K9 Reset

So it's 90 days post training with Rich. My neighbor just stopped me on the street and said "my goodness your dog seems so relaxed! What happened?" I thought I had great control over my 4 yr old rescue dog until in recent months she started to become very reactive to other dogs on the leash. I live in downtown Salem, so the last thing I can or want to do is avoid people and their pets. And because she had grown up as a puppy on the streets of Houston, Texas she was given to eating absolutely ANYTHING! I've had her in the emergency room 3 times this year and was worried that the next trip would be fatal. I had so seclude her when I had company because she would just surf the counters for food and make everyone uncomfortable. I was also losing recall; she was startingto ignore me. So I was afraid I would not be able to get her to respond to me in an emergency situation. I was desperate and lucky to find Rich! Rich is amazing! Within minutes of our first meeting he could tell that my timid by nature dog had become quite dominant in the relationship. The more fearful I became of her behavior, the more reactive and protective she became of me! The first time we met we started with the choke collar. I hate the name because the whole point of using it is to have a very loose hold on the leash and not to ever choke your dog. After one meeting Rich sent us away to practice. At our second meeting he showed us how to work with the eCollar. This is another tool that has a bad reputation because people don't know how to use it appropriately. Rich was a fantastic instructor! Finally, we started week-long over night training. I was really hesitant to leave her, because we had already had to get over abandonment issues when I first adopted her. For a dog that can be quite timid around people, especially men, she had no hesitation going to Rich or watching me walk out the door. She knew he was safe! Rich sent me short videos each day to show how she was responding to training, and getting along overall. When I picked her up at weeks end, rich worked with us giving me specific details on how to work with the tools she had been trained with. The first couple weeks I was not a 100% consistent. UntiI I realized she thought the rules applied only when Rich was around. She was beginning to slip back into undesirable behavior. I got the message quickly that I had to stick with the plan if I really wanted to see success; not only for the time and investment, but for our relationship and overall happiness day to day. Its 90 days later and I use the tools regularly. Although she is responding to commands quicker without there use. She's become quite a "good citizen" and will actually wait patiently with food in front of her until I give her the release command to eat it. I can leave the room and come back and she's still sitting there waiting patiently! Still, I realize she's a dog and by nature she will test me again, but I have the tools, language and commands to help her get back on track. Rich checks regularly and I've been able to reach out to him when I have a question. Most recently Rich suggested working with a remote camera so that I can monitor her when I'm not there. (She likes to get into my closet and she has ruined several coats.) If you are concerned about your dog's behavior do not hesitate to work with Rich. The training tools and tips that he provides will help them feel safe in their environment, knowing that you are in full charge. Then they can relax and be the best doggo ever!

Rich is an excellent trainer. My husky Loki was a spoiled dog and was allowed to do whatever he wants. So he had a lot of behavioral issues and could care less about what I wanted him to do. Our walks weren’t great, he listened to commands when he feels like it, loves to mark, he also escaped a couple times by removing his harness/leash, and jumping. After a week with Rich our walks have improved drastically. He actively checks in with me when we walk, listens more to commands, and is better in public spaces (less marking, easier to control, less reactivity to dogs and small animals). It is important to continue the training at home to help build upon the foundation set by Rich.I am happy with the service I was provided, and feel that my relationship with my dog is better for it.

Our shih-tzu is incredibly stubborn and impossible to train through standard approaches (treats, toys, praise). We sent him to Rich for a week of boarding/training. Rich dramatically improved our dog’s receptiveness to following commands, taught him multiple commands, and even more impressively, improved his confidence to the point where is no longer skittish around people or most other dogs and has stopped nearly all nuisance barking. Rich also provided us with all of the tools and instructions (very clearly given) needed for continuing training. We highly recommend Rich.