I am so thankful I found Renee to help me with my 8.5 year old pit terrier mix! We had lived in the same apartment for years and upon moving he began to experience separation anxiety and destructive behavior. I also worried about my girlfriend walking him on the leash. I knew his age would make it difficult and a board and train program would be out of the question. Renee was a terrific solution to my problems! She has a remarkable ability to read dogs language and upon meeting my dog quickly analyzed his issues and how we could address them. Her program is very flexible and she is great at working with you and your schedule. She travels to your home which made the training process much easier and more comfortable for me and my dog. After working a few weeks with her I saw drastic improvement on his walks and he has settled nicely into our new home! Renee is a terrific trainer who understands dogs and truly wants to help you as opposed to providing a quick fix. Would highly recommend to anybody looking for a personal dog trainer!
For the first 4 sessions, our training worked out great. I couldn’t walk my dog because he is so strong and he pulled my shoulder out. Now, he goes on a walk beautifully. Taking him to the vet was always a catastrophe. Now, he gets out of the car and calmly walks into the vet. He is learning to greet other dogs appropriately. She taught us how to get him to stop jumping up excitedly and scratching us. In just a couple of weeks, our dog and us learned a lot. Tucker has become more confident. My 12 year old has also gained more confidence and autonomy being Tucker’s caretaker. The last couple of sessions, though, Renee seemed to be low on patience with us. She is a good dog trainer, but you need to have a thick skin with her and not let her delivery bother you. We were trying our best, but it became a frustration experience for all involved, so we decided to discontinue training after 6 sessions. We will continue practicing what we learned from her, and continue with a new trainer.
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Edit to add:
After reading Renee’s response, I felt compelled to respond. I feel my review was more than fair. As I said in my review, training was going well up until Renee asked me to write a review for her, as well as phone a potential client for her and give a recommendation, which I gladly did. It seemed, though, shortly after she got my positive review and recommendation, the tides turned and she became increasingly frustrated with us. She said we were “lazy,” inattentive and unwilling participants. I love my dog, he’s everything to us, we rescued him from a bad situation and have spent nearly 10 grand in the last year on vet bills because he’s been so incredibly sick from his terrible early life! Yet, she said to me numerous times that I should think about re-homing him because we weren’t the “right family” for him. I would never give up on Tucker, even though he’s has issues, I adopted him for life! I neither need nor want free training, never asked for it, certainly did not expect it! She offered to take Tucker for a couple of days to work with him at her home; she said that’s what he needed so I went along with her advice.
At this time, my son had recently stepped on a tick’s nest and was bitten over 45 times; naturally we were trying to avoid wooded areas and I asked if there were any alternatives to the wooded areas by the dog park. After this, Renee bombarded me with text messages criticizing me and my husband. It was a very unprofessional way of speaking to a client. I have the text messages and the screenshots to prove it. At no time was I ever disrespectful to her, or demanding or any of these things she is saying.
She says I was texting her every day non-stop, at all hours of the night, and this is simply not true. I have screenshots of text messages she initiated to me at 10:30 pm, a couple at 11 pm (which I responded to) and even one at 4:22 AM!!!
She had told my 12 year old son he “could text her whenever he wanted to ask questions” if he felt unsure. However, I did not feel comfortable having my 12 year son texting another adult we barely knew, so all of the texts from us went through me.
My initial 5 star review was given within the first 3 weeks of training, against my better judgement, because she asked me for a favor to help her grow her business. It was a mistake to write a review so early, I should have waited until the training was completed to write an accurate review. I’ve included screenshots to show that I am being truthful.
I have no doubt that Renee loves dogs, she has a ton of talent training them, and is excellent at her chosen career. However, her communication skills are lacking and it would behoove her to learn how to speak to clients in a more diplomatic way instead of calling clients “lazy.”
I am sorry you were unhappy; the entire time we trained when I checked in with you, you reported to me I was doing a fantastic job. It wasn't until the program was over, which lasted over six weeks with eight 2-hour sessions and a free week of board and train in my home, that you expressed that you learned nothing. I asked you what I could do to help you learn better. And you told me I needed to break the lessons down into smaller pieces and go at a slower pace. I then offered to have private sessions with you at the park (as per your contract) and to record them, so you could watch them repeatedly, as you had mentioned that you learn best that way. You said no because of the ticks, and you wanted more lessons at home. I reminded you that you would have to pay for future in-home lessons, as they were not included in your contract, and I refused to provide additional in-home sessions at no extra cost. This hurt your feelings, and now we are here. I was MORE than patient with you and never refused to work with you or your husband or your son until you demanded more and more free things outside your contract, such as free advance obedience, which your husband declined at the beginning. Also, the constant texting all day long was preventing me from giving my other clients the time they deserved. I am sorry that I couldn't be there for you all day long into the night past 10pm. There are boundaries, and I can not take calls and texts all day long and into the night. Retaliating against me for setting these boundaries with a bad review is distasteful and a deformation of character. You only changed your review from a five star to a three star AFTER I refused to give you free obedience and more in-home lessons. While I try to give my clients as much attention as they need and to go above and beyond for them, the texts were NON-STOP all day every day until the late hours of the night. If my setting boundaries with you about the amount of texts and enforcing the contract upsets you , then it is what it is. And it seems we weren't meant to work together. I hope you are happy with your new trainer. I put my heart and soul into tucker and I truly want him to make a full recovery. Also, your son was an absolute JOY to work with. I am truly sorry that things ended this way, but there are limits to what I can offer you for free. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope things work out for you.
Steve Monroe2025.08.16
Renee has stayed with our dog when we go away- for years. The most reliable, knowledgeable, qualified dog sitter we have had in 35 years of owning large dogs. I recommend her without any hesitation.
Thank you so much for letting me have the honor of taking care of Ginger and trusting me with her care. She's a perfect angel and I'm happier having met her.
Kymberly Marshak2025.06.06
Working with Renee was a different experience than any other place I’ve gone to. I have a 10 year old 140lb mastiff and she didn’t hesitate at all to get started. She wasted no time pinpointing behavior that was helpful for me to understand my dog much better. Having a breed that large and strong, I need to be able to rely on the confidence of my dog trainer and she was always completely reliable and helpful.
Working with Renee was a different experience than any other place Ive gone to. I have a 10 year old 140lb mastiff and she didnt hesitate at all to get started. She wasted no time pinpointing behavior that was helpful for me to understand my dog much better. Having a breed that large and strong, I need to be able to rely on the confidence of my dog trainer and she was always completely reliable and helpful.
For the first 4 sessions, our training worked out great. I couldnt walk my dog because he is so strong and he pulled my shoulder out. Now, he goes on a walk beautifully. Taking him to the vet was always a catastrophe. Now, he gets out of the car and calmly walks into the vet. He is learning to greet other dogs appropriately. She taught us how to get him to stop jumping up excitedly and scratching us. In just a couple of weeks, our dog and us learned a lot. Tucker has become more confident. My 12 year old has also gained more confidence and autonomy being Tuckers caretaker. The last couple of sessions, though, Renee seemed to be low on patience with us. She is a good dog trainer, but you need to have a thick skin with her and not let her delivery bother you. We were trying our best, but it became a frustration experience for all involved, so we decided to discontinue training after 6 sessions. We will continue practicing what we learned from her, and continue with a new trainer.
I am sorry you were unhappy; the entire time we trained when I checked in with you, you reported to me I was doing a fantastic job. It wasn't until the program was over, which lasted over six weeks with eight 2-hour sessions and a free week of board and train in my home, that you expressed that you learned nothing. I asked you what I could do to help you learn better. And you told me I needed to break the lessons down into smaller pieces and go at a slower pace. I then offered to have private sessions with you at the park (as per your contract) and to record them, so you could watch them repeatedly, as you had mentioned that you learn best that way. You said no because of the ticks, and you wanted more lessons at home. I reminded you that you would have to pay for future in-home lessons, as they were not included in your contract, and I refused to provide additional in-home sessions at no extra cost. This hurt your feelings, and now we are here. I was MORE than patient with you and never refused to work with you or your husband or your son until you demanded more and more free things outside your contract, such as free advance obedience, which your husband declined at the beginning. Also, the constant texting all day long was preventing me from giving my other clients the time they deserved. I am sorry that I couldn't be there for you all day long into the night past 10pm. There are boundaries, and I can not take calls and texts all day long and into the night. Retaliating against me for setting these boundaries with a bad review is distasteful and a deformation of character. You only changed your review from a five star to a three star AFTER I refused to give you free obedience and more in-home lessons. While I try to give my clients as much attention as they need and to go above and beyond for them, the texts were NON-STOP all day every day until the late hours of the night. If my setting boundaries with you about the amount of texts and enforcing the contract upsets you , then it is what it is. And it seems we weren't meant to work together. I hope you are happy with your new trainer. I put my heart and soul into tucker and I truly want him to make a full recovery. Also, your son was an absolute JOY to work with. I am truly sorry that things ended this way, but there are limits to what I can offer you for free. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope things work out for you.
Carolyn Bodner2024.12.28
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Renee is an amazing trainer (and I have worked with enough to know the difference) Not only did she help my dog with aggression around other dogs, she helped me to better understand his reaction and to read his signalsI think my anxiety was probably worse than my dog's but she has gotten us both under controlShe has a unique gift when it comes to understanding animals and I would confidently recommend her to anyone.
Thank you so much. Not only did I get to work with an amazing dog like zac, but I got to meet an amazing person like yourself. Thank you for giving me a chance to show you what I am capable of at a time when my business was so young.
Carolyn Bodner2024.12.28
Renee is an amazing trainer (and I have worked with enough to know the difference) Not only did she help my dog with aggression around other dogs, she helped me to better understand his reaction and to read his signals
I think my anxiety was probably worse than my dog's but she has gotten us both under control
She has a unique gift when it comes to understanding animals and I would confidently recommend her to anyone.
Thank you so much. Not only did I get to work with an amazing dog like zac, but I got to meet an amazing person like yourself. Thank you for giving me a chance to show you what I am capable of at a time when my business was so young.
Barbara Scheiber2024.06.21
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Renee! Our fur baby is like a child to us, and I was very nervous leaving her with someone. I no longer hesitate to go on trips knowing Renee will be here with my dog. I get constant updates so I always know how things are going. So important when trying to enjoy your time away from your pet! My house is always just the way I left it when I get home , which means a lot to me. My dog is always well cared for, and I never have to worry if I am delayed in getting home since Renee will always wait for me to tell her I’ll be home soon. Reliable and very caring is how I describe our dog sitter Renee. Could not be happier with her services and always recommend her to family and friends! She is the best for the last 4 years I have relied on her when I have to go away from home . Don’t know what I would do without her!
Thank you. She's an amazing dog. I will always cherish the moments I got to spend with her and look forward to more in the future.
Barbara Scheiber2024.06.21
Verified
I cant say enough wonderful things about Renee! Our fur baby is like a child to us, and I was very nervous leaving her with someone. I no longer hesitate to go on trips knowing Renee will be here with my dog. I get constant updates so I always know how things are going. So important when trying to enjoy your time away from your pet! My house is always just the way I left it when I get home , which means a lot to me. My dog is always well cared for, and I never have to worry if I am delayed in getting home since Renee will always wait for me to tell her Ill be home soon. Reliable and very caring is how I describe our dog sitter Renee. Could not be happier with her services and always recommend her to family and friends! She is the best for the last 4 years I have relied on her when I have to go away from home . Dont know what I would do without her!
Thank you. She's an amazing dog. I will always cherish the moments I got to spend with her and look forward to more in the future.
Lain Gilbert-Pierson2023.08.12
Murray, my 115 pound Bernedoodle, and Harry, my 40 pound mini Bernedoodle, had me wrapped up in their adorable, but naughty, paws. Enter Renee…she showed them, actually me, who the real alpha boss is!
Thanks to Renee, I can safely walk my dogs without fear of strange, or any, encounters
I can have guests over without worrying that Murray will knock them down
Hiring Renee means the replacement of dog power with people power!
I highly recommend Renee's training for anyone whose dog is in need but especially those who come from traumatic backgrounds. My wife and I adopted a two year old dog who had a horrible life so far. For a year, he made it impossible for us to have company or bring him out in public. After a few lessons with Renee, he started to show great improvements. Now, we can have guests over, take him on trips, and go shopping without concerns. The dog socialization days after training is over have also become something that both I and my dog look forward to!
Renee has been very helpful with my German Shepard. Originally I had met with Renee for overnight pet sitting. After a short time with him, she was able to observe his behavior and recommend training approaches. From the beginning I had much confidence in Renee as she explained his patterns and the "why" behind it with much knowledge and expertise. I signed up for obedience training sessions and the behavioral improvements have only continued to progress!
I was at my wits end with my 3 year old morkie. As sweet and cuddly as he was, anytime anything passed my window he literally lost his mind. The screeching and barking and crying were unbearable! I tried EVERYTHING I could. I finally decided to find a trainer. Through the Thumbtack app, I was connected with a whole bunch of trainers, and after reading reviews decided to give it a go with Renee. And DAMN!!!! After just one session the results were REMARKABLE! So much so that my neighbors began asking about the change. Our home is now a happier and stress free place for everyone! Especially my little furry friend. Thank you Renee!!!!!!!!!!
My 2 puppies were showing signs of aggression, anxiety, and fear at a young age. After one month of training with Renee, we see a significant difference in them both. Renee’s approach is not only professional, but she is teaching us valuable knowledge about our dogs. Our friends and family even say they have seen a positive change in them both! She has been nothing but accommodating and a delight to work with!
My golden chow would be very anxious with multiple trainers before they would all run away until Renee started training him, she is the only trainer my dog would take a treat from. We have been training on a personal and group level and I have seen already improved even tough we haven’t finished the training. She always know how to correct a dog in a loving way when they are doing something bad .
Renee is awesome with our lab. He is not an easy pup to work with at all. Renee is patient and builds a positive bond with our dog. He responds great to Renee. She truly is a lifesaver. Not many can handle our big boy! We never worry when he’s with Renee.
I found Renee to be very patient with my 8 month old dog and me. As she was training she also explained to me not only what she was doing but explained what my part was in the training process. Thank you Renee.
i tried several trainers that couldnt get thru to my dog she seamed to be toying with them but renee got thru she really helped and chyna has bin a great dog i deff recomend EPIC K9 renee is a very good and a great person aswell
I got remote help several times in regards to my puppy and training. From habits to food EPIC K9 is a one stop shop for all things dog. I got help with not just training my puppy but for breaking it's bad habits that we didn't want and creating a safe learning environment for my dog. definite recommend if you want quality and attention to detail.
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