Sadie's Rules K9 Training

Gaining the tools from Sadie's Rules for creating a calm, structured environment for ourselves and our reactive dog has literally changed our lives. He's a much happier member of the family now that he understands what's expected of him, and we are happy to have a social life again! This transformation couldn't have happened without the board and train program - definitely worth the cost to be able to manage his anxiety and aggression in any situation.

We brought our dog to Sadie’s Rules after trying everything. We were at the point of a major decision - either rehome him or put our beloved dog down, which our Vet recommended but we desperately didn’t want to do. Walter was such a sweet dog to me, but he became overly attached and started resource guarding me to the point of becoming dangerously aggressive, including biting people hard enough to break the skin. These behaviors got gradually worse over time, so we didn’t realize how bad it had become until things were completely out of hand. knew if we rehomed him, he might do the same thing again - this had already happened with his previous owner. I was desperate when I reached out to Jess. Honestly, I didn’t think there was any real help for this dog. I love him so much, but he was the most stubborn dog I’d ever been around. When we tried crate training, he would bark and bark. If we left the house and came back, his crate would be across the room from how worked up he would get. He barked at everything and barked to get his way. We even tried several bark collars, and he would bark AT the bark collar. I read books, watched dog training videos, and tried so many different things - nothing worked. Our home was stressful, and every day felt unpredictable. Sadie’s Rules didn’t just “train” Walter - they completely changed the way he thinks and responds. Jess and her team worked with him in an environment full of everyday distractions, so he learned how to stay calm no matter what’s going on around him. They taught him to look to us for direction instead of reacting on his own, and to follow clear rules and routines that make him feel secure. They were patient but firm, and they showed us exactly how to handle him so the changes would last. Now, he’s obedient, off-leash trained, and no longer aggressive. With the e-collar, we can stop his barking right away. I was worried he might come back fearful of his e-collar corrections or acting like a robot, but instead he’s a very happy, calm dog who loves his routines. It’s even rubbing off on our other dog. I can’t thank Jess and her team enough for saving Walter and giving us peace in our home again. Highly recommend them!!

I can't speak more highly of Jess and the team at Sadie's Rules K9, who worked miracles with our beloved puppy, Sonny. While we were both slightly apprehensive to send him away for 14 days at just 3+ months, Jess did a fantastic job assuaging our concerns. Before his time in Nellysford, he couldn't last 5 mins in his crate without crying/barking. He now spends hours in there peacefully (as evidenced by the below photo!), giving us (and him) peace of mind. His also increasingly comfortable and confident with his "place." A terrific experience overall and one I'd recommend to any new puppy (or otherwise dog) owner.

We can’t say enough great things about Sadie’s Rules! We sent our black Lab puppy, Otter, at just 12 weeks old, and he came back with an incredible foundation—not just in obedience, but in confidence and socialization as well. The team clearly put so much care and consistency into his training, and we’ve come away with the tools and confidence we need to maintain everything he learned. Communication throughout his stay was excellent, and we absolutely loved being able to follow his daily progress on social media. We’re so grateful to Sadie’s Rules for giving Otter (and us!) such a strong start.

Jess and the team at Sadie’s rules were phenomenal. Not only did they take great care, they truly set up my puppy for success. My dog Duke is an energetic puppy that needed help on how to settle and be more comfortable in the crate. He returned much more content with day crating and the foundations for place. Walking has been the biggest change. For a puppy it’s incredible how he walks directly along my side at my speed and not going after whatever may come his way. Walks are more enjoyable and I’m confident in time his on/off leash work will continue to expand as he gets older.