Buck Wild Dog Training

I can’t recommend Victoria and Buckwild enough! My pup Naya started to have reactivity issues that only worsened when we got rushed by numerous off leash dogs. It got to the point that I was nervous any time I’d take her out for a walk in case we passed another dog even across the street. The positive only training we had tried didn't seem to help at all, and that’s when I found Victoria. She taught me how to teach Naya in an effective but kind and fair way. She also gave me the confidence to know I can guide Naya through stressful situations instead of letting my own anxiety travel down to Naya. She really understands that dog training is mostly people training. And most of all, she taught me the importance of having fun with my dog, which has helped our relationship tremendously. Whenever I start to get frustrated or feel like something is plateauing, I have Victoria’s voice in my ear telling me to take a break and just play with Naya. It never fails to be the refresher we both need. Now I rarely take Naya for a walk/hike or do a group class without a tug toy to reinforce her good decisions. Victoria really takes to heart that dog training is really people training and I particularly recommend her to anyone who wants to understand their dog and why certain methods work. She has so much knowledge and welcomed any of my questions (trust me there were a lot). And my favorite thing about her is that she will be real with you and tell you like it is. Sadly I’m not in Baltimore anymore, which is a huge bummer because I wish I could send Naya to Buckwild’s summer camps so badly. But Victoria has remained an invaluable resource to us, and I credit her as the reason I’m able to take Naya across the country with me as a traveling healthcare worker. I’m so grateful to now have a dog that I can take on hikes and to breweries with me!

I cannot say enough good things about BuckWild and their amazing team. I didn’t have the highest expectations going into training, as my dog Missi’s biggest issue was anxiety subsequent reactivity, and I didn’t know if that could get better. Especially because she was 5 years old when we started training, and had cumulative traumas in her lifetime. Within 1-2 sessions, I saw incredible changes in Missi. She was a happier dog, and so much her anxiety dissipated. She went from terrified of rain (hiding in the bathroom) to eagerly going on walks in the rain. Not only did she gain confidence, but so did I. I no longer deprived her of experiences due to my fear of how she might react. Instead I learned to read her body language, and have been able instead neutralize previously anxiety inducing situations, and let her experience so much more of the world. It has also been surreal to see how her training translates into different experiences and settings. I thought we had the closest bond prior to training, but our relationship continues to grow exponentially through the training and enrichment classes with BuckWild. I couldn’t recommend this place enough to any dog owner!

We found Buck Wild when Victoria was the only trainer to respond after I said my English bulldog would enjoy agility. After three sessions of agility, 1:1 lessons and board and train, we discovered a supportive community that she has built around people trying their best to make the best lives for their dogs. After Winston was attacked by a dog for the third time, he developed some behavioral issues and we started training, not just agility, with Buck Wild. In our experience, one of Victoria’s superpowers is meeting you (and your dog) where you are, building you up, teaching you, and setting you up for success. I was skeptical about training tools, she was patient and thorough in explaining how they are used correctly. I wasn’t sure about changing his food, she went over the pros and cons. At no point are you pressured to make a change for your dog that you don’t want to make. We’re approaching the one-year anniversary of the attack that started us on this journey and I didn’t think there was any way Winston and I would be able to do all the things we are doing or come nearly as far as we have in his training. Buck Wild will train you, not just your dog, so that you are empowered to continue growing together.

I absolutely love working with Victoria and her team. My dog Lark and I have learned endless things about how to improve our relationship to excel at all the things we like doing - off leash adventures, dog sports, and hanging out in dog friendly public places. My dog has also boarded with Buckwild several times and I don’t trust anyone more with my dog (not even my own family). I can’t recommend them enough.