DISCLOSURE: First, I want to make it clear that this review is based JUST on Ian's ability and not the business. I can not rate the business because I used Ian when he worked for another training company. I have read the reviews here and the negatives seem to be about how the new business is being run and NOT about Ian's ability as a trainer. Hopefully Ian reads the reviews and fixes those parts of the business that are causing negative reviews. MY STORY: We adopted a rescue dog (a 80 lbs. Chow) and gets overly excited and therefore no one else wanted it. When we first got her it was difficult for me and impossible for my wife to walk the dog. Although it was funny to watch the dog pull my wife around the neighborhood, something had to be done. We called a company and Ian came over and spent about 15 minutes talking with us about the dog and about us. He asked us what we wanted to accomplish. He then took the dog on a 10 minute walk by himself. When he came back we all went for a walk and I was amazed we had a new dog. Our dog was walking behind him and was constantly looking at Ian for direction. Ian then let us walk the dog and show us how to hold the leash and to correct the dog. Within a couple more visits our dog was exercising on a treadmill and retrieving beers from the fridge for me (kidding on this one.) I will say you will have to continue to be consistent with the dog. Dogs are very smart and will want to follow a leader, the problem is when we forget to be that leader. Good luck Ian with the business and please fix the issues raised by others so you can continue helping other dogs. read more

Ian gave us some good tools to help train our lab who needed a professional to smooth out some rough edges. We have had 2 sessions and a couple more to go. Immediate results on our most pressing concerns. Even tho we have had 3 dogs prior over many years, he still gave us better training knowledge! Very pet knowledgable. read more

Smart Dogs Training and Lodging - Our latge lab, Harry. - Pet Training Near Me

AWESOME! Take your dog here. Not cheap though, but you get what you pay for. My dogs literally changed behavior after a week with Ian. He also took time to train us which was probably more difficult than our dogs. Hopefully we can keep to the program. read more

Ian is truly a dog whisperer. When we first got our Goldendoodle Gabby she was constantly biting me and my clothes. We were very close to giving her up. Ian came to our home and gave us techniques to eliminate this behavior. In a very short time she had stopped the nipping. We were able to keep our girl and she is now a sweetheart. Ian also taught us how to correct pulling on the leash, sit and stay, and other commands. Ian trains owners with simple, insightful instructions with emphasis on repetition. We highly recommend Smart Dogs for anyone who wants a richer, happier relationship with their dog. read more

Smart Dogs Training and Lodging - Pet Training Near Me

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Phenomenal experience, multiple new commands mastered in a week, would highly recommend.   1. Exceptional Customer Service: received daily pictures and videos of our dog's progress while boarding.  Take home packet documenting training regiment was given.   Ian even came to our house for a follow up session,  and facilitated introductions with relatives. 2. 1v1 Training:   Ian is the real deal.  We'd struggled to introduce our hand-shy dog to family members, even over multiple visits.  But, the first night, we were texted a picture of him snuggling in Ian's lap.  Day 2, Ian had introduced his own dog and they were playing off leash.  Ian started both bike ride and treadmill training 3. Top Notch Facilities: themed kennels featured heated floors and individual tvs.  Indoor and outdoor training spaces, including some training conducted in their own home.   Certainly plan to use again. read more

One of my friends had a great experience with Smart Dogs where her dog was completely transformed so we called them up. My husband and I are currently fostering a dog and wanted him to be perfect when he went to his forever home. Although we leash-trained our dog for the most part, he would pull with me sometimes and I wanted to make sure that was nipped in the bud. Ian worked his magic and now he never pulls at all and makes sure that he's always walking behind or right next to us. Ian also gave us very helpful advice on other things such as teaching him some of the trickier commands that we weren't able to get to yet. I highly recommend them for any dog owner who wants to address any negative behaviors. read more

My sweet girl, Ivy did a 10 day board and train with Smart Dogs! it was by far the best thing I could ever do for her. I knew instantly when I took her for the initial meet and greet that Ian and ivy were going to be great friends. During her stay, Kristie and Ian treated her like one of the family. she was able to play with the pups being boarded, went on field trips , did many pack walks with their family and dogs and received one on one training with Ian several times during the day. Ian worked with her on many commands, not pulling on leash when walking and recall. I received updates and photos/videos everyday! When I picked ivy up, Ian spent a long time with me showing me all the training and helping me reinforce it. I was sent home with worksheets and what to practice. They were very assessable when I had questions and Ian did a home visit 10 days later to check on our progress! I'm so happy I did this. With practice ivy has become my best walking buddy, solid on all commands and her recall is amazing even when there are ducks! If you are thinking of a board and train for your dog check into Smart Dogs! Thank you Ian and Kristie! read more

We could not be happier with Smart Dogs Training. Ian is an exceptional trainer and you can tell he really has a passion for training and an intense love for all the dogs that go through his program. Our bernedoodle, Max, went through the 1 month board and train program and came back a changed dog! No more nipping, jumping, walks on a leash like a dream and overall just a calmer and obedient little pup. We have also boarded him there and our little Max loves socializing with the other pups. We would recommend them 1000x over. They are the best in the area hands down! read more

We had just moved to the area and wanted to spend the day and possibly the night in Downtown Chicago. There was one little problem....our 13 year old, hard of hearing (it might have been half "selective hearing", neurotic, and separation anxiety ridden Border Collie, Reed. We are some of those strange dog owners that think of our pets as children and do not leave them with just anybody. I didn't want her in a crate the entire time or with other strange dogs due to some socialization issues. Being new to the area and not knowing anyone we were going to cancel our plans until I found Smart Dogs! After talking to them numerous times (read very protective mommy)and explaining all of Reed's quirks (she could be a grouchy old lady at times)they were more than happy to have her. Ian and Kristi took her for walks, spoiled her, and put our minds at ease so we could enjoy our time. We used them again and again and Reed was happy as she could be. Kristi even made her homemade puppy cookies! read more

I called Smart Dogs on the recco of a friend. Kristie and Ian were helpful in helping me identify my particular puppy training needs and I look forward to engaging them farther down the line in my puppy's progression. Keep the lines of communication clear and take your time in assessing your goals for your puppy. From the example I saw of Ian's intuition with animals, I can see why they were recommended so highly. Smart dogs seems more than happy to work WITH you to ensure you are getting the kind of training you need. read more

Ian came over to my apartment this weekend and transformed my leash-pulling dog into a pleasure to walk. I had tried all the special no-pull collars, and taken a group dog-training class, but this is the first thing that really worked. After Ian took my dog out for a short walk, he showed me how to correct and a few training exercises. It's amazing the difference one hour made! I used a YouSwoop for the first training session, but I will be coming back for the rest of a 4-pack. It's a little expensive, but remember, your dog's training will last their entire lifetime! Ian was really great about understanding the entire environment and gave me some suggestions to improve my relationship with Elwood as a whole. He's been responding a lot better to visitors at the door thanks to the correction method Ian taught me. Highly recommended! read more

I saw the Smart Dogs ad and coupon in a flyer and decided to call. We adopted a 3lb Chihuahua mix and needed her potty trained and adjusted to walking on a leash. Got an appointment in a few days for a time that worked for us after work (left message and the call was returned promptly, please do not let the old phone reviews deter you, the issue with that is fixed) and Ian came over to meet with us. He explained the best way to potty train is crate training and keeping her with us (on a leash) when we are home so her freedom is limited. He also went outside with us to show us different ways to help her enjoy walking on a leash. It was a great hour of so much information. We agreed to meet again in two weeks. We purchased a ten visit package as we have three dogs and can use the time for any of them for anything we'd like from the potty training, to barking and even fun things like tricks. I love the flexibility. Ad for us it's a very good investment. I read a lot online about training but I prefer an in person visit at home. The first night she got in her little crate and when she got up we fed her and took her out. It was the first time she went outside for us (using potty pads prior). Very exciting!! She only had one accident in her crate during the day and has learned going outside is what she needs to do and she gets rewarded. We will continue this for awhile and then slowly increase her freedom on a weekend to see how she does. This was amazing progress. We were very pleased. We are now going to work on unnecessary barking with one of our other dogs along with different commands for both of these two new rescues. Ian is professional, knowledgeable, great with dogs, a pleasure to work with. Please give Smart Dogs a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

OMG! I would highly recommend Smart Dogs T/L!!! Ian is truly a "dog whisperer"..he is so great with my labradoodle puppy. Indie has learned to sit and stay, walk with manners :-), and walk on the treadmill! And the best thing was... I saw results and improvements the very day he came to train her. This was well worth the time and money!!!! Thanks SDTL!!! read more

Ian is an absolutely amazing trainer!!!! Our dog Bitsy is about 2.5 years old, we got her during COVID last year and didn't get to bring her around many dogs or people and this year when we decided to, she was aggressive and standoffish, in addition to her social issues with dogs, she also was very aggressive with those who came to the door, people in drive thru windows, etc. we couldn't get her to sit and stay. But after just 3 sessions she is like a completely different dog!!! I am in such disbelief how amazing she is doing and so is our family and friends. We take her on walks and she no longer pulls, she looks to us for direction, and that was all after one session. She now interacts with other dogs with very little to no issues and we have learned how to correct if needed if there are any issues and usually we only have to correct once and she is friendly with people who come over. If you are looking for dog training, call Smart Dogs Training, you will be so happy with the results! read more

We called smart dog inquiring about training our cattle dog. At first we were sticker shocked at the cost. We decided to give them a try. When Ian arrived at our house it was like we knew him our entire lives. Within a few minutes of Ian meeting our dog I could see the value. He is the dog whisperer. Extremely professional with almost instant results. Not only does he teach the dog, he also works with the owners. Though pricey you definitely get what you pay for. This training was well worth it. read more

The best trainers ever!! Our 11 months old puppy spent 12 days in their house and came back to us with new spirits, skills, and manners. He just got back there again a week ago for 6 more days to learn to be a therapy dog. He's a good puppy to begin with but now he's so great that we are so proud of him. We are so grateful that Kristy and Ian take care our puppy Rupert with so much love. Rupert doesn't pull anymore when we walk, also he would sit still and stay until I say ok. He would sit and wait for his bowl of food until I put it down on his table and say ok. And if we say no, Rupert knows that we really mean no. We enjoy walking and bike ride now. Tired dog is a good dog, he is more calm now and no more of that figure 8 running in the house. We would recommend smart dogs training and lodging to everyone, they are the best and know what they are talking about! And they really treat the dogs like they were their own, so much care and love. We will definitely bring Rupert to them again to get his doctorate degree, he has his bachelor and master now :) read more

Beware of the unnecessary up sell with these folks. We were duped into an expensive package of lessons (after refusing a $5,000 boarding option) when we were trying to train our crazy golden puppy. They acted as though our four month old was horribly disobedient and we were in for big trouble with him. Turns out the trainer's answer to every problem was to walk around with the dog in a prong collar and yank on the prong collar when he was out of line. Didn't matter if he was chewing furniture, stealing socks, eating poop, the answer was always the same--take a walk and yank on the collar. We used only half of the lessons we bought and the dog grew out of his crazy puppy stage in a couple months. (Treats and clickers are what actually worked.) I'm so upset I fell for this businesses up selling tactics. Preying on exasperated new dog owners seems to be their thing. UPDATE: Soon after posting this review I got a call from the owner Kristi offering to refund my full payment. This was an unexpected surprise as their no refunds policy was very clear when I hired Smart Dogs. I very much appreciate that Kristi opted for a satisfaction guarantee in our case and hope it becomes a new standard practice for this business. read more

I have used a couple YouSwoop offers for Smart Dogs over the past few months. Before I had Ian over, taking my basset hound out for a walk was a real pain. He would just follow his nose with no regard for where I was trying to take him (the dog, not Ian). I could be a little more diligent in my training, but now my dog walks almost perfectly on a leash. No more tugging or pulling, although he can't help but follow his nose sometimes. They are very detailed in their explanations, and a big part of what they do is training you so you know what to do when they're gone. Your dog isn't going to learn everything overnight, so you need to know how to change their behavior using consistent methods over time. Definitely worth the money we've spent. They are good at what they do, they are very friendly, and they come to your house or apartment for each appointment. read more

They are amazing and worth every penny! We only had 1 of our 3 sessions, and my dog is so well behaved now! He stopped jumping on all of my guests. My neighbors are amazed at how great he walks next to me. He is no longer pulling me. I HIGHLY recommend Smart Dogs Training and Lodging! read more

Ian & Kristy are the best. I had my 21/2 year old beagle/Aussie mix Jasper with them for 12 days of board & train. I had worked with Ian & Kristy when Jasper was a pup but was in need of some major help. Jasper, had become a very fearful dog. His fears caused him to be aggressive on the leash towards other dogs and people. I could not let anyone in the house with the dog off the leash because he would bark and charge at them. Jasper, is like a new dog. He listens, sits, stays heals and when the doorbell rings will sit and wait and not bark like a crazy dog. Kristy & Ian taught Jasper that he is no longer in charge. Kristy explained that it does take a dog about 30 days to really learn a new behavior. We are all working to keep him on track. My husband and children are all amazed at how well behaved the dog is. I just want to say how nice it was to have Jasper in a home environment for his training. I had visited some other board & train facilities closer to my home. Many of them just keep the dogs in kennels or doggie day care all day and work with the dog for one hour a day. Kristy & Ian had Jasper in their home and worked with him throughout the day. When I picked Jasper up they had Jasper and 3 other dogs, that's it. This is not a pack in as many dogs as you can kind of place. For 2 years I have not wanted to go away because I did not want to put my fearful dog in a traditional kennel. Now I know that I have a wonderful place for Jasper to go anytime I need it. Kristy & Ian are two of the nicest people who really care about the dogs they are caring for. I would highly recommend them to anyone. Mary W Northbrook, IL. read more

Kristy, the owner, cares so much about dogs and is amazingly knowledgeable. If you want a great relationship with your dog, this is the place to go! They really go the extra mile for their clients! read more

Adopted a puppy from a shelter. He was a really sweet puppy but had no discipline (jumping, nipping), which unfortunately led to the little ones not wanting to be around him. Smart Dogs came out and after just three lessons, he's like a new dog. So glad we made the call! read more

I contacted Kristy and Ian back in January to learn more about their in home boarding program as I was planning a vacation and this was the first time I would be leaving my dogs with someone other than family. After speaking with Kristy I felt very relieved that I had found their service and that my dogs could also receive training while I was away. The fact that the dogs are kept in their home put my mind at ease that they would be well taken care of on my trip in Aug. I also purchased a package of their in home training sessions and Ian has been working with me and my two dogs (ages 7 and 9) on walking on a lead without any pulling. I wish I would have found them years ago as I have been dragged around the local trails since they were puppies. In just that first visit Ian was able to break the pulling habit and it continues. Since then we have also been working on the sit/stay command and with added practice I have been seeing big improvements. Plus Ian provided you with all kinds of extra tips/tricks based on what behaviors your trying to correct or enhance in your dogs - so it's very much customized to your needs and lifestyle. When my vacation time finally arrived I dropped the dogs off at Kristy and Ian's beautiful home. Ian immediately takes them for a nice walk and first introduces them to the large yard they have. He said after they get familiar with the yard he introduces them into the home. During my trip I got a voice mail from Ian letting me know how the dogs were doing and that things were going great. Which let me go back to focusing on enjoying my vacation. When I arrived to pick the dogs up they had just come back from a jog with Kristy and were both wearing customized bandanna's with their names on them which was a nice touch. Both dogs were in great spirits and really seemed to love Ian and Kristy while I was away. I simply can not say enough about how lucky I was to find them and how wonderful they are both to work with. If you are looking for qualified trainers in our area, or are in need of somewhere comfortable and safe to watch your dogs while you are away - I highly recommend giving them a call. Thanks again Kristy and Ian!!! read more

Kristy and Ian, Thank you, thank you, thank you! When we brought Sophie and Rex to you for a Lodge and Learn we were really desperate. Our dogs behavior was causing so much stress in our household! I could not believe they were the same dogs when we picked them up. Your expertise in modifying dog behavior truly is amazing and we are forever thankful to both of you for all the hard work you put into Sophie and Rex. We have implemented the things that you taught them (and us) into our daily routine and they are changed dogs. A neighbor was over the other day and commented on how well behaved they were - that's a first! Thanks Smart Dog! Susan and Mike Coulson read more

Before my husband and I even committed to bringing home a puppy, we committed that we would find the best training program to make sure we'd not only have a "cute" puppy, but a great dog. I set up a meeting with Kristy and Ian and within 5 minutes, I knew Smart Dogs was going to be the right place for Brady! We signed up right then for the 25 day Lodge and Learn program. While I was speaking with them, they had a young, yellow lab puppy (same as our puppy) and he was sitting in his crate, quietly - right in front of us, VERY well behaved! We dropped our 9-week old yellow lab puppy off with Kristy and Ian almost immediately after picking him up from the breeder. It was one of the hardest things in the world to do, but I knew it was the best thing for us, and most of all, for Brady. While we were chatting, Brady fell asleep Ian's chest, and I knew he was in good hands. At our first visit (Brady was 11 weeks) he already had so much self-control. He could sit, lay down, stay, and even stay on command when food was put down until he was "invited" to eat. It was amazing, and was even more reassurance that Smart Dogs was the real deal! We brought Brady home right before Christmas (Dec. 22) and he is the sweetest, most well behaved puppy! He rings a bell when he needs to go outside, he sits and stays in his "place" when someone knocks at the door, and sleeps through the night in his crate without whining. He hasn't chewed on anything but his toys, and hasn't had any accidents in the house! He even listens to my 10 year old when he gives him commands. If you think a new puppy is too young for training, they are definitely not! It's the BEST time for training and I look forward to working with Kristy and Ian at Smart Dogs as our puppy grows and needs refreshers. Thanks to Smart Dogs for giving us a calm, and peaceful household with a new puppy, the best Christmas gift ever! :) read more

Smart Dogs was the best investment I have ever made in my pets. Ian walked and almost immediately had my 200lbs English Mastiff "puppy," walking at my side without pulling. My 6 year old daughter can now walk him and Opus isn't a risk to her or any passerby's. In the same session he was able to get my 10 year old dog who I believed was unwalkable or trainable walking alongside me as well. I can now walk 350lbs worth of dogs with their leashes in my left hand and a coffee in my right while people, other dogs, and squirrels have no effect on their behavior. It's amazing and I feel it has improved the life of my dogs greatly. Needless to say I have had Ian back several times, always working on new skill set. Nipping, doorbell and coming home temperament, stay, etc... I have 3 more sessions scheduled and I couldn't be happier with the trainers or the results. If you have ANY issues with you dog; young or old... I highly recommend you give Smart Dogs a try. read more

We were so excited when we added our 10 week goldendoodle puppy to our family. After about 2 weeks, I knew we were in need of help. Charli had taken over the house as the alpha dog. She was terrorizing our older dog, nipping at my 6 year old daughter & peeing all over our house. Thank goodness I found Kristy & Ian. Kristy came out & assessed Charli & our family made the decision for Smart Dogs to complete a 10 day lodge & learn for Charli. It was the best decision we made for our family & Charli. Charli is now more disciplined, rings a bell when she has to go out, walks beside me when we go for walks/runs, sits & stays on command. We are so thrilled that Charli is now a well disciplined puppy. Kristy & Ian are miracle workers. I can t say enough good things about them. I would and am recommending them to anyone who has a puppy/dog in need of manners, potty training, etc. It is worth every penny you invest in your family. Thanks Kristy & Ian! read more

We recently finished 15 days of "Lodge and Learn" at Smart Dogs. We are first time dog owners and needed some help with our 10 week old Ozark Mountain Dog, Yogi. He was nipping and biting, chewing on my rugs, the kitchen table, etc. He wouldn't walk on his leash, wouldn't come when we called him, and would not sleep in his crate and would have accidents in the crate. On his first night home he walked on his leash through our entire neighborhood with out any problems at all AND he slept in his crate ALL night long with out ANY accidents!!! Since he has been home he has not chewed on anything but his toys. He is a much calmer dog. I can't say enough nice things about Kristy and Ian. I was apprehensive about leaving our new puppy to strangers. But once I met Kristy and Ian I knew he was in good hands. They are wonderful and really know what they are doing. They make you feel at ease right away. They were very good about communicating with us on Yogi's progress. They even sent us pictures of him training. You can tell that Kristy and Ian love what they do and that they truly love each of the dogs they are training. I wouldn't trust Yogi with anyone else!! You will be very happy with Smart Dogs training!!! Thank you, Kristy and Ian!!! read more

Kristy and Ian worked wonders on our little man, Blake. We brought Blake home to our other furry baby, Bella who is 7. They were not getting along at all. Bella was agitated by Blake's "puppy" behavior and Blake was ill mannered. Blake spent 5 days at Kristy and Ian's home. We CANNOT believe the amazing change in him! Blake has settled down considerably. He listens to commands, he does not bother Bella like he used to, he FINALLY sleeps through the night...but most importantly, Blake's screaming and howling when we are not in the room with him has stopped. We are absolutely amazed at the work Kristy and Ian have done with Blake! We went from frustrated puppy parents to happy puppy parents. I will recommend Smart Dogs Training to anyone who will listen! read more

What a difference Smart Dogs has made in the behavior of our dog, Zoey! Seriously, after only one lesson our daily walk changed from a nerve wracking, dismal obligation to a relaxing, fun activity. I know it sounds impossible, but one lesson is all it took. We were so impressed that we are now addressing other behaviors. Ian is showing my husband and me how to train Zoey to be a happy and well behaved part of our family. And Zoey is much calmer now that she understands what is expected of her. I really sense that she is relieved to know that she is no longer the "boss" of the house. I am so happy that we came across the ad for Smart Dogs. Their knowledge is amazing and their training techniques make sense. I highly recommend Smart Dogs. You will not be disappointed. read more

Smart Dogs customer service and training is amazing!! We had our 8-month old Rottweiler (Max) for 2 days when we called Smart Dogs for help with crying at night and following commands such as sit, stay, come, etc. After one training session, Max was following commands. We sent him away for the two-week training camp at their facility and were astounded at the results they provided. Max was a new dog! They taught us how to keep up with the training they provided. They did in-home follow ups. They are ALWAYS there if we need them. Their service is outstanding and the cost is worth service they provide. We will not hesitate to use them again. Justinn and Christine read more

Kristy and Ian have truly given our family the best gift: a well behaved dog! Lucy stayed in their beautiful home for a week. They sent us pictures and updates almost daily. It meant so much to know that our dog wasn't only learning, but also getting so much love from Kristy and Ian. Lucy had some major anxiety and "puppy" tendencies and we had tried EVERYTHING! We actually came to the point of we either need to get rid of her or try Smartdogs. We are so happy we chose the latter! She's been home all evening and seems so calm now! We can't thank these amazing people enough!! You can tell this is a true passion for both of them! I would highly recommend them! read more

I have a female boxer that pulls me down the street and is just awful on the leash. With spring in the air I decided to finally call in a professional to help me control my dog. I did an internet search and based on some good reviews I called Smart Dog in Plainfield. What a mistake. Some lady answered the phone and before I could even tell her what I needed help with, she immediately told me I needed a lodge and learn program that would cost over $2000. When I told her I just wanted someone to come over and teach me and my boxer to walk on leash without pulling. she tried to make me feel guilty that I didn't want to send her away for 15 days and spend a fortune so I could simply walk my dog. When she saw I wouldn't buy into that idea she next suggested I try one lesson for $250. Yikes! Even if I was willing to spend that kind of money for one visit, I figured that if I let them in my home I'd get more high pressure selling than training. I said no and ended the call. In fairness I don't know if they're any good or not. That's why I gave them two stars rather than one. But my first impression (which generally serves me well) is that this was a person who should be selling used cars instead of training dogs. I was not impressed. read more

Sorry to say, these people do not return phone calls. After advertising in Clipper all the time, they must not need/want new clients. Don't bother wasting your time. It's so surprising to me that a business doesn't contact a new potential client. read more

We do not recommend this company at all. We bought a 6 session package and were happy with the services after the first 2 sessions but when we called to set up our next session numerous times, no one would call us back. Every phone call goes right to a voicemail claiming they are working with the dogs. We have been waiting 6 weeks for a phone call. We are very disappointed! read more

While I was in chicago,I inherited a 6 year old very large German shepard(100 pounds) who had seemed to be a mild mannered dog and well trained. He may have had obedience training in the past but he had been allowed to do what he wanted for a long time including taking me for a walk. He pulled on the leash so much and I was no match for his strength. and determination. I thought I knew how to work with a dog but, after one month, I was exhausted. I heard about Smart Dogs from a friend who had seen an ad. Within one session, Kristy (who is much smaller than I am) taught me how to handle Benson and teach him to follow my lead as opposed to me following his. It has made a tremendous difference in my ability to care for and enjoy this lovely dog. I cannot thank Kristy enough for her guidance and encouragement. read more

We love our rescue dog Lucy so much, but she was having a really difficult time adjusting to our house and her behavior was so inconsistent. She was cuddly and sweet, but then wouldn't ever listen to anything we said. She was friendly to us, but would jump and bark at guests as soon as they walked in. We were told she could never be crated because she was older, so we never did and it resulted in her completing freaking out when we got home--barking, crying, jumping, and running around like crazy. We realized early she had some serious anxiety issues as well as fear and had no idea what we could do. To say the least, we were stressed out and thought maybe we weren't able to meet her needs, but couldn't imagine the thought of giving her back. A friend referred us to Kristy and Ian and I have never met such compassionate and caring people ever in terms of our welfare as well as Lucy's. Lucy is a work in progress, but knowing that Kristy and Ian are there to ask questions and to share successes makes you feel like you have a support team on your side. We signed her up for the Lodge & Learn program. She's been back for two weeks and is so much better. She is comfortable, she listens, and she is crate trained! She is amazing on walks, never pulling. When people come over she is calm, most of the time not even barking when the doorbell rings. Our life is so much easier now. She is happier and less nervous knowing that we are in charge and each day we see improvement. The skills that Kristy & Ian taught all of us has made Lucy's transition into her forever home so much better because we know why she acts the way she does and how to react appropriately. Most importantly, we now set expectations of her behavior to create an environment where she always knows what she is supposed to do in situations that are new. I can't imagine not seeking out SmartDogs. I know anywhere else wouldn't have worked for her needs. They are so attentive and caring. They want to see success as much as you do! I feel like we've met people we'll always be in touch with, they are so amazing! read more

We are so thankful for Ian and Kristy! It is so relieving to know that our dog is treated as part of their family when we are away. We recently did the lodge and learn while we were out of town. They worked on her separation anxiety and leash walking. When we picked her up, it was amazing! It is a great experience to go on walks now, and she also learned to run on the treadmill and alongside a bike. Ian and Kristy are the best and I highly recommend to anyone in need of a dogsitter or trainer. Thank you Ian and Kristy! read more

Kristy and Ian did a fantastic job with my dog. She was displaying aggression toward other dogs and toward strangers at the front door. So, I sent her to the Smart Dogs "Lodge n' Learn" for a few weeks. There, she learned to control her aggression and about her place in the pack with humans. More importantly, Kristy and Ian took the time to work with me so that I understood the training and what we needed to work on ourselves. It has been over a month since I got my new dog home and I have seen dramatic improvement in her behavior. Thanks Kristy and Ian! read more

When I met Sadie, an adorable Black Lab and Rottweiler mix, she was about 16 months old. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Smart Dogs for any situation you and your dog might be facing. These folks truly love what they do and the families they work with. They are interested in giving you the best life with your dog and as long as I'm a dog parent, I will be a loyal client to them. Despite the fact that I use a power wheelchair full time and have Cerebral Palsy, I felt an immediate connection to Sadie and that I could handle her 70lbs of young, curious energy. Sadie and I settled into our life together over the next few months but she had her definite issues. She was consistently jumping on and barking at people who came to the door, and while she was not really aggressive she can look intimidating and knows it! She also liked to play bite, never hurting anyone, but it wasn't ideal. Walking her on a leash was a workout for me, even with the help of the power chair. Sadie could not heel on a leash and planted her nose in the ground from the moment we began, tracking the whole time. It was beyond the curious nature of a dog; she couldn't be distracted away from the scents and seemed almost possessed to follow them. Dragging a dog back home when I couldn't get her to listen wasn't exactly what I'd hoped for. It wasn't until we returned to Illinois for an extended stay in the fall that I realized that Sadie's behavior could put her in danger. My family's home has a large yard, perfect for a dog that spends most of her time on a leash. The only problem was that Sadie wouldn't respond to her name or come when she was called once she began tracking something. She ran across the road and through wooded areas, and because of the wheelchair I was unable to catch up with her or keep her in my sights. It was a scary moment. Shortly after the incident I began looking for board and train programs in the area and came across Smart Dogs. I knew that Sadie was no dummy, but that she could be stubborn and independent. She needed trainers who not only cared about her as a happy dog but could give her the structure and basic skills to thrive. Kristi and Ian turned out to be the perfect match for Sadie (and I). Within a few days of our first phone conversation, Smart Dogs took Sadie on for 2 weeks of board and train. When Sadie 'graduated' and came home the day before Thanksgiving, I was greeted by a different dog. To my amazement, Sadie looked at me when I spoke and she listened to me. She sat. She stayed. She lay down. And walking her no longer felt like a marathon! The happiest moment for me was on our first walk afterwards when I watched her look around at the birds and was clearly relaxed. During her time with the Kristi and Ian, Sadie learned how to run on a treadmill and next to a bicycle in addition to her basic manners. These skills seem to have translated well for her to learn how to best adapt to the movements of my chair when we are out and about. Sadie still needs me to guide her in some cases but I trust her behavior enough to take her on her first airplane flight a couple of weeks back....something I could not have done pre Smart Dogs. She was an excellent passenger who diligently listened to me the whole flight. She sat or lay politely while people of all ages asked to pet her in the terminal. Even with all those strangers, she never barked or jumped and I was able to keep slack in the leash. Without the things that this experience taught both Sadie and I, I'm not sure I could have handled her long term. Even though we are back in Texas these days, Kristi and Ian are always a phone call away, ready and willing to give me advice as we conquer new scenarios together. My life will never be easy, and that's ok with me most of the time. I anticipated that having a dog would change my routine, but I had no idea how life changing sharing my life with Sadie would be. Ian and Kristi never questioned my desire or ability to care for Sadie and gave me the confidence I needed to be a good owner. We are probably the happiest pair you'd every meet...two kindred spirits I'm sure were meant for each other....but none of this bliss would've been possible without Smart Dogs. Go as quickly as you can to them...you and your dog will be so happy you did! read more