In August 2022, our family picked up our fluffy eight-week-old golden retriever, Scout. Looking back, we chuckle, remembering how squirrely and energetic he appeared even on that car ride home. From that moment on, Scout presented an intense challenge that we were unprepared for. Our prior training and experience with retrievers proved insufficient for raising this headstrong pup. Scout’s energy and anxiety would manifest itself in unhealthy behaviors, such as jumping and reacting to correction. Over the next year, we tried many training techniques with no success. His behavioral issues only continued to escalate, making each day a struggle. Exhausted and discouraged, we began questioning whether we could continue raising this dog. It was a heartbreaking question, but one we had to consider given the desperateness of the situation.
It was at this critical moment that we contacted K9 Conditioning. From the first meeting, we felt a sense of hope we hadn’t felt before. Steph presented us with goals and step-by-step instructions for Scout’s training. We established clear expectations and tight boundaries with Scout at home and in public. We also increased his daily exercise routine to ensure his anxiety was at a minimum. Slowly but surely, we saw improvement in his behavior. Throughout this process, K9 Conditioning offered endless support and help. They were always happy to meet for training sessions or to answer any questions we had along the way.
We are immensely grateful to K9 Conditioning for giving us a second chance with Scout. Now, our days aren’t consumed with managing bad behaviors but enjoying and cherishing moments with our pup.
