Dopamine K9 Training & Behavior

We sent our 2 1/2 year old pitty to dopamine as a last chance option. She is my grief dog. The devastating feeling I was sitting with knowing she needed drastic measures to help her or she would have had to go was one of the hardest things I have had to come to terms with. She spent 5 weeks in their care. When I say she came back a different dog I mean that in the best way possible. When she arrived at Dopamine she was reactive, had no behavioral training, barked at everything and anything, no spacial awareness, did not listen to anyone, and was very hyper. When she came back she was mellow, gentle, comes to every command, ignores the other animals on our property even when they’re barking, isn’t jumping on anyone, and is the dog we all knew she could be. If I ever needed a dog trained again this would be my only choice. It would also be the only place I’ll recommend to family and friends. I cannot express my gratitude for everyone who worked with our dog enough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and my entire family!

This is a long overdue review, but it’s also a testament to how deeply instilled my dog’s fundamentals became after even a short time with Dopamine. About 2 years ago, we did a few 1hour sessions with Jeremy for our 2yo shepherd mix who struggled with extremely high anxiety and reactivity with other dogs (occasionally even people). We then opted for a 10-day board and train with Dopamine, and the fundamentals they trained in him are still in full effect 2 years later. He used to lunge, pull, and bark constantly; since the training, he is able to match my pace on walks (I intentionally change pace to keep his attention), and the reactivity has noticeably reduced. We even walk past cats regularly now with little more than faint whining from him. While it’s forever a work in progress, his behavior continues to improve because we consistently work with these tools from Dopamine. We would have continued seeing the team there had we not moved across the country. I’ve yet to find another trainer so capable, so I highly recommend this team!

My husband and I feel compelled to write a review to express our profound gratitude for the incredible transformation Dopamine K9 brought about in our three-year-old Goldendoodle, Max. We have invested in weekly training classes, private weekly training classes and could not overcome several problem behaviors. When we first considered professional board and train, Dopamine K9 came highly recommended by several coworkers whose glowing testimonials spoke volumes about their expertise and dedication. Their enthusiastic endorsements were truly persuasive, and we are so glad we trusted their advice. Max has always been a dog with an undeniably big personality, but along with his boundless charm came an equally strong prey drive. While we adore him unconditionally, his intense desire to chase squirrels and neighborhood cats became a significant safety concern for me, especially as I navigate with a cane. The sudden jerks and lunges during walks often put me at risk of losing my balance, I had some minor falls and my walks with Max became a constant source of anxiety. Today, we proudly refer to him as "Max 2.0," and it's a testament to the remarkable work Dopamine K9 has done. Max was always a great dog at heart, but his and our ingrained habits presented real challenges. Now, he’s an absolutely amazing companion – attentive, eager to please, and an absolute joy to walk. The difference is night and day; he walks calmly by my side, largely unfazed by distractions that once sent him into a frenzy. It’s truly a pleasure to experience our walks together now. We’ve also noticed how much he thrives on praise, responding beautifully to verbal affirmation rather than relying solely on treats for every success, which speaks volumes about the positive reinforcement methods they employ. We certainly missed Max during his time away, but the peace of mind and the improved quality of life we now share with him make it unequivocally clear that it was an investment well worth making. The board and train was less expensive than all of the other trainings we had already done! The comprehensive training session we received upon Max's pickup was invaluable. Jeremy's willingness to comfortably video recording our entire session was particularly helpful, providing us with an excellent resource to refer back to. This hands-on guidance, combined with their emphasis on ongoing practice, reinforced the critical message that consistency is key – much like raising children, continuous reinforcement is vital for lasting results. We wholeheartedly and passionately recommend Dopamine K9 to any dog owner seeking professional, effective, and compassionate training. They haven't just trained our dog; they’ve profoundly improved our daily lives.

We sent our Husky/Aussie/Pit mix, Bowie, to Dopamine for a 4 week board and train in March with a followup week (3 months later). I cannot say enough how much this has improved Bowie's behaviors. We got him when he was 3 years old. He was a very high energy/anxious pup due to his breed and history. He was under socialized as well as very reactive to people (particularly men) who entered our home and dogs on leash. If he got out of our yard or off leash, it took at least 10 minutes to get him back. For 2 years, I tried utilizing tools from online training videos with small gains and walked him for 1-2 hours daily with tangible anxiety still noted. I felt very out of my element as I did not feel I was communicating effectively with him or had the tools to train him properly. Enter Dopamine, the 4 week board and train was exactly what Bowie needed. First, I was nervous to drop him off as Bowie had been re-homed 3 times prior to him coming to us. He wasn't a fan of men and was anxiously attached to me. When we picked him up, he looked peaceful and attentive to Jeremy's commands. After our initial training with Jeremy, we took him home and were able to implement what we learned. It has been night and day. We have the ability to effectively communicate with him what we want which makes him feel secure. After walks and training sessions, he will pass out for hours. This is something we never thought would happen. It has taken a lot of reinforcement in our home but the payoff is worth it. Even neighbors and family have noted how calm and relaxed he is now. I will rate effectiveness of commands: Come-100% (never thought that would happen), Place-90%, Quiet-85%, Heel-85%(when other reactive dogs around)/100% (with no dogs/calm dogs), Out/leave it- 90%. I know with reinforcement I can help to improve these but I am very happy with the foundation Jeremy and the team established. We then sent our 11 month heeler/pug/chi mix, Smokey, to a 2 week board and train. We had already established a strong foundation of training but the team worked to teach/improve heel and place. The most beneficial part was Smokey's socialization. When we got him, he was a nervous little pup when introduced to new people/situations. I tried to socialize him the best I could but he was still quite skittish. After the board and train, he has gained so much confidence and is able to show his spunky little self to others. Once again, I could not emphasize how much this board and train team have improved our lives with our pups. I am very frugal but feel this is a true value to our lives and that it was worth every penny. Thank you again for your support and guidance!

I sent my anxious, reactive mini Aussie who has extreme separation anxiety for a 6 week board and train. When I say he came back a different dog, that’s the understatement of the century. He has impulse control and manners now. He thinks through problems and things that frustrate or overstimulate him, I can leave him alone and now worry about him hurting himself. He’s comfortable and happy in a crate now, which I never thought was possible. It’s a total 180 from where he was before. I only wish I had done this years ago. I feel like this saved my relationship with my dog. I can’t recommend Jeremy and Dopamine K9 enough. THANK YOU from Archer, Tara, Otis, and Tiny.