Cervantes Dog Training & Rehabilitation

We worked with Francisco to help our reactive dog, and the results have been amazing. Before finding this program, we had worked with other trainers on obedience. While those methods helped in some situations, they weren't reliable 100% of the time, which was a serious safety concern when other dogs were involved. What made this training different was that it wasn't about teaching commands, it was about teaching us how to become better handlers. We learned to operate from values rather than rules, which completely changed the dynamic between us and our dogs. The program helped us understand how to read our dogs' energy, communicate in a common language, and create a relationship built on trust, respect, and clear leadership. As a result, we feel far more confident and in control in situations that previously felt stressful or unpredictable. Our dogs are calmer, and we have the tools to guide them successfully. This is a structured system, and it requires owners who are willing to learn, grow, and make changes themselves. If you're looking for a quick fix, this may not be for you. But if you're willing to put in the work, the results are absolutely worth it. This system truly works, and we're incredibly grateful for everything we learned.

We adopted our boxer mix at 10 months old from Texas. At her heart, she is a playful fun loving dog. But she was incredibly fearful from the very start, cowering away from touch and finding small places to hide. We gave her a lot of love and support to help her open up. But as she got comfortable, she began to show us her personality and it turns out she is both fearful and dominant. This manifested in some problematic behaviors. Leash reactivity to dogs and sometimes people, pulling on the leash, car reactivity, protectiveness around the house and yard, barking at passersby, reactivity to visitors at the door… and she was never able to relax around guests in the house, sometimes deciding to growl at them 1-2 hours into their visit. The training we were doing did not seem to have any meaningful effect on discouraging these problematic behaviors. It felt like I was trying to put out a house fire with a dixie cup… I was working very hard and it wasn’t enough. I felt I was in over my head. No amount of treats and praise was turning her away from these bad habits. After 5 months of private and group training, and even starting her on prozac, we decided we needed to try something different for our training. I was apprehensive about changing course in our training because I had read a lot online - there is tons of conflicting information about what the right/wrong approach is to dog training, and ultimately I wanted to do right by my dog. If I realistically observed what was happening - it was clear that we were not on the right course and I was ready for a change. Working with Fransisco and Amia was wonderful - they were patient, thoughtful and paid very close attention to my dog and to me. The work we needed to do was often not easy, because it involved setting boundaries that had never been set with my dog, and teaching her things that she should have learned in puppyhood. Also I had a ton to learn about my own approach, body language and communication style. Fransisco really understood my dog, and was able to guide us through challenging hurdles, ultimately to seeing the changes we were hoping to see on the other side. What was fascinating to me, was that as we moved through some of the more challenging hurdles in this training, my dog actually become happier. I realized I really hadn’t seen her smile much before the training. She was always tense and on high alert. But now she does the big doggie smile that I’ve been so eager to see - she is more relaxed and knows what is expected of her. I also feel more confident - I’ve learned a ton about leash handling skills, and strategies for managing and teaching behaviors. I just recently got my first compliment from a neighbor on my dog’s behavior - something that I couldn’t fathom happening before this training. This program is a significant investment. But if you are ready for a change, wanting a better relationship with your dog and committed to doing the work as the human, it is worth it. Having a reactive dog is a humbling experience that many will not understand. But with the tools I learned from the Cervantes I now look forward to sharing this world and continuing to learn with my pup.

One day while outside, a puppy wandered up to our house. After some coaxing, she finally came out and was friendly. We decided to keep her. Fast forward a year or so and we found ourselves without the time to really train her. We went with a recommended service and spent about $3000. They took her for two weeks and she came home with some mastery of commands but the service left out an important part of the training - us. After relocating to Vermont, we found ourselves with now a medium sized dog who was very reactive. After a friend's recommendation, we contacted Cervantes and arranged for a meeting with our puppy. Francisco and Amia were very good about explaining the process, the cost, the time commitment and what was expected of us. After 10 weeks of training, she truly is a different dog and we are different parents. The methods may seem difficult at times but the safety and well being of your four-legged family members are worth it. Since the training, we've used Cervantes for boarding and I can honestly say Francisco and Amia are the only ones we trust to handle our girl safely - for her well-being as well as other dogs around her. We plan to continue our dog's socialization with Cervantes in the future after having seen the results from just 8 sessions. Highly recommended and worth the investment in time and money.

We recently completed the 3-week Board and Train program for our new puppy, and the results have been life-changing. Francisco and Amia at Cervantes Dog Training were incredibly professional and compassionate throughout the entire process. They didn’t just train our puppy; they took the time to educate us as owners and give us the tools to succeed, which was key. What we learned has translated perfectly into daily life at home, giving us the concrete tools and routines needed to solidify good behavior. It made our training approach completely consistent and easy to share with visitors and our young child. Having that shared consistency for both us and the puppy has returned us to a much more rewarding, predictable, and manageable home environment. If you are looking for a team that truly cares about both the dog and the family, I can’t recommend them enough.