Loved By Dogs and Their Humans

★★★★★

We adopted Lilah from an Orlando high-kill shelter when she was four months old. Her exposure to people and society was minimal at best, and this resulted in an extremely frightened puppy who hid under furniture and in bushes whenever possible. Our attachment to Lilah was immediate because of how sweet she was with our son, but it seemed like she might never overcome her fears well enough to be the service dog we had originally intended. As she got older, her clever nature allowed her to learn tricks without much difficulty, but her intense terror of all men was beginning to develop into aggression. We were concerned about sending her to Jess for training, even, because we wondered if the anxiety of having her husband in the home would prevent Lilah from learning. We decided to trust Jess, however, and gave it a shot. That was hands-down the best decision we’ve made as Lilah’s humans so far. She went with Jess, and came back to us a different dog. I noticed right away when I picked her up at the end of the week. We met in public space where, coincidentally, men were doing loud maintenance work that involved ladders (another terrifying object!). However, Lilah had no trouble focusing, following commands, and never barked at or cowered from the men. Although her fear of still exists, it’s amazing to us that Jess was able to eliminate so much of the destructive behavior she exhibited before the training. Jess spent an hour with me that morning going over everything Lilah had learned, and teaching us how to continue the process, and that included helping me establish my role as Lilah’s leader, freeing her from much of the decision-making anxiety she had previously been feeling. As far as commands, I honestly have no idea how Jess managed to teach Lilah so much in such a short period of time! Lilah came back responsive to both verbal and signed commands for “sit”, “lie down”, “place”, and “here,” and the ability to remain in those positions until released. She also learned how to walk in a heel position, although she is still learning how to put herself into the position to begin. Really, though, I think the biggest difference we found in Lilah post-training is her confidence. The dog that used to cower, tail tucked and eyes to the ground found a way to come out of her shell in a way we were unable to do for her despite our best efforts. Jess has a genuine, natural ability with dogs that is almost impossible to find. As Lilah moves forward with service dog training, we will be returning to Jess for sure for further lessons and advice.

Molly, Tristan, + Oliver

Orono, Maine

★★★★★

When I picked Loki up at the end of the board and train, it was as if the months of inconsistency had never happened. Jess had turned the entire time into an engaging experience for him, filled with puzzles, exercise, and play dates with other dogs. Not only did she reinforce the training we had previously established, but she introduced new skills as well as ensuring he had a great time.

Jess gave us the reset Loki and I needed and all that was left for me was to maintain the consistency to uphold the training. I can’t recommend her enough—she truly understands that as dog owners, we sometimes faulter in our own training, and she helps us get back on track with kindness and without judgment.

Loki's Mom

Cumberland, Maine

★★★★★

I'm so grateful I connected with Jess when my dog was a puppy! He is now so well-behaved and happy at 6 years old. Jess' training techniques are effective and compassionate, making learning fun for both the dog and the owner. I highly recommend working with her!

Brenna

Portland, Maine