Practical Obedience LLC - Custom Dog Training

I cannot recommend Practical Obedience highly enough!! We adopted a 6-month old puppy from a shelter a couple of months ago, and her uneasiness around dogs and humans caused her to bark excessively at both when on leash or in our backyard. She also pulled a LOT on walks, which made them very unpleasant for us. After nine sessions with Shana and Maggie (consisting of six "day training" sessions where Shana worked with our dog without us there, and three "coaching" sessions where we learned how to train the behaviors they had been working on), we have a totally different dog! Despite being a very small business, Practical Obedience is a really professional operation. Maggie and Shana were quick and thorough in their responses to our emails, the orientation prior to the beginning of training (to discuss their basic approach to dog training) was incredibly informative, and everything we were taught in person was later summarized in an email that included a detailed written description of each command/behavior as well as handouts and videos that made it VERY clear what we were supposed to be doing with our dog. I'm also a huge fan of the training approach used by the people at Practical Obedience (using positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors and the removal of rewards to discourage undesired behaviors, which means NO leash corrections, bonking, shock collars, etc.). In our orientation, Maggie very convincingly explained why this approach is best, and while there were a number of instances where I was particularly frustrated with my dog and thought to myself, "I can't think of how to deal with ____ negative behavior using Maggie's methods but I CAN think of an easy way to deal with it using traditional punishment," I'm glad we didn't go that route as punishment can have negative side effects. As an example, we met someone at a local dog park who was able to eliminate their German Shepherd's barking at other dogs while playing using a shock collar, but as a consequence the dog no longer plays with other dogs (presumably because it associates playing with pain). I firmly believe that using positive reinforcement results in a more well-adjusted dog. As Maggie pointed out, if you get a dog to stop barking, growling, etc. via punishment, which doesn't address the underlying cause of these behaviors, your dog may unexpectedly bite someone because you've taught it to suppress the traditional warning signs. As a result of this approach, my boyfriend and I also have a MUCH better understanding of dog body language, interactions, etc., which means that we also understand our dog a lot better. I grew up around a lot of dogs so thought I knew a lot about them, but I now know that wasn't true. This was a hugely informative experience for me! In sum, if your dog is exhibiting undesired behaviors, contact Practical Obedience ASAP!

I reached out to Practical Obedience to get help training my 1 year old dog, Luna, who gets super excited during walks when she sees things. Due to COVID, Maggie was able to offer day training in which she would work directly with Luna and then we would then go over what was taught during the sessions. I’ve seen huge improvements using the training guidance Maggie provided and really appreciate how helpful she’s been with any questions I’ve had along the way. As a side note, Luna absolutely loved working with Maggie as well. :D

When we adopted our rescue dog Shiloh, we knew we would be getting a dog with some "issues". We started right away with traditional training, and she responded well to the classics of sit, stay etc. But as time went on we realized Shiloh would need specific training for her behavior on walks and reluctance to allow anyone to trim her nails. Our vet finally recommended Practical Obedience and we decided to give it a try. We reluctantly began our program remotely, but it was evident from the consultation that Maggie could help us, even via remote training. Maggie has given us the tools to help us begin to understand Shiloh's behavior and how to manage her. With her knowledge and experience, she's given us the groundwork to start to see changes in how Shiloh interacts with the world. Her continual follow-up and availability via email is invaluable. We cannot wait to start in person training, but for now, we have hope.

We can't say enough about how positive our experience has been. The virtual training works beautifully. Maggie listens carefully, watches owner and puppy interact together and provides plans specific to the needs that are apparent during the session. She sends a copy of virtual sessions and written plans related to discussions. We will ask for Maggie's help again when we get our next puppy about a year from now.

Maggie came recommended by one of my co-workers who knew that I was in desperate need of help with my 1yr old German Shepherd, Arya. I couldn't walk Arya around people or dogs. When people would come over to the house she would bark almost nonstop at them. With Maggie's help it seems we have a completely different dog. She's doing great walking around people, loose leash walking, calming down when people come over, and can even walk past other dogs without issues. I recommend Maggie and Practical Obedience to anyone needing help with their dogs. We tried training at a local pet store prior to contacting Maggie, but that wasn't working for Arya. When Arya was a few months old I didn't know if we'd be able to keep her because I didn't want an aggressive dog. I wasn't willing to give up on her without trying everything first. Maggie literally saved our relationship with Arya. And now Arya is turning in to an amazing dog!! If you, or anyone you know, needs help with a dog please reach out to Practical Obedience!