“Kolleen has undoubtedly been the single most positive influence in our life and relationship with our two dogs. It was clear to us from the beginning that Kolleen was not only a very qualified dog trainer, but that she would also be someone we would enjoy working with. More importantly to us, she obviously loved our dogs and we knew THEY would enjoy working with her! Kolleen was thoughtful, clear, and unbelievably patient during our sessions. Each session we spent with her was informative… but it was more than that. We left each session excited about what we had learned, encouraged by the clear progress the dogs were making, and energized to spend more quality time working with the dogs on our own. We’ve had complete strangers remark, “What well behaved dogs you have!” If only they knew where we had started. Kolleen did much more than simply teach our dogs how to walk well on a leash or sit on command. She laid the foundation for a better life for our dogs and for a stronger relationship between our dogs and us. And thats something we can never repay her for.”

“It would not even scratch the surface of describing everything Kolleen did for our family to say that she did a superb job training our dog. Not even close. Our dog, Neville, was not a typical vizsla in many ways, but Kolleen still understood that at the core, he was a gentle soul and her training method reflected that. Her knowledge of dogs was apparent. She was able to adapt to our changing concerns and needs - that flexibility was a critical part of what helped us with Neville. There is no way we would still have him as a part of our family without Kolleen. She helped us every step of the way. We cannot say enough wonderful things abouther. She is patient, she listens to you, she listens to the dog, she has a wonderful feel for her surroundings, and is creative in her approach. She is flexible, kind, humble, loving, and firm. She expects the best in everyone with whom she works - canine or otherwise - and gives them back twofold as a result. Kolleen is an incredible dog trainer (and people trainer too) and anyone with a dog would be lucky to have her become a part of their family… just like we were. She changed our lives for the better, for that we cannot be more thankful. ”

““My husband and I adopted a one year old boxer from a local shelter. Neither of us had ever had a dog before and knew nothing about caring for, let alone training one. We met with Kolleen and she quickly assessed our situation and needs, immediately beginning work to help bring the three of us together in a healthy, happy, successful relationship based on respect and love. She helped us learn how to be great leaders for our dog and taught us habits that continue to serve us in what she made clear is a lifelong training process for our dog. She helped us understand our dog and taught us how to communicate so that our dog could understand. Kolleen also trained our dog! She was able to take her from crazed mess on the end of the leash to the perfect heel with or without a leash. Our dog’s manners are complimented every day and she is a joy to be around because of the work Kolleen did with both us and the dog. She was a total professional and I would not hesitate to recommend her to train any dog or their human.” ”

“When we searched for a dog trainer, we wanted a person who had both exceptional personal characteristics as well as professional training experience and skill. We needed a trainer who could not only train our dog, but who could train us as well. Kolleen exceeded our expectations in every way. The Keeshond breed is one of the most difficult dogs to train. Oliver is our third Keeshond and is without a doubt the best trained of the three, which we attribute to Kolleen’s excellent work with him and us. She demonstrated a keen understanding of Oliver’s temperament - his fears, anxieties, and what motivated him. She always acted towards us with supreme patience and understanding, never giving us reason to feel awkward or irresponsible as dog owners. Kolleen showed remarkable patience and empathy for Oliver, always appearing relaxed, gentle, and confident in her handling. As a retired high school teacher, I was deeply impressed with not only her ability to teach our dog, but just as importantly, us. Our dog is responsive and well behaved now, and he is providing us so much fun now that he is trained. ”

“Kolleen is a delight to work with - professional, pleasant, and patient. More importantly, she is really, really effective. Sammy is now a celebrity in our neighborhood because he is so well trained. People will literally stop us on the street to ask us how we got our dog to be so obedient. I always tell them it takes two things: consistency and Kolleen Raitz. We cannot recommend Kolleen highly enough.”

“We were immediately impressed by Kolleen’s professionalism and ability as a dog trainer to relate to us and our dog. It was evident after less than a week that our dog was making great strides as a result of her training techniques combined with the helpful instruction she gave us. What impressed us most with Kolleen was that, not only did our dog respect her training commands, but when we brought our dog for a lesson, his excitement to work with her was evident. Kolleen also took the time to talk to us about our parenting style and listened to us to determine how best to implement a training plan that would fit our needs and address behavior and anxiety issues that our dog was experiencing. Kolleen is smart, highly capable, organized, open to answering questions, and quick in coming up with responsive and creative solutions. She was always prompt, reliable, and courteous. She has a great affinity for dog training and a love of dogs that is evident in her work. With her help, we have gained control over our dog and continue to see progress in him as he grows up. ”

“I was expecting a severe approach to get Boomer shaped up, but Kolleen, while serious and consistent, is so kind and clearly loves the dogs she works with, genuinely connects with the owners, and makes the experience both enjoyable and worthwhile. After the second week, he could walk on a leash! It was amazing. I was so relieved, he was proud of himself for following direction, and walks became enjoyable experiences. Family, friends, and neighbors noted the significant improvement and enjoy walking him and visiting with him now that he is better mannered. My young nephews can even walk him, and are so impressed with his attention to direction. I highly recommend Kolleen and couldn’t be happier with both her approach and the results!”