Our 1 year old , Olde English bulldog, Kona is playful and sweet but is stubborn and has been very tough to train. She didn’t always listen to commands, pulled constantly on walks, and was very dog reactive. It was almost impossible for me to walk her. We were originally looking for day training sessions but after speaking with Kathleen, I realized Kona needed something more. Kathleen spoke to me for 45 minutes during our initial call and took the time to explain her program and how she thought she could help Kona. She was honest and said it would be work after the program as well. I could hear in her voice how much she loves what she does. I had spoken to 2 other trainers during my search and I liked Kathleen’s approach. Though all the trainers I spoke to use the e-collar, Kathleen explained its purpose. I was reluctant to use it at first, but we had tried everything else and nothing worked. We now know that it is a great training tool and has really helped Kona.
We saw pictures of her during her stay and had conversations with both Kathleen and Jenny to hear how she was doing. Now that she’s been home for a few weeks, Kona is still her sweet self, but behaves so much better! She comes when called, leaves or drops items when we ask, doesn’t jump on people at the door, and is a whole new dog on walks. Our 2 training sessions after her stay were with Jenny and she was wonderful. Since Kona was dog reactive, Jenny suggested having the second session in Newburyport so we could train around other dogs and distractions. It was very thoughtful to go outside of the training facility to work on Kona’s specific issues. She is now going to Atlantic K9 doggy daycare 2 days a week and has continued to make progress. She gets a training session as part of each visit and loves playing with her new friends. We continue to work with Kona, but Atlantic K9 and Jenny have made such a difference! Things like walks, which were once stressful, are so much more relaxed and enjoyable now. They have given us the tools and confidence to continue the great work they did. We can’t thank you all enough!!