What Our Clients Say

Before training, recall was hit-or-miss—mostly miss—and the idea of letting him off-leash was honestly a little terrifying. Maximus is high-energy and super curious, so distractions were a major challenge. But from day one, our trainer had a clear plan for building up his recall skills using positive reinforcement and a lot of patience. We started small, reinforcing the basics, and slowly worked up to high-distraction environments. What really impressed me was how much Maximus wanted to listen. Amanda taught us how to make “coming when called” the most exciting part of his day. Now, even at the park or when traveling, Maximus comes sprinting back with enthusiasm—and I can finally give him the off-leash freedom he loves, while still feeling confident he’s under control. If you have a dog who’s eager to explore but needs help with reliable recall, Amanda Begley is the way to go. Maximus is proof that off-leash reliability is possible with the right guidance!

Amanda definitely has a way with animals but she excels in training dogs, and more importantly, their people!  When I met Amanda, I had an unruly Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy.  I knew I was going to need help in getting him to be the gentle giant I wanted him to be.  After just a few sessions, my Duncan went from a mouthy, ill-mannered pup to a wonderful boy who listened and wanted to please.  Best of all, Amanda spent time teaching me what to look for to correct behaviors and anticipate situations before they became issues.  I don’t know how many sessions we had, but Amanda kept in touch – always asking how things are going and what I wanted to work on next.  Sometimes, just a conversation on the phone would give me the help I needed.  Walks with her and her pack were also helpful for both Duncan and me to learn behaviors and practice our training. I’d highly recommend her to anyone looking for help with their dog!

I have a reactive pit bull named Sadie- she wanted to chase and attack anything on wheels, and was dog aggressive if they came into what she considered her personal space.  As an older woman it was dangerous to walk her as she would lunge and pull so badly to go after cars and bicycles, she had actually caused me to fall a couple of times. I could only walk her far away from traffic.  Taking her to the vet was scary because of the other dogs in the waiting room, so we always waited outside to be called for our appointment. 

I had tried obedience training and she learned all the basic manners a dog needs, but the trainer was at a loss as how to work with the reactivity, even though she did try.  Even with all of her reactivity issues Sadie was an absolute sweetheart to people so I did not want to give up on her!

After much research and being turned down by some trainers I found Amanda Begley who had experience with difficult dogs.  Amanda had a board and train business and I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about being away from my dog but, after meeting with Amanda and seeing where my Sadie would stay during her training I could tell she would be in good hands.  During her training I received daily reports and video clips of her learning to be the dog I knew she could be.  In her time with Amanda she learned how to be calm when exposed to her triggers, she could heel nicely on leash walking down a sidewalk next to a busy street, she even made friends with one of Amanda’s dogs and learned to tolerate the others.  She also learned things I never thought about that made her a joy to be around. Things like waiting patiently to be fed, not running out the door until released to do so, coming when called, she was crate trained and her crate is a place of comfort, not a punishment, which came in handy when she later had two surgeries that required weeks of confinement.

I always loved Sadie even though it was hard sometimes, but Amanda made our lives so much easier. She even trained me so I would know how to handle her, especially when she would test me to see if I would let her get away with something.  After coming home it took while for me overcome my fear and to gain the confidence I needed to become the leader, there were many phone calls to Amanda when I had a hard day and she always listened, reminded me of what I needed to do, or gave me something new to try- and always told me I could do this.  And I did!

After training I began boarding with Amanda, Sadie was always excited to see her and this let me know that my girl was well loved and safe while there.  I hated when she moved because she is still my preference for boarding.

Sadie’s training started years ago in Texas, and is something we practice at home often to this day.  I have kept in touch with Amanda and occasionally have a training issue that comes up and I’ll ask for help and she always has time to help me.  

Sadie and I highly recommend Amanda for training and or boarding, she truly cares about the animals in her care!

I had previously used Amanda to help with one of my fur babies. When I added two more I immediately enrolled both Duke and Rey, and the difference has been incredible! Both were struggling with basic obedience—things like sit, stay, and especially recall. Walks were chaotic, and calling them back in the yard or park was more of a suggestion than a command. The trainer, Amanda Begley, was calm, clear, and totally in tune with each dog’s personality. Duke is more laid-back, while Rey is energetic and easily distracted, but the methods worked beautifully for both. The focus on consistency and positive reinforcement helped build trust and made training feel like a game instead of a chore. Within a few sessions, they were responding to basic commands reliably and starting to come when called—even with distractions around. Now we can enjoy walks, backyard play, and even off-leash time in safe areas without constantly worrying. We’re so grateful for the time and patience our trainer gave to both dogs. If you’re working with multiple dogs or need help building a strong foundation in obedience and recall, I highly recommend Amanda Begley!!