Dogs: 2 yr old, female boxer/pitt mix - 19mo old female, pitt dalmation
Client's concerns: Pitt/dal mix is chasing cats & jumping on mom, boxer/pitt is destructive
Client's concerns: Pitt/dal mix is chasing cats & jumping on mom, boxer/pitt is destructive
"I'd like to recommend Megan Brubaker. We had a dog and didn't know much about dogs so we rescued a second dog. Both dogs were past puppyhood and had not been socialized. She taught us to train and to understand our dogs with a minimum of heartache and no fear of failure. The dogs loved to learn!
Adopt a Rescue Dog!
Adopt a Rescue Dog!
-- Kat"
Dog: 2 yr old, female Boston Terrier
Client's concerns: Nips at "Mom's" ankles, doesn't listen, jumps up on guests at the front door, pulls on leash, bolts out of doors.
"Meg helped us retrain our dog after we had developed some poor habits that led to behaviors which were incredibly frustrating, and added to the chaos of a busy, active family. Having the training in our own home was ideal as we recreated situations of particular concern, and we were really able to focus in on our areas of greatest need. I'm happy to say that we not only retrained our pup (and ourselves), but we also re-established a better relationship with her and are now a much more harmonious human/dog family!
-- Renee"
Dog: 2 yr old, female mutt (lab/pointer?)
Client's concerns: Reactive to any moving stimuli.
Letter of recommendation for Meg Brubaker
We have always had 2 dogs so when our beloved India passed away, we adopted another rescue dog from the Summit County Animal Shelter. Patsy, a dog of undetermined breed, came into our home and immediately bonded with us, and with Sasha, who had been India’s “sister”.
Although Patsy was very comfortable in our house, and became a playful friend with Sasha, she was very uncomfortable with anything that moved past our house. She would bark uncontrollably at dogs being walked along the street, at noisy trucks, and particularly at bicycles. We couldn’t take her on hikes because she became so out of control if she encountered another dog. It became obvious to us that we had no idea how to modify these behaviors, and we knew we had to do something about Patsy’s behavior. A knowledgeable friend recommended that we get in touch with Meg Brubaker.
We did so and decided to embark on the training schedule that she outlined. She said that we could not expect overnight results, and that the process would take a number of months. We have now been working with Meg for 6 months, and it has been time very well spent. With Meg’s easy nature and a very understandable approach, Patsy has conquered many of her undesirable and bothersome behaviors – she no longer barks at noisy trucks, sirens and other insults to her senses. She is seldom bothered by passing bicycles, and she is slowly becoming more comfortable with unknown dogs.
Meg has accomplished this with an obvious love for dogs and an understanding of how to train them effectively and compassionately. Although she certainly is training Patsy, it is important to say that she is also training Deborah and me.
We have learned a great deal about how we should behave, and this, in turn, has helped Patsy make the strides she has.
We do not hesitate to recommend Meg to anyone who looking for someone to help them with a canine member of their household in need of some compassionate behavior modification.
-- Charlie Campbell & Deborah Adams
Client's concerns: Reactive to any moving stimuli.
Letter of recommendation for Meg Brubaker
We have always had 2 dogs so when our beloved India passed away, we adopted another rescue dog from the Summit County Animal Shelter. Patsy, a dog of undetermined breed, came into our home and immediately bonded with us, and with Sasha, who had been India’s “sister”.
Although Patsy was very comfortable in our house, and became a playful friend with Sasha, she was very uncomfortable with anything that moved past our house. She would bark uncontrollably at dogs being walked along the street, at noisy trucks, and particularly at bicycles. We couldn’t take her on hikes because she became so out of control if she encountered another dog. It became obvious to us that we had no idea how to modify these behaviors, and we knew we had to do something about Patsy’s behavior. A knowledgeable friend recommended that we get in touch with Meg Brubaker.
We did so and decided to embark on the training schedule that she outlined. She said that we could not expect overnight results, and that the process would take a number of months. We have now been working with Meg for 6 months, and it has been time very well spent. With Meg’s easy nature and a very understandable approach, Patsy has conquered many of her undesirable and bothersome behaviors – she no longer barks at noisy trucks, sirens and other insults to her senses. She is seldom bothered by passing bicycles, and she is slowly becoming more comfortable with unknown dogs.
Meg has accomplished this with an obvious love for dogs and an understanding of how to train them effectively and compassionately. Although she certainly is training Patsy, it is important to say that she is also training Deborah and me.
We have learned a great deal about how we should behave, and this, in turn, has helped Patsy make the strides she has.
We do not hesitate to recommend Meg to anyone who looking for someone to help them with a canine member of their household in need of some compassionate behavior modification.
-- Charlie Campbell & Deborah Adams
Dog: male basset hound mix
Client's concerns: Dog wants to eat cat
Client's concerns: Dog wants to eat cat
Why we recommend Meg Brubaker
We were stuck. We had a brought a new kitten into the family, and after 6 months our dog Ringo still looked like he wanted to eat him. Even with Ringo on the leash, we had to restrain him at a distance with him pulling as hard as he could to try and get to Nemo. We were scared and on edge, and often resorted to scolding Ringo to correct his eager LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS TO KILL behavior. We were at our wits end, ready for help. Finally I got a recommendation from All Breed Rescue & Training to call Meg Brubaker, an animal and "people" behaviorist. After assessing the situation, Meg’s calm and reassuring observation gave me renewed hope that one big happy family was possible.
We were stuck. We had a brought a new kitten into the family, and after 6 months our dog Ringo still looked like he wanted to eat him. Even with Ringo on the leash, we had to restrain him at a distance with him pulling as hard as he could to try and get to Nemo. We were scared and on edge, and often resorted to scolding Ringo to correct his eager LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS TO KILL behavior. We were at our wits end, ready for help. Finally I got a recommendation from All Breed Rescue & Training to call Meg Brubaker, an animal and "people" behaviorist. After assessing the situation, Meg’s calm and reassuring observation gave me renewed hope that one big happy family was possible.
Meg’s approach is simple and solid, refreshing compared to the punitive methods that are out there. Even though simple, her method is effective, and can be universally applied to all living species.
The first task was to change the way we thought, in order to improve the relationship between people, dog, and cat. That took some adjustment on our part, but as we continued to improve our method, the situation quickly got better.
After about 6 training sessions with Meg, and a ton of treats, Ringo and Nemo touched noses. Since then, Nemo and Ringo want more and more contact, and we are at the point where they can sleep within inches of each other peacefully. Ringo is still on the leash, but most of the time I am not holding the leash. I would say this is miraculous, but no, miraculous is an unusual event, highly impossible. This event is totally possible because the training is effective, positive, and instructive. I am very glad we found Meg. Her “all species” behaviorist philosophy has helped us take a step forward! Give her a call, you’ll be glad you did!
-- Zandra and family
The first task was to change the way we thought, in order to improve the relationship between people, dog, and cat. That took some adjustment on our part, but as we continued to improve our method, the situation quickly got better.
After about 6 training sessions with Meg, and a ton of treats, Ringo and Nemo touched noses. Since then, Nemo and Ringo want more and more contact, and we are at the point where they can sleep within inches of each other peacefully. Ringo is still on the leash, but most of the time I am not holding the leash. I would say this is miraculous, but no, miraculous is an unusual event, highly impossible. This event is totally possible because the training is effective, positive, and instructive. I am very glad we found Meg. Her “all species” behaviorist philosophy has helped us take a step forward! Give her a call, you’ll be glad you did!
-- Zandra and family
Dog: 3 yr old, male lab
Client's concerns: Over reactive to dogs and humans, in and out of the house. Jumping up, humping, and trying to control.
Client's concerns: Over reactive to dogs and humans, in and out of the house. Jumping up, humping, and trying to control.
To Whom This May Concern,
I would like to recommend Megan Brubaker as an an excellent trainer, both with animals and their pet owners. My family and I have been working with Meg for three months, specifically for some behavioral issues we have been experiencing with our 3-year-old labrador retriever. Meg has not only worked extensively with our lab, Harper, but she has given us tremendous support and training as owners.
My husband and I were referred to Meg through a local dog training organization, All Breed Rescue and Training. We have been very pleased with both Meg's expertise, as well as her flexibility with scheduling and coordinating the training. Harper has shown significant progress during the last three months; we initially started with weekly one-on-one trainin sessions, eventually moving to every other week as he progressed. Not only have we watched Harper show great improvement since his initial behavioral analysis, but we feel significantly more confident as dog owners.
Meg has an extensive background in the training of all types of animals, with her expertise primarily with canines. During our training sessions, Harper responds very well to Ms. Brubaker’s positive reinforcement techniques. She has developed a proven behavior methodology that has been tested and successful with both her canine and human students.
The skills that Harper learns in training are extremely helpful and easy for us, his human owners, to integrate into our daily routine. Meg has taught him many new commands, as well as helped to incorporate clicker training into our learning process. Overall, our training experience with Meg has been excellent and we would highly recommend her to other pet owners.
Sincerely,
I would like to recommend Megan Brubaker as an an excellent trainer, both with animals and their pet owners. My family and I have been working with Meg for three months, specifically for some behavioral issues we have been experiencing with our 3-year-old labrador retriever. Meg has not only worked extensively with our lab, Harper, but she has given us tremendous support and training as owners.
My husband and I were referred to Meg through a local dog training organization, All Breed Rescue and Training. We have been very pleased with both Meg's expertise, as well as her flexibility with scheduling and coordinating the training. Harper has shown significant progress during the last three months; we initially started with weekly one-on-one trainin sessions, eventually moving to every other week as he progressed. Not only have we watched Harper show great improvement since his initial behavioral analysis, but we feel significantly more confident as dog owners.
Meg has an extensive background in the training of all types of animals, with her expertise primarily with canines. During our training sessions, Harper responds very well to Ms. Brubaker’s positive reinforcement techniques. She has developed a proven behavior methodology that has been tested and successful with both her canine and human students.
The skills that Harper learns in training are extremely helpful and easy for us, his human owners, to integrate into our daily routine. Meg has taught him many new commands, as well as helped to incorporate clicker training into our learning process. Overall, our training experience with Meg has been excellent and we would highly recommend her to other pet owners.
Sincerely,
-- Barb
Canine Owner
Canine Owner
Dogs: 18 mo old, male yorkshire terrier
Client's concerns: very nervous, doesn't come when called, separation anxiety
Client's concerns: very nervous, doesn't come when called, separation anxiety
"I used Meg Brubaker's services for training my yorkshire terrier. Meg came to my house about four times and we went to her home one time. Meg was always prompt and if she was going to be late, she was good about giving me notice. She has a great knowledge of canine behavior and knows how to really watch the human behavior to correct that too, in order to help the canine. She is very observant and notices very subtle movements that can affect the canine. Her literature is very helpful and clearly written and even broken down in steps regarding how to change a behavior that is unwanted in a canine. Meg also makes the training fun for the human too.
-- Michelle"
Dogs: 2 yr old, female cattle dog mix
Client's concerns: reactive to other dogs, especially on walks, and in agility classes. Not getting along with cat (Zipper).
Client's concerns: reactive to other dogs, especially on walks, and in agility classes. Not getting along with cat (Zipper).
"Thanks to you Millie is making definite progress, I am too I should add. On our walks/runs she is much less reactive. At agility she is doing better and even sat in line next to the other reactive dog and they both were calm.
She and Zipper are almost buddies.
For now I am just going to keep working with Millie with the skills you taught me.
Thanks so much for helping Millie and me, helping us be the best we both can be.
-- Steve"
She and Zipper are almost buddies.
For now I am just going to keep working with Millie with the skills you taught me.
Thanks so much for helping Millie and me, helping us be the best we both can be.
-- Steve"
Dogs: Two, older female German Shepard Mixes
Client's concerns: Fighting over food, overly fearful.
Our dogs were rescued from bad situations. As a result of their trauma, both dogs had some resource guarding issues. During the course of our human relationship, the dogs became acquainted, but they were not accustomed to living together full time. Once we married and combined households, the dogs became increasingly possessive of food and treats. Feeding time became stressful for the dogs - and even more so for the humans!
Meg taught us great techniques which kept everyone safe. We were able to practice during regular feeding times, so “homework” was very manageable, despite our busy schedules. We really appreciate the fact that the methods we used were tailored for our dogs and our lifestyle. The things we had to change were practical and realistic.
Thanks to Meg, there is no more tension in the household – our dogs have learned to share nicely and everyone is much happier! Don’t hesitate to contact Meg if your dog is having a behavioral issue. You’ll get honest feedback on the situation. Meg is a pleasure to work with, and you and your dogs will actually enjoy solving the problem at hand!
--The Nicks
Dog: 3 yr old, male, Corgi
Client's concerns: Reactive to other dogs
Meg is an excellent teacher. She is patient, thorough and kind. I am so grateful to Meg for teaching me how to work with my dog-friend, Dewey.
I was overwhelmed with sadness and confusion when my dog-friend had an altercation with another dog. I blamed myself…I blamed him. I was put in touch with Meg and when I called her, she talked to me, asked me questions and put my fears at ease . She helped me understand that his reactiveness doesn't mean he's a bad dog, or I'm a bad person.
With her training, she helped us take back control of the situation and learn to trust each other again. She gave me the tools and helped me implement those tools. Now we're both more confident in handling any situation that may come up.
I highly recommend Meg to anyone who has problems with their dog and who wants to have a better relationship with their dog.
-- Tammy
Dogs: Spainel mix, Shepard Mix
Client's concerns: Aggression with visitors
Meg was outstanding with our dogs! We have two dogs who both have been dealing with some aggression to the point we were afraid to have people over for dinner at times. Meg was patient, both with the dogs and with us, as we learned how work with the dogs. It was a lot of work, but it was well worth it as we now have people over frequently and our dogs are perfectly ok with it! We can't thank Meg enough for her help and patience with our hectic and sometimes unpredictable schedule. Thank you for everything Meg!
-- Jake & Amy
Dog: Malamute
Client's concerns: Reactivity to other dogs
We contacted Meg Brubaker for assistance in helping our dog overcome anxiety related to being approached and sometimes attacked by off lead dogs. A true professional, Meg first conducted a comprehensive evaluation to ensure that she understood our dog’s history, home environment, temperament, the issue at hand as well as any other concerns that we had. She incorporated ‘human’ training to ensure a safe, successful, and fun experience for all of us. Throughout the program, Meg was attentive to our questions and provided ample written reference materials after each session. Meg is non-judgmental, accommodating, and adaptive in her approach and makes herself very accessible. She has a passion for achieving success for both her canine and human students and provides the tools to succeed. We are pleased with all we have learned from Meg and certainly recommend her and her services.
-- Pat & Dani
Dog: Corgi mix
Client's concerns: Aggression with other dogs
My husband and I would highly recommend Meg Brubaker as a trainer if you have any "doggie issues" you need to work through. Our dog, Maggie, is blind, and we believe she has been blind - or nearly blind - from birth. Right from the first session, Meg taught us strategies to help Maggie feel less anxious in an environment that can sometimes be overwhelming for her. Our time with Meg has helped us understand Maggie and her behaviors so much better, and as a result form a tighter bond with her. Meg has outstanding communication skills, is prompt, patient, approachable, and kind to both her canines AND her humans. It has been a pleasure to work with Meg. She REALLY knows dogs!!
Client's concerns: Aggression with other dogs
My husband and I would highly recommend Meg Brubaker as a trainer if you have any "doggie issues" you need to work through. Our dog, Maggie, is blind, and we believe she has been blind - or nearly blind - from birth. Right from the first session, Meg taught us strategies to help Maggie feel less anxious in an environment that can sometimes be overwhelming for her. Our time with Meg has helped us understand Maggie and her behaviors so much better, and as a result form a tighter bond with her. Meg has outstanding communication skills, is prompt, patient, approachable, and kind to both her canines AND her humans. It has been a pleasure to work with Meg. She REALLY knows dogs!!
--Sharon and Tom
Dog: doberman mix
Client's concerns: Aggression with children
Client's concerns: Aggression with children
When Latte came into my life as a puppy, I didn't know what I didn't know. One of the things I didn't know was the need for socialization training early on, and when I learned a year later that that need hadn't been met for my dog, it was too late. She was frightened of children and behaved in an aggressive manner that frightened them and me. The first few trainers I called didn't deal with aggressive behaviors, but fortunately one of them referred me to Meg! With Meg's help, I've learned how to speak Latte's language, better understand and meet her needs, and build a more trusting relationship with her that has allowed us to tackle her fears together in a healthy way.
We began working one-on-one with Meg in her house, and gradually progressed to outdoors, and then more populated areas, then to an outdoor group class until finally-- Latte was the star student on her first day of an indoor class, performing behaviors willingly a week ahead of schedule!
Meg has helped me enjoy my dog so much more than I already did (which was a lot!), and the lessons I've learned with Latte have been beneficial in so many other areas of my life. Meg has so much practice and expertise that I know other dog owners will benefit from her help and guidance as much as I have if they're willing to listen, reflect, and love, love, love! Thank you, Meg!
We began working one-on-one with Meg in her house, and gradually progressed to outdoors, and then more populated areas, then to an outdoor group class until finally-- Latte was the star student on her first day of an indoor class, performing behaviors willingly a week ahead of schedule!
Meg has helped me enjoy my dog so much more than I already did (which was a lot!), and the lessons I've learned with Latte have been beneficial in so many other areas of my life. Meg has so much practice and expertise that I know other dog owners will benefit from her help and guidance as much as I have if they're willing to listen, reflect, and love, love, love! Thank you, Meg!
-- Jenni
Dog: Hound mix
Client's concerns: Fearful of humans
We rescued a wonderful hound-mix male named Beau 8 months ago. He had obviously been traumatized as he would whine and shake if anyone other than my wife and I came near him.
A quick internet search and we found Megan Brubaker http://meganabrubaker.com/. We set up biweekly sessions with her and Beau and the results were amazing. Meg quickly diagnosed what was wrong and what the treatment would be.
After several sessions Beau was much more socialized and over time we noticed Beau would be more and more comfortable with others. Eventually we could have friends over and Beau would come over for a pet and a scratch.
We heartily recommend Meg for anyone with animal behavioral issues. He communication style was exceptional, her written reports were greatly received and it was an absolute pleasure to meet and work with her.
Warm regards,
bb Barry Boulier
Dog: Two Boston Terriers
Client's concerns: Intrapack fighting, and socialization with other animals
Meg is an amazing trainer. She goes above and beyond to not only understand your dog or dogs, but you as the owner. I worked with her for two years before I was able to move on to another class and the time I spent with her I learned so much about my dogs I had never known before and I learned about myself as an owner and my reactions that were affecting my boys. I would HIGHLY recommend her for any training you are looking for, whether it's basic training, reactive or behavioral, she will treat you and your pups likes family. Over the course with my time with Meg I saw my boys grow so much and I still use all her training techniques to this day to keep them active and happy. You will not be disappointed in Meg and her unique training courses, so what are you waiting for?!
--Abrigail
Dog: Basset hound/Ridgeback X
Clients concerns: Lunging at unfamiliar men, not trained, doesn't know how to be home alone.
Cody and I have been working with Megan for a little over a year. I had absolutely no dog training experience, but Megan was patient with both me and Cody.
In addition to the training itself, I learned some other key lessons during our time together --
1. The hardest part about training the dog is training the human. But once I got the hang of things, it only takes 5-7 minutes per day to work/play together to reinforce lessons learned. And now that I know the basics, I can expand it to other important behaviors like waiting patiently at my feet at dinner time.
2. My Cody loves to "work", which he actually sees as really exciting play.
When I look at him and say "Are you ready to work?" he gets even more excited than
when I say "Let's go for a walk!"
3. I never expected it, but I love training time in the evening with Cody.
It strengthens our bond, stimulates his mind, and settles him down for the rest of the evening.
Working with Megan has deeply changed both of our lives. Many, many thanks to you, Megan!
--Elaine
Dog: Big white dog
Clients concerns: Anxiety in the home, reactivity to other dogs
I would highly recommend Megan for any problem you might have with your dog! We were anxious and beyond our ability to help our dog George. Megan helped us relax and change our thinking on how to deal with him. George has become much calmer and happier. Such a difference! We are very grateful we found Megan.
--Lisa & Randy
Dog: Collie/shepard mix, Lab mix
Clients concerns: Fearful, anxious behaviors
“Meg’s intuitive understanding of our canine friends has been such a gift to all of us, as she has helped us work with many dogs and lots of issues over the past decade. Her thoughtful approach to relationship building has not only strengthened our bonds with the dogs, but positively impacts our human interactions as well. As with any long-term relationship, our journey with Ralph and Shelby requires daily commitments to doing our best, and I can truly say I am a better person because of our time together. What Meg offers is so far beyond any typical training program and so much better—it is about creating a healthy, trusting human-animal connection to lay the foundation for a lifetime of joyful, empathetic coexistence. We’re so grateful to Meg, and honored that we can all call her our teacher and friend.”
-- Joy
Dog: Mastif/lab mix
Clients concerns: Extreme fearfulness
We were referred to Megan to help us with our non-confident Mastador. We started with several in home sessions where Megan came to our home to build the bond and start on the confidence building process. We graduated to sessions in the park to get Maci exposed to different elements outside the home. And then several sessions later we went to her home. I'm very pleased to say that we now have a dog that we can take on hikes and outside. Megan not only worked with our dog but she also worked with us to help us get a great relationship with Maci.
I highly recommend Megan and her practice.
-- Lori
Dog: Lab mix
Clients concerns: aggression toward visitors
We’re so happy to have gotten a chance to have Meg work with our dog, Leo. Before we saw her he would aggressively bark and growl at most visitors to our house. We learned through Meg that this was a fear response seeded in a lack of confidence. She taught us how to help him build his confidence and provide an environment where he feels comfortable. Now he happily greets new visitors and we know what to do if he starts showing signs of discomfort. This has been an invaluable experience for us and would highly recommend Meg for anyone who is having behavioral issues with their own dog. -- Luis
Dog: Blood hound mix
Clients concerns: Intra-pack fighting & anxiety
We reached out to Meg for help when three of our girl dogs were having issues getting into fights at times. She gave us great suggestions and education and before long those problems resolved.
We continued to work with Meg and her son for three years with one of our dogs, Hazel, who had high levels of anxiety and fear especially when meeting new people. The transformation has been amazing.
Meg gave us the confidence to give Hazel the confidence! She was always willing to answer any of our questions and to provide us with plenty of education anytime any issues arose including when Hazel was struggling with the death of one of our other dogs.
We would highly recommend her expertise to anyone struggling with any of their furry loved ones!
As we rescue dogs and foster, I am sure it won’t be long before we are calling Meg up again.
-- Cara, Andy and Hazel
Dog: Austrailian cattle dog mix
Clients concerns: Depressed & reactive
Bo was a very nervous and withdrawn pup when I rescued him at age 3 and I had no previous dog training experience at that time. He was extremely anxious if he even saw another dog, never mind getting close to one. I tried several other trainers who only seemed to worsen his issues. I was referred to Meg by All Breed Rescue and Training when Bo was unable to meet the requirements for their program. Meg has completely transformed our lives in the most magnificent way! She has the innate ability to read both human and animal needs and behavior and help them work together to form a healthy, happy relationship. Meg taught me the skills needed to help Bo gain the confidence to become a happy and playful dog. Meg was very clear from the beginning this would be a slow process for Bo and it has taken several years but definitely worth the effort. Meg is extremely supportive, non-judgmental, gentle in her approach and gives humans and animals the boost they need when feeling discouraged. My goal for Bo was for him to be a happy dog at home and enjoy walks and simple dog activities with the family. I never imagined he would get to the place where he enjoyed other dogs' company. I cannot begin to explain the pure joy of watching him now play with other dogs and enjoy himself at doggie daycare activities. I am indebted to Meg and thankful for her willingness to share her beautiful gift with us. She has brought Bo and I from a very sad situation to a wonderful loving and fun relationship!
-- Beth
Dog: Catahoula Mix
Clients concerns: Attacking other dogs in home
We were incredibly grateful to work with Meg. She is unbelievably knowledgeable and very patient. Banjo was acting aggressive to another senior dog in our house and I was stressed that something serious could happen. We started seeing Meg and I learned so much about how changing my interactions with Banjo could change the situation. We worked on playing intentional games and building a better relationship. And Banjo really enjoyed our training sessions. I learned so many skills to help me with not only Banjo, but all of our pets in the house and any future pets. Meg is very compassionate and caring and her methods for working with your pets are relaxed and fun. Our experience with Meg was extremely helpful and I highly recommend her!
-- Kristen
Dogs: Chihuahuas
Clients concerns: Extreme fear
I highly recommend Meg to anyone looking for help with their dog. Meg has an amazing ability to read a dog’s signals and her understanding of behavior is exceptional. I contacted Meg for help with my rescue dogs. They had been traumatized before coming into rescue and feared people, were afraid of the outside, and one was considered feral by the rescue agency (she hid under the couch when l first got her). After working with Meg my dogs are no longer afraid of everything and are comfortable with people and different environments. They have developed confidence.
The best part of working with Meg was the education I received that made me a better dog owner. I can now read and understand my dog’s signals and identify when they are stressed and to back off when they have reached their limits. I now have a trusting relationship with my dogs. In addition to the lessons during the sessions Meg also provided written materials for me to review as needed and she was always available for questions or concerns. If you are looking for assistance with your pet’s behavior I would definitely recommend Meg!
-- Mary
Dog: Pit/sight-hound mix
Clients concerns: nervous with a tendency to escalate to aggression
I can’t begin to express all the gratitude we have for what Meg has done for us and our dog Olive. Olive was a rescue dog who has been nervous since we got her. She was leery of people and reactive to other dogs. Another trainer we consulted was afraid of Olive, so we were very discouraged.
When we met Meg and Olive immediately took to her, we knew she was special. We worked with Meg for a couple of years, where the training was probably more for my benefit than my dog’s. Meg doesn’t teach you how to correct or discipline your dog, she teaches you how to understand them and to adjust your own expectations and behavior accordingly, which has an incredible effect on the dog. Meg’s voice is in my head on every walk we go on, so I’m now able to keep my dog secure, trusting, and happy. It doesn’t happen quickly, but the payoff in Olive’s security and happiness has been worth every bit we put into training. I can’t imagine a better outcome for our pup! Thank you, Meg!!
-- Susan & Kira
Dog: Greyhound
Clients concerns: Fearful
My Greyhound puppy arrived at my home already fearful of the whole world. I never had a shy puppy and I was unequipped to help her. She is a show dog and as she grew, so did her fears of judges and environments. I took these problems to Meg whose vast experience made her immensely equipped to help both me and the young dog. I grew to understand the empathy any person should have for a dog with issues, and to understand the dog has feelings and most of all, that those feelings matter. I enjoyed my time with her as a person, and my dog grew very fond of her as well. Meg's ideas are refreshing and wholly applicable to the day-to-day things our canines encounter.
-- Karen
Referalls
More referrals available upon request
Dog: Lab/Pit/Husky Mix
Clients concerns: Human reactivity and nervousness
I reached out to Megan in 2017 after my dog went through “off-leash/shock collar” training. She was very nervous and reactive toward new humans, especially men. I was in search of a new dog trainer who utilized a “fear free and force free” training method and would work with my dog who I was terrified to take anywhere. The first time Megan met Charley, I was in absolute tears. Megan’s patience blew me away and she did everything to reassure me we could turn Charley’s reactivity around. Not only was Charley learning how to relax and trust people again from both Megan and Camaris, but I was also learning how to communicate with my dog more effectively and how to be a kinder human. Megan’s style of training is the perfect mix of dog and human communication and interaction. Throughout the last seven years, Charley is no longer human reactive and actually can meet people through proper introduction. It is honestly so heartwarming to see how far she has come through working with Megan and Camaris. I’m forever thankful for their patience and persistence through the years and wouldn’t have the same dog I have today if it weren’t for them.
-- Monica
Dog: Chihuahua/Terrier Mix
Clients concerns: Bullying other household dogs, anxiety
I highly recommend both Meg and Camaris as trainers. Especially with sensitive and challenged dogs. They are both extremely compassionate and kind. All of their focus is on positivity without introducing any fear.
Signed,
Maryann Chartier
Maryann Chartier
p.s. They have worked with 2 of my dogs. I cannot stress their competence enough.
Dogs: Sheperd/Chow & Pitbull/GSD/American Bulldog/Husky
Clients concerns: Anxiety, Barking, Separation Anxiety, Reactivity
I can't say enough good things about Meg and Camaris. I found their website after being told by my trainer at the time that our dog-reactive dog, Hobbes, was dangerous and should be rehomed. My heart was breaking and I couldn't find a rescue that would take him, and I was terrified he would be put down if he was taken to the shelter. Calling Meg was my last option and I was an emotional wreck during our phone consultation. After listening to the situation, she assured me that she didn't think Hobbes' case was hopeless, and that she was confident she could help as she specializes in working with reactive dogs. She takes a whole home approach, so our work would integrate our other dog as well, and all the humans they regularly interacted with.
The program that Meg and Camaris have put together is very comprehensive and contains materials that can be referenced easily if needed. It's necessary to put in time and energy to employ the techniques and see improvement, and it's so worth it in the end. At the time of Hobbes' bite incidents, we'd had him for about three months. We have now had him for an additional year and he is doing so well! He is still reactive to unfamiliar dogs in close quarters, but his behavior has improved dramatically with patience and persistence, and we have tools and protocols in place now to be able to keep everyone safe while we continue to work through his issues. If you're looking for someone to help solve behavior issues instead of just treating the symptoms, look no further. These two are a great team and they truly care about each person and pup who comes through their doors.
Also, I worked with them remotely as I don't live in their area, and it was just as effective!
-- Kara
Dogs: American bully/cattle dog mix and two Great Pyrenees mixes
Clients concerns: Tank showing aggression to dogs and humans in the family
We first contacted Megan to help us with Tank, a rescue dog who was very reactive and having trouble adapting to our two dogs, whom we had for years prior to Tank's arrival. We had tried other trainers, but were largely unsuccessful. Megan took us to a new place regarding not only our dogs, but our own interactions with them. Her approach to our problem involved not rote commands and techniques, but a whole new understanding of canine mentality and how to interpret and communicate with all three dogs. To our eyes and ears, her system was like nothing we had encountered.
Extremely well researched and ready and willing to share her findings, she provided a wealth of ideas and information as to how to craft a healthy, happy “pack” that included all creatures under our roof. It was illuminating and challenging, but well worth our investment of time and money. We recently moved away from Colorado, but the incredibly well-organized trove of reference material that she had provided continues to be a source for us as we work with our dogs.
Tank had become a problem and we had considered re-homing him, but our efforts with Megan paid off, and Tank is still with us two years later, and our understanding of his perspective, needs, and the motivations for his behavior is key to our success. We could not have done that but for the patient and enlightened help she provided. We highly recommend her.
Ken Sajdak and Keli Kringel, dog owners and pack-mates with Mancha, Zosia, and
Tank
Ken Sajdak and Keli Kringel, dog owners and pack-mates with Mancha, Zosia, and
Tank