03/30/2026
My boy Freddie 🥺 He started with me end of February, came from another training program that told his owners he’d never be able to safely coexist around other dogs and was a safety concern for any boarding needs, etc. As an 8 month old puppy that’s sobering news for any owner to absorb and accept. When Freddie would see other dogs or people on his walk he would immediately go into defense mode and throw big fits. When corrected he would redirect on his owners. Through setting proper intentions and direction, Freddie has continued to thrive with his family and has made major strides in his training progress! Below is an update from his owners! I don’t feel worthy of their high praise, but hearing that he can now enjoy family walks and even handle himself around other reactive dogs makes me beam with pride for both him and his owners!!
“A few months ago, we were honestly afraid we were going to lose our Great Dane puppy Freddie.
Freddie had developed such severe reactivity that even simple things, like passing another dog or getting on the elevator, felt impossible. At one point, a trainer told us he would likely never be able to be around other dogs again. That was incredibly discouraging, and we began to question whether we would be able to manage him long-term. It felt like no matter how hard we tried, we were failing him.
Then we met Victoria, and everything changed.
In just a few weeks of working with her through private sessions and her board-and-train program, Freddie has made more progress than we ever thought possible. Things that used to fill us with anxiety are now just part of our normal routine. We can take the elevator without fear. We can walk him around town without a muzzle. For the first time, we can actually imagine bringing him to restaurants and including him in our everyday life.
But the moment that truly showed us how far he’s come happened recently on a busy street in our city (exactly the kind of environment that used to overwhelm him.) We passed a full-grown Great Dane sitting outside a restaurant. As soon as it saw Freddie, it exploded (barking, lunging, trying everything it could to get to him), and Freddie…stayed completely calm.
He didn’t react. He didn’t lunge. He barely even looked at the other dog. He just stayed with us and kept walking.
It’s difficult to express how meaningful that moment was. What would have once resulted in a stressful and chaotic situation (Freddie pulling with all his strength, barking uncontrollably, drawing attention from everyone around us) instead passed quietly, almost effortlessly. It was a clear reflection of how far he has come.
It’s hard to put into words how much that meant to us.
Victoria didn’t just help train our dog, she gave us our life with him back. She gave us hope when we felt like we were running out of options, and confidence when we had none left. We’re beyond grateful for the transformation we’ve seen in Freddie, and for the future we can now see with him. We’re incredibly grateful for her guidance and cannot recommend her enough to anyone facing similar challenges.”
Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their dogs, and continues to trust me with their dogs. This job can be trying, exhausting, draining, endless, but updates like these bring the spark right back. I’m so thankful for the ability to help dogs and their owners lead a successful life!! ❤️
I’m additionally thankful to my 3, Bindi Sadie and Deacon, for being exceptional dogs who have helped endless other dogs learn how to live a stress free life by exposure therapy. A good dog trainer is nothing without a good demo dog and life has blessed me with 3 of the best! ❤️❤️
