FirstBark
I was looking for a trainer with deep experience, an evidence-based approach, and someone I could continue learning from myself. If that's what you're looking for too, I can't recommend Judy at Happy Pup Training highly enough. One of the things I appreciate most about Judy is s…Read full reviewClose full review
I was looking for a trainer with deep experience, an evidence-based approach, and someone I could continue learning from myself. If that's what you're looking for too, I can't recommend Judy at Happy Pup Training highly enough. One of the things I appreciate most about Judy is she stays current with research and takes an evidence-based approach to training. Dog training is an unregulated industry, which means anyone can call themselves a trainer. That also means there's a lot of outdated advice and techniques that can unintentionally damage a dog's confidence or relationship with their person. Judy has a deep understanding of how dogs learn, along with years of experience putting that knowledge into practice. After moving to the area, I was looking for a new trainer for me and my dog. We'd already done quite a bit of training over the years and worked with several other trainers, so I wasn't looking for someone to teach us the basics. We started with private lessons so I could get a feel for Judy's approach before joining her intermediate group classes and trick training, and that ended up being a great fit. What really sets her apart is that she doesn't have a single recipe for every dog. She has multiple ways to approach the same goal and adjusts based on the individual dog in front of her. You can tell she's worked with a huge number of dogs because she has an incredible ability to adapt. The biggest thing I've gained from working with Judy isn't just new behaviors or tricks. She helped me become a better communicator with my own dog. I learned to be clearer in what I was asking and much better at recognizing what my dog was communicating back to me. That has strengthened our relationship just as much as our training. Judy is professional, compassionate, and deeply committed to positive reinforcement. She's also very clear about her values. If someone is specifically looking for a trainer who uses aversive tools like prong or shock collars, she isn't the right fit. But if you're looking for someone who believes you can build a well-trained dog while also building trust and a stronger relationship, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone better. I'm probably a more discerning client than most. I've worked with several trainers over the last nine years, and I spend a fair amount of time reading about canine behavior and training. Judy has continued to teach both of us. Every class leaves me with a better understanding of not just what to do, but why it works. I'm incredibly grateful to have found Judy at Happy Pup Training. My dog and I have made a lot of progress, we've genuinely enjoyed the process, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Judy to anyone looking for thoughtful, effective, and kind training.