Testimonials

Here are a few things that our past and present clients have had to say about us. Please let us know if you would like to add your training story to this page as well. For more information about our trainers, please visit out About Us page.

Saving Dexter

"If my little dog only knew what a savior Scott and Synergy Dog Training were to him, he would be bringing Scott treats! I cannot sing his praises loudly enough.

"I adopted a cute little mutt from a rescue society about 2 years ago, and very shortly thereafter, he began to develop horrible aggression problems toward strangers. It made our lives miserable! He barked or growled at every person or dog that came near hom. I stopped having people over to my house and started sneaking out the back stairs of my building when I needed to walk him. He got evicted from his Doggy Daycare for his mean little attitude toward the new dogs, and I was at my wit’s end.

"I went to two trainers before Scott. The first one told me I may need to just euthanize him as she wasn’t sure he was fix-able. She referred me to a second trainer, who also told me that Dexter was going to require more assistance than she was going to be able to give him, and she couldn’t help us. Then we met Scott, and apprehensive, aggressive little Dexter loved him immediately and was taking treats out of his hands during the first visit. That never happens with strangers! Now, every time Dexter sees Scott, he runs to him full speed, tail wagging, so excited to see him.

"Scott has shown the patience of a saint and unbelievable insight into the mixed up little brain of my lovable dog. Dexter has come leaps and bounds and it is all thanks to Scott’s wise, persistent, gentle training of both my dog and me! I am living with a different dog! I take him running on the crowded waterfront, and he doesn’t even notice the bikes, skateboads, children, etc.... that come zooming past us. Now, instead of sneaking out the back steps, we ride the elevator proudly and my neighbors actually refer to him as “the best behaved dog in our building!” Not a week has gone by in the past 2 months, that someone from my building doesn’t comment, “Wow! He is doing so much better!” (Frequently people I have never met!).

"Scott quite literally saved my dog’s life! I would whole heartedly recommend him to anyone who needs a little (or a lot of!) behavioral help with their dog. If he is this much of a miracle worker, with my incredibly challenging dog, I can only imagine what he could do for other dogs!" - Olivia Jones and Dexter

Giddy in class

"I have taken a Puppy Preschool class and a Family Dog 1 class from Scott. Each week I looked forward to it and did my “homework” to qualify for a prize in class. I am loving the training classes. I’ve had such a great time that I was practically giddy during class!

"The young dog I was working with really learned quickly with the positive training. I found Scott to be a gifted teacher. He is informative, articulate, kind and has a sense of humor so classes are really fun. I have been recommending Synergy to friends and our clients as well. I recommend Synergy for an experienced trainer and a positive experience for your dog." - Perri Combs-Taber

Dispelling negative sterotypes

"When I found my dog Molly as a stray over a year and a half ago, it was obvious she'd had a hard life. She was emaciated and had clearly been used as a fighting dog. Mollie was sweet and loving from the start, but having presumably been raised outside, she had no manners at all. In addition, due to her fighting history, she was pretty dog agressive.

"Last spring, I thought Mollie was ready to start some obedience training and organized socialization, so I began looking specifically for a trainer who used positive reinforcement. The last thing I wanted to do for Mollie was introduce any more negativity in her life. That's how I found Synergy Dog Training.

"We signed up for a beginner (Family Dog I) course, and I was truly amazed at the progress Mollie made! By the end of the class, she was an old pro at her "sit", "down", and "stay." Even better, she was able to behave nicely around other dogs and focus very well on me during class. In the months since, I can see how Mollie's training continues to work for us. She obeys all her commands and is still improving her behavior around other dogs.

"Because Mollie is a Pit Bull Terrier, I feel that it is important for her to be a good ambassador for that misunderstood breed. Her training with Synergy is really helping her overcome the difficulties of her previous life and understand how to just "be a dog." I really enjoyed working with Scott, and plan to enroll Mollie in their advanced class to work towards her Canine Good Citizen certificate." - Andrea Jones and Molly

Really reliable recalls in our Family Dog 2 class

"I was taking Carina from my apartment door to the car without a leash on, when she spotted a squirrel and went tearing off across a field towards the highway. Usually this ends with me in a panic and Carina dodging the road at the last minute. All I had to do was shout 'Carina, Stop!' (her magic word), and she turned around ... she came running back to me even faster than she had gone.

"A second, less threatening, instance came this weekend, when we stumbled on a cookout during our favorite hike. Before she could get close to the grill, I shouted 'Stop!' and she turned on a dime and came racing back to me. Again, I was super-impressed with how well she responds to her emergency word. Thanks for the best trick Carina and I could ever learn!" - Kyndra Luce and Carina

Shy dogs welcome...

"When Buster and I started taking classes with Synergy, Buster was almost a basket case, hiding behind me and circling continuously when asked to step out. He refused to be touched by strangers unless he was standing close to me and certainly never left my side except when forced. After 6 months of clicker training Buster has come out of his shell, he goes up to strangers willingly and has stopped most of his circling. I see a happier, more content dog when I look at him.

"Scott has worked very hard with Buster (and me) addressing his problems and issues. He has given Buster every chance to succeed and no opportunity for failure. The classes and workshops have been wonderful and any dog would profit by attending, especially the 'soft' ones like Buster. Thank you Scott!" - Pat Bourne and Buster

Building solid foundations...

"Family Dog 1 class was phenomenal for both my dog and me. I learned about the concepts of clicker training and positive reinforcement, but more importantly I learned their application. Having a good instructor like Scott is important for dealing with your own dog's idiosyncratic reactions.

"For example, my dog was so distracted by the other dogs in the class that he would rather bark than listen to me. In seven short weeks, we progressed from standing several yards away from the group to standing quietly next to another dog. The speed of progress and retention of learning are exciting to me and fill me with a sense of success and pride in my dog. I am really, really pleased with the results of this class and intend to continue using clicker training in the future." - J.D. and Chuck

Making training fun for dogs and people...

"It has been the best basic obedience class I've ever had. Scott is a great teacher. He made the class fun for the people as well as the dogs. I have been in classes before where I really did not look forward to class, was worried about how my dog was being handled, and I was stressed. Scott was always very encouraging with the students and always had positive things to say about our dogs. He was quick to notice and point out progress, so not only is the dog being positively reinforced, but the handler is, also. The class is very upbeat. " - C. R. and Tass (has been training dogs for over 20 years)

You can teach an old dog new tricks...

"Who says you can't teach an old beagle new tricks? Synergy Dog Training helped to enhance the bond I have with my 9-year-old beagle mix, Buffy. Positive training is gentle and it helps to build a mutual understanding and trust between you and your dog--this is the reason it is extremely effective. In their classes, Synergy Dog Training's instructors create an atmosphere that is fun for both pet and owner with games and short, effective training mini-sessions that produce marvelous results.

" Buffy learned how to lie down, stay in place, and come when called. Her attention is always focused on me now instead of all those smells that tend to take beagles astray. I give my highest recommendation to Synergy Dog Training!" - Jamie Totten and Buffy

Resolving fear and aggression with kindness and patience...

"I originally contacted Synergy Dog Training to help with my fear aggressive dog, Casey and his reaction toward strangers. I was already familiar with the concept of positive reinforcement and clicker training, but I had very little practical experience using the clicker. After three private sessions, Casey's aggressive reactions towards strangers have improved significantly.

"I am particularly pleased that he has almost completely stopped barking at people while riding in the car. This used to be a major problem. A single 15-minute training session in the car with Valli was enough to greatly decrease his barking, and with a little continued training our car rides are now much more peaceful. Positive reinforcement is both effective as well as fun for the dog, and I would recommend Synergy Dog Training to anyone needing assistance with dog training, whether it is for basic obedience and manners or behavior problems." - Jennifer Ng and Casey

Solving problems in multi-dog households...

"We have seven dogs of varying sizes, ages and shapes. Until the arrival of the seventh dog, Norton, all of our dogs had gotten along very well and there was no rivalry. It was one big happy family.

"Norton changed that. He was constantly attacking two of the younger dogs, Blackie and Chili. It became so bad that Blackie was afraid to come inside for dinner and would run away when we gave out treats to the dogs. We were at our wits' end. Then our veterinarian recommended that we work with Synergy Dog Training. Scott came to our house and watched our dogs in action. When he felt he understood the family dynamic, he gave us recommendations on how to act around the dogs and how to train Norton, Blackie and Chili.

"After Scott left that day, we noticed a marked change in the dogs almost immediately. The fighting stopped almost instantly. Scott came back about a week and a half later but did not need to do much more because the dogs were harmonious. Blackie was back to his happy dog self, Chili wasn't afraid of Norton, and Norton wasn't antagonistic at all. The trainers at Synergy are very knowledgable about the way dogs behave around each other and their human family. If you have a dog behavior problem, we recommend Synergy Dog Training without question or hesitation to help you solve that problem." -Sandi and David Kane, and Chili, Blackie, Norton, and the rest of their furry family

Contact Us

Please feel free to contact us for more details about how we can help you to train your dog towards better behavior.