Testimonials

Hi Sara. Just want to say your tips for handling Saint and stranger aggression are working far better and faster than I ever thought possible. Really has completely changed the dynamic.

Chris Meyer
Guilford, Vermont

Hi Sara! I’ve been meaning to email you just to express our gratitude for the awesome group class you and Debbie put together for us. Speaking for myself and the rest of our crew, every owner felt like they got a lot out of the sessions!

Since moving here, it felt like our training momentum was so interrupted and this class was the kickstart we needed to be there for Juno. From room layout, equipment presented, and all the guidance and exercises you introduced, it gave us all a lot of confidence. We had a dog play date/walk today and Juno was super comfortable, responsive, and kept under threshold the whole time.

Can’t thank you enough,

Tracy Whittaker

Newfane, Vermont

Squeaks [the cat] made the move [to our new home] extremely well! Your trick of giving him treats in the carrier works great and he is still willing to go into the carrier for treats post move. He hasn’t been biting or scratching me … when I pet him… He is doing well in general. Much better than I expected!  … Thanks so much for your help!!! I don’t think he would have come this far without your assistance!

Sue Lederer
Brattleboro, Vermont

Sara has served as a truly invaluable resource for us throughout the course of the training process, and she has helped us overcome numerous obstacles by displaying patience, creativity, and an unwavering sense of kindness. Her compassionate and calming demeanor has worked wonders for our rescue puppy, especially while identifying and working through her issues with anxiety and noise sensitivity. Sara is prompt, reliable, and responsive; she teaches you to celebrate even the littlest victories along the way, while taking the time to adjust and personalize the training plan to cater to your specific needs, wants, and end goals. Watching our puppy’s transformation has been an amazing and humbling experience, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you so much, Sara! You are the best.”

Cristina Casey
West Orange, New Jersey

My husband & I are so grateful for the strong foundation of skills Sara helped us build when we got our new puppy. She is so kind, caring, patient & available to answer all our questions! Our puppy, Winston, has turned out really well and we love him so much! We’re always sure to recommend Training Matters to all dog owners we meet along our travels! Thanks for all you do, Sara! You’re the best!”

Jenny Nernberg Chakravorty
West Orange, New Jersey

Thanks for your training help with our newest family member Skippy. As you know, Skippy was a long-time resident (six plus years) of the Jersey Animal Coalition here in South Orange, NJ. He was adopted out about three or four times and returned because of his behavioral issues. My husband Sergio was one of the few volunteers who could walk Skippy. One day Sergio surprised me and brought home Skippy to stay home for good. I could barely get close to him without him growling at me. Leashing him and walking him was virtually impossible for me to do. That is when my vet’s office said to contact you.

Sara, you came to our rescue and after just a few training sessions you helped me feel more comfortable with Skippy and told me how to deal with his fear aggression. You helped us understand that our boy reacted because of his fear of humans and other dogs invading his space. You showed us the importance and value of rewards-based training, which made us more comfortable than other training methods we had experienced.

After just a few short weeks and a few training sessions, I was able to almost completely rid myself of the extreme anxiety I had when approaching and interacting with Skippy. I am now able to hug him, brush him and walk him with no problem. He now loves his momma as much as his dad.

Thank you so much for your invaluable help. We could not have done this with out you!”

Hugs and kisses from Skippy, Tamara and Sergio Schraiber
South Orange, N.J.

When I called Sara I was a little desperate, after puppy kindergarten and our own training efforts did not seem to be having much effect on our 6-month-old golden doodle. Our puppy made incredible strides working with Sara. She covered the most important behaviors in increasingly challenging scenarios, and taught us tons of little tips that we use every day. The most remarkable thing was watching how much he seemed to enjoy learning, and how much he accomplished using only positive reinforcement. Sara teaches in a very straightforward manor, using techniques that are very intuitive and easy to replicate on our own. I even had my kids participate in some of our sessions. They picked up on the techniques easily, which has helped us maintain the progress our dog made. We have been extremely happy with the results from working with Sara and recommend her to everyone!”

Laura Epstein
South Orange, New Jersey

More testimonials on the way!