Dog trainer reviews, in the owners’ words.
Every review here is from Google, word for word. Pick the kind of dog you have and read the owners who had one too.
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- 4-year-old Aussie mix
“Little did we know how smart our girl really was until Howie walked through the door.”
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Howie is FANTASTIC! He did wonders for our girl, Honey. We brought Honey home a 4-year-old Aussie/Great Pyrenees mix and thought we definitely had bitten off more than we could chew. We called up Howie and the next day he called and spoke to my mother and I about his process. Little did we know how smart our girl really was until Howie walked through the door and trained us the correct way to train her. We loved working with him so much and Honey enjoyed her time with him as well. We are a much happier family with such a great dog added to our family that is now properly trained. Thank you, Howie! We love our girl and are so happy to have found the best trainer for the job. Look no further than Howie's Happy Dog Training for the best dog training in town. Thank you again for your time and patience with us.
Megan Shanebergerwith HoneyObedience · Rescue dogs
Basic obedience → - Two shelter dogs
“I called Oni and Armani from different rooms in the house, and they both went straight to their beds.”
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Howie completely transformed our home and our dogs' lives!
My wife and I adopted both of our dogs, Oni and Armani, from a shelter. They came to us a few years old with unknown backgrounds, and their behavior reflected that uncertainty with constant leash pulling, jumping on guests, ignoring every command, and a shyness that made them difficult to manage and hard to connect with. We loved them deeply, but we knew they deserved better.
Since January, Howie has been coming to our home for in-person sessions, and the difference is nothing short of remarkable. He has been consistently timely, thorough, and patient not just with Oni and Armani, but with us as their owners. He took the time to understand our dogs as individuals and gave us the tools and confidence to carry that work forward between sessions.
The moment I knew something truly special had happened? I called Oni and Armani from different rooms in the house, and they both went straight to their beds and stayed calmly, willingly, and stayed on their bed!. That had never happened before. Ever. It sounds simple, but for us it was everything.
The value Howie has delivered far exceeds what he charges. If you are on the fence about professional dog training especially for a rescue with a complicated or unknown history do not hesitate. Howie is the real deal, and our family is better for having found him!
Jordan Herethwith Oni and ArmaniObedience · Rescue dogs
Basic obedience → - Severe separation anxiety
“With Howie’s guidance and therapies, we are all now enjoying a quieter and calmer dog.”
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Howie’s training was amazing. We had rescued a black lab who had behavioral issues and severe separation anxiety (one of us had to be home at all times).
With Howie’s guidance and therapies, we are all now enjoying a quieter and calmer dog who can now tolerate several hours in his kennel while we are out of the house.
He will sit & wait for attention from us. He will also lay peacefully on the couch now too.
We can’t recommend Howie enough.
Steve D.Google reviewBehavior problems · Rescue dogs
Behavior modification → - Fear reactivity to dogs
“My dog made an actual friend and got to play.”
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Howie has been working with my husband and I and our dog Otto since July, training for fear based reactivity to dogs. My dog made an actual friend and got to play because of Howie's instruction to correct my dog with "STOP" then immediately turn my dog to face me and give him treats and tons of praise until he calms down while getting closer to the other dog. Eventually my dog is very close to other dogs with no reaction. This technique has allowed room for hope for my dog. HE USES POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. Also once I told Howie that I corrected my dog when he destroyed something in the house and he asked "did you praise him for stopping?' And I said well, no I guess I didn't and Howie made it very clear that praise must always be given so the dog doesn't think he's a bad dog. Howie is an excellent trainer and loves dogs and my dog loves Howie! He gives us actual results and hope!
Jessica Milburnwith OttoBehavior problems
Behavior modification → - Strong-willed Australian Shepherd
“He developed a personalized training regimen tailored specifically to her.”
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We had a fantastic experience working with Howies Happy Dog Training and Development. After bringing home our Australian Shepherd, Ellie, we quickly realized she had a strong-willed, boss-lady personality. As a working breed, she needed structured guidance, and we knew we were stepping into uncharted waters.
From the very beginning, we had complete confidence in the techniques and methods we learned. Howie has an incredible ability to connect with dogs, and it was clear he truly understood Ellie and what she needed. He developed a personalized training regimen tailored specifically to her, and every new technique was introduced with clear explanations, so we never felt lost. He also provided additional resources to help us better understand our dog and build a stronger bond with her.
Howie did an exceptional job, and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking to develop a great connection with their pup!
Josh Williamswith EllieObedience
Basic obedience → - Barking and leash aggression
“He has lessened his barking significantly and follows instructions better overall.”
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Needed some dog training for a rescue pup that is about 3 years old and my older 7 year old dog. Separate issues, but the younger dog needed to learn he wasn’t the alpha and with Howie’s help, he has lessened his barking significantly and follows instructions better overall. My 7 year old dog has had improvements in her leash aggression with other dogs and is able to maintain her cool much better around other dogs. She is still a work in progress but hopefully with time and the tools Howie provided us through his training, she will reach her end goal of full emotional control around other dogs. I would recommend Howie to anyone looking to obtain behavioral modification for their doggos!
Erica ManleyGoogle reviewBehavior problems · Rescue dogs
Behavior modification → - New puppy
“We noticed significant improvements in Winnie's behavior almost immediately.”
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I can't say enough good things about Howie's Happy Dog Training! Our experience with Howie has been nothing short of amazing. From the moment we reached out for help with our new puppy, Winnie, we felt supported and understood. Howie not only helped train Winnie but also provided us, as owners, with invaluable tips and techniques to ensure a harmonious relationship with her.
Howie's approach is both professional and compassionate. He took the time to understand Winnie's unique personality and tailored the training sessions to meet her specific needs. The positive reinforcement techniques he employs made a huge difference, and we noticed significant improvements in Winnie's behavior almost immediately.
If you're looking for top-notch dog training services, I highly recommend Howie's Happy Hounds. Howie is a true professional who genuinely cares about the well-being of the dogs he works with. We are incredibly grateful for his help and couldn't be happier with the results!
Bruce Moewith WinniePuppies
Puppy training → - Positive methods
“He was very patient in training me to teach my dog, Bo.”
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I highly recommend Howie. He was very patient in training me to teach my dog, Bo. He uses almost entirely positive reinforcement and any corrections are very humane. I wish I would've started with him sooner.
Jim Pittwith BoObedience
Basic obedience → - Young dog, 1 year old
“It was so rewarding to see her learn and gain confidence week after week.”
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Howie is dedicated and passionate about teaching YOU, the owner, how to work with and train your dog. He will give you the reasoning and instruction, but you must be dedicated to the daily homework sessions or you'll be wasting your time. There were a couple of weeks here and there that I wasn't able to give as much of the daily time with Lola and I could tell it put us behind, but we finished our training and very pleased with everything. Lola is a quirky mixed breed who recently turned 1. It was so rewarding to see her learn and gain confidence week after week - and most importantly, it's being done in a POSITVE way. It disgusts me when I see people being rough or mean to their dogs. Howie shows you how to use positive methods which builds your dog's confidence and gives better results. Don't sign up for this if you are not willing to put the time and effort in! Howie makes it fun and informative, and you can tell that he absolutely loves what he does. Thank you, Howie!
Jen Woodwith LolaObedience
Basic obedience → 
Fear reactive rescue German Shepherd“Just the mention of Howie’s name or the sound of Howie’s voice had my dog squealing with excitement.”
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Working with Howie changed my life as a dog owner. Howie had a solution for every problem we encountered while doing behavior modification with my fear reactive rescue German Shepherd. The knowledge Howie has is truly a gold mine for any dog owner looking to better improve their relationship/partnership with their dog. Your dog will love him too! Just the mention of Howie’s name or the sound of Howie’s voice had my dog squealing with excitement! It was a privilege to work with Howie, and I am so thankful I made that first call. Thank you, Howie, for changing mine and Harley’s lives!
Skyler Graywith HarleyBehavior problems · Rescue dogs
Behavior modification →
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01What do clients say about Howie's Happy Dog Training?
4.7 stars from 78 Google reviews. Owners write about new puppies, obedience, rescue dogs, separation anxiety, fear reactivity and leash aggression, and most mention that Howie teaches the owner, not just the dog. Several mention his positive methods.
02Where can I read all the reviews?
All 78 are on Google. Nine are on this page in full, word for word, sorted by type of dog.
03How do I leave a review?
Use the Write a review on Google button on this page. A few honest lines about your dog helps the next owner decide.
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