Dog Training - Group Classes - Pet Lodging - Pet Sitting
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Testimonials
Testimonials from Pet Owners
"Deborah has been working with our Sheltie, Lacey, for a few months now and has accomplished more than other trainers have in twice as much time. She is very dedicated and knowledgeable. She can easily and accurately address the issues and set up a plan to correct the behaviors. Lacey was very fearful & aggressive and we needed help. Deborah helped us learn how to better address this problem and do it in a positive loving way. Her compassion for dogs shows in her attitude and love of her job. Her greatest asset is that she truly loves the pets she works with. As a result of Deborah's patience, Lacey is becoming the loving, confident dog we always knew she could be. We are all so grateful to have met such a great trainer!"
- Nancy, Judy, & Lacey
"I want to thank Working Paws for the amazing care they gave my little guy Archie. I highly recommend them. Archie is a 6 year old rescue (from another location). Archie was very scared and untrusting of most humans. I luckily discovered Working Paws Training and within 3 sessions Archie made an AMAZING turnaround. He is so affectionate and loves being with people and other dogs. I recently boarded Archie with them. It was like Archie was at home. He made lots of new friends and treated like a king. I highly recommend Working Paws. They are my go to people for my Archie."
- Patricia Sammon (8/1/2021)
Testimonials
Earlier this year we adopted two chocolate lab mix puppies from the local shelter. Having two dogs is nothing new for us but having two puppies certainly is! We quickly discovered that training two puppies at the same time would be more challenging than we had anticipated. Once we met Deborah our concerns disappeared.
Her approach is not only to train the individual pup but she also focuses on teaching the owners. We have learned more from Deborah within a few short months than we knew in the 30+ years as dog owners. With Deborah’s help and guidance, our pups are learning manners, how to walk on a leash and countless commands while we are learning how to read their body language, understand their behavior and reinforce the lessons we learn each week. What we thought was such a challenge has become a simple pleasure – all thanks to Deborah!
Training with Deborah is something we look forward to every week. She never ceases to amaze us with her patience, dedication and knowledge that extends far beyond training and into every facet of a dog's behavior, regardless of breed, age or temperament. Our pups absolutely adore her – she is truly gifted!
Anyone can find a good dog trainer – but if you are really fortunate you will find Deborah. She is the dog trainer who tops all dog trainers – the leader of the pack - for sure!!"
- Kim & Jim Martin
"I rescued a dog and had a pet for the first time in my life. Less than 2 months after Petey came to live with us, we had a small but destructive kitchen fire. After that, Petey did not seem the same. Deborah met with me and worked with Petey both inside, where the fire had been, and outside on our front lawn. She was patient, caring, compassionate and tremendously helpful. I cannot say enough nice things about Deborah. She's very professional and knows unlimited amounts about all dogs. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone."
- Sue
"Deborah has a very special gift of being able to "read" dogs. Couple that with lots of experience and tremendous patience, makes her a true gift to anyone who she tries to help. She was invaluable when I had trouble housetraining our mini dachshunds."
- Tami
"Deborah is an absolutely amazing trainer. Not only does she have an incredible way with dogs, but with people too. She's so friendly and immediately alleviated all my concerns upon our first training session. Otis loves coming to class! Deborah definitely makes dog training look easy, which at times it certainly isn't, but she gives you the tools to be able to do it at home and practice with your pup!"
- Kim Ballen
"Deborah is not only a terrific dog trainer, she is also a super people trainer as well. She has taught our family how to respond to our otherwise sweet puppy's dominant behavioral issues. Deborah's kind nature and expertise has guided our puppy Royce in to becoming the loving, amazing pup that he is today. "
- Sheryl Miller
"I can't say enough of what a wonderful knowledgeable person Deborah is. After meeting her, she came to my house and assessed my dog River. She was able to make him follow her commands immediately and most importantly showed me how to do it as well. I look forward to having her back to do much more training."
- Sherri Heller
"I've received two private training lessons so far with Deborah. She could not be more genuine, knowledgable and accommodating. She gave me a lot of insight into my dog's behavior. The training tips she has given me have already made a difference. Deborah has also been to my home as a dog walking service and has been super patient with my Stella. She is giving a good mental workout. I couldn't be more pleased. I'm thankful that I found her."
- Lynn
"Deb is such a kind and easy person to talk to. She is always full of helpful tips no matter what crazy new thing Diesel is up to. I am not sure how she always seems to be one step ahead of the situation but I'm thankful and feel quite comfortable knowing she is in control. Diesel thanks you for all of the attention and great treats!"
- Veronica & Diesel
My cavapoo Sadie had a one-on-one training session with Deborah. It was both informative and helpful. I immediately began instituting some of her suggestions with great success. Deborah is not only professional but very likable as well. She had wonderful suggestions and it was a great fun experience. All very positive!!! I would recommend Deborah and fully intend on using her again when needed. "
- Deborah Derosa and Sadie
"Our precious Bella, now 10 months old was just 5 months old when we first met Deborah & it was love at first sight. She is truly a "dog whisperer" with an innate ability to communicate with her furry friends like no one we have ever met. She taught our Bella the basics in a loving but firm manner. And even now, many months later, there is instant affection on both sides when we visit. Deborah is also available whenever we've called for a quick question which is so reassuring. We recommend her highly."
- Stacy
"Our German Shepard puppy Bailey was quite a handful until we found Deborah!
She has given us many successful strategies for training Bailey and has also helped us break her destructive habits when we leave her home alone. It is truly incredible to see Bailey's responsiveness to every command Deborah has taught us. Our entire family (and non shredded house) are so thankful for Deborah's overall knowledge of everything dog!"
- Christine Ladyzinski
"Clover smells delicious. I asked her if she got bathed but she didn’t respond but I know she did! This service is such a blessing. Knowing your fuzzy child will be loved and cared for allows an owner to relax and not be anxious about their furbaby. Clover and I thank you so much!!!"
- Guisela Barratt (2/27/22)
"As first time dog owners we were extremely clueless and nervous when we brought home our 6 week old, 3 1/2 lb. maltipoo Sadie. That's when we found Deborah. From the get go she was amazing. It was easy to immediately see not only her incredible compassion and passion for dogs, but also her amazing ability to connect with Sadie from the very first moment. Her ability to relate to and understand Sadie made us feel like we were witnessing a true life "dog whisperer." In addition Deborah was always extremely patient with us and in a short period of time was able to help us train Sadie to do all the things we wanted and have her fit seamlessly into our lives. To this day whenever we have any concerns or issues she will always respond to our texts no matter what time or day. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone!"
- Bill Castor
"Deborah is one of the most knowledgeable instructors we’ve come across and is a true dog lover. Not only has she taught my puppy the critical skills he needs to know; she also takes the time to understand and address any issues or difficulties that he may come up against. She is so in-tune with pups, that her 'diagnosis' of any issue and advice is always right.
We consider ourselves very lucky to have met Deborah, since she is a true guide though puppyhood for my pup and myself. Her compassion and consideration go above and beyond – and that’s why Johan (and I) are big fans of Deborah!"
- Alexandra
"Deborah has provided training in our home for several months, and has been instrumental in the care and training of our yellow labrador Maisy, even prior to the pup’s arrival. Deborah gave us details about the management of a new puppy in our home. It was apparent that she was very knowledgeable about dog health, dog behavior, dog breeds, and the impact a dog would have on the family. Debbie assisted us through the housebreaking process and several feeding issues as our pup had a severe issue with diet. Fortunately, Debbie was quick to assess and refer us to the proper care to our Veterinarian.
Deborah assisted us through housebreaking, sleep patterns, territorial issues and helped us to socialize our pup. She has provided structured lessons weekly, and was always reachable by phone to offer advice. The lessons are dog and family centered and give our entire family the opportunity to try new techniques and learn how to incorporate the new skills in our home. With much patience, love and a sense of humor we all grew together to learn how to handle and train our pup.
On one visit Deborah saw a pattern of mouthing and biting that was very worrisome for our family. After assessing the dog’s behavior, diet, and triggers that stimulated her biting behavior, Debbie was easily able to demonstrate a technique for us to use that would give us a sense of control and redirect the pup. Debbie demonstrated the technique to all of us and even had us practice individually with the pup, This resulted in the biting and mouthing subsiding quickly. Our pup is 6 months and is completely house trained, obeys basic commands, can be called in an emergency and is social with other dogs and people. Deborah has been acutely aware of the health and safety issues related to feeding, crate training and leash walking. We have all learned a great deal about our dog and ourselves as pet owners through Deborah Whitney and we are truly grateful."
- Michele and Barry
"I grew up surrounded by animals. I loved all my pets and all died at 16 plus years after having had great lives. As an adult I’ve been a cat mom. When my friend convinced me to get a dog, I did homework and decided on Vickee, a 2 month Woodle (Wheaton and Poodle mix). She is lovable, loving, energetic and sweet . She was weewee pad trained from the breeder but my vet suggested as she would grow bigger that she should go outside. Transitioning has been hard work. Crate training is challenging. Also, I did not want to have a dog that was untrained that jumped on people, begged for food, barked too much and generally was not welcomed by those who did not love her.
Again I did homework and Deborah of Working Paws Training Inc. was highly recommended. We have had 5 or 6 sessions so far and she has taught Vickee a lot and has taught me a lot too. Deborah loves animals and it is through positive reinforcement that she trains. Vickee has learned “sit”, “down”, “stay”, “touch”, “come”, “watch”, and “off” thus far. We are also working on potty training and walking on a leash. Deborah has helped with crate training also. Deborah has multiple pointers and suggestions about toys and reinforcing and healthy treats. She has helped me to get Vickee to stop biting. Vickee was never aggressive but bit me when excited. It was not fun and I did not want her to bite others, especially children. Deborah has offered me many ideas, always from a positive approach and philosophy.
Getting a puppy is a life-long commitment to a new family member and the behaviors formed at this young age will be those Vickee will use for years to come. I love my puppy and am grateful to Deborah from Working Paws Training Inc. for assisting her development into a caring wonderful dog who will be welcomed anywhere."
- Diane
"Deborah is amazing with dogs. She employs positive behavior techniques and the dogs love her. She is a canine magician. I rescued an adolescent Labrador that is very sweet but also nervous and very strong. He trusts Deborah and she taught him to walk like an angel. Deborah helped a very important member of our family. She is wonderful."
- Eileen
"I call Deborah the dog whisperer! She works her magic with my 7 month old Cavapoo puppy, Bailey, who can be quite a handful at times. When I first brought Bailey home, I was quite overwhelmed. I hadn’t been a dog owner as an adult, and while I knew I would be in for a lot of work, I had no idea just how much! Nothing was going right, and I felt like I was failing as a dog owner. Luckily I found Deborah and she has made all the difference.
Deborah came to my house and gave me pointers on where best to set up Bailey’s playpen, crate, food, and toys. It sounds like a simple thing but I had it all wrong. Housebreaking was not going well, so Deborah taught me everything I needed to know to get the situation under control. Within 2 weeks, Bailey was housebroken! I honestly couldn’t believe it. I was also afraid that I wouldn't be able to get Bailey to respond to my commands, but Deborah worked with me and has given me all the tools to succeed. She really has been a lifesaver.
Deborah is so patient and loving with Bailey. She uses positive reinforcement to train and it has worked wonders. I've had the opportunity to see Deborah work with other pups and adult dogs too, and they all respond to her so well. She loves them and they love her! Besides training, Deborah is so knowledgeable on everything related to dogs, and she is always willing to share that knowledge and give advice. She makes herself available without ever making you feel like you're bothering her. I have even been able to avoid needless trips to the vet because Deborah has guided me through whatever the situation was. It's such a comfort to know that she is just a text away! Deborah has worked with Bailey and me to teach us all the essential things to make for a great relationship between the two of us. She has saved my sanity and Bailey is happy too!"
- Rosemary S.
"Deb has astonishing insight into dog behavior. Her warm, yet firm approach immediately commands the respect of dogs. Her smile and laughter has you feeling like your working with an old friend. Training with Deb is eagerly anticipated by dog and dog parents alike. Additionally, we have never felt more at ease when leaving Honey and Sugar than when they have spent a weekend with Deb. They return happy and aglow clearly demonstrating the love and attention they receive."
- Ken and Melissa
"I have been working with Deborah from Working Paws Training, Inc. for 3 months now, training my 2 dogs to become Therapy dogs. Deborah is excellent at what she does; she has an innate ability to understand dogs and is a naturally talented animal behaviorist! I am extremely happy to have chosen Working Paws Training because I know we are getting an in-depth training program that is tailored just for us, with our particular needs and goals in mind. Once we complete the program, I know that my dogs will have received the best training possible, and I will be confident in taking them to nursing homes, hospitals, and rehab centers. It is amazing to watch Deborah work with the animals to see how she achieves the desired results, and I have complete confidence in her ability to get my dogs to complete the proper standards required. I highly recommend Working Paws Training, Inc.- you will receive professional training that will guarantee your dog will be well trained and happy!"
- Cecilia
"We were very fortunate to find Deborah to train our Samoyed puppy. Deborah is incredibly knowledgable and talented. Our puppy Luna has recently lodged with Deborah and had a wonderful experience. Lots of love, play and exercise! Thanks again Deborah!"
- Vanessa
"Our dog Leo has boarded with Deborah since she trained him as a pup. The training and loving care Deborah provides is unparalleled. We would HIGHLY recommend Working Paws Training for your training and boarding needs."
- Tristan & Karen Schnarwyler
"I call Deborah the dog whisperer! She works her magic with my 7 month old Cavapoo puppy, Bailey, who can be quite a handful at times. When I first brought Bailey home, I was quite overwhelmed. I hadn’t been a dog owner as an adult, and while I knew I would be in for a lot of work, I had no idea just how much! Nothing was going right, and I felt like I was failing as a dog owner. Luckily I found Deborah and she has made all the difference.
Deborah came to my house and gave me pointers on where best to set up Bailey’s playpen, crate, food, and toys. It sounds like a simple thing but I had it all wrong. Housebreaking was not going well, so Deborah taught me everything I needed to know to get the situation under control. Within 2 weeks, Bailey was housebroken! I honestly couldn’t believe it. I was also afraid that I wouldn't be able to get Bailey to respond to my commands, but Deborah worked with me and has given me all the tools to succeed. She really has been a lifesaver.
Deborah is so patient and loving with Bailey. She uses positive reinforcement to train and it has worked wonders. I've had the opportunity to see Deborah work with other pups and adult dogs too, and they all respond to her so well. She loves them and they love her! Besides training, Deborah is so knowledgeable on everything related to dogs, and she is always willing to share that knowledge and give advice. She makes herself available without ever making you feel like you're bothering her. I have even been able to avoid needless trips to the vet because Deborah has guided me through whatever the situation was. It's such a comfort to know that she is just a text away! Deborah has worked with Bailey and me to teach us all the essential things to make for a great relationship between the two of us. She has saved my sanity and Bailey is happy too!"
- Rosemary S.
"We first met Deborah when looking for training for our two young Siberian Husky puppies, Lily and Cooper. Deborah is a fantastic trainer for both dogs and their owners.Our “pack”has learned and grown from Deborah’s powerful training and quiet correction.
We also have had the good fortune to work with Janelle from Working Paws as a trainer for our strong willed Huskies. Janelle has also housed and cared for them on several occasions when we had to be away from home. Janelle’s expertise in training our dogs is remarkable. She is quietly confident, strong and capable in her efforts while training u all. And even though our dogs love being home, when we have to go away, Lily and Cooper can’t wait to jump into her car when Janelle picks them up for their “vacation”. To us that is a sure sign that they are happy and secure with Janelle. Finding Deborah and Janelle and Working Paws to help us with training and boarding our dogs has been absolutely beneficial to our dogs and our peace of mind."
- Keith & Nancy Morris
"Deborah is a gift in our lives! She loves my dog, George, as if he was her own I actually call her "George's Second Mom" and as a first time mom, I have learned so much from her about puppy care. Thank you Deborah!"
- Jackie Jablonski
"Our dog Wrigley is special needs in that he requires an acclimation/adjustment period to strangers. When we first brought him home, I worried that leaving him overnight anywhere may be an impossibility for us. Fortunately, we discovered that the awesome pet sitting accommodations offered by Janelle would not only be the occasional security for Wrig that we needed, but a great opportunity for him to socialize outside of home with a trainer he is always so excited to see!
Janelle’s calm and professional demeanor is exactly the kind of energy that Wrigley needs from other humans [and that nervous dog moms need from their pet sitters ;)] Wrig always comes back to us looking refreshed, stimulated and happy-what more could we ask for?
Janelle has been so flexible with our hectic schedules and has been able to help us out several times on-the-fly. “I’ll always do it if I’m able too” is the phrase she always makes sure to include in her calls.
With her perfectly reasonable rate, dog-ready set up at her home, and TLC, she has made Wrig one happy dog and his parents so grateful for the security! Thank you Janelle! "
- Anna Krol
"Janelle is the best dog trainer and sitter for our wonderful 3 year old Lab Retriever, Ginger. We don’t worry at all when we leave our precious girl with Janelle if we are away on vacation or during special weekend events. We know she will be so well taken care of. Just from the reaction alone that Ginger has when she sees Janelle—the tail wagging is nonstop, she runs back and forth from all her excitement and she slathers her with many kisses. We feel so grateful and blessed to have Janelle in our lives. I highly highly recommend Janelle."
- Leia Stathakos
"We absolutely love sending our dog, Roosevelt to Working Paws.
We know when we leave Rosie with Deb and Janelle that he is in the best hands. He not only has a great time staying with them, but comes home better behaved than ever, thanks to their training reinforcement. They've even come and picked up Rosie at our house to make it easier for us with our crazy work schedules.
When we first rescued Roosevelt, Janelle came to our home to help us navigate those tough early days and learn how to be better pet parents. She is the absolute best and is so patient!
My husband and I could not possibly recommend any better place for your pet than in Deb and Janelle's loving care. They are incredible and we know they love our boy as much as we do, and probably take even better care of him!"
- Alison & Scott
"My husband & I are grateful to Janelle, she takes great care of Shannon, which is not easy since Shannon is afraid of people. We always feel good about leaving her with Janelle, & never worry. We highly recommend Janelle she is a great person."
– Geri & Richard Van Manen
