Leaps and Hounds Behavior

“We at Ruff Start Rescue believe in positive behavioral training techniques, and we are committed to partnering with trainers that share this same philosophy. Upon meeting Brian, we were very impressed by his knowledge and kind demeanor. We really feel he has the animals’ best interest at heart. His training methods and client-centered approach allow the handler and dog to create a strong positive bond that we feel is so critical - especially for dogs that have had difficult pasts. We will continue to reach out to Brian for assistance with our rescue dogs, and hope to maintain our relationship with him for many years to come.“

"We are grateful we found Brian! We looked at different dog training places, but nothing felt right to us with our 3 biewer terrier puppies, until a veterinary clinic recommended Brian to us. They have had great success working with Brian, plus we took great comfort that he is licensed and certified. Thus he knows what is best for your dog! We are learning so much about our puppies and how to provide the best home and environment for their individual needs. Learning about their L.E.G.S.(Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) has been so eye opening. Brian’s kindness, wealth of knowledge and resources has been providing us with a whole new understanding about our dogs' needs. Which will help us to have a wonderful lifelong relationship with our dogs. We highly recommend working with Brian!"

“I first reached out to Leaps & Hounds for help with my terrier mix, Rosie, who was struggling with fear towards strangers, friends, and the neighborhood turkey. I found a behavior vet through Brian's recommendation and Rosie started anti-anxiety medication to help her learn. Brian helped us with basket muzzle training which also allows Rosie to go out and about with her sister Layla. I'm also reading her body language better, so I can respond accordingly. Rosie now has successfully met trusted visitors with a more calm demeanor. Our work has truly changed Rosie's life and she trusts me to keep her safe. We just haven’t sorted out that blasted neighborhood turkey, but we adjust and move on. “

“We adopted Jax at 13 weeks old. We immediately started seeing resource guarding and reactivity. We were lucky enough to have early recognition and recommendations from a trainer during puppy class. We started working with Brian. I am so happy we did! Brian gave us a lot of information on resource guarding and anxiety. He showed us how to communicate better and build a stronger relationship with Jax. Since working with Brian we have also learned how to manage and diffuse situations before they become a big deal. And we’ve been able to help Jax feel more secure and have created a happier life for him. One of the reasons I feel we have made so much progress with Jax is Brian looks at the whole picture. He even takes the time to say hello and goodbye to our other attention craving dog Noelle who just loves it!“

“Finding Brian was a Godsend. He helped us understand the psychology behind the behaviors we were experiencing with Lucy, our bernedoodle puppy . He provided us with tips and resources to help us manage the undesirable behaviors, meet Lucy’s needs, and ultimately get the behaviors that we desired. His focus on having us build a positive relationship with Lucy will benefit us throughout her lifetime! We highly recommend Brian!"

“You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! We were worried that our newly adopted six-year-old rescue, Jack, couldn’t learn to stop lunging at other dogs. We live in the city, where sidewalks can be crowded with lots of other dogs. But within minutes of meeting Jack, Brian was able to calm Jack down and divert his attention elsewhere. Better yet, Brian was patient with us humans too, teaching us how to work with Jack. We saw immediate improvement, and now enjoy calm walks throughout our neighborhood.”