Empawthy Dog Training
We rescued our dog Samsara two years ago. She was from a rescue out of Puerto Rico that works to relocate animals to the US. When we first got her, we immediately started noticing very fearful behaviors. We noticed when going outside she was scared of the sound of the wind, the sound of rustling leaves in the trees, the sound or sight of cars. Strangely enough she was even scared of walking on cement, all other dogs, all people and all new places. She even began lunging and trying to nip the heels of anyone that came near her. It was very overwhelming for all of us, to say the least and the saddest thing was that she is the sweetest, calmest, kindest dog I have ever met when she feels safe. So we were heartbroken that she was struggling so much and no one else could see the sweet, quiet dog she really was. Fast forward a year, our family bought my partner and I a trip on a 10-day cruise, and we really wanted to go but had no idea how to find someone to look after our fearful pup. I almost just skipped the trip entirely because of the fear of the worst happening to our dog or to someone watching after her. We interviewed other dog handlers and sitters that basically said they weren’t comfortable working with fearful and reactive dogs. It was a week before our trip when we found Sarika, and it was our last ditch effort before I skipped the trip entirely. From the very first meet and greet, it was evident that Sarika possessed a remarkable gift with animals. Within minutes of her arrival, our dog, usually tense and wary around new faces, began to relax in Sarika's presence. What truly amazed us was witnessing our furry companion, who typically took hours to warm up to new people, nestling comfortably beside Sarika within 30 minutes, drifting off into a peaceful slumber. This nearly brought my partner and I to tears, as we never thought anything like this was possible. We wondered how it could be possible that someone could come into our home and our dog could be calm, relaxed, offer her toys and fall asleep right next to her. We never thought we would see something like it in a thousand years. Obviously Sarika knows how to calm dogs and really communicate with them effectively. She knew what she was doing but to us it really looked like magic. Finally our sweet, quiet, kind dog could be herself around someone else. We decided to go on our trip and Sarika took care of Samsara and did individualized training with her throughout her stay. She went above and beyond to ensure our dog felt safe, secure, and loved. Not only did she expertly manage our pooch's reactive tendencies, but she also implemented calming techniques that worked wonders in soothing our dog's nerves. From enriching activities to personalized attention, Sarika tailored her care to suit our dog's specific needs, providing us with much-needed reassurance while we were away. It was honestly a blessing to know that our dog was being cared for and trained in such good hands. I couldn’t have imagined leaving her with anyone else. It is evident that Sarika is an expert in her line of work and knows how to handle dogs with true compassion and kindness. With exceptional care, we were able to enjoy our vacation with peace of mind, knowing that our beloved dog was in the best possible hands. We wholeheartedly recommend Sarika to anyone in search of a trustworthy, compassionate, and skilled trainer/dog handler/sitter, especially for those with fearful or reactive dogs. She is truly a gem in the world of dog care, and we are immensely grateful for her unwavering dedication and expertise. Thanks to Sarika, it gives me hope for all fearful and reactive dogs, that one day, they get to meet someone like her to show them that the world doesn’t have to be such a big, scary and painful place. That sometimes the strangers we meet, actually help us heal.
Why Choose Positive Reinforcement?
My choice to train using mainly positive reinforcement is based in my history with dogs as well as scientific evidence. Positive reinforcement is just as effective as traditional training methods but lacks the behavioral risks and ethical concerns. I'm always happy to meet you wherever you are in your journey as long as you are committed to decreasing your use of punishment and aversive tools and increasing your use of the tools I can provide you as a positive reinforcement trainer.