Spotlight Students!

Laura & Blaze

I adopted Blaze from a rescue near San Diego. He was 3 months old. We had a lot of issues to work on when I sought out training, but our biggest issue was all things related to walking, especially leash reactivity. Many attempts at walking ended with tears of frustration or anxiety because he was barking and lunging at neighbors. Angie changed everything for us and I'm so happy I found her. I knew she was the trainer for us based on her fear free approach and her extensive experience working with rescue pups. Because of working with Angie, Blaze actually likes walks now and his reactivity has greatly improved. I now have the tools and techniques to manage any sort of situation we run into on walks. Several other problematic behaviors have also improved through training, including impulsivity, mouthing, barking at the patio door, etc. Most importantly, Blaze and I communicate better and our relationship has become so much stronger because of our training with Angie. Our quality of life has greatly improved thanks to Angie and I'm so grateful. -Laura​ 

Erik, Murray & Family

We adopted Murray in August 2018 at a rescue in Los Angeles. We let the rescue suggest dogs for us so we couldn't make an impulsive decision, and when they introduced us to Murray, we really liked how gentle he was with the kids and our 14 year old pug, Zoe. Shortly after adopting Murray, we were charged and confronted by a neighborhood dog with a history of aggression. After that incident, Murray exploded any time he saw a strange dog, even from a block away. After one uncomfortable session with a correction-based dog trainer, I decided that a gentler approach would be best for Murray and me. That's when I found Angie. Working with Angie has been amazing. Her first big effect on us was to let us know it would be ok and her calm demeanor was such a great example of how to lead in a way that Murray could follow willingly. Since then, Angie has guided us on steps to take, starting first with a baseline of manners, structure and trust. Angie has also shown us the future, having Murray meet with calm socialized dogs in a safe setting to reintroduce him to other dogs. He's now been on several pack walks and quickly settles in peacefully. We are so grateful to Angie for giving us hope and the tools to help Murray be the amazing dog in public that he is at home. -Erik

Val, Justin, Sparrow & Shadow

We adopted both Sparrow and Shadow from rescues in Minnesota. Sparrow looked so sweet in her kennel and her eyes spoke to us. We love how she is such a sensitive dog, yet is so silly. when we adopted Shadow she was just 9 weeks old with an already BIG personality. We love how she is such a firecracker! When we called Angie we were dealing with Sparrow's leash reactivity and Shadow's lack of confidence outside. These issues made it hard for us to walk them. We learned from Angie that with love and a good working relationship with the dogs, they could make great progress. Angie showed us the importance of appropriate walking equipment and how to reward the girls for baby steps. Sparrow has learned to ignore strangers and other dogs on walks and Shadow has gained enough confidence outside that we were able to correct potty training issues. With Angie's guidance we learned effective ways to manage the girl's problem behaviors and that consistency is the key. -Val & Justin
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Hikari, Eymard & Lilo

We adopted Lilo from a friend when we were looking to bring a dog into our lives. We weren't planning to get a dog like Lilo, but she fell into our laps and we loved her. We really like her quirky and loving personality. Lilo is also a very smart and independent puppy and we were having trouble getting her to listen to us. Angie gave us the clear and concise structure we needed to get her to respond to cues. We worked on recall and Lilo's impulse control problems at home and have been able to help her retain what she's learned. We also took group class with Angie and since graduating, Lilo's overall behavior has really improved. ​-Hikari & Eymard 

Hannah & Nora

I adopted Nora in November, 2017 at the San Diego Humane Society. I wasn't expecting to go home with a dog that day, but I couldn't resist her sweet and innocent eyes! Nora's transition from the shelter to my home was challenging at times because she had a hard time being left home alone. Angie helped me to trust that what she needed most was time to adjust. Angie also gave me training tips that helped make mine and Nora's lives easier during that adjustment period. With time and training Nora has learned to feel comfortable in her new home and she's become extremely loving and cuddly too! ​-Hannah