When I first met Gretel, she was a two-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd previously named Smarty. She was one of 36 German shepherds found on a school bus in Bennington, VT, the product of a man on the run, a hoarder named Larry Mason. Their story made headline news. Gretel and her pack had been living outside with little shelter, food or water. She was never socialized. To her, the world was a frightening place.

I knew I needed a qualified trainer, and that’s when I contacted Kathleen. She had the patience, knowledge and experience to handle Gretel’s issues. After many months of training, Gretel learned the basic commands: sit, stay, down, come and heel. But more importantly, through Kathleen’s training, using positive reinforcement, Gretel’s world was no longer scary. She has made tremendous strides, including passing the AKC Good Canine Citizen Program. We are currently working on achieving the BH (Begleithund), also called the Companion Dog Title, which includes field exercises, obedience and how well a dog behaves in heavy traffic.

Thanks to Kathleen’s dedication, knowledge and experience, Gretel is a different dog from when I first adopted her. Gretel is a happy, very well-behaved dog. I am proud of her and comfortable taking her anywhere.