We first approached Dawn for a puppy kindergarten class when we started fostering Katie, who was a young
Hurricane Katrina rescue. As Dawn recognized the challenges that we faced, trying to integrate a dog who had
probably been traumatized into a home already filled with two well-bonded littermates, she came to our house to
offer individualized intervention. Could we keep this sweet, high-energy girl? Could our other dogs accept her?
Could she be trusted around our two children?
In fact, Katie had considerable food aggression and resource guarding problems. Nearly one year later, after
following the careful, stepped approach that Dawn offered, I am happy to report that Katie is now trustworthy
with people around both food and toys. I have no fear of her injuring my children, and our other dogs accept her
as part of an expanded pack. Thanks in large part to Dawn's efforts, offered through multiple group classes,
individualized home sessions, and regular emails in which my questions were promptly and compassionately
answered, Katie is now a permanent part of our family.
True professionals know their own limits. I greatly respect Dawn for recognizing the potential limits of clicker training
for certain kinds of behavioral/temperament problems. Dawn recognized in Katie a problem of arousal and
impulse control that may require specialized treatment, possibly with medication. With her support and
encouragement, we are exploring additional, specialized interventions.
We know that are other Brooklyn-based pet dog trainers who follow similar positive clicker training approaches. Her
classes were professional and fun, which might be true of other trainers in the area. What makes Dawn an
exceptional trainer is her ability to deftly observe our behaviors and our dogs behaviors, her ability to maintain
perspective about big and small problems, her willingness to extend herself with regular client communications,
and her ability to recognize when specialized intervention is needed.
While our work with Katie continues, we've come a long way. I'm confident that our continued work with Dawn will
bring out the best in Katie and make Life with Dog(s) a fun adventure.
- Karen, Ang and Katie
Hurricane Katrina rescue. As Dawn recognized the challenges that we faced, trying to integrate a dog who had
probably been traumatized into a home already filled with two well-bonded littermates, she came to our house to
offer individualized intervention. Could we keep this sweet, high-energy girl? Could our other dogs accept her?
Could she be trusted around our two children?
In fact, Katie had considerable food aggression and resource guarding problems. Nearly one year later, after
following the careful, stepped approach that Dawn offered, I am happy to report that Katie is now trustworthy
with people around both food and toys. I have no fear of her injuring my children, and our other dogs accept her
as part of an expanded pack. Thanks in large part to Dawn's efforts, offered through multiple group classes,
individualized home sessions, and regular emails in which my questions were promptly and compassionately
answered, Katie is now a permanent part of our family.
True professionals know their own limits. I greatly respect Dawn for recognizing the potential limits of clicker training
for certain kinds of behavioral/temperament problems. Dawn recognized in Katie a problem of arousal and
impulse control that may require specialized treatment, possibly with medication. With her support and
encouragement, we are exploring additional, specialized interventions.
We know that are other Brooklyn-based pet dog trainers who follow similar positive clicker training approaches. Her
classes were professional and fun, which might be true of other trainers in the area. What makes Dawn an
exceptional trainer is her ability to deftly observe our behaviors and our dogs behaviors, her ability to maintain
perspective about big and small problems, her willingness to extend herself with regular client communications,
and her ability to recognize when specialized intervention is needed.
While our work with Katie continues, we've come a long way. I'm confident that our continued work with Dawn will
bring out the best in Katie and make Life with Dog(s) a fun adventure.
- Karen, Ang and Katie
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