Sadie's Rules K9 Training

Jess & the whole team do an amazing job - they took in our reactive dog and completely turned his (and our) life around. Before training, he couldn’t be walked without fear of big reactions and unmanageable pulling. After, he is in a perfect heel & able to control his feelings. He’s even able to come out to restaurants and sit nicely on the patio. It has been 1.5 years since our dog went through training and I’m super happy to report he has maintained much of the same behavior - while we have been lax in some areas, he is still very well disciplined in the areas that make the most difference. Highly recommend!

We sent our two dogs, Otis and Oscar, to Jess for training after trying prior trainers in dealing with Otis’s anxiety issues. My only wish is that we had done it sooner! It is hard to overstate the positive changes we have seen in both dogs - what Jess does is truly remarkable. She has given us the tools to effectively communicate and lead our dogs. Even after both dogs came home, she helped us through that transition. Our family and friends are continually impressed that both dogs are able to be in “place” unbothered and without anxiety! When we recently moved across the country, we were worried that the new environment might be a tough adjustment for the dogs, however, these Sadie’s Rules grads have handled the transition like champs, something that I don’t think would have been possible without Jess’s program. We are also incredibly grateful for David who has also been an integral part of their training as well. If you are thinking at all about sending your dogs to Sadie’s for training, just press submit on the form already - you won’t regret it!

I cannot recommend Sadie’s enough! We had a very anxious dog who could not handle a vet visit without tons of meds or a blood draw without complete sedation. She struggled on leash and around strangers. The training she got at Sadie’s has changed her whole outlook. She’s so much calmer and relaxed. She looks to us to lead her and trusts us to keep her safe. Her relationship with our kids and our other pets have all improved, and her good habits are even rubbing off on our other dog. Jess was always immediately responsive and supportive, and she truly went above and beyond with us, going with us to our first vet visit post-training to make sure it went well. And it did! Our vet was shocked and we were thrilled. Easily the best decision we’ve ever made as dog owners.

Andie, our 16 month old puppy, was becoming a handful. Her high anxiety manifested in pacing/peeing in her crate, incessant barking and just overall bad behavior. She wouldn't walk on a leash without pulling, would not come when called and when indoors, would have zoomies all of over the house. Nothing we did worked. We decided to bite the bullet and reach out to dog trainers for assistance. I had heard of Sadie's Rules from other dog owners, so I inquired. After speaking with Jess, it was determined that Andie would benefit from a 4 week board and train. I was hesitant at first. Not only due to it being an investment, but also because I was worried about having Andie gone and in someone else's care for 4 weeks. After speaking with Jess, I was immediately put at ease and felt confident I was making the right decision. And oh boy was I right! Andie returned a totally different dog. Of course she is still as sweet and gentle as before but soooo much more well behaved. She walks on a loose leash without pulling, comes when recalled, waits for my command to go outside, happily stays in place on her cot, EVEN when there is commotion in the house. It is truly remarkable. I can't say enough about Jess and her team. They are amazing and we are so thankful they helped us!

We brought our rescue mutt Sonny to Sadie's Rules of Training for their six week board and train program when he was 8 months old in December of 2019 and have taken him back numerous times over the years for boarding (for as little as an overnight to up to a month). I can say without hesitation that Jess and her team/family's training and care of our pup has made him into the fantastic pet he is today. He is perfectly behaved, walks nicely on a leash in all sorts of environments (including busy city streets); stays quietly and contently in his crate at night, when we're out, or when he needs a break from a busy household; has perfect recall and off-leash behavior; listens to commands (like down and the all-important "out" (vital for a dog like Sonny would would eat anything); and all without losing any of his goofy, friendly, playful behavior. We can take him anywhere and know that he will be the best behaved dog we see. We get to share so much of our lives with him because he's got the skills to be safe and no trouble out in public. Because of that he gets the freedom to explore new places (on and off leash) with us, a real companion (unlike so many dogs I used to have and my friends have who--with YEARS of positive training--are still unable to sit still at restaurants, visit other's houses, be calm when we leave him in the house, etc.). ON BALANCED TRAINING: I admit I had my doubts about the e-collar at first as did my husband (who is Sonny's best friend, and vice versa). Sonny is such a cheerful, happy, friendly dog, we both thought surely we could teach him to behave with hotdog treats alone (HA!). But I read SRT reviews (all glowing) and watched the daily social media clips Jess posts, most of her current trainees, explaining every step of the way how the ecollar is a way to communicate, not punish, and that using an ecollar with a dog, especially one as eager to please as Sonny, makes him calmer and happier--because he knows what he's supposed to do, how to do it, where to go. I also really admire how Jess has all her trainees do most of their work in and among and with her family (wife and kids) so they learn how to behave in real life situations. The dogs go on field trips too--out to lunch or dinner or into Lowes or downtown Charlottesville. Sonny came back a changed dog--as far as obedience goes--but not changed at all as far as his sweet personality went. Even my skeptical husband comments often on how great he a dog he is because of SRT. BOARDING has also been a lifesaver for us, with Jess and crew taking such great care of Sonny, sometimes at the last minute. He is an only dog, but when he goes to SRT he gets a chance to play with other dogs who have the same sorts of manners he does (SRT only boards dogs that have gone through their program), and that makes him and me so happy! I can see pictures of him everyday on social media, which is also great. We're moving three hours away from SRT but plan to keep boarding him there whenever we travel, we love it that much. I can't recommend Sadie's Rules of Training highly enough. Honestly, I'm sure your pup is a good boy (all dogs are, somewhere deep inside). But if you want him to be a best boy--the dog you've always dreamed of having by your side, go with SRT.