My Nyx is an awesome dog. I love her to pieces. But even after 2 years with me she seems not to be able to shake her anxiety about the outside world. Obedience is okay but also needs improvement.

I had 3 hours of private training with her right after I adopted her, and it helped me a lot to train her to walk properly and listen to commands. The location where Nyx got that training was in an industrial building without windows and AC (a sump pump was in the room). Nyx threw up after every training session in that building.

I knew I needed another location and a trainer who understands anxious, nervous dogs. It took me several weeks to finally find the “one”. It is a drive through forests (about 40 minutes from my house) and the place is a doggy paradise amid nature. The trainer lived 17 years in Germany and got all her training (Schutzhund, Therapy Dog Training, etc.) in Germany. She invited me to observe her dog club (which can be joined by invitation after an initial set of training sessions). I love everything about this place and about the trainer. If you live near Redding or Chico … leave a comment or contact me to get the info on the trainer.

Here is the thing: Take your time to pick a trainer. Many have some sort of group classes and maybe you also can go and observe the classes. It will give you the vibe of the training. I would even go so far as to schedule an initial evaluation if there is no other way to meet the trainer … however, most charge a fee for it.

Look, just because you buy some training package it does not mean you are stuck. Many trainers have a refund policy. If you do not know, ask how they handle this situation. Be assured a trainer will also terminate if he feels he can’t handle a dog or “owner”. The pet business is a big money-making machine and as for my part, I am very careful with whom I am working. I want my baby to learn something. At the end of the day Nyx needs to be happy and that makes me happy too.

Christina – Dogs Are My Soul