Puppy-Wuppy Dog Training

We reached out to Puppy-Wuppy seeking guidance for a dog with a complex medical and behavioral history, hoping for clarity and support. Unfortunately, the communication received from Lori was dismissive, judgmental, and unprofessional. Rather than asking follow-up questions or gathering basic context, she immediately framed our dog’s behaviors as a failure on our part and made assumptions, stating that her behaviors “should have been addressed when they first started” and that “the dog has no boundaries and you have not set any expectations or conditions for the dog for this behavior to escalate,” despite not knowing the timeline of us even having her (she is 4 but we did not adopt her as a puppy,) her complicated and emotionally and financially burdensome medical history, any behavioral modifications we have already tried in the past, and the veterinary guidance that we’ve received (multiple vets indicated that her behavioral issues may improve as she became healthier.) It’s completely fair to say you’re not the right fit or don’t have availability. It’s not acceptable to do so in a way that discourages people from seeking help for dogs with real behavioral challenges. For context, I’ve attached screenshots of the email chain as well as a screenshot of a response we received from another dog trainer the same night—respectful, curious, and professional — which shows that a supportive response was entirely possible. If you’re looking for a trainer who leads with empathy, curiosity, and professionalism, I’d recommend looking elsewhere. Note: my partner’s name is redacted because they did not want their name attached, but I don’t care 🤷🏼‍♀️ Edit: Lori responded by saying they “declined to move forward with training.” For clarity, by the time Lori’s second email was sent, there was no scenario in which we would have entrusted our dog to someone who communicates with such judgment, dismissiveness, and lack of curiosity about a complex behavioral and medical case. This review is not about being turned away. It is about how potential clients are spoken to when they ask for help.

We’ve been going to Puppy-Wuppy for about a year now, and we couldn’t be happier. We adopted our dog, Winnie, from a rescue when she was ten months old. She had very little training, was afraid of other dogs, and hated walking on a leash. As a first-time dog owner, I truly didn’t know where to begin. Puppy-Wuppy came highly recommended, and they have definitely lived up to it. We are incredibly grateful for the wealth of knowledge and experience they bring. Marty is fantastic—patient, supportive, and incredibly helpful. Thanks to their guidance, we’re not only seeing how far Winnie has come, but we’re also building a strong, trusting bond with her. We honestly couldn’t have done it without them.

Been training at Puppy Wuppy with Lori since 2/2016. In that time I can't believe how far our dog Bash has come. Bash is a Komondor and everything you read online about the difficulty of owning this breed is true. We had taken him to those generic training classes at a large box store and we thought he had made tremendous progress and was well on his way to being that obedient dog everyone wishes for. Boy were my wife and I wrong with that assumption. As Bash got older the characteristics of his breed started to become more prevalent and it got to the point where my wife was afraid to take Bash on his daily walks. Did I mention Bash is 100+ pounds and my wife is 4'11 and 90lbs. Needless to say if Bash decided to pull, my wife was going for a ride. We found Puppy Wuppy through a referral and the first time we met Lori we knew this is what was needed and everything we thought we knew about training was all fluff. Fast forward to 2/2017 and it is a night and day difference. My wife loves going for walks with Bash and is now his handler for what is called AKC rally competitions. Bash has gone to two shows and has placed 2nd and 1st and is about to go to his final leg to try and earn a title in Novice rally. We continue to train with Lori and are pleased with the results we get on a weekly basis. Looking forward to see how Bash progresses now that he continues to compete in various dog shows. Who would have thought we'd be saying that :) Update: we started our new pup Tux with Lori and team and the new space is excellent. We continue to learn all the fundamentals for training not only for the classroom but for continued work at home. Tux has been working with Marty these past few months and he has helped us tremendously. When we take tux out people are amazed to hear he is only a puppy and how well behaved he is. I’d recommend Puppy Wuppy to anyone who really wants to learn what it truly means to train your dog and yourself as a responsible dog owner. Kudos to the team. 1 year update: We’ve continued bringing Tux to training, and the consistency has made a huge difference. The ongoing classes with Lori and team have helped him become an extremely well-behaved dog while also providing important mental stimulation and strengthening our bond with him. Each session builds on the last, and we constantly see progress both in and outside of class. Puppy Wuppy has been an invaluable part of Tux’s development/growth, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

First time dog owner of lab/beagle mix. Completed the basic obedience course. Puppy Wuppy was essential to my growth as a dog owner. When I showed up to the class my dog wouldn’t walk through doors or up and down steps, just scared of everything. By the end of the training she was doing all the basics on command, even without treats. For sure takes practice at home but really set you up to be successful. The owner is great with communication and sets fair prices. My trainer Nicole was wonderful. Really great with advice and direction. Can’t say enough how much Puppy Wuppy did for me and my pup. Will continue more training classes because we liked it so much. There is serious passion and helpful people at this place. Absolutely loved it and would recommend to any dog owner, especially first time owners. They truly take the time to cater to your needs and the dogs. Can’t wait to continue the training.