Sabrina Lopez

We have a 4 year old male German Shepherd. We are also retired and in our early 70's. He was just getting too much to handle, just did what he wanted, when he wanted etc. He wouldn't come when called, walk nice (heel) on a leash, jump on people, bark at people and other dogs etc. So we decided to try training again. I say again because we had a trainer when he was a younger dog, and he was doing good, but the trainer had other job commitments and had to move away about half way through the program. So we just forgot about the training until we couldn't put up with it any more. I searched online and found Suburban K-9 Training and thought I would give them a try. They seemed to have great reviews and they did to work in our area (S Chicago suburbs). I did contact them and a gal named Sabrina got back with me. I told her what we had, how the dog was behaving, etc and she assured me she could definitely help me. This all started in January of this year. I think maybe his first lesson was in February. I do know it was still cold out and we did the lessons either in the house, or in my heated garage. At that time they were 90 minute lessons, but I think now they changed to 60 minute lessons. I think there were 14 lessons in total. She started coming once a week, and then later on we made it every other week. Sabrina was very flexible to work with, like of we couldn't be home or had a Dr appointment etc, she would re-schedule us no problem. Well, after the first lesson, he was a different dog! Seemed calmer and paid attention to us better. Sometimes she even brought another trainer with to expose Cody (our dog) to other people, plus even brought her 2 dogs sometimes for socialization. Plus she gave us stuff to practice with him during the week. All I can say is he is now a different dog, especially around other people. He now doesn't constantly bark at the neighbors, comes when called, goes into his kennel by himself (we don't have to drag him in), walks on leash fairly well, can go into a store like Farm N Fleet and behave like a perfect gentleman. Don't get me wrong, he still has a ways to go, but now that we completed the lessons, my wife and I have taken over and can see him still making progress. If you're having trouble controlling you dog, give Suburban K-9 and call and let them help you too.

Sabrina is absolutely fantastic! My dog was so reactive when we first got him and Sabrina gave us so many tools to help train and manage difficult behaviors. By the end of six months my once super reactive dog was able to hang out with multiple dogs at a time and choose positive behaviors when interacting with other dogs and with behaviors inside the house. Sabrina changed my dogs life!!