Review from Dakota's Family

“Susan is nothing short of a miracle worker when it comes to training dogs! We recently adopted Dakota, a one-year-old Malinois mix who had been a stray. From the moment he entered our home, it was clear he had no training or manners. He was high-strung and completely out of control – constantly yelping, unable to stay still, jumping on furniture and people, crashing into things, and harassing our other dog. To top it off, he destroyed everything in his path.”

“We were overwhelmed and at our wits’ end when we reached out to Susan for help. She responded promptly and scheduled a time to meet Dakota. From the very first session, Susan immediately recognized the issues we were facing and took control of the situation. Her expertise was evident right away.

After eight weeks of dedicated training, along with several follow-up sessions, Dakota returned home as a completely different dog. He now has manners, follows commands, and is calm and manageable – the transformation has been night and day! We were honestly worried he might be untrainable, but Susan worked wonders.

Susan is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also a joy to work with. She’s friendly, flexible, and a fantastic communicator. We especially appreciated the photos and videos she sent to keep us updated on Dakota’s progress. It’s clear she genuinely cares about the dogs she trains.

If you’re in need of a dog trainer – especially for high-energy breeds like a Malinois – we can’t recommend Susan highly enough. She truly changed our lives and gave Dakota the skills he needed to thrive.”

Thank you so much to Rubi & Art for entrusting me with your guy. It was truly a pleasure getting to work with him and your family!

Group Dates & Fall Program/Boarding Updates

With the weather cooling off I'm planning on the following dates for group. Please RSVP via email (ambehaviortraining@gmail.com) if you would like to attend so I can notify you of any location changes, etc. Check out Boarding and additional program notes below if you're interested in a training tune up or any holiday boarding.

Group 1: Sat. 9/21 @ 11am - Heron Landing Community Park 

This park is extremely busy on weekends usually (kids/playgrounds/tennis courts/soccer fields, etc.) but there is A LOT of room so it's easy to manage space as needed. 

Group 2: Sat. 10/5 @ 11am - Petfood Express Roseville 

Busy store and we will most likely work outside the store around the fountains/store areas as well weather permitting. Lots of close proximity practice. 

Group 3: 10/19 @ 11am - William B Pond Recreational Area

Very large park with lots of space, bike trail, by the river as well but will depend on weather if we stop by. Mainly will be working on recall around distractions and obedience at a distance. 

Program & Boarding Info

Day Training Availability is opening up again for Fall. 

Great for keeping your dogs tuned up and challenged when you're busy. 

Availability Tues-Sat.

Drop off between 7:30-9 

Pick Up between 4 - 5:30

Alternate times may be available depending on days needed

Packages: 

1 Day - $90

4 Days - $325

10 Days - $725

Boarding is super limited this year so please reach out ASAP with your time/dates. 

I will be requiring a 25% nonrefundable deposit to hold spaces. 

$85 per day - No pick ups or drop offs on Sundays/Mondays. 

Look forward to seeing everyone!

Summer spots are filling fast!

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Lisa. I’m so happy we could help you and Sofie navigate this challenging behavior and figure out a way to make life livable and safe again for everyone.

“Susan and Animal Minds are an incredible training program. I enrolled Sofie, a 90lb 4-year-old german shepherd, in their 8 week behavioral board and train program. Sofie is a very intelligent dog who knew a lot of basic commands and was fairly decent at listening to the commands. Majority of the time she is able to loose-leash walk without any problems, the only exception being when she encountered cats. My biggest issue with Sofie was her reactivity/aggression toward other dogs when it came to her possessions, especially in the household. We live with 2 other large dogs and 1 small dog in the house. Sofie was possessive over her food, toys, the bedroom and at times her owner. Though she has only lived with the other dogs in the house for a little over a year, her aggression had been progressively worsening, especially with the small dog. The last straw was when the small dog wandered too close to my room and she attacked the small dog to the point where there was a cut in the small dog's neck from Sofie biting so hard. I was faced with the decision to either give her up or take her to training.

Sofie did not have ill will toward the other dogs, she just didn't want them touching her stuff. When in a neutral space she got along fine with the other dogs. Susan recognized this when she did our consult visit and recognized the potential that Sofie had to modify her behavior, but she made it very clear that just as Sofie's behavior did not start overnight, it would not go away overnight.

Sofie stayed with Susan for 4 weeks then was gradually re-introduced back to the household. She is now e-collar and muzzle trained which is amazing so that she can still be out around the other dogs and we don't have to worry so much about risk to the other dogs. We are continuing to work on her behavior modification even after completing the board and train, but now we have the skills and resources to effectively communicate with Sofie. We have noticed a great change in Sofie's behavior and now, approximately 3 weeks since she returned home, Sofie is able to stay relaxed in my room even when the other dogs wander close to my room and she can see them through a baby gate. We are hopeful that with time and consistent work on our part, Sofie will be able to remain calm and relaxed even when there isn't a barrier in place.

Susan is an incredible trainer and really knows what she is doing. She continues to keep in touch even after the board and train has finished and continues to give her advice. I would highly recommend Animal Minds Behavior and Training to anyone who is looking to train their dog.”

Group Class Schedule

It’s that time of year!

We are excited to announce our upcoming group training sessions tailored to previous clients who wish to continue their training journey in environments with various distractions. These sessions will provide an opportunity for you and your dogs to practice in well-controlled, directed spaces, ensuring steady progress and reinforcing learned behaviors.

Session 1:

- Date: Saturday, April 27th

- Time: 10:30 AM

- Location: Nimbus Hiking Trail

- Meeting Point: (Directions will be provided via group email)

Session 2

- Date: Saturday, May 11th

- Time: 10:30 AM

- Location: PetFood Express (Loehmann's Plaza)

Session 3:

- Date: Saturday, May 25th

- Time: 10:30 AM

- Location: Rusch Park (Citrus Heights)

Session 4:

- Date: Saturday, June 8th

- Time: 10:30 AM

- Location: William B Pond Park (River trail/adventures)

Session 5:

- Date: Saturday, June 22nd

- Time: 10:30 AM

- Location: To Be Determined (TBD)

Please RSVP for each session by sending an email to ambehaviortraining@gmail.com. This will help us ensure that we can adequately prepare for the number of participants and provide the best experience for everyone involved.

Ms.Mimi doing amazing!

I love cases where I’m able to help keep a dog in their home. She’s the sweetest girl, just needed some clear direction.

“We highly recommend Susan and Animal Minds Behavior & Training.

My parents have a 16 mo old standard poodle Miss Mimi Chanel, who was out of control, excessive barking, jumping up on people and not walking well on a leash. She was becoming a safety concern. My friend highly recommended Susan. I gave Susan a call and she quickly got back to me. I explained the situation and a couple days later Mimi was off to school. Susan took her time to get to know Mimi so she could base her training around her personality. She kept us updated with phone calls, pictures and videos, which was a comfort to my parents to know she was in good hands.

When the time came for Mimi to come home we did day visits to get everyone used to Mimi’s commands. Soon she was home for good. Susan still provided needed support with visits. We couldn’t be happier. As my mom put it, “we always loved Mimi’s joyful spirit, now we have a well trained joyful Mimi”.

A huge thank you to Susan and Animal Minds.”

Graduation!

Jinx’s owner brought along a graduation cap when she picked her up and it totally cracked me up. Loved it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Sara!

I adopted a sweet dog whose behavior was so out of control that I asked the rescue to take her back! I had tried, and failed to teach her even basic commands and couldn’t keep her off the dining room table, where she would troll for snacks before curling up to take a nap. I had lost hope until I discovered Animal Minds! Susan’s kind, consistent approach taught Jinx what is expected and how to easily comply. Susan also spent quality time training me to work well with Jinx so we can happily live together. Jinx is now a compliant, well-adjusted dog who is a blast to be around. Thank you, Susan, for helping me keep Jinx!

Learning to relax...

I love getting update pictures like these. Chico is an interesting, stoic kind of guy and it can take a bit to learn to read his true intent in new or surprising scenarios but luckily he has super patient owners who were willing to do the work and learn all they can about him!

We needed help to handle our adult dog‘s reactivity and we found that and more with Animal Minds. Susan is not only a knowledgable trainer who seems to literally be able to handle any type of dog but also truly seems to understand what goes on in their mind and decode it for their owners. She listened to our concerns, explained her methods/qualifications clearly and projected confidence from day 1. We enrolled our dog in the 8 weeks boarding program and if your pup is struggling with any form of behavioral issues, I strongly recommend doing the same.

Before starting training with Animal Minds, my dog showed reactivity toward dogs and people and it was difficult to have guests over cause he struggled with polite greetings and neutrality in general. I didn't know what was triggering him and we were considering using a muzzle. After completing the program, I feel confident taking him out for walks on and even off leash, I take him to restaurants and shops with me and I can tell he is happier too. Oh, did I mention the continuous support she provides even after the program and the group classes to fine tune training afterwards? I am not exaggerating when I say our lives got better because of Susan and Animal Minds. If you are considering training, I strongly recommend her!

Summer is coming!

With summer around the corner get your pups in soon so you can enjoy the outdoors just like Hanna and Roux!

We worked with Susan! We chose the off-leash board and train option for our rambunctious and spunky 10 month old corgi. Roux lacked a lot of manners, was pushy when it came towards other dogs in play time, and lacked impulse control. He was your stereotypical, overly-friendly dog who was too smart for his own good.

Working with Susan has been such a pleasure and my pup came back to me with better manners and impulse control. He also plays very well with others dogs and loves to play tug with them now! Yay! Walking him is a dream. I especially love working and training with him in public because he is a rockstar and does sooooo well now!

We get so many compliments on our daily walks or when I take him out for lunch on how well-behaved he is... all thanks to Susan!

I loved the transition lessons as we prepared for him to come back home. It helped a lot with teaching me what I needed to know to set my boy up for success once he came back. My relationship with Roux is stronger than ever now! So happy we chose Animal Minds and I would highly recommend Susan if you are having similar problems that Roux was having!

Reviews!

Nero visited me for an intensive puppy camp when he was young and I still get to see this big lug yearly. It’s incredibly gratifying to see pups that came through my program grow up to enjoy life and be able to be apart of a healthy, active lifestyle with their owners.

Thank you Susan and Animal Minds for helping us when we were at our wits end! At 12 weeks old, our Giant Schnauzer puppy was hyper energetic, stubborn and over all very difficult to control. Like the naïve puppy parents we were, we initially thought it would be possible to train him based off the material we found on Google/YouTube… Let me just say, the training techniques that may work on a Corgi are NOT going to help you with a working line breed. I knew we had to intervene in our dog’s behavior before he turned into a 100lb problem. I initially was hoping to find a training solution in the Bay Area, but after reviewing the options, it became clear that driving to Sacramento was worth the extra mileage to board our pup in the 4 week sport puppy camp.

Here’s why: Animal minds is not a dog kennel. It’s super hard to leave your baby behind, but for us it was tolerable because Susan kept in constant contact with us sending videos and updates every day. We were also required to participate in 1-on-1 training sessions throughout the month where Susan would teach us how to handle our dog so we could maintain his newly instilled good behavior on our own. Every session we would drive up from the Bay to Sacramento and each time we could see more improvement in his behavior. The puppy camp really gave us time to decompress after the initial very stressful 8-12 week phase.

Bottom line-
Is it easy? Not at first. The training just begins with the boarding process and continues when you’re back home. Susan will give you the tools you’ll need to have an excellently trained dog, but it’s your responsibility to stay consistent with using the tools and building a routine. Also love that Susan kept in contact with us after the boarding camp and we could rely on her advice for any new concerns over the past year.

Is it expensive? Yes. Be prepared to drop a few grand. If you’re uncomfortable with the price tag, then ask yourself if you’re more comfortable with having a problem dog that’ll cause you and your family stress for possibly the next decade.

Our dog just turned 1 years old. Here’s what we were able to accomplish by investing in Animal Minds + maintaining training:
- Completely potty trained by 3 months old
- Stopped biting hands around 3 months old
- No pulling on leash/walks by our side
- Can walk off leash with him by our side
- Doesn’t pull on the leash when other dogs are around
- No aggression towards other dogs (boarding also = socialization)
- Comes immediately when called
- Stays in sit/down even in public
- No tearing up furniture
- No excessive barking

It was worth it for us.

---

Updating Reviews

Over the next few weeks we will be updating here weekly with some of our client reviews, that way they can be found in one place and folks don’t have to jump from platform to platform.

First up this week is Claire & Callie…

“I interviewed multiple board and train owners and as soon as I met Susan- there was no looking back. Her direct but smiling manner meant she was all business and most concerned about providing the best possible and most successful training course for me and my dog. I did not want to be the stay-at-home Mom but wanted to be a part of Callie's training. During the last few weeks with Susan, I would go and train with the two of them at local public venues. Which was delightful, I could see Callie's progress and I got to be the proud Mom showing her off. Callie spent a little over 6 weeks with Susan- I was the helicopter Mom- Susan put up with my frequent texting to check-in on Callie- she always responded with a great story and sometimes a picture of their day out and about. She described the relationship between her and Callie as thou it was her best friend-with responses like, "well she did not want to go the river today so we went to visit her friends in the neighborhood." She got and understood Callie immediately- your classic high strung, super bright, field retriever, who needed guardrails. I have a busy career and knew I could not provide Callie what she needed - super solid obedience. To this point we had successfully completed 3 obedience classes a canine good citizen class and she had multiple blue ribbons at dock-diving. I knew that she and I would both be allot happier and enjoy each other allot more our walks, hikes and adventures if they did not involve a battle of the minds. Callie's time with Susan did just that- she came home respectful, a sense of patience, a need to learn, calmer and a joy to hang out with in public, at home and on adventures. Just as Susan described, we are weaning off the e-colllar and now Callie just looks up at me for the next command- she matured. Many, many times I am stopped by people who ask me where we trained- one gentleman was so impressed with Callie on leash- he asked if I could train his children!! (Not so sure they would like the e-collar:):). I used to ask Susan when will Callie come home and she would tell me .."when I am confident I can deliver back to you the best product possible ". We are now in agility, the AKC trainer cannot believe how well she sits, stays, downs and comes on hand commands only- Susan taught her focus and she loves to learn. This was the best investment , I highly recommend Susan and Animal Minds-phenomenal! Thank you Susan!”

Group Classes Starting in July

In this 5 week course, Terra will work with you and your dog on basic obedience and help give you the tools you need for you and your pooch to hit the town for fun. There will even be an opportunity to practice how to have a peaceful meal in public with your dog by your side in a calm state before the final class which will be dinner at Beach Hut Deli located next door.

We will be covering the following skills: 

~ Sit
~ Down
~ Loose leash walking
~ Recall
~ Intro placement training
~ How to build self-control in your dog.
~ A discussion about what to feed your dog.
~ A review of dog training tools and helping you select what’s best for you and your dog. 
~ Troubleshooting behavior problems at home
~ How to reinforce commands on leash when distracted
~ Learning how to teach a trick
~ Q&A at the end of each session

Sign up today!
Cost: $300 for the 5 week course
Contact: (916) 538-0422 or email AMBehaviortraining@gmail.com

NOTICE: This course is for current clients. If you are not already a client, contact us to set up an in-home consult to get you ready for class

Loki Rocking It..

Love watching these little guys put everything together and learn life skills!

We love getting reviews!! Keep them coming!

Susan has been wonderful with our Border Collie, Baxter!  We rescued him from Nor Cal Border Collie Rescue several months ago; he came to the rescue with almost nothing known about his previous training or background.  Over the course of the first month, it was obvious that there were some behaviors that needed corrected, especially in how he interacted with our other dogs at playtime. Leash manners and recall were also issues. We took him to a basic dog obedience class, but their reward (treat)-driven methodology is not a successful approach with a dog as motivated and clever as Baxter.  We were referred to Animal Minds by one of the foster parents at the Border Collie rescue, and what a lucky day that was for us all!

Susan truly understands Border Collies, and what drives them.  We have had 3 of our 4 sessions with her, and the progress Baxter has made is remarkable.  He's now a joy on leash walks, and a trusted hiking, fishing and camping buddy. We are now working on the complex behaviors that a border collie displays when other dogs are playing, and he thinks he needs to herd, nip and corrale them.  He is already showing progress, which is a relief to us all.

Susan is kind, sensitive and respectful in handling Baxter, and even though the sessions with her are tough for him, he's always excited to see her.  It's like he knows she has his best interest in mind, and he can definitely sense that she is a dog lover.  

Baxter isn't the only one learning from the sessions. While he is learning to be an even better dog, we are also learning to be better and more consistent dog parents. There is no doubt in my mind that this is money very well-spent!!  I would highly recommend Animal Minds to anyone dealing with dog behavioral issues!

Cathy C.  (Posted on Yelp)

We love getting amazing reviews like this one!

Posted on Yelp:

We have two small terriers, ages 7 and 9, and we reached a breaking point after a litany of poor behaviors over time had piled up.  I didn't realize how many there were until I started making a list in preparation for meeting and selecting a trainer.  

The first trainer we met with did not seem at all interested in fostering our connection with the dogs while also teaching proper behavior.  Her answer to everything was bitter apple spray.  In fact she sprayed our dogs immediately upon entering our home the first time, without our approval.  Aside from whether we were ok with this method or not, what was more frustrating was that just a week prior one of them had an abscessed tooth extracted! That can't have felt good to him. We wanted to teach our dogs to be better behaved but we also want to respect that they are dogs and we have to learn how to communicate with them properly and let them, at the end of the day, be dogs.  Not just little robots that are too afraid to do anything. We couldn't wait for her to leave and knew, without hesitation, that she would not be helping us train our dogs.

About an hour after the interview with the first trainer, Susan arrived.  Within minutes I breathed a sigh of relief and my fiance and I immediately agreed upon her leaving that she was the one for us. You could tell with the way she interacted with the dogs, and how she talked with us about the dogs, that she was very interested in respecting that they are dogs and helping us figure out how to connect with them on their level to obtain the behaviors we needed for a more peaceful home and the ability to go out with them in public without worrying about their behavior.

We trained with her for about 6 months.  We started first at once a week and then every couple weeks and then even longer stretches.  We had some deeply embedded issues and VERY quirky pups.  The usual prescription didn't always work.  What is great about Susan is she has the foundation training tricks down that pretty much every trainer knows, but she is also good at recognizing when something standard isn't working for your pup.  Tucker, especially, was a tough nut.  He didn't always respond to the first or even second thing we tried, but she would study him and try different things and figure out something that would work.  

I am happy to say that now my little jumping bean has learned to control his energy and sit when I come home instead of jumping all over me.  He has stopped immediately lunging toward the door of our neighbors across the hall because their dog starts barking the second we come out.  He has learned to go into his kennel, which he was previously deathly afraid of, on his own and cuddle up.  His reaction on leash continuously improves.  I used to not even be able to re-direct his attention with a treat.  Now I can re-direct his attention and in some cases I don't even need to.  Over time, I know he will be able to walk past other dogs without reacting. And my other little pup, the super shy guy, is learning to explore the world with some techniques she taught us.  He now gets excited to go out and explore instead of being afraid of everything in sight. I can't recommend Susan highly enough.  As I continue to be consistent with the core training techniques we used, I continue to see improvement in areas I wasn't even expecting.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/animal-minds-behavior-and-training-sacramento-2?hrid=01ZgblnxqpKoWsLA7n--8g&utm_campaign=bizsite_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Vote for us on KCRA A-List

It's that time of year again, where you get to vote for your favorite business on the A-List.

We'll be offering training credits for past clients who take the time to vote and potential credit for future clients who take the time, within the next month, to do so. Be sure to screen shot your page after you have completed your vote as proof!

Please share, share, share!

http://sacramento.cityvoter.com/animal-minds-behav…/…/694812

Find us on the A-List Animal Minds Behavior & Training

Day Training Is Here!

We are now accepting new clients for our Day Training program! 

This particular program caters to busy owners who are searching for the right outlet for their dog. We offer a fun, structured environment for the dogs in our care and strive to provide appropriate physical and mental outlets for each pup, depending on their capabilities. Day training is an ideal way to work on your pets obedience and social skills. 

Our Basic Package includes the following:

• Outings last between 4-6 hours
• Loose Leash Walking (No pulling/barking or lunging anymore!)
• Sit/Down/Stay
• Placement Training
• Various different trips to parks, hiking spots, river play days, dog friendly restaurants, play/social groups, etc.

Pricing for the Basic Package begins at:

4 sessions (1 month/1x a week) - $350

Additional/multiple weekly sessions are available on a case by case basis. 

Drop off & Pick Up pricing depends on location and availability and are arranged on an individual basis.

Reactivity and other problem behaviors do not exclude a dog from our Day Training program however they are not included in our Basic Package and are subject to different pricing/availability. Please contact us with questions!

Cooper the Catahoula

Cooper the #catahoula putting his big boy pants on yesterday. This isn't a video where we show how "fast" we can fix behavioral issues or to tout e-collar magic. This is about the hard work this dog, his owners and us here at AMBT have put in. More than most would like to ever admit, many dogs are not a quick fix. Anyone who knows CLD's knows their prey drive and reactivity can be very intense. We've all been working very diligently for YEARS to get this far with this kid. From proofing his off leash/ e-collar work so he can exist around other animals and have some freedom, to working on leash reactivity, mild anxiety behaviors and continually managing his near constant will to "take on" any threat - these dogs are not for the faint of heart. Some might say, "Well shouldn't it all be fixed then if you've been training so long?" Not every dog will ever fit the mold of what you want them to be. As smart, quick, and adaptable as this dog is - you always have to be one step ahead. Know the difference between behavioral issues and genetic traits is key. For those who say "it's all in how you raise them" - this guy is the poster child for decades of breeding for a purpose.. to take on anything that challenges them. 100% guarantee if a dog with his temperament walked into a shelter he'd be deemed dangerous, untrainable and likely euthanized. Thank god for responsible owners. So proud of this guy and all his hard work. There was absolutely zero use of the collar (paging or stim) in this video. All behaviors are offered or verbal command only. While the muzzle may look intimidating it's purely for back up on his first day training outing. Safety first. #animalminds #catahoulaleoparddog

Animal Minds Behavior & Training Christmas Specials

Christmas Puppy Special - $50 (1 session/2 phone consults)

Any puppy under 4 months qualifies for one in-home private session and 2 phone consults.

The private session includes:

• Potty Training
• Crate Training
• How to stop puppy biting
• How to stop puppy chewing
• Beginning Sit/Down Commands
• Beginning Self-Control/Boundary work

Basic Obedience Christmas Special - $125 (2 sessions/1 phone consult)

This in-home private package is for any dog that is needing to work on basic obedience. It will cover any age dog that you have and will also include 1 phone consult. It will not cover any dog aggression or other behavior modification.

These 2 sessions will cover:

• Crate Training
• Sit, Down and Stay
• Loose Leash Walking
• Teaching Self-Control/Boundaries
• How to start working around distractions

*The follow up phone sessions assist in problem solving and pin pointing trouble areas.

*Packages must be purchase by December, 31 2016.

!Thanksgiving Training Special!

In the spirit of Black Friday and all the upcoming holiday specials, we wanted to offer our very own! Please read the full description to make sure the behaviors you're looking to work on are covered and e-mail us directly when you're ready to purchase. 

From todays date (Nov.20th) through the end of November (Nov.30th) we're offering a 4 session private obedience package for $250. 

This is open to past, present, and new clients and is only valid when purchased between now and November 30th. 

This applies to the following basics:

Sit, Down, Loose Leash Walking, beginning foundations for Stay, placement training and boundary work at home and beginning focus/engagement with the owner around distractions.

For previous clients looking to purchase, please contact us and we can discuss what you would like to work on prior to purchase. We're flexible!

Good girl, Ms. Bella!

Working with a different kind of client today. Isabella is a female Dachshund suffering from SARDS. The blindness is often very unnerving for a dog that has been able to see their whole lives. One of the major issues faced by these dogs is the sudden loss of all confidence in their surroundings. Bella was a shell of the happy dog she once was when we started. She wouldn't leave the kitchen and whined or barked most of the day. We have been working over the past several weeks on a new daily routine for her. Our goal has been to reduce her anxiety, whining, weight gain that is an unfortunate result of the steroids prescribed (down 2lbs!), and help the family arrange the household in a way that is safer and encourages her to explore safely again. Here we are working on an emergency "stop" cue in case she is headed towards something dangerous (IE: Pool/Roads). We tested it around the pool today for the first time and she did very well. Dad is still getting used to the fact his little one can't see anymore. As you can see though, her whining has stopped and she's starting to get the hang of orienting herself by voice and feel. Good girl Ms. Bella! 

https://www.facebook.com/AMbehaviorandtraining/?pnref=story