The transformation Packfit facilitated for us was truly eye-opening and life-changing. Before deciding to engage their services, we diligently researched and interviewed multiple dog trainers in the DMV area but none of them felt like the right fit for us. We were struggling with reactive and aggressive behavior in our dog, despite our consistent efforts to train her from a young age. We knew we needed professional help beyond obedience training that addressed the deeper underlying issues driving our dog's behavior.
Thankfully, we found Packfit's holistic approach to "dog training," which immediately resonated with us. Kim, the trainer we worked with, exuded confidence, knowledge, and groundedness, giving us reassurance that our dog's behavior could be changed. Kim recommended private sessions and their online course to get started and we were thrilled with her suggestion as we wanted to address the challenges we were facing in our home and neighborhood.
Initially, we were hesitant about the cost of private sessions but investing in Packfit was absolutely worth it. The results we achieved were remarkable and surpassed our expectations. Our relationship with our dog improved significantly and we achieved a healthy balance as our dog became happier and more well-behaved. We were lucky to have discovered Packfit and Kim as their guidance and expertise helped us to fundamentally understand our dog's needs and behavior and achieve harmony in our pack.
For those who are researching for the right trainer, here is a list of the behaviors we were experiencing in our dog before seeking Packfit's help: leash reactivity, fear of children and tight spaces, freezing up during walks, pulling on the leash, barking out the window of our home, and barking in the back yard. These gradually intensified over time and grew into more severe behaviors such as aggression towards kids, strangers, cats, and other dogs, guarding her food bowl and chew bones, and barking at everything. We had trained and socialized our puppy since she was 10 weeks old, believing that we had done everything right, but over time, we struggled to control her increasingly concerning behavior. We felt blindsided and frustrated as we realized there was so much we didn't understand about training and managing our dog's behavior.
The combination of Packfit's online course, Kim's book "My Dog, My Buddha," and private sessions offered us a comprehensive and holistic approach to understanding and aligning the relationship between us and our dog. The online course provided valuable information to lay a foundation for understanding our dog's behavior and needs while Kim's book addressed the human aspect of the training equation. The book's structure in short and easy-to-read lessons allowed us to reflect on our self-improvement gradually. The private sessions with Kim were invaluable as she customized our approach to fit us and our dog, dismantling layers of behavioral issues and helping us to develop better routines as we went along. Kim was always available to answer our questions and provide feedback when we sent her videos of our progress.
Working with a reactive and aggressive dog made us nervous at first but Packfit provided a safe and supportive environment for us to challenge ourselves, regain trust in our dog and ourselves, and work on our problem areas head-on. We learned that our dog's behavior was actually a cry for help, and it was our responsibility to meet her needs and provide leadership and balance as a pack leader. Packfit's approach celebrates the unique qualities of every dog and owner, allowing us to understand and address the underlying causes of our dog's behavior and effectively guide her towards healthy and happy behavior.
February 24, 2022