From the moment we introduced our German Shepherd, Sol, to Trae, we knew we had made the right choice for her training. Our journey with Trae spanned several crucial developmental stages of Sol's life, each session building upon the last to create a well-rounded and obedient companion, a testament to Trae's expertise and dedication.
Our first engagement was when Sol was a young puppy. Trae's approach to the basics was nothing short of exceptional. He covered crate training, basic commands such as sit and lie down, potty training, heel, and proper walking techniques. His patience and understanding of a puppy's capacity to learn were evident, laying a strong foundation for Sol's future training.
The second phase of training occurred when Sol was around 6 months old. This intensive 3-week course, where Sol was with Trae for approximately 40 hours a week, was transformative. The difference in Sol's behavior and obedience after these three weeks was incredible. As pet owners, we were struggling to establish a sense of authority and respect with Sol. However, post this intensive training, the change was night and day. Sol's respect and responsiveness to our commands improved drastically, a clear indication of Trae's effective training methods and his ability to foster a respectful relationship between pet and owner.
At about 9 months old, Sol underwent off-leash training with Trae, where he introduced us to the e-collar technique. Trae's educational approach didn't just train Sol; it equipped us with the knowledge and mindset needed to continue her training confidently. His emphasis on understanding the philosophy behind his methods rather than just the actions themselves was invaluable. This approach has empowered us to maintain and further develop Sol's training on our own.
Trae's thoroughness, dedication, and ability to communicate and transfer his training philosophy to pet owners set him apart in the field of dog training. His methods are not about quick fixes but fostering a deep understanding and respect between the dog and its owners. Sol's transformation is a testament to Trae's expertise, and we cannot recommend him enough. For anyone looking for a comprehensive, thoughtful, and effective dog training experience, look no further than Trae. He is, without a doubt, unparalleled in his field.
— Justin Mickanen
After our family brought home two puppies from the same litter, we realized we would have a lot of work to do helping them learn to bond with and listen to us. At our first session Trae laid out a very clear and simple guide for how you address and shape behavior and a sequence of introducing, rewarding, and communicating expected functions to the pup’s that we would use for everything. Even starting slowly, focusing on play and comfort with the training regimen (treats, pressure on a collar, and consistent verbal cues,) our dogs immediately responded with behavior they understood we wanted. In barely three months, they went from utterly untrained to the best-walking and attentive dogs I’ve ever cared for. At only 9 months old, they have all of the skills (walking on leash, attentive heel, staying at place, immediate recall) to be easy members of the family. More importantly, we have the skills to introduce, communicate, and teach new behaviors over time. If you’re willing to learn and make the effort, Trae’s program absolutely works and our enlarged family is better for it.
— Josh Gorman
Trae did an excellent job training both of our Labrador retrievers, one since he was a puppy, and another who was already an adult. Both times, Trae made sure to not only train our dogs, but to train us as handlers, as well. By spending a significant time teaching us his methodology and explaining how best to communicate the desired behavior to our dogs, he set us up for lifelong success. He trained both of our dogs to be well-behaved while maintaining their fun personalities. Best of all, our dogs absolutely loved him—they were always so excited to see Trae approaching for their next lesson. This showed us that Trae was effective without being scary or cruel to our dogs—he made training fun for them! His genuine love of dogs and attention to detail are both readily apparent. We are thrilled with the results.
— J. Pierce
Trae began training our Golden Retriever at 6 months old how to properly walk on a leash, distance downs, and recall. From the very first session, Trae was able to build a trusting relationship with our dog that was palpable. His profound understanding of canine behavior and training techniques was evident. His patient and assertive approach, along with his ability to tailor programs to not just our dog's needs, but our needs, has yielded great results.
We engaged Trae’s expertise in off-leash training, which proved to be invaluable. Unlike large dog school training programs, Trae provided flexibility, additional one-on-one time, and unlimited remote support for technique-related inquiries or reminders between sessions. We can enjoy stress-free walks, social gatherings, and everyday interactions with our dog. Trae’s professionalism, expertise, personalized approach, and compassionate methods have revolutionized our dog's behavior, making our journey nothing short of transformative. We have frequently been approached by other dog owners seeking information about our trainer. I would recommend him to anyone!
- Katherine M. Alexandria, VA