Karsyn & Kelcey

Tony, Jayme, and the staff at Lead Your K9 have played a huge impact on the my life and the relationship I have with my two golden kiddos. Imagine this scenario.. you have this grand idea that you will get two golden retriever litter mates (who will be the best of friends..), you’ll be able to train them as puppies, and go on all kinds of adventures with them. Fast forward 18 months and they control your life. Every single move you make must be strategically planned with the dogs in mind. Those “adventures” you thought you would take consist of playing in the fenced in yard because you are physically incapable of even taking them for a walk on leash so forget any kind of actual adventure. Taking them to the vet or the groomer is a nightmare and they have to go one at a time because you can’t control both of them together and you poorly handle one at a time. You experienced multiple cuts and scrapes over these months from all the times that you ended up on the ground from the pure strength that they have on leash. You are at the point that you don’t even invite people to your house (or joked you would make humans sign a contract that you are not responsible for any injuries) because you are fearful that they will get injured from the chaos that occurs with the dogs. Then one day your dogs get out and run down a driveway at a busy road and all you can think about is them getting hit by a car because you truthfully have no good communication with them, thankfully by some higher power they decided that day to stop just shy of the road and come running back to you. Well this was my life and this day was my last straw I knew I couldn’t go on living like this with my dogs anymore. 

While I had thought about doing some training with them prior I was nervous to take the leap but that very day I emailed Lead Your K9. In a timely manner I received an email back and set up a phone call with Jayme so she could get more information. From the first interaction with Jayme I knew that we were in good hands and during our first in person consultation with Tony and Jayme I was even more assured that this was going to be the best decision yet. Something that was going to take hard work but that would be so worth it for mine and my dogs lives. In fact, during that in person consultation as my one dog went running around the facility after ripping the leash from my hands, my eyes were opened even more to the reality that I was clueless and oblivious for far to long about my dogs behavior and my inability to communicate with them. 

Both of my dogs were set up for a three week board and train and we immediately got started by watching online classroom videos and incorporating this into our lifestyle. The entire board and train process was enlightening and the social media pictures and videos kept me excited. Each time I went to the facility for a training session with the dogs and Tony I came home even more shocked at what my dogs and I learned. I will truthfully never forget the day we went back in for a follow up with both the golden kiddos and I walked both of them together. This moment was one of my favorite times during this process so far and I can remember when Tony told me we were doing this I probably looked like I was going to fall over. When I successfully walked around the training center with both dogs together I thought back to that first consult and I was simply amazed at the progress and difference. I still sometimes can not even believe that I can hold the leash correctly, let alone walk my dogs in public, and don’t get me started on the fact that the dogs will go to place and actual stay there. Learning to communicate with my dogs and having a better understanding what they are feeling has impacted our relationship to a new level. Don’t get me wrong we have our ups and downs, we face challenges daily, and we still have so much to learn but the best part about my process is the continued support from the Lead Your K9 staff, it always feels like I have a support system. When problems or questions come up I know that Tony and Jayme are an email or chat away. While my dogs and I continue to learn and grow together I continue to be so grateful for all the opportunities that Lead Your K9 have offered and given to us. We are so thankful for the enrichment program, the group classes, and hope to continue to learn more and more! 

Tony, Jayme, and all the Lead Your K9 staff are truly amazing people who really understand dogs and their needs. To anyone who is feeling lost or frustrated just know that that I was in your shoes but Lead Your K9 is available to help and an enhanced relationship with your dog/dogs is achievable!!

-Toni Dissinger