Julie Forbes, the Sensitive Dog trainer saved us! Our 11 month old adopted puppy, Haggis was adorable, but soon became known in the neighborhood as Haggis the Horrible. He devolved into a frenzy of barking when any person, dog, bike, car, or even a garbage can was in his field of view. My vet recommended Ahimsa, which was absolutely no help. Haggis failed their Growley Class and thus was barred from any further classes. I did one on one training with them that was a complete waste of time and left poor little Haggis catatonic with fear. I never returned. The wonderful people at Portland Dachshund Rescue, where we adopted Haggis from, encouraged me to find a trainer who had worked with Dachshunds before, and or really understood how to help sensitive dogs. My hunt for a new trainer took over a year! But it was well worth the time and energy. When I contacted Julie I was hopeless and a bit frantic myself. We had to cancel vacations because poor Haggis couldn't tolerate anyone in the house except me and my husband. Julie was terrific! She talked me down off the imaginary cliff I was on and we signed up for the initial lessons. I warned her Haggis would bark at her the entire time, which he pretty much did. But Julie ignored him and kept talking to us over his barking. Haggis finally wore himself out and curled up at my feet throwing a stink-eye at Julie occasionally to reminder her he was watching her. Then a remarkable thing happened. Julie taught us a calming game for Haggis. She had us lead him through the basics while she continued to ignore his chuffs. After a few trials of learning the game, Haggis completely forgot about Julie. He was absorbed in the sniff game, which utilized all dachshunds's super skill: their nose! Haggis ran through the game eager to do it again and again. He approached Julie without barking and looked up at her wanting to play *with* her, instead. At the end of the lesson he jumped up on her couch and sat next to her, content with his new friend. Each class with Julie provided a similar breakthrough for Haggis. At the second class Haggis, bound out of the car, ran up to Julies classroom and barked to be let in. Haggis's affection never wavered for Julie, an neither did ours. WE learned valuable tools and correct training techniques to help Haggis overcome his fear aggression. Within months, Haggis stopped barking at people and let them approach to say hi. Dogs were still something he preferred to keep across the street from him, but soon he stopped barking like a frenzied Doberman ready to attack (I had two Dobermans and they were the sweetest boys!). I am grateful and astonished to say that with Julie's training and guidance, Haggis has no problem letting dogs pass him on the sidewalk and has made a few walking buddies in our neighborhood. Haggis, once the Horrible, has turned into Haggis the Adorable! And Julie Forbes deserves 100% of the credit. We are indebted to her forever!!!! read more

Sensitive Dog - Haggis and his big stick! - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was at my wits end with my Pit-mix, Pirate!!! I had spent $1000's on training ; a five week doggy boot camp, online classes, trainers to the house. Military based, reward based. You name it I tried it. I knew in my heart Pirate was trainable. My husband said "no more, we will just keep him away from people", :0 I decided maybe we needed a dog Psychologist or behaviorist. So I started looking online. Most of the reviews were about putting dogs on drugs. Well I had done that before and Pirate bit our neighbor. As it turns out he was more aggressive on them. Then I saw an ad for "Sensitive Dog". One particular review was so heartfelt and it sounded like all my issues with Pirate, plus all the reviews were great. My husband was willing to do one last try. Julie at Sensitive dog was everything Pirate and I needed.!!!! The first appointment was so positive. It was 2 1/2 hours observing Pirate, talking to me at length about all our issues with him. She was a nice mix of reward based training as well as consequential training. It's such a great mix and you can tell that she really cares about you and your dog. It may seem like a lot of money, but it's really not, because you will get so many valuable lessons and solutions. The one that stands out most in my mind, is that dogs need mental stimulation. Julie gave me lots of ways to help him get his mind working. When I got home, for a week, I tried some of her suggestions for mental games. It was amazing, he got calmer and less reactive. That's just one example of our success. The most important one was that he became much better with our grand kids! We have lots of ways now to get him to be safe with them. If you're reading this and can relate, go ahead and make the appointment you'll be so glad you did! Julie is a natural and Pirate adores her! read more

Sensitive Dog - Pirate - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It is not possible to say enough good things about the team at Sensitive Dog. Julie really puts in the effort to learn about your dog and your specific situation. She coordinates a comprehensive plan that you can walk out the door with to achieve the best outcome for you and your dog. We had sought advice from other behaviorists and Julie is the only one that gave us real, tangible solutions and help. Our dog has been struggling since being rescued, but within 5 minutes being in Julie's presence, our dog chilled right out and felt like a normal (non-traumatized) dog, it was so wonderful to see and gave us a lot of hope for our future with her. I would HIGHLY recommend this team to anyone needing help and is willing to put in the effort to make your situation better! Thank you, Sensitive Dog, for your kindness, care and compassion of both the human and the canine. read more

Sensitive Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Julie has not only changed the lives of our dogs for the better but has changed our lives as well. She has given us priceless insight helping us more deeply understand and connect with our furry family members. She has taught us new techniques for handling and training, breaking things down in to clear steps and helping us understand the "why" behind what we are doing. We have been to countless trainers and classes and nothing has even come close to what we have gained through a program with Julie. We feel so incredibly fortunate to have found her and all of us (humans and dogs) are so grateful for her unparalleled knowledge and experience. Highly, highly recommend Sensitive Dog! read more

Julie Forbes is a spectacularly good trainer. She understands better than anyone we have ever met what is going on in a dog's mind. She is compassionate and knowledgeable across so many aspects of dog training. read more

I contacted Sensitive Dog about a pretty specific issue with my dog. They gave me a call and a referral for another trainer/training format that would be well-suited to triggering and correcting her behavior. I really appreciated that compassionate and personal approach. They supported me with advice and information during a very stressful time. It's really overwhelming to pick a training service. I can tell that they both know their stuff and care deeply. If I have other training needs, I'll be going to them first! read more

Compassionate, passionate, and knowledgeable, I can't speak highly enough about Darcie and Sensitive Dog. If more businesses were like Sensitive Dog the world would be much better for it. read more

Sensitive Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Julie is phenomenal! She is kind, articulate, present, and asks all the right questions. She gave us the necessary tools and training to address our dog's behavior, who has an alpha personality and can be reactive to other animals. Our puppy immediately responded to the training efforts prescribed by Julie, proving that her approaches are effective. We can't say enough positive things about Julie and her program. We highly recommend her services to anyone in need of counseling for their dog - she is just what we needed and made us feel comfortable from the start! read more

We are so thankful we found Julie at the perfect time. We were frustrated for months on our walks with Kuma because all the tools and techniques we learned from YouTube/online sources just weren't working. We tried positive reinforcement-only with treats/praise, slip leads, leash corrections, etc. None of those solutions worked and we didn't know where to go next. In our first session with Julie, she taught us why those solutions didn't work for Kuma. He has a very strong drive and a self-serving personality, and we didn't fully realize the extent of it until Julie told us. After working with Kuma for just a short amount of time, she brought out a prong collar for him and showed us why it was the right choice. We saw an *immediate* difference and it was obvious that Kuma needed a clearer form of communication for what behavior was right vs. wrong. It has been over 7 months since our session and we've used the prong collar on all of Kuma's walks. He's an all-star outside now and we could not be more appreciative for Julie's timely and appropriate advice! We understand Kuma so much better now and our time with Julie has a lot to do with that. read more

Sensitive Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We paid for a session because our dog was completely untrained and constantly jumping, humping, and lungeing at us for "fun" and was unmanageable. Plus, he was exhibiting some indications of being stressed. She gave us some great advice about how to calm down his nervous system and communicate to him in a language he can understand. The scent training has really calmed him down! The service is not cheap but it was well worth it for us. read more

We went to Julie for support with our feisty Blue Heeler puppy. It was shocking to see our dog so well-behaved with someone else, so we quickly learned that our habits were causing many of the problems. Julie demonstrated some great corrections and had us practice in front of her. She demystified a lot of the conflicting advice you find on the interwebs and gave us materials to further our learning. Our doggo loved her! The improvements are amazing--less jumping, less nipping, less chewing, and a lot more patience and good listening. I have so much more confidence in my ability to be a good pup parent. read more

Our canine companions are integral members of our family, and I cannot say enough positive things about my multiple experiences with Sensitive Dog. Over the years, our family have worked with both Julie and Darcie, with our three VERY different dogs (a calm Australian Labradoodle, a extremely intense Border Collie/Lab/Aussie mix, and our very chill Great Pyrenees/Siberian Husky), who had completely different training needs. Each session with Sensitive Dog completely exceeded my expectations. And frankly, I'm not that easy to impress. In session, whether in-person or over the phone (we've done both), Julie and Darcie take the time to really get to know you, your dog, and how you interact. Their intake paperwork is incredibly thorough, so you don't waste time during your initial session. Sensitive Dog's strategies and suggestions are shaped by a combination of their vast knowledge of canine behavior, their multiple decades of training, and their evident love and respect for dogs. I have left each interaction with all of my questions answered, paper copies of everything discussed so new behaviors can be easily replicated, and guidance that I didn't know I needed. read more

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Darcie and Julie are the best dog trainers, hands down. Our puppy Zeus, who is a two year old Alaskan Husky, had been to three other trainers before seeing Sensitive Dog. Zeus had many behavior problems that developed quickly after he was adopted. He would counter surf, bite guests, ignore commands (unless food was involved), and resource guard. Zeus had no structure through his earlier training, which guided us to constantly feed Zeus for good behaviors. For a dog like Zeus, it is important to communicate both when he is doing something well and when he is doing something wrong. Darcie told us that Zeus did not want to be a bad boy, he just had not learned the barriers between right and wrong. Throughout our 10 week intensive training program, both Zeus and I learned an immense amount. As Darcie challenged Zeus at each level of his training, she showed me how to communicate with Zeus at a much more meaningful level. Darcie went above and beyond explaining, in detail, any questions I had either during the lesson, or through a text message. Before Sensitive Dog, we were considering having to give Zeus up because we felt lost and hopeless. We could not have guests over and people in our family were scared of getting bit. I can assure you that Zeus is a completely different dog today than we was then. He is great off leash and listens to commands instantly. More importantly, he respects every member in our family and no longer feels the need to protect us from strangers or guard food. Darcie changed Zeus and our family's lives for the better. Each dog's difficulties are unique and different, but Darcie and Julie are experts in their field. We will be forever thankful, Jack read more

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At first I was sure I wanted an in-person session with Sensitive Dog, but that wasn't an option in pandemic times. After watching the Puppyhood video series, I was very glad we'd started there. The videos are simple and clear and short -- which means we can watch them as a family, which means raising our puppy isn't all on me. The tips are easy to practice right away. And easy to watch again later (seeing where we're already slipping up). I obsessively research everything, so I had read a book on raising puppies, but it was too much information at once. In the videos you get to hear the tone of voice Julie uses for correction, watch her body language, see how a pen is set up. I'd also watched hours of more advanced training videos: useful but complicated, too long to review again for a refresher, and way too much for my husband and daughter. The Puppyhood course turned out to be just what we needed. I did have some specific questions (transitioning our pup from potty pads to the back yard, excessive whining if I wasn't around), so we added a phone call. Julie's advice was spot on. Thanks to Sensitive Dog for setting us up for success with our new pup! read more

Our pit-mix rescue dog, Ocho, was somewhat well-behaved prior to our 7-week program with Darcie. He could obey a handful of simple commands, but only indoors and without distraction. His biggest issue was his recall. Multiple times we tried working with him off leash at a nearby field, and he bolted off, not listening to our commands to return. Any dog owner who has experienced this knows how scary (and frustrating) it can be. After meeting with Julie for a consultation (and watching the magic of "nose work" exhaust our dog in less than 15 min), we were convinced that Julie and Darcie understood dogs in a way that some dog trainers simply...don't. The initial price tag of the program had us hemming and hawing, and we almost decided not to move forward because it was "too expensive". Thank GOD we didn't give up, because our lives are completely changed. Ocho is so much happier, more confident, and attentive. You can tell his brain is "on" now, and he's always got one eye/ear towards us to listen to commands. His recall is UNREAL - I can even get him to come to me at the dog park, where he's the most distracted. This program was worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY. We honestly can't recommend Darcie and Julie enough. We understand our dog (and dogs in general) so much more than we ever thought we could. Our relationship with Ocho is stronger than ever, and we've made new friends in the process :) read more

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I was having so many problems with my 5 month old German Shorthaired puppy, Ranger. He absolutely hated going on walks and when I finally got him to walk he was very leash reactive. At some point during the walk he would start biting the leash and then start jumping up at me and would bite me. I even took him to a "positive only "training class and had no success. They wanted me to ignore the behavior and turn my back when he jumped up. Even after their training I could only walk him for 15 mins giving him high value treats to keep him motivated. Desperately, I searched yelp and thankfully I found Sensitive Dog. Initially, I scheduled a FaceTime session with Julie to see if she could help my husband and I. In the two hour conversation, she listened to us and all our questions and really got a feel for what was happening. Julie provided amazing training advice and answered all of our questions. She asked us what our goals were for Ranger and we told her that we wanted to take him hiking and running with us and that it would be a dream to take Ranger to the park and let him play safely off leash. Without any pressure Julie explained the different programs Sensitive Dog offers and if we had any questions to reach out to her. When we got off the phone we immediately started implementing what she told us and we couldn't believe the immediate difference we saw. At that point, we knew Sensitive Dog could help us. We truly had felt helpless with such a high prey drive, rambunctious, puppy. We decided to do the 5 week foundation intensive with Darcie and chose the ecollar for the training. You can choose whatever collar you are comfortable with but we chose the ecollar because of what our goals are for our dog. What you can expect: Darcie is extremely knowledgeable and considers every aspect of your dog as you move through this program. Darcie customizes the training to you, your needs and your dog. She constantly evaluates your dog and provides honest feedback on her observations. If something isn't working she figures it out and makes the adjustment. During our first several sessions she really focused on those foundational behaviors and what motivated Ranger. She then starts incorporating the ecollar ( or whatever collar you choose) which is so great because you really ease into it. I was nervous about the e collar at first because I had only heard bad things about it. I had no idea what exactly it was and how to properly use it. I trusted them and I trusted the process. Darcie is very experienced with the ecollar and really puts you at ease. She's so positive and so gracious as you figure out this new communication method with your dog. Towards the end of the program we had several weeks of a break in training. This is designed to really get the kinks figured out. During this several week period Darcie is available via text/call for any questions. One time I was working on recall with Ranger and failing miserably. I took a video of what was happening and sent it to her. She texted me back with some helpful feedback and corrections to make. This coaching period is absolutely amazing as you encounter things at home you didn't even consider in training. It also really gave me the confidence that I knew what I was doing but just in case she is there for any questions! After the several week break we had our final session with Darcie. We took Ranger to a nearby park and we all watched in amazement as he had a perfect walk in the "heel" position. Once at the park we used one of her dogs as a distraction and a ball to truly test Rangers recall. We let him off leash and every time we called him he would immediately come back to us. Even with another dog and a ball!! Truly unbelievable!!! We struggled at first whether or not we should make this financial commitment. But now we see it as such a great investment. We will be back with puppy#2 sometime next year. We could never have imagined the dog we have today. Sensitive Dog is truly one of a kind. You will not find better. Trust these amazing ladies with your dog and you will not regret it. I promise! read more

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My husband and I did 10 weeks of training with Julie and couldn't be happier with the results for our little Obi! They were very accommodating and worked with our schedules to make sure both of us could attend almost all sessions together. Julie was very helpful and would answer any question we had outside of the training sessions as well as giving us recommendations for great chew toys and treats! Highly recommend. read more

Sensitive Dog - Our little guy a few days after graduating from training! - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We were quite literally ready to give up before we met Julie. We had seen two other dogs trainers and were having no success with medication for our anxious pup. Today, I am feeling so thankful that we hung in there and found Julie. Julie looks at your dog as an individual. For us, she figured out why our dog was acting out and taught us ways to retrain his brain to become less anxious. I can now take my dog on walks (he was previously leash reactive) and am looking forward to weaning him off of his unneeded medication. Don't give up on your pup. Take them to Sensitive Dog and get them figured out! We are so happy we did! read more

Sensitive Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I cannot say enough good things about Darcie and Julie. We have a 2.5 year old husky mix, Koda, that was starting to present mild aggression, territorial behavior, and possessiveness over food, toys, and even us. I found Sensitive Dog on Yelp, and took a chance. On the phone, Julie listened, fielded all of my anxiety-ridden questions, and made me feel like there was a way out. We worked with Darcie on e-collar training for 3-4 months, and we literally have a different dog today. She understood everything Koda was going through, why she was acting the way she was, and how to guide her, and us, to better decisions. She loves dogs more than anyone I've ever met, and truly understands how they tick. Darcie answered every question, thought of every scenario, and best of all, we had a blast doing it. Darcie and Julie are true masters of their craft and we (Koda included) are so grateful for the lessons we learned from them. They not only helped train our dog, they gave us the tools to be better dog owners in the long run. I could not recommend Sensitive Dog enough for people with "tricky" dog issues. They are amazing! read more

Sensitive Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We decided that we were tired of some of our pups' bad behavior but weren't sure if our adult dogs (3.5yr old pit bull and 5yr old minpin/poodle/Eskimo) would truly be able to change. Enter Sensitive Dog. Sensitive Dog is hands down one of the best environments I've had the pleasure of being in. Julie has built a wonderful place to bring your dogs, hopes, and problems. It felt more like a constructive therapy session than dog training. Over the several sessions we spent with her (I'd recommend at a minimum 4 sessions) our boy and girl together learned to CRITICALLY THINK. We found new ways to engage with them and learn how to be better dog parents. I feel so grateful for the tools Julie gave us. She trained US to be the best we can be and gave us the tools to better understand and communicate with our babes. GO SEE HER NOW! read more

My 3 year old Lab/German Shepard mix Aero, while so sweet and easy at home, developed aggressive reactivity toward unknown people around 1 year of age. After lots of research and numerous consultations with various trainers, I was unable to make any headway with Aero and resigned to just keeping her at home at all times and not having visitors over. After some life changes this year (getting divorced and needing to move), I needed to try again with getting control of Aero's aggressive behavior and reached out to Sensitive Dog Training. I worked closely with Darcie, who heads Sensitive's Board and Train program, and she was incredibly patient, knowledgable and accommodating. Neither of us were sure at first that Darcie would be able to help in Aero's case, but she took the time to discuss Aero's background, met with us to see her reactivity in person (where she determined it would be best to start Aero on some anti anxiety medications), and after that initial consultation, agreed to take Aero on in their 3 week Intensive Board and Train program, all the while going above and beyond to accommodate my schedule and my desire to get Aero started asap. Aero was a difficult case. While Darcie determined immediately that Aero's aggressive behavior was in fact incredibly fear-based reactivity, it wasn't until about halfway into the board and train program that Darcie was able to build the trust with Aero that was needed before she could address her behavior. Darcie was incredibly patient, and persistent, and did get through to her in the end. Aero turned a corner around week 2, and Darcie began to make incredible strides with her. By the end of the Board and Train (we ended up extending it by a few days), Aero was going on walks in the park and trips to the pet store, without showing any signs of aggression toward people. Darcie got Aero to a place I was absolutely unable to get her to on my own, and then in the follow up private lessons, gave me the tools and instruction I needed to maintain her progress. Aero and I are doing wonderfully these days, working on increasing her confidence out in the world, and making progress with every outing we take together, and I am so glad that I reached out to Sensitive Dog Training. This hasn't been a small financial investment on my part, but in Aero's case, really worth every last penny. I highly recommend Darcie and look forward to working with her in the future for any and all training needs! read more

Sensitive Dog - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

!!!!HUGE FAN!!!! Amazingly informative, fun, personal and holistic dog manners, nutrition, training in a lovely setting indoors and outside. What a game changer! Our first two and half hour session was what we needed the day we adopted our young adult rescue dog. Julie could have handed us the keys on how to help our high energy little Jojo settled into our home. Sadly, we went to other trainers and struggled for two years with reactivity to bikes, cars, barking and jumping on us and the guests in our home, and very annoying barking at our neighbors' dogs. Now we not only have the tools to work on all this, we have the science behind it. Also, our vet was loading our poor dog with unnecessary drugs. Luckily we changed vets right before visiting Julie and now I can pick and choose what's right for my dog in an informed and proactive manner. This is a bargain compared to the time, energy and money we've spent trying to solve our training issues on our own. I will definitely be following up with more sessions. read more

I cannot recommend Darcie and Julie enough. I don't know why it has taken me so long to write this, but about a year ago today our hound dog got kicked out of play care. I was at my wits end. We had been struggling with him big time ever since adoption day 9 months earlier and we couldn't take him anywhere. Anxiety, aggression, space/resource guarding, jumping, horrible on the leash, and was triggered by certain other dog breeds which made walks almost impossible. We were at the point where I was calling the rescue we got him from asking for options. It needed to change or we needed to find him a new home. Darcie worked with him (and us) so patiently. She trains YOU as well as your dog. She was honest about his behavioral problems, lovingly had hard conversations with us, she worked around the clock to support our training outside of the classroom, she did extensive research for potential meds to continue to help balance our little rescue, came to our home to see and work on the site-specific problems we were facing, and she even kept him overnight to observe the erratic evening behavior we couldn't figure out. Now we have a dog who still obeys leash rules (even almost year post Sensitive dog!), doesn't jump, will wait patiently for his food, will not pick up something we give him without permission, can go on enjoyable walks with us and is an overall love bug. Finn is by no means perfect, but let me tell you with a huge smile, this is NOT the dog we adopted and we couldn't be more thrilled. If you're feeling hopeless, Sensitive Dog is the place to go, the investment is worth it 10x over. read more

Looking for someone to actually listen, actually address your needs, AND actually provide long-term results? Holy cow - these two ladies are the absolute BEST!! We *had* an EXTREMELY aggressive dog who had attacked other dogs numerous times. We had tried EVERYTHING. Multiple other trainers. Been to "bad dog" school (where we were kicked out...'cause we have a bad dog). In desperation, we contacted Sensitive Dog and went through the initial conversation. We balked a bit at the cost at first, but decided it was our last chance effort (before probably having to put our dog down). So glad we did! From the first meeting, Darcy worked to really understand our dog, she asked a ton of relevant questions. And that's when the magic happened... seriously! For the first time, our (extremely smart) dog had to "think" in the presence of another dog, to manage herself, to realize that she was ok without having to attack. It was no longer up to me to keep providing treats to simply distract her - she was capable of changing - and she genuinely did! We now have a dog who happily accompanies us on walks and hikes, who is able to pass another dog on the street without going nuts, and is able to relax and enjoy being out instead of constantly scanning for threats. No, our dog will never be the social-butterfly at the dog park. And yes, it is our job to continue to give her opportunities to practice, and to watch her cues. But she can accompany our family again, and that is priceless. The skill, the training products, the way they think about dogs is totally different from anything we have experienced. We can't thank them enough. Here's the thing: not only do they provide a BALANCED vision of training, they are also NOT "one-trick-trainers." They really do look at your dog as an individual, at your skills as a handler, at the goals, and work to create something that genuinely works. THAT is what sets these two apart. read more

I took my 2 dogs in to see Julie and what she did in 20 mins we truly could not believe it. Our mouths were open and we were just staring at each other in shock. Our almost 5 year old maltipoo refused to walk on leash and in one session we have a dog walker!!!! Julie is so knowledgable and kind. We will be back to work on other behavioral issues but we could not believe in our wildest dreams how much we could get out of just one session. Posey and Dallas just loved Julie and I have already recommended Sensitive Dog to my friends and family. Danica and Stacy read more

Julie is an amazing communicator with both humans and dogs, and therefore a phenomenal dog trainer! She initially asks lots of questions to learn about the dog with the owners and the dog present in the room, and then begins to teach and instruct in a clear, concise and extremely effective way that is simple to implement right away. Today was our second experience bringing our mainly Border Collie "Ziggy" to see her and it was worth every second of our time and every dollar we spent. We highly recommend Julie to everyone we know with a dog because she is just that great!! read more

Julie and Darcie were a godsend for us. I can't imagine what we would have done without their professionalism, sensitivity, and expertise--all of which served our family (including our sweet puppy, Romeo) so well. Darcie is an aggressive dog specialist and was so poised, compassionate, and skillful with our dog, and was able to train his humans (us!) to handle him similarly. At every step of the way, Sensitive Dog was our ally--Julie and Darcie truly went out of their way for us at every step of the process. We cannot recommend them highly enough. read more

I am so happy that we decided to do a 3 week training program with Darcie. Not only is she an amazing dog trainer and has helped both our dogs tremendously with their leash walking, she also has such an obvious love for dogs and is so knowledgable. She was able to recommend some chews that have really helped our dog with some leg issues, and she has great advice on food and really anything else you need to know about the health and well being of your pup! My dogs would cry as we approached their home for each training session because they were so excited to see Darcie! Even though our training is technically over, Darcie has assured us that we can reach out to them whenever if any issues come up. I feel like I have a dog trainer for life in Darcie and I am sure I will be going back to get her help as our puppy continues to mature. Thank you for your help Sensitive Dog! read more

There was once a sensitive pup Who on leash would always act up But he met two nice ladies And learned not to act shady Would we recommend them? YUP! Below is a quick before and after comparison. Dog name redacted to avoid too much puparazzi: Neighborhood walks before Sensitive Dog: Oh crap there's a dog, we better high tail it out of here before [Dog] sees or he'll lose his $&*#^! Neighborhood walks after Sensitive Dog: Oh look a dog. Let's keep walking. No big deal. La la la. Good dog, [Dog]. La la la. Ok, so it's not quite that simple. But it was pretty simple. See, this particular dog thought he needed to get all worked up when he saw another dog. But then he learned -- and we learned! -- that he just doesn't have to! And now we're all working with our newfound knowledge and tools to have much more pleasant dog walks. Super impressed with Julie and Darcie, their ability to adapt during a pandemic and provide guidance and support to help [Dog] be the BESTEST DOG EVER. Thank you!!! read more

Julie and Darcie are truly amazing. They worked with my 2 y/o frenchie who struggled with major leash aggression and was controlling our home. I boarded my pup with them and followed up for private lessons. They really understood how much I care for my dog and provided me with real solutions and expectations for training. It was clear right away during my initial consultation that they knew what they were doing and had experience dealing with dogs with issues similar to mine. I'm glad that I found them and am so grateful for their help. The support and guidance they provide is priceless. read more

We highly recommend Julie and Darcie at Sensitive Dog to prepare your dog for a baby and training around babies/kids. Our dog, Lulu, has a high drive and is very independent. She is an Australian Cattle Dog. We trained with Julie and Darcie to establish good obedience and work through some drivey behaviors like barking and lunging at moving things. When we found out we were having a baby, we signed up for baby prep. It was one of the best decisions we made. We established good boundaries for Lulu and set her up for success when the baby came. We got personalized attention from Julie and Darcie and knew they were in it with us. Much of the training was in home so it was tailored to what we needed in our own environment. They really know dogs and were able to communicate with Lulu and us effectively. Lastly, the training Sensitive Dog provides is balanced. We tried other trainers before and an "all positive" training style didn't work for Lulu. We felt like we were failing at training but really, Lulu needed boundaries and enforcement of those boundaries. We learned how to correct her appropriately and in a way that she understood. Overall, she is a much better dog for it and is living her best doggie life. She's doing great with the baby and is a pleasure to live with. Can't say enough good things about Sensitive Dog. We've sent many of our friends and family over to Julie and Darcie! read more

Sensitive Dog - Lulu and baby relaxing together! - Pet Training Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had taken our cattle dog/chessie mix Riley to another trainer and she had success in some areas, but I quickly realized they weren't taken into account her sensitivity and feelings, as well as not addressing the root of her reactivity. We took her to Julie this week and within the 2.5 hour consultation, we learned SO much about why she reacts the way she does and how she feels in different situations. Since then, we are confident that we can support Riley and work with her in a way that makes sense to her. She had already improved so much within the one session, and each day I work with her she is improving even more! Even more importantly, I feel excited to work with her each day and implement her new training because she is enjoying it and I don't sense ANY anxiety from her about it. We were able to walk by another dog today with minimal reactivity and our walks are becoming such a positive experience. I HIGHLY recommend Julie and firmly believe what we learned from just that one session was worth every penny, and we plan to go back for more. read more

It's been about a year and a half since we took our pup to train with Darci and Julie, and I still get amazed. We were desperate when we took our girl to Sensitive Dog, she thought "come" meant a game of "catch me if you can", there were times she would throw herself on the floor in a full blown tantrum complete with high pitched wails, if she didn't want to do something, it was really embarrassing and hard to deal with, but mostly during typical training exercises, like "down" and such, she would show signs of aggression and growl and make to bite me by putting her mouth on my hand, it scared me. Since being trained by Darci and Julie she is like a different dog, recently she had an ear infection and it just amazed me how she handled it, even though she didn't really like it, she would sit while my husband put an arm around her (impossible before) and I put the drops in, no growling, no resistance, no biting. She is so sweet now, and always, always comes when called. Darcie and Julie at Sensitive Dog really turned her around, from a dog that could have become a frustrating handful, to a loving, spunky, well behaved pup and we are grateful everyday that we made the choice to seek their help, it was well worth it, now the time we have to spend with our girl will not be an exhausting challenge everyday, but a fun adventure we look forward to. read more

Julie came for an in-home visit for my anxious dog. I was extremely happy with the visit . She not only worked on what my dog needed, she was able to explain everything thoroughly, help me out with all the elements that dealt with why my dog was acting in the way he was, and helped me out with homework to practice on our own. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful! Would recommend her to anyone who wants to work with or understand their dog's behavior. read more

Julie came into our home and saved dinner! We love to cook and eat but by not understanding our dogs needs it became very arduous and frustrating. We couldn't get out pup to stay in a constant wait/stay, Stay out of the kitchen and not beg. On top of which we were encountering more aggressive behaviors, and he had a very anxious personality. Julie immediately listened (WHOLE HEARTEDLY), let us get it all off our shoulders and then went to work. Identifying a few things and working to correct them with us. He stayed for the most part in a wait on his bed for 45 minutes! We ate dinner in peace. This training has even translated into other areas and we are looking forward to working with her in the future. Worth every penny. read more

We can't say enough about Julie, so we will focus on the impact to our lives since we had a session with her. Our anxious rescue dog was exhibiting signs of separation anxiety to the point of impacting our lives. We tried everything - and failed. Julie was able to observe our dog and provide us with specific techniques and practical applications that were specific to our dog. The results were amazing, and amazingly quick. Her ability to listen to our concerns first and foremost, assess the situation and then help us with a realistic plan is exactly what we needed to establish a healthy, happy relationship with our new family member - and he's a much more confident, less anxious, happy dog as a result. Thank you, Julie! read more

We adopted an anxious, easily overstimulated border collie mix back in May. Our pup had two failed adoptions prior to us due to his separation anxiety and overall behavior. We sought out Julie very quickly after adopting him for his separation anxiety and within 4 sessions she helped us better understand our dog and communicate clearly with him. With her guidance and the structure she helped us introduce to his life, he's calm being left home and we have the tools to deal with occasionally difficult behaviors. I feel so fortunate that Urban Animal recommended us to Julie and I couldn't recommend her services more highly. If you have a dog with difficult behaviors and the financial means, you owe it to yourself and your pup to check Sensitive Dogs out. read more

Julie's approach to training worked wonders for my leash reactive dog - I was amazed that I noticed a difference during just the first session! She provided great context for why the style of training that she teaches works for dogs, and helped me to understand the modifications that could be made depending on how my dog responded to the training. She was patient, positive and gave me the tools to work with my dog independently after our session. It's clear that she cares deeply about animals and has a passion for this work. Highly recommend. read more

Working with Julie was the best thing I ever did for myself--and my dog. I did 6 private training sessions over a few months and gained so much knowledge, experience and confidence. After this experience, I recommend one-on-one sessions with Julie over any other class setting. My dog needed help with leash reactivity and being overly vocal (not barking, but whining). Not only can we now go on walks without having to cross the street if another dog is coming, but I look at all the other dog walkers out there and think, "Oooh you shouldn't do that..." haha. Julie showed me how to use a training collar (the spikey looking ones) and I wish you couldn't buy one without a lesson first. Because using it the right way is so important and effective! I always thought it was for "bad" or "aggressive" dogs, but really my dog is one of the best trained ones out there on the sidewalks now. Julie also brought fun back into playing with my dog because he doesn't like toys. But she showed me how to play *games* with him and he gets so excited now! I HIGHLY recommend working with Julie. She has a fantastic understanding of dog behavior and does a great job teaching you what we can do as humans to get along with them in a way that benefits us both. She is a wonderful person to work with for behavior training, but also has little tips and tricks for nutrition, household rules, dog-owner relationships, flea control etc. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! read more

What a fabulous experience. We came away from our first session with knowledge of he dog brain and tangible things to work on that were tailored to our dog, our family and our goals. Looking forward to making more progress with our timid (probably previously abused) pup. THANK YOU! read more