When we adopted Zimmy, a 4-year-old Airedale, we expected an acclimation period and basic training work. What we didn't appreciate was how much of a project Zimmy would become. As we soon discovered, she had endured some rough early years -- neglect, instability, life in a doggy daycare instead of a home -- and it showed. Explosive greetings, mouthiness, intolerance to downtime, and frenzied reactions to mailmen, dogs, cats, kids on bikes, Amish buggies, lawn ornaments, and on and on. She was impulsive, mischievous, and fiercely headstrong. Nevertheless we were smitten. "It's a good thing she's cute," we told ourselves, often. But we were in over our heads. After introductory discussions with Karen, we started in-home lessons in February ahead of a board and train program. Karen didn't just work with Zimmy, she worked with us, explaining the *reasoning* behind the techniques, and patiently fielding our questions between sessions. The yes/no marker system, impulse control work, "place" and "crate" commands, recall, emotional regulation -- the pieces started to click. Karen helped us understand what we were actually trying to accomplish. By the time Zimmy was Delaware bound with Karen in May, we were already seeing real, measurable progress. What happened over those next weeks was remarkable. Zimmy got to experience beach towns and boardwalks, picnics and festivals, pet stores and Lowe's, movie nights, a Golden Retriever convention, and a nose-to-nose greeting with a horse. Karen sent daily updates -- written recaps, photos, videos -- making it all feel close to home. We watched Zimmy learn to hold a "down" while shoppers walked past her, sit calmly while strangers greeted her, get a thorough breed-specific grooming, AND eventually coexist in glorious harmony with Karen's spunky feline assistant, Chippy. To his enormous credit, and to our astonishment, Chippy treated Zimmy with the patience of a saint and the authority of a lion. We award Chippy SIX stars. Midway through the stay, Zimmy seemed maybe a little off -- subtler signs than you'd normally flag, but Karen knew Zimmy's medical history and trusted her gut. She reached out, drove Zimmy several hours back to our local vet the next morning to get checked out, then stopped by for an impromptu in-home lesson. Zimmy was *her* dog for that month, and we saw that compassion, dedication, and proactivity firsthand. Zimmy returned home in June still very much the Zimmy we had grown to love, but with a new side that we noticed immediately -- calmer greetings, impulse control, fast post-distraction recovery, and leash manners. That day, we practiced walking Zimmy past our neighbor's dog lunging and barking at the fence, and Zimmy nailed what once seemed impossible. With her outsized presence, Zimmy continues to reintegrate into our home alongside her older brother Cooper, adapting her new mindset to familiar routines and stimuli. She's as energetic as she is clever, a classically stubborn Airedale, and we can envision the work we still have ahead of us. But as each day passes, there are small moments, moments that would seem trivial to anyone who hadn't witnessed Zimmy's old ways, where even without direction from us, she's making good, simple, levelheaded decisions. She's taking afternoon naps in her crate instead of perching in surveillance mode at our front window. She's pausing at open doors and looking to us instead of blindly barging through. When passersby can't help but approach to remark on her cuteness, she welcomes the attention with newfound poise. Karen established that foundation, and with her help navigating the transition home, we have the know-how and assurance to build on it. We're immensely grateful to have Karen as Zimmy's "trainer for life." One of the hardest parts of all this was seeing Zimmy on her homecoming day, nose to the living room window, watching with longing as Karen drove off. We look forward to Karen dropping by if she's in the area, and if we ever need more extensive training or boarding, we'll know right where to go. read more

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Karen is an outstanding dog trainer who listens to your dogs' individual needs and develops a training plan for them. In addition to the training she gives your dogs, she also teaches you how to hold them accountable and continue the structure that they have been taught once your sessions have been completed. She helped me with my 2 large Great Danes when I was at my wits' end with them and I can't thank her enough!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Training with Karen!!! read more

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Karen was great with Bruno and us. From the initial phone call, she spent time answering all my questions about the process. We opted to go with her two-week Board and Train program, and I have no regrets. We had three or four training sessions before the two-week boot camp. During the first training session, Karen personally assessed Bruno to see what she was dealing with and formulated a plan specifically catered to him. She adjusted her training plan along the way to help us get better control at home prior to the boot camp. My kids came to a couple of the training sessions, and she was patient working them as well. Through every step of the process, Karen clearly explained what she was doing, the purpose or the command and why it matters. She provided immediate feedback during training session on how we should adjust to enhance Bruno's learning. During his two-week boot camp, Karen sent daily updates including pictures and videos. In these videos, she included instruction and guidance along with progress so we can continue working with him at home. She was (and still is) willing to answer any and all questions we've had. You can tell she loves her job and the dogs that she trains!!! She treated him like he was her pet in every interaction with him. When Bruno came home, she spent two hours with me showing all of his new skills and working with me to ensure we could continue it at home. And the results! Bruno, a three-year old 120 lb Rottie, went from being a wild, impulsive, out of control, impossible to walk, alpha male, to a much calmer dog that listens better, is controlled, and very much trainable We are about a week of from his boot camp and still working with him to fully master his skills at home, but you can tell he knows the difference now. He has tested his boundaries a few times but is learning that we are the boss (not him). Karen has checked in multiple times, and we have a few more lessons coming up to help us address or refine any areas we are struggling with. I have already recommended Karen to a couple of friends and will continue to do so!! She has provided us with invaluable skills to mold Bruno into part of our family that can easily go places with us (rather than a pet left at home)!! I now have the confidence to walk with him and take him out on a regular leash without fear of "flying". My 11-year-old has been able to hold Bruno's leash during a few walks as well; never thought I'd be comfortable with that. Thank you, Karen!!! read more

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