Dr. Savage was her ability to look beyond the behavior itself and help me understand what was driving it. Dr. Savage and I worked together virtually, which I was initially uncertain about given how complex my dog's case was. It turned out to be no obstacle at all. She could observe my dog through video, ask the right questions, and give me real-time feedback that was as effective as anything I'd experienced in person. She helped me recognize that many of my dog's challenges weren't stubbornness or defiance, but the result of stress, anxiety, and an overwhelmed nervous system. That shift in perspective changed the way I approached training and my relationship with my dog. Over the course of our work together, her guidance helped me focus less on suppressing behaviors and more on building confidence, reducing pressure, and creating opportunities for my dog to make good choices. Recently, after giving my dog more opportunities for decompression and exploration, I've seen some of our biggest breakthroughs yet. She is more confident, more engaged with her environment, more willing to take treats outside, and often chooses to disengage from triggers on her own. What I appreciate most is that Dr. Savage gave me the tools and understanding to continue helping my dog long after our sessions ended. Her work didn't just teach my dog new skills. It taught me how to better understand the dog in front of me. If you're dealing with reactivity, anxiety, fear, or behavior challenges that seem deeper than simple obedience issues, especially if you've already tried other approaches without success, I highly recommend working with Dr. Savage.

We worked with Beyond the Dog Training primarily to help acclimate our dog to life with our new baby, and the experience was truly invaluable. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless, flexible, and easy to navigate. The individualized, one-on-one training was exactly what we needed, and the team was thoughtful and accommodating throughout the experience. What really sets them apart is their deep expertise and science-based approach to behavior and training. You can immediately tell their methods are rooted in real behavioral knowledge and not just surface-level obedience tactics. What we appreciated most was how approachable and practical everything felt. They gave us tools and techniques that we could realistically implement in our everyday lives, which made the training feel sustainable. We came away with so much more confidence in our ability to manage situations, understand our dog’s behavior, and create a positive environment for both our dog and baby. One of the most valuable parts of the experience was how much time they spent helping us understand the “why” behind the techniques and behaviors. That education piece made all the difference and empowered us to confidently apply what we learned after the sessions ended. Their background in behavioral psychology and applied animal behavior clearly shows in the way they teach and support clients. We’re incredibly grateful for their guidance and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for knowledgeable, compassionate, and evidence-based dog training support.

My dog had developed avoidance issues with guests coming into our home, which manifested itself in growls, barking and progressed to snapping, at which time I knew I had to do something and knew I was unable to do it on my own and turns out Rosie has an emotional support dog - our other dog Spooner. Shelby was Rosie’s behaviorist/trainer and in 5 weeks (we “graduated” yesterday) she discovered the emotional support needs (day 3), taught Rosie how to safely interact with guests (it is an amazing process), taught “place” & “wait” which are all needed for success. She also taught me how to understand Rosie’s avoidance and how to be her “bridge” between herself and guests. I am very happy to say it all worked fabulously!! Shelby is professional, kind, generous and loved my dogs. She was patient with me, as Rosie’s avoidance isn’t a training need but a behavior and I had so many questions that were repeated almost every day - she had patience & lots of it. She always communicated & was open to texts during her non-scheduled times. She was exactly who Rosie and I needed! I have just scheduled her to work with Spooner, teaching him recall and I can’t wait to see her at work with him!!

We did the beyond your dog, board and train retreat. Shawn and team did an AMAZING job! Our puppy was 14 weeks old when he went and he came home a new dog! He has learned: sit, down, stay, come and more. He walks great on a leash and does so well in crowded environments. I can't recommend the training and working with Shawn and Beyond Your Dog enough. Best money we have spent and look forward to continuing the training at home and to a long fun life with our new family member!