My Sidekick Dog Training

My dog, Zef, n I came to see Ash for help with reactivity. Ash has taught us some unique approaches, collaborative care being the one that I have enjoyed the most. Zef is terrified of the vet, and that paired with his aggression, made going to the vet a highly stressful experience for us that I avoid at all costs. We trained with collaborative care pretty religiously to prepare for an annual vet visit and I am happy to report that with the support of medication, Zef was able to sit between my legs and consent to a shot from the vet without drama!

Ash really helped us understand our dog, Nina, and her needs a lot better. We have a rescue dog we really love but she struggled with some anxious behaviors. When my wife and I had our son, Nina didn't know how to interact with him. She had shown some moments of aggression. We were worried we might have to rehome her, but thanks to Ash's training for Nina and us, Nina and our son are friends. I can't recommend Ash enough.

I have a very sweet but very reactive Border Terrier. I have been bitten while trying to break up or avoid toxic dog interactions. I was at my wits end. Ash helped me understand that dog training doesn’t have to mean 30 minutes a day every day. that It is okay to work in small increments, that even a few minutes still counts. Training has helped me be more calm when working with reactivity, taught me new strategies and skills, giving me confidence that I can have a peaceful household. We have a long way to go (me and the dog) but I am working on it one day at a time. It was invaluable to work at first in their controlled environment and then in my own home so I could learn in my own space to figure out what works best for us. Ash is kind, patient, reassuring, but they are no pushover. Just the right amount of authority and compassion. Ash really knows dogs. Amazing bonus, working with Ash has also allowed me to give myself grace in my personal endeavors, too. I am gradually erasing that “all or nothing” mentality and incorporating little things to improve my daily existence. We are a work in progress and will be continuing our journey with the help of My Sidekick dog training. You will not be using aversive, punitive techniques or e-collars. You will learn things that work without fear. If you are thinking about hiring My Sidekick, just do it! I’m a big fan.

So in my opinion, dog training is mostly about training the owner to train the dog. And I'm not the most trainable human (ADHD) but Ash does the best job of explaining what and WHY we're doing something. My reactive German Shepherd is the confident girl she is today because of what we learned with Ash. They take great notes and send you follow-up instructions. Ash is truly an expert with aggressive & reactive dog psychology and has the experience and methods to really impact the life of a dog who literally may not have one without their intervention. Can't recommend highly enough.