Starr Dog Behavior

Millie went to Joseph when she was 9 months old. She was a bit of a mess - anxious and full of energy she didn't (or us) know what to do with it! Joseph did a FANTASTIC job - she is fully crate trained and more important, we know what to do to to prevent her anxiety. He has given Millie, and us, the tools to keep her behavior in check. We have continued to work with Joseph to improve and reinforce. He knows exactly what to do - he truly understands dogs and the psychology behind training. Millie loves Joseph!

Seems to understand dogs on a deep level. However, comes off very condescending and abrasive. He lectured me on how I can’t control my 4 month old puppy and at one point called my dog a nuisance. I’m okay hearing the hard, unalduterated truth but there is no need to be rude when I’m paying $180 per hour. I’m paying for solutions. I literally reached out for help so I don’t need someone talking down to me. Also, he cursed several times for no apparent reason while trying to make his point. He just came off as quite unprofessional so I can’t trust my dog with him even though I believe he understands canine mentality well.

Joseph has been working with our German Shepherd since 2022 and has completely changed the fundamentals of our relationship with our dog Hiro. We had issues with leash reactivity and insecurity/anxiety and the techniques Joseph has taught us to use on walks have improved our daily lives and made us better dog owners. Hiro is significantly more relaxed and confident, and we will continue to seek Joseph’s services and expert advice in the future!

I am so grateful that I stumbled upon Starr Dog Behavior when looking for a trainer for my then 6 month old Cavapoo, Bailey. She was adopted and her background mixed with lack of structure at home created a fear reactive pup. I initially started off with a few in-home lessons which made a noticeable difference and taught me how my behavior affects my pups. Rather than finding a Rover sitter when I had a few trips back to back planned, I reached out and asked if Joseph would be open to do a board and train, which he so kindly worked around my schedule and accommodated my dates. I looked forward to seeing the updates on Instagram throughout the weeks and appreciated how great he was with taking care of her, even when she had a few things going on that required a vet check. When training was complete, Joseph took over two hours to go through everything Bailey learned at training and more importantly what I need to do to continue to set her up for success. Since then, I have noticed a big difference in her behavior at home and she is walking much better on the leash. I’ve had a follow up and will continue on with a few more training sessions to perfect the walk and go over what I could be doing better. I feel like I’m getting just as much of a lesson as Bailey. I would recommend Starr Dog Behavior to anyone in the area looking for someone to not only help train their dog, but also teach a shift in mindset when it comes to how your behavior affects your dogs behavior! He takes the time to explain everything and wants to see you succeed. Our sessions never feel rushed and he is so generous with time. He truly is the dog whisperer!