PhDogs

I took in a new dog sight unseen in April of this year.  He was recently neutered and about 18 months old.  His prior owner was facing a health issue, and he kept breaking out of her yard and running wild in her neighborhood.  I found him to be without ANY manners.  I was in danger of being knocked to the ground any time I interacted with him.  As he weighed about 65 pounds already, he needed training ASAP.  I searched for a board and training program in hopes of turning him into a companion quality dog.  I chose PHDogs after reading the reviews and complaints about the various local training options.  They had to pick him up from my place as he wouldn't get into any car.  They reported that he really was one of the most challenging dogs that they have ever trained.  His trainers worked with him multiple times each day.  They worked with him for 4 weeks on crating at night, respecting fences, and staying within his yard.  They worked on heeling,  getting into and out of cars, and staying in a set "place."  It took about ten days for him to get it. He still has his big puppy energy.  After training, he now walks on a leash calmly.  He will get into any car when requested.  He will crate as needed.  In the house, he settles down in his "place".  If I didn't know better, I would think that PHDogs gave me a different animal back.  The only thing that I wasn't happy about was that their agility course wasn't in use in the warmer weather and I had really hoped that agility training would give me a good way to help him burn some of his energy safely.  Otherwise, these trainers are miracle workers.  If you are looking for a dog training program, I recommend PHDogs for training or boarding your dogs.

Bethany is an amazing trainer! She is so talented and knowledgeable. I am incredibly grateful that I was referred to her by Lori from Helping Herders. I have a 2 year old female Belgian Malinois, Australian Shepherd mix who developed reactivity and had several bite Incidents with both dogs and humans. I love my girl and had been so scared that with her reactivity that I was not going to be able to keep her. However, Bethany, her husband, Jean Luc, and their staff are all excellent and went above and beyond to work a miracle with my little girl. Now she is incredibly obedient walking next to me on a loose leash with the heel command and has also improved greatly with her reactivity towards small dogs. The e - collar was an effective training tool for her. I am so thankful for pH Dogs board and train program and hope to be able to continue working with Bethany and the training team! Also grateful that if I need to travel in the future, I now have a safe place I can trust to look after my pup while I Travel that can also help her work on her commands and training. My dog was an especially difficult case and other people had told me to give up on her. I’m so glad that I was able to give her two weeks of Board and Train with Bethany and pH dogs. If you’re not sure about the training, I would go for it! If Ph Dogs training system could work for my dog who was literally in danger of euthanasia. I am confident it will work for your dog too! I have years of experience with dogs and so I know people who are skilled dog trainers when I see it and Bethany and pH dogs are the best! 10/10 Recommend!!!! Thank you so much for your help and enabling me to keep my best friend and the love of my life!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Bethany and her team did a great job with our 6 month old Dutch Shepherd during his board and train! She created a structured plan tailored to our dog’s needs. They focused on building confidence, improving impulse control, and setting a solid foundation for calm behavior around other dogs. We appreciated the regular updates, pictures, videos and communication throughout his stay. When he came home, the improvement was dramatic: she accomplished in a few weeks what I could only hope to achieve in many months. Highly recommended!

I may live over 400 miles away, but am SO glad I reached out to PhDogs about my anxious, skittish, 7 month old mutt. In the few months I had him his troubles seemed to be getting worse instead of better, and whatever I was doing wasn’t working. I knew his anxiety toward strangers and children could lead to fear biting, and he was growing too big to outmuscle. Where I live I’ve found either “positive-only” trainers who believe corrections are abusive, or trainers who only know one way to get compliance and become harsh with a dog when their way doesn’t work. When I called, Bethany listened to my concerns and recommended a board and train for 4 – 6 weeks. She had a cancellation and said I could start him in 3 days if I wanted to. This was a suggestion I didn’t expect. The distance, costs, and commitment were significant, and the timing wasn’t great. But after a few moments’ hesitation, I said “yes.” It was no fun commuting 5 times through horrible fires and traffic; but it was 110% worth it. Bethany and Lucy are dedicated trainers who love what they do, and the PhDogs facility is full of training resources. They have agility equipment, blinds, a dock diving pool, horses, donkeys, sheep, ducks -- even an ample population of wild ground squirrels at their disposal. (Where else could you find THAT?) They taught my pup to turn his attention away from livestock, critters, and other dogs. They drilled him in basic obedience. They also specifically counter-conditioned his worst fear triggers: Storm drains, elevated structures, having his paws restrained, strangers, and even children (while muzzled). Whenever I visited for lessons I trained directly with Bethany and Lucy and received amazing care and consideration. My questions were answered, and my mistakes were caught. My dog may have been treated strictly, but not in ways that increased his anxieties. How do I know? EVERY TIME I VISITED HE HAPPILY TROTTED BACK TO THE KENNELS WITHOUT ME. Bethany is amazing – not just at training dogs, but at training people, which is critical. Training theory is groovy, but not everyone can follow references to classical conditioning quadrants in real time. Dummies like me need practical metaphors that explain why I should do this or that, and Bethany is full of them! She also has one more very important resource: extensive experience successfully working with fearful and aggressive dogs. The dog I brought home still has his skittish personality – no one can change a dog’s basic nature – but now both he and I have effective tools that allow us to work through his fears and anxieties. He has already come a long, long way and I am enjoying him more than ever. Thank you, PhDogs!