Reactive Dog Program

Tom and Jen Clackett with Boone -East Boston

We adopted Boone, a pit bull mix, from a high kill shelter in NY. He was in a foster home with other dogs and did really well when he met our other dog, Maddie. So, we were certainly surprised when during our first walk as a new family in the neighborhood, he tried to inhale a Pomeranian. We were not prepared for his level of reactivity towards other dogs. To further complicate the picture, Boone is completely deaf, limiting our ability to communicate effectively with him. Knowing that we would need professional help, I began searching online for dog trainers who specialize in this issue.

I came across Vera’s website and saw that she had a class for dogs with this specific issue, the Rowdy Rovers. I called her up and we had a lengthy conversation about Boone. In that first conversation, I knew we had found the right trainer. She has a deaf dog herself and even though we weren’t a client yet, she gave us some techniques to try with him immediately.

We have been participating in Vera’s reactive dog program for one year. In the beginning Boone was a lunging, barking, intimidating beast whenever he saw another dog, chomping his jaws like a crocodile. He has progressed so much in this past year. He can walk parallel to another dog, the lunging and barking has been eliminated, and when he does sometimes “lose his marbles” he recovers quickly. Vera takes great care to understand each dog’s specific needs and has given us new tools to communicate with him more effectively. She has also created a sense of community for those of us in the class. It’s a blessing to have people who “get it” when your dog is misbehaving.

You have to give her a lot of credit. It’s a crazy but creative idea to have a (well-structured) class with a bunch of dogs together who would consider eating each other as a means to their rehabilitation. But it works!

Farrah, Matt and Charlie – Brighton, MA

Vera has been a life-saver for us. About four years ago, we were attacked by 2 off-leash dogs while walking our dog Charlie. It was a scary situation for all 3 of us. Charlie went from being a very happy-go-lucky pup, to a scared, reactive dog. Before the attack, we would regularly see neighborhood dogs who she would happily greet and play with. After the attack, she now suddenly growled and barked at them.

After reading book after book and going to other training classes, we thankfully found Vera. Vera’s Rowdy Rovers class was exactly what Charlie needed (and what we needed!). It is held outdoors in a natural environment, and Vera walks around setting up different situations and providing instructions throughout. Not only did we see results with Charlie, but we also learned how to handle situations better and understand her triggers. Vera instructs not only what to do with your dog, but also what to do as the owner. She gave us tips and tricks to help us be successful with a variety of situations we may encounter (especially what to do when you can’t control a situation, such as an off leash dog approaching). Vera also helped us understand the importance of training every day … tricks and games inside our apartment, while on walks, wherever we are!

Our bond with Charlie has grown so much stronger thanks to Vera. We still continue to attend Vera’s classes for maintenance (Training is not a quick fix. It’s an ongoing process!). Charlie loves seeing her and we feel the continued training is so beneficial for both us and for Charlie. We have also taken her to Vera’s agility courses, which were so much fun and helped Charlie’s confidence grow. Vera is truly an amazing trainer and behavior specialist!’