TOTO + VIVIAN

What were your main issues & concerns with your dog that made you want to invest in dog training?
Our main concern with Toto was her aggression in public & separation anxiety. Toto was a rescue & we got her when she was 1.5 years old - by then, I was already her 5th home. Toto is an extremely energetic & loving dog but she tends to bark at strangers when we are outside on walks & she pulls the leash & barks when she sees another dog because she wants to play. Another concern was her behavior around kids, with adults she likes to jump on them but when it comes to kids or even older people, it’s a risk that I want to avoid. Because Toto is a rescue, I was very hesitant & scared when it came to training her (partially because I’m a first time dog owner as well) & I wanted her to feel safe so it was just what I felt was right. I started seeing training videos & decided maybe I should reach out to a trainer because it has been 1.5 years since I’ve had Toto, there’s been improvements but I feel like I can do more but without guidance, I was at my limitations.

What progress & changes have you seen with you and your dog after starting training with Jess?
I have seen the BIGGEST changes since I started training with Jess. As mentioned earlier, I’ve had her for about 1.5 years & there’s improvements but it’s nothing like the improvements & changes I see after training. Toto has been a lot more obedient & responds to us way better. She walks by our side rather than in front of us & rarely barks at strangers. When it comes to dogs she sees, she has also calmed down a lot and a little huff-puff later, we’re continuing our walk. Toto used to pee/poo whenever I leave the house for over an hour so we always had the practice of leaving a pee pad behind but ever since training, we stopped leaving the pee pad out & she’s been fine for up to 5-6 hours! We are slowly crate training her as well with guidance from Jess & she’s not 100% there where we can leave her in the crate when we’re gone, but when we are home, she is starting to go in the crate & be there.

What have you learned while training with Jess?
Jess has such a huge foundation of knowledge when it comes to dog training & all things dog that I’m not really sure a few sentences can break it down. We’ve learned so much about Toto’s behavior & narrow it down to how the basics really shape all the bigger things surrounding Toto & the way she is. Not only did we learn how to train Toto, but we also learned to give her a better quality of life. That has honestly been the biggest thing for us because that’s why we decided to rescue her. Our bond with Toto had grown tremendously since we started training with Jess as well & that’s also something I have always wanted.

Did you have fun during your sessions?
We have a lot of fun during our sessions! Our sessions take place in various places and we learn something new each time that builds from the prior session.

Would you recommend training with Jess?
We 100% would recommend training with Jess. Throughout our sessions, we felt the love & care that Jess has for dogs. Her goal and purpose as a dog trainer really resonated with us & we really appreciate everything she’s taught us so far!