E G
8 years ago
I found Sam Ivy K9 Consulting when searching for training for my 8-month old Vizsla puppy, Jackson. At the time, Jackson ruled the roost, despite the fact that I have two young boys, ages 7 and 5. Jackson really did not understand his pl ... See More
I found Sam Ivy K9 Consulting when searching for training for my 8-month old Vizsla puppy, Jackson. At the time, Jackson ruled the roost, despite the fact that I have two young boys, ages 7 and 5. Jackson really did not understand his place in our family. He thought he was above my boys in family status. I didn't think much of this until one day when the unthinkable happened. Jackson bit my younger son. Heartbroken, I was convinced that the only solution was to rehome our puppy to a family without young children. My vet urged me to consider all options before rehomeing, which included looking for intensive training. I consulted with a few trainers, including a doggy bootcamp program. I remember commenting to Sam at my free consultsultation, "I'm just so scared that this [the bite] will happen again to my son." His response surprised me: "It WILL happen again... if it is left unchecked, it absolutely will happen again. If you get a handle on it now and teach Jackson his place, it will not be an issue." One aspect that really set Sam's company apart is that the first thing they teach the dog is his place in the family, the proper pack behavior. Only after this is established do you begin to work on obedience. Our trainer Gina was fantastic. She was prompt, polite, and truly a joy to work with. We just completed our Intermediate On-Leash course, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Gina has assured me that if I have any questions or anything comes up, she will make herself available to address any concerns that may arise. This program is worth every penny. I highly recommend it! If you invest the time (a few minutes every day) and do what the trainer tells you to do, your dog will be successful. Consistency is key. Now, Jackson is an amazing companion and friend. He no longer growls over food, jumps on people, or snatches food from the table or kids' hands. More importantly, he knows his place in the family. The boys are able to feed him and help care for him. Thank you Gina, and thank you Sam Ivy!