Instinct Dog Behavior & Training LLC

We adopted our two-year-old terrier mix pup Barkley about three months ago. Even though we were told that she had no history of aggression and walked great on a leash, as soon as we brought her home we realized she was very leash reactive and had guarding issues and extreme hyperactivity. Sarah Dixon was recommended to us by our rescue agency, so I contacted Instinct immediately to set up private lessons with her. Having Sarah work with Barkley has been the best choice we've made for Barkley. The first day Barkley and I met with Sarah during our initial consultation, she taught me a few simple exercises that would tide us over through the holidays, including "settle" and a basic "sit". About a month later, we started our formal lessons, and since then Barkley has learned multiple commands (including "paw", "target", "touch", "stay" and a still-in-progress "place", "leave it" and "drop it" (which, ironically, she only seems to do for Sarah!)) but most importantly, Sarah has given us insight into Barkley's personality and behavior that we never would have been able to identify on our own. She has become my sounding board for any questions or concerns I have between sessions, and has truly helped me through some dark and difficult times with Barkley. Barkley has also learned to walk on a head halter and though she still has work to do on her walking skills, they're greatly improved from when we first got her since I'm now better able to read her body language on walks and have learned handling techniques to address her encounters with other dogs (she's still reactive to other dogs, but she doesn't lunge at every dog she sees and her reactions are more manageable). Barkley is now much more comfortable with handling, she settles quickly from periods of intense hyperactivity, and she's generally a more well-behaved dog. Friends and family members who met her when we first got her have said they've noticed a dramatic improvement in her behavior. I will also note that recently Barkley has exhibited strange reactions to handling on one side of her body, so Sarah took some time during our last session to do a full assessment on her and provide specific suggestions of what to talk to our vet about. She emailed me her findings so I could forward it to our vet and has made herself available to speak to the vet if necessary. We have one session left with Sarah, but now that Barkley is technically an Instinct alum, we can also start attending the group Good Citizen classes at the Instinct facility. The classes are free for Instinct alums and I think will be a great way to supplement Barkley's training program. Also, I have visited the Instinct facilities, and they're fantastic - there's a big yard in the back where I've seen boarding dogs play and everyone is incredibly pleasant. Sarah and the other trainers will occasionally hold free sessions on a variety of topics throughout the year, which I have attended and found very informative. Barkley is still a work in progress, and will be for awhile - but without Sarah, I wouldn't have the confidence to believe that Barkley can become the perfect dog for our family, nor would I have built up the foundation of skills to help her do so. I know these sessions are expensive, but Sarah is flexible and will work with you to find the right package for your needs. She doesn't recommend more than what she honestly believe your dog requires. I can't say enough about Sarah Dixon and Instinct more broadly, and I absolutely recommend them to everyone, from those looking to train a new puppy to those who might be struggling with a difficult dog (like me). Thank you Sarah and Instinct!