What Clients Say About Training with Annie

I can’t recommend Annie Phenix enough. After reading The Midnight Dog Walkers and Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs, I reached out to her because my “pup”, an 80-lb Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, had suddenly become reactive, and Annie was the first to recognize she was actually in pain. Annie is warm, supportive, and never judgmental. She’s helped me come up with strategies for navigating city life, where I encounter dog owners at all levels of experience and plenty of off-leash dogs, which is not fun for the guardian of a leash-reactive dog. She also introduced me to ACE Free Work, which has been very helpful. We’re in different states, but our online sessions work beautifully.

After adopting our rescue pup, we realized we needed professional help to manage his aggression and reactivity. We are so thankful to have worked with Annie. She quickly recognized that our dog was experiencing pain, which led to the diagnosis of his hip dysplasia, a major contributing factor behind his behavior. Annie’s knowledge and experience were invaluable in guiding us through this process and helping us find effective solutions. We’ve made incredible progress and our dog is much happier thanks to her expertise and support!

Savannah saw a small dog outside last night within close proximity and didn’t bark at all! Yeah! We’re so happy to have found you as a trainer to help her and us through all of her trauma.

We cannot thank Annie enough for helping us with our German Shorthaired Pointer. We have seen a big improvement in her ability to greet people and other dogs and be a more relaxed dog in our home. Instead of a dog with anxiety we have a dog with confidence and skills to greet and meet people and other dogs.

Annie Phenix is an exceptionally trained and skilled dog professional. She has been in the industry for many, many years and has vast knowledge of dog behavior and force free dog training. We began working with her when our puppy was 5 months old and not only does our dog absolutely LOVE Annie, he has become much more confident and less reactive in the 8 months we have worked with her. Annie is trustworthy, professional, kind, incredibly knowledgeable and highly skilled. Do not hesitate to work with Annie Phenix!

We have been training with Annie for a year. She came highly recommended as an experienced, force free trainer. She is extremely high touch, 24×7 available and has helped us integrate a second dog into the family, work on recall and no jumping, and teach us important skills and tricks to train our younger puppy from eating things she shouldn’t eat, and many more. She is also helping us train for a good citizens test. Highly recommended working with Annie, she is very connected and respected in the training community and our dogs love when she comes for their hour of training!

We have been working with Annie for just over three months now. She really took the time to get to know not only our dog but ourselves and the relationship that we all share. She has helped us build a better connection between ourselves and our dog. She taught us how to read his cues so that we can communicate better and as a result, I feel that our dog, Charlie, can live a more fulfilling life. The training has felt like much more than just commands or activities, it is a more holistic way to view the life you want to have with your dog.

My dogs mean everything to me. That’s why I’m so grateful to have found Annie. She’s got the skills, the experience, and the love for dogs that allow her to see through behavior and gently heal the stress and trauma underneath it all. The dogs love her and I love that I can trust her with my pups. Thanks, Annie! You’re the best.

I especially want to thank you for the time you spent with Bubba and me. He has made tremendous progress and is a much happier dog. You’re the best!

Our Gracie, a border terrier, has been dog-reactive and bicycle and jogger-reactive for a couple of years. I’ve worked with three trainers and had little success; in fact, I was walking Gracie only when I was pretty sure I could avoid other dogs by a city block, and often I came home in tears.

Annie coached me and encouraged me before we even attempted to come together with the dogs. She encouraged patience … After a while, Annie took Echo’s leash off. No screaming or lunging! After a while, I dropped Gracie’s leash. No screaming or lunging! Through this entire time I read Gracie’s body language and could see that she was relaxed and happy! … It was a dream come true for me! And for Gracie too!

Annie Phenix is terrific! Well-informed, skilled, kind, patient, encouraging!

The lessons my dog, Indy, and I took with Annie at the Durango Dog College have helped more than I could have imagined! For 4 years I have struggled with Indy’s dog on dog aggression, something that affected my everyday life. Annie went above and beyond to help my dog, AND to help me help my dog! … I have spoken with many trainers regarding aggression, and from the first phone call I could tell Annie was the trainer for us. She has a genuine interest in each dog progressing, as well as the desire to help the owners cope with and redirect the behavior they are experiencing.

Before I took this class, I didn’t know how to be safely and comfortably outside with my dog. Now I have so many skills for us to enjoy being outside together. It has made our life together more fun! (Joan)

My dog is so much calmer now that we have taken the Growly Dog Class. I feel I can walk down the street with my dog now and have the skills to deflect ‘growly’ behavior. (Carol W.)

My dog is much better behaved on leash after taking the class. I feel comfortable and relaxed walking him. (Beth B.)

Dear Jack continues to amaze us … not only us, but also our friends! He is eating every bite from Robert’s hand without backing away … very willingly! … Today, he instantly accepted her and wanted to play. He took a treat from her hand and even touched her shoe … true friendship at last!

I just wanted to write to let you know that Emmy is a completely different dog! … The real test came this weekend. We were having a party, with about 20 guests, and there were zero issues. I fully expected to kennel her in a bedroom but she proved us wrong! Even my guests who have met her when we first got her noticed Emmy as a different dog. YAY for success. I really cannot thank you enough!

Thought I would let you know how Zipper did at a Frisbee tournament we went to in Dallas last weekend. I was very pleased with his behavior. What an improvement! … 15 minutes later I look over and there are 5 dogs surrounding Zipper and sniffing him. I almost had a stroke, but to my surprise he did not make a sound and there was no confrontation, he just wagged his tail.

Annie, I gotta tell you that your training probably saved Sassy’s life today! I took her to the vet to get spayed. When we got to the door, she said NO WAY and pulled out of her collar. She made a beeline for the road, a very busy 4 lane highway. I freaked but quickly got it together, remembering what you taught us … I knelt down and in my sweetest (scared) voice I called to her. She was almost to the road but turned and came to me and sat down.

We started working with Annie when Rylee was 12 weeks old. He is our first dog, and we needed some guidance on how to train him … After four 1-hour sessions, Rylee is the model 5-month old puppy … He is a happier dog because we know how to effectively communicate with him. He has learned to be a gentleman, even when new people are around and he gets oh-so-excited.

There has been such a huge difference in her demeanor over the past several months since we have been working with you. She is so much more comfortable in our home and the bond we share has been strengthened immensely … I am so proud that Jessie earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen designation! If you would have told me two months ago that Jessie would be a Canine Good Citizen, I would have thought you were crazy!