The Pawsitive Dog

Truly do not have enough wonderful things to say about our experience at Pawsitive. We truly weren't sure what else to do to help our very sweet but very anxious rescue dog, Abby, when a friend suggested we reach out to Pawsitive. Right away, we were so impressed by Jen's confidence and reassurance. She and all the trainers at Pawsitive not only helped empower us to be the people our dog needed but they fundamentally changed how we viewed our relationship with our dog for the better. The skills we learned at Pawsitive have made us kinder, more patient, more fun-loving, and more relaxed dog owners and also helped our dog gain skills and confidence. So many people remark on how beautifully trained our dog is, and she is a favorite at the vet for her calmness and adaptability :). We feel like we owe so much to Jen, Francis, and the other trainers and truly feel like they will always be a part of our family! The photo below is of our dog grinning ear to ear after her most favorite thing in the world: a class at Pawsitive!

We had never had a dog before a 12 week old Black Lab named Pepper came to join our family. We were all completely at sea, but Francis, Jen and the rest of the Pawsitive Dog staff trained us *all* beautifully. When we are out for walks with Miss P, we regularly hear how happy and well-behaved she is. One of our neighbors, who has had several Labs himself says, "she's the happiest dog I've ever seen." She even gets compliments from strangers on how well she gets into her car crate, which Francis knows was a real area of development for us. I can't say enough about how patient and knowledgeable everyone there is. We had no idea what we were doing, and we were overwhelmed with a smart, opinionated puppy, but Pawsitive Dog taught us all how to be a pack!

BEST TRAINING & CARE EVER!!! We couldn't do it without Jen, Francis, Aileen, and Rebecca. Two Cane Corso puppies joined our family in late 2020. We joined the Pawsitive Dog family in early 2021 with some knowledge and expectations given our history with other dogs and trainers. It was obvious from our first interaction that we were in for a much more immersive and rewarding experience than we could have imagined. Not only is the Pawsitive Dog team absolutely awesome with dogs, they are awesome with people... and they are awesome people. They care deeply, give generously, and are fully committed to developing enjoyable, lifelong partnerships between dogs and their people. "The boys" are now 2+ years old, 110 and 120 lbs of joy. With our Pawsitive Dog training, we have built a mutually respectful and rewarding relationship with our dogs. Stubborn by nature, our boys listen and respond well... and often anticipate our instructions. We try to surprise them, often with truly hysterical results (bunny-hop musical crates anyone?). This is just one of the many things we've learned at Pawsitive Dog, where they prepare dogs and their people to respond well to any situation. We've learned to reward what we want repeated, think like dogs, be the leader, use humor, stay calm and don't get angry, and other such gems. Sounds easy, but applying these techniques can be hard. Practicing at Pawsitive Dog classes revealed just how challenging it can be to apply our learning real-time, when it matters most. You don't want to go this alone... and don't have to. With the techniques learned at Pawsitive Dog and the encouragement of the team, we continue to practice, have tons of fun and laughs, and know we have so much more to learn and so many more situations to explore. In summary two words: INVALUABLE and PRICELESS. Pawsitive Dog has our deepest gratitude <3 We can't say it enough: Thank you Jen, Francis, Aileen and Rebecca!!!

It is with heartfelt gratitude that we write this review of one of Boston’s hidden treasures, the Pawsitive Dog, a business catering to dogs and their bewildered owners. The Pawsitive Dog ,tucked into a small downstairs space on Southampton Street, saved our lives this past year by educating, retraining and reshaping the behaviors of both our dogs and us. We originally found the Pawsitive Dog and its’ team of trainers, Jennifer Vickery, Francis Holder and Aileen Whitty in a desperate attempt to “fix” one of our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels who developed some frighteningly aggressive behaviors. These behaviors were serious enough that he was accepted into the accelerated program which meant that Jennifer kept him with her for four weeks while we attended evening classes. When he came back to us, a chastened, obedient, relaxed, happy pup, we were hooked. This launched our 10 month relationship which included putting both of our dogs in day school and ourselves in night school for owner/parent classes. These rigorous educational sessions transformed the way we thought, approached, and related to our dogs. We adopted our first dog in 1981 and have had 9 beloved canines during our adult lives including the present two. They are everything to us. Jennifer and her team educated us in ways that we never anticipated, and to our surprise both four legged and two legged creatures finished training with stronger, happier lives. The Pawsitive Dog staff, Jennifer, Francis, Aileen and Rebecca are among the finest professionals with whom we have worked. They are available to their clients without hesitation through phone, text and email, and offer outstanding advice which is always dead to rights honest, yet sprinkled with kindness and compassion. Our relationships with our dogs, and their interactions with the world have been so much better since we knocked on Jennifer’s door. We cannot say enough about how much this experience has altered our day to day lives, nor can we ever express how much the people at the Pawsitive Dog mean to us. We will always be grateful. We offer our highest recommendation of this wonderful team to all seeking behavioral help with their canines. We look forward to further experiences at “Camp Pawsitive Dog”. Deanne Sullivan and Mary Jane Farley

Working with The Pawsitive Dog has been the most impactful thing we've done to build a strong partnership with our dog, Fuji. One of the first things we learned in class was that though people start with dog obedience (sit, down, stay, etc.), that's not even half of it; teaching your dog good manners, relaxation, and patience are what yields behaviors that make you and your dog happy. Now try doing that yourself?! Jen, Francis, Aileen, and Rebecca make the most incredible team. They are knowledgeable, have so much experience, and have been able to teach us (& talk us) through all of our questions. For example, as a first-time owner of a livestock guardian dog, I needed expert guidance on understanding and complementing how my dog thinks; he's a bit more shy and observant, and knowing how to handle that in a highly-populous area to ensure he is comfortable was really important to me. I trust them with taking care of Fuji during the day and for camp (overnight stays) as if he were their own. We are so grateful for them!! Thank you team <3