We are also more confident in managing his behavior should it escalate since Kathy not only trains the dog but equips you with the tools necessary to address challenging behavior. I feel I could write a whole book about all the things I have learned from her. Is it an investment? The first home visit with Kathy and Eleanor was amazing and for the first time we saw hope for Penny. Clearly not an appropriate response. Last December we adopted our dog, who while being incredibly wonderful, struggled with leash reactivity and recall. we adopted a deaf boxer/pit and withher training Luna is a happy, well trained (mostly :~) dog who can walk off leash anywhere and comes to us when we use the e-collar. That's when we called Kathy at the recommendation of a dog park friend who was also dealing with aggression issues. We have worked together with my shelter foster dogs ever since. She does a great job of walking you through the process so that you'll be able to handle your dog the same way, because at the end of the day you have to be able to show your dog good, consistent leadership. I adopted her at about a year old and we immediately began training on our own and in group classes. We had no clue why he barks at us and I was afraid to be home with own my dog alone at night. The better he behaves the more freedom he gets and the more time he gets to hang around us.Through the training with Kathy and Beth, we built confidence and bonded with our dog. I am so eternally grateful for her. I do private in home and neighborhood sessions.

She has helped me with each of them, with a different approach for different problems, and has helped me also with handling the pack. It takes work and dedication but is worth every second you put into it and you have support every step of the way. They supplement the in-person sessions with written notes, which are surprising well-written and useful for reviewing the material on your own. Then we met Kathy, and our whole experience has been nothing short of miraculous and life-changing. My gigantic, powerful dog now waits at the door before his walks, which I am able to truly ENJOY because he walks respectfully on lead and is getting even better at this every day. So in my estimation, it is worth every minute and every penny to have a dog you can trust and who can trust you. Our dog a Great Pyrenees/Bernese Mtn dog mix, a big 130 lbs dog, was having fear aggression towards other dogs and that was quite difficult for us to handle. From the very first time you meet them, there is no doubting their passion for not only dogs, but their profession.As you proceed with the program (we had 12 sessions over 4 - 5 months), you realize that the trainers are really training you, more so than your dog, and that they are quite masterful at dealing with humans and their difficulties in learning and executing the techniques. There is still work to be done, but we now see a transformation in not just our dogs but ourselves as well. Anyone who's looking for a quick fix isn't taking their dog's well being seriously. When visitors came over, she would bark and growl often sprinting to the front door intimidating them. We have long completed the 4 session package, but Kathy still regularly checks in with us because she CARES! She loves to play and was good with 90% of dogs but would escalate issues and sometimes start fights for what seemed like no reason at all. So I took a leap of faith and we embarked on our journey. They combine correction techniques with reinforcing good behavior with treats and lots of praise. But that is not to say it wasn't a difficult process having her.

Now our dog gets to run for miles in the hills while we take our favorite hikes. We tried every harness, lead, Cesar Millan's books, collars etc. Denise helped us to understand balance as it relates to our work with Benny. At this point, we'd already tried a number of trainers and programs without success and was skeptical that anything would "work". Seems like she is a wonderful gal, and the only dog trainer in the vicinity. She wanted to charge towards and yelp at every person and every dog we passed, she was taking us for walks. Things that I had difficulty to do at first have become a way of being, a way of seeing and relating to the dogs, and not just my own dogs but the ones I encounter on trails or at the dog park, walk at the shelter, or foster in my home, that feels incredibly fulfilling and empowering. Now we can enjoy a full life and be around other dogs! I wanted to let Biscuit play but was never sure if she'd be ok. She tolerated a muzzle but it stopped her from engaging and she just seemed depressed. My dogs are good companions now and I am in control! Worse - he now went after flying geese like a maniac (deaf to our frantic calls as he almost went into oncoming traffic), chased leaves rustling in the wind, and even barked uncontrollably at airplanes flying overhead. But with Kathy's support, I learned how to guide him into being who he really was - a more confident and playful dog. She did one correction on him and waa laa, she made him a clam submissive dog. Our dog needs to know when she's doing something that is unsafe for her or for us. You have to be ready to grow, to develop personally, and to change what you're doing. Our goals were much lower - just to be able to walk him on leash on a dog-friendly trail without being concerned about every encounter. He started barking and nipping a while after we adopted him. Walks were always filled with stress and anxiety, and I knew the basic obedience and training I'd been working on wasn't doing anything for her issue. Most importantly, we got to keep our wonderful dog with the addition of our baby and we now know how to keep everyone safe. He is extremely strong and powerful (he broke through the bars of the crate on the first night). I took classes in positive reinforcement training, and we had to sign an agreement not to use tools like prong collars or e-collars. Im so sorry this happened. Within a couple of months, we started to see dramatic changes in our dog's behavior. She sets them up for success so that they build confidence in themselves, and the bond they have with their caregivers. He was in the "red zone" with aggressive behavior and was told to "put him down." It was nothing short of transformative for Mowgli and for me. Over that time, there have been many ups and downs, progress and regression.

We had no clue why he barks at us and I was afraid to be home with own my dog alone at night. Four positive reinforcement trainers and almost 2 years later things were no different. Although Cause & Effect often works with challenging dogs, Kathy was able to offer us a series of puppy training sessions -- focused on issues like how and how often to exercise, setting a schedule for feeding and getting out to pee : ). I have two aggressive rescue large dogs. I could not trust the dog. More My pit Blue was a mess before Kathy.

Kathy responds very quickly to any concerns you have via text or e-mail.I highly recommend her services. We had tried to work with another trainer who did not work out at all. Kathy and Eleanor were able to suggest changes to make around the house and on walks to provide a more structured environment for my dog. For the first 4 sessions, Beth taught us focus walk, wait, down, down stay, tie down, heal, and how to do reinforcement/ correction using a prong collar. I was still walking dogs and often went to dog parks until it became clear that Biscuit was having some aggression issues. After three sessions with Kathy, we have a different dog. Kathy and her team are my go-to recommendations for friends and others with challenging dog issues. I arm the owner with a skill set to think like their dog and guide him clearly from a place of loving and strong leadership. In just 8 lessons (which were lovely and enjoyable opportunities to bond with our dog in the various parks of Berkeley, BTW), we had a girl who was happy and docile on leash and no longer felt the need to protect us or herself with snarls and growling (she was a big "talker"). All the trainers I have worked with in the group are passionate about dogs and are dedicated to helping them be the best they can be. We first worked with Eleanor, she was incredible, consistent, clear, and was always there to help anytime. After an especially challenging weekend, we decided to look for trainers once again. You will only regret not calling her sooner. They are very knowledgeable trainers who really understand dogs. From the very first time you meet them, there is no doubting their passion for not only dogs, but their profession.As you proceed with the program (we had 12 sessions over 4 - 5 months), you realize that the trainers are really training you, more so than your dog, and that they are quite masterful at dealing with humans and their difficulties in learning and executing the techniques. If I do that, I can stay centered, calm, and peaceful. I searched dog walkers, and found couple of them and Kathy was the only person who wrote me back on the same day. I use all tools , not limiting to just treats. Sadly, I have since moved on to a different line of work (clinical psychology), but I love this work as much as I loved my time with Kathy. When she sensed our dedication to bully breeds, she went out of her way to help us. I had stopped dog walking and pet sitting because I couldn't trust Biscuit and was exhausted just keeping her exercised. He was also super under-socialized, We decided to hire a trainer after much research who used only "positive" methods, meaning lots of treats, etc. Thank you! Quite simply, I would no longer trust anyone to train a dog of mine with the same skill and heart and understanding. Thanks Cause and Effect! We knew we had to do something. I'm not anymore. Walks were my worst nightmare, and I'd do anything necessary to avoid seeing another dog while we were out and about. His over-excitement mixed with his size and play style would often quickly overwhelm others. to him, we moved other room and left him alone other room etc Well, nothing stopped him.-Barks at us and nip me every day. Thank you for everything, Kathy! Please enter additional details before continuing. It reveals aspects of the dog's personality we did not know were there and it takes the relationship to a whole different level of mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual love. I wanted to let Biscuit play but was never sure if she'd be ok. She tolerated a muzzle but it stopped her from engaging and she just seemed depressed. On the other hand, we simply couldn't stomach the militaristic use of force and fear tactics that other trainers recommended in order to have a sense of control over our dog's behavior. Just getting to see him run has been such a joy.It has not been an overnight or easy process but Kathy has always been there, coaching me and supporting me. Have faith. Give into that. Through-out the program you meet other people and dogs that have gone through or are going through the same thing you are, so you never feel alone. By continuing, you confirm your agreement to our Terms & Conditions. She works with your schedule and at your pace, giving plenty of time during each lesson to ensure that you are in your comfort zone. We still need to remain diligent and watch her closely, but our lives have really opened up. Even an overly anxious dog would benefit. He would get triggered if he saw a dog across the street, hed lunge, bark and try his best to go attack that dog. Thank you, Kathy. Before, during the week, our dog had to get exercise in the tiny dog parks around Emeryville. I feel so relieved that he can enjoy the freedom of being off leash while I enjoy feeling in control of my giant boy. I thought it would take years, if ever to get to that point and often thought he'd be an closely watched, on-leash, on-muzzle dog forever, But we stuck with Kathy's plan, which was strategic and tailor made for our dog. More Kathy Kear and Eleanor Post, the two personal trainers who worked with my dog Enzo and me, exhibited exceptional professionalism, expertise, and commitment. If I could give a sixth star I absolutely would. My female needed to learn the basics and once she mastered that, the negative, rude behavior to other dogs seemed to dissipate and she became well socialized and happy. ) I learned how to be a strong, calm leader, and Mowgli learned that my job is to take care of him (not the other way around). But with Kathy's support, I learned how to guide him into being who he really was - a more confident and playful dog. We would pass by parks. If you ever need help, have a question, or need support, they will be there for you.

I know it is very stressful when a situation like this occurs and yes, absolutely there are things that can be done to prevent and mitigate this from happening. From Beth, we learned about the importance of structure and consistency. My teacher inspired me.

Through just the basic obedience program conducted by Elizabeth and Mahagony, we have learned and have taught our dog to be independent (no crying when we leave the house, no tearing up car seats, etc), to be housebroken, to be able to be a dog - off leash having the time of his life with other dogs, to not pull during leashed walks, to lie calmly in establishments that allow his presence - coffee shops, hair dresser, restaurants with outdoor seatings, to not chase our cats, to be accepting of other homeless dogs who may need a few nights to stay (they learn their manners as well). More Kathy is an amazing trainer . Kathy is thoughtful and thorough with her assessment and took the time to figure out what our dog needed. That's commitment. He was extremely pushy and did not take no for an answer.

The dogs sense it right away. Cause and Effect dog training has helped me significantly with the two dogs I have had. More We contacted Kathy Kear of Cause and Effect a couple of times before retaining her awesome services. Kathy Kear is an incredible dog trainer that really assesses the individual needs of each dog she works with. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with various members of the team and we've absorbed different lessons from each of them. We were good parents: took her to puppy pre-K and obedience school, and she even passed the Canine Good Citizenship Exam. We adopted a rescue 1 year ago, a lovable, 90 pound, teddy bear (shepherd/lab mix) who loves people. Fast forward one year after adoption - we had diligently participated in no less than 5 different courses geared toward reactive dogs and had gone through several personal 1:1 dog trainers using only positive reinforcement methods, yet our dog Shiloh was just as reactive as ever towards dogs. Every walk was stressful, and I would constantly cross the street or change directions to avoid other dogs because our dog would bark and lunge wildly when another dog was in sight. I must admit, we were extremely wary of using anything other than positive reinforcement methods, yet we could see with our own eyes that it hadn't worked. After three sessions with Kathy, we have a different dog. Although, Kathy is not accepting new clients at the moment. Kathy also instilled the importance of exercise. As for the male, he is much stronger minded and very leash aggressive. I really could never have imagined Larry would come this far and am gratefull to Cause & Effect for all the tools and guidance they have provided. She is always there to provide support and guidance when needed. However, the trainers are very sensitive to this and guide you every step of the way. She talked us through using a crate and how to interact with Otis in the house. I am so eternally grateful for her. By the end of our program I felt confident that he would drop what he was doing and come when called, even in a location like Point Isabel with dogs running by us in every direction. What a difference her help has made in my life!!! In my case, my boy loves learning tricks and agility stunts. Beth Peterson with Cause and Effect literally saved our butts. As the owner, you have to be committed, but we couldn't have done it without Kathy. Thanks, Kathy! When we came back and then moved to Berkeley, the first time we took her to Willard Park, she bit a small dog, drawing blood, and required stitches. Then, after one terrible episode where he knocked down my wife while holding the leash and attacked another dog, we knew we needed more help. Now we can go to the park and know that we have control of our pup, we walk her with confidence, and we aren't scared to bring here anywhere. Extremely protective, he would attack other dogs, had nipped at our former landlord, as well as a friend of ours. They show you how to create a stronger bond and trust with your dog, as well. Positive reinforcement training can be great for some things but it just wasn't enough for Biscuit. We have (because its always a work in progress) a reactive and aggressive dog who did not like us having people over and would lunge at anything walking past it. She understood our dog immediately and knew exactly how to help him and us. He even trots after them and makes new friends, If I ever have any concerns I simply call him and he runs back, or I calmly tell him "down" (even 30 feet away) and he goes down. Kathy corrected him and he yelped, which was hard for me to watch-- and I really had to do some soul searching about whether this program would be a good fit for me. If I do that, I can stay centered, calm, and peaceful. Absolutely. We would even walk her at Midnight and early in the morning so we wouldn't be embarrassed or freak anyone out. Working with Eleanor and Kathy changed everything for me. When Kathy, Shannon, and Eleanor all showed up at our apartment in person for our orientation session, I just had a good feeling about the whole thing. He is now the best dog in the world. She was young, happy, and full of energy. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with various members of the team and we've absorbed different lessons from each of them. There is still work to be done, but we now see a transformation in not just our dogs but ourselves as well. I must admit, we were extremely wary of using anything other than positive reinforcement methods, yet we could see with our own eyes that it hadn't worked. We learned how to use the prong and e-collar in a mindful way. We've also worked on not pulling when walking, waiting at the curb, a little bit of down stay and some basic recall. The first two weeks created a huge shift in the ways in which I responded to my dog (and him to me) and it was during this time that I began to see some change.We continued on over a few months - working with Kathy, Eleanor and Shannon - and have seen such remarkable change in ourselves and our pup.