Your relationship with your dog will never be the same.

And that’s a beautiful thing.

Ready for a different approach…
and a peaceful life with your pup?

 

Dealing with problem behaviors?
Or, maybe you just want to take things to the next level. 

Either way, we’ve got your back.

We correct problem behaviors…
and help you grow closer to your dog.

Our dog-friendly training approach is grounded in science and psychology.

This way, you’ll eliminate problems at the ROOT…
And understand WHY your dog is reacting the way they are.

Explore our program options below, or reach out and we will help you find the right fit.

“For someone who feels like they have no idea what to do, having Desiree’s comments and encouragement was so helpful. I felt confident after each session and I knew the strategies talked about during that session would help us. We are doing things together now that I would never have thought that we could in a million years.” — Mara Jones

“Stella is a completely different dog! I know we have a lot more to do, but I feel completely confident that she will be the best dog ever. I loved everything about our sessions, especially the way everything was customized from the moment Desiree met us and Stella. Desire always saw the best in us, and helped me understand Stella’s positives and strengths.” Morgan Johnson

Desiree was able to offer constant feedback about what I was doing right and wrong, and help with positive advice constantly. She is extremely knowledgeable in her field. She has opened my eyes and helped me to see everything differently when I didn’t think there was any chance of success. — Melinda Rodriguez

man holding dog for a virtual call
man holding dog for a virtual call

Our Services

We offer a range of services, including:

– Specialized Consulting to solve serious behavioral problems
– Obedience and Basic Training
– Day Training, if you want done-for-you training
– Service, Therapy, & Facility Dog training
– Specialized Separation Anxiety training

Our virtual programs can still help if you are out-of-area — we have clients all over the US! 

Explore our site to find all the info, or reach out with questions.

 

Behavior Solutions
female working remotely from home with dog

Behavior Program:

Solve serious behavior problems:

Fear & Anxiety, Reactivity & Aggression, Compulsive Behaviors; Guarding; and more.

Behavior Programs Include:

P

90-minute virtual Initial Consultation, with written notes and training plan

P

Choose: (Starter-3) or (Premium-6) Hands-on Sessions

P

Specialized, clients-only online course ($300 value!)

P

Private facebook group for additional support

P

Extra sessions available at alumni rates

Initial Programs valid for 4 months – online course, group, and alumni sessions for life.

Get started with an Initial Consultation.
This fee will be rolled into your package when you enroll: $195

General Manners
stand up paddling with a pitbull dog

Basic/General Manners:

Choose Your Approach:

The Starter Package: learn the basics, of up to 3 skills. 
The Specialized Basics: focus on mastering 1 skill.

Choose Your Skills:

P

Loose-leash walking

P

Come when called

P

Polite Greetings (no jumping)

P

Counter Surfing Prevention

P

Basic Cues: sit, down, stay, leave it

Includes a start-up 90 minute session and 3 weekly one-hour sessions. Packages are valid for 1 month.

*If more complex behaviors are identified, you can upgrade to our Behavior Program.

Intensive Puppy Program
Puppy Programs

Day Training:

Let us do all the work for you!

Unlike board and train, your dog stays in the comfort of their home, and we come visit to work with them.

Day Training Programs Feature:

P

Kick-off Sessions to get to know your trainer

P

2-3 Sessions per week, for 4-6 weeks

P

Skills Transfer Sessions, to show you how to maintain learning

P

Covers basic cues & premium skills

P

Extensions & Adventure Add-ons available

All of the above information varies, depending on the specific program you enroll in. We offer programs for puppies and adults. Reach out for more info.

We also offer specialized options for:

Separation Anxiety:

SA programs follow a unique, industry-leading process. 

Service & Therapy Dog Training:

We’ll train YOUR dog to be a hero.

Have questions or want more info? 
We’re here to help you make the best choice for your pup.
Reach out via our application form and we are happy to help!

 

Ready to Connect with YOUR Dog?

Apply to our programs today!

FAQS

Don't You Need To Meet My Dog/See The Behavior To Assess it?

No. I understand this may be counter-intuitive, but even if we see the behavior, we are only seeing one tiny slice of time, in one specific situation, and involving the consultant or trainer, which impacts everything. 

Plus, triggering the behavior in order to assess or train is unnecessary and unkind. This would be like assessing someone who can’t swim by throwing them off a boat in the ocean. This isn’t helpful, when the person can just tell us they can’t swim and we can talk to them about it to discover what’s wrong.

Just like we don’t need to see that person drowning, we don’t need to see your dog respond to a trigger to learn what is going on. 

 

Now, obviously we can’t have a long conversation with your dog. But, we CAN talk to you. That is VERY informative to us, because YOU are the one who lives with the behavior, knows its history, and has seen its myriad different manifestations. So, whether we are in person or over zoom, the first session will revolve around a thorough, targeted interview with the family.

We will need to take an in-depth history, analyze what we learn, and from there, develop your intervention plan. Our goal is to really dig deep, learn what’s driving the behavior, and isolate all of the contributing variables. This way, we know what exactly we need to address and how we need to proceed. Then, we will talk about support, management, and other foundational pieces that need to be in place before we begin actual “training” work.

By the time we’re done with all of this, we will know what training approach is going to be best for you and your dog and can make accurate recommendations that will drive what we do for the rest of your program.

I'm Still Not Convinced. Does an online Initial Consultation REALLY Work?

Look – I get it. The first time we did online behavior sessions, we were skeptical, too.

However — we’ve done both online and in-person sessions for years, and have consistently seen BETTER results by leveraging online methods — especially if we are working with severe behaviors.

When we do behavior work, we aren’t teaching a skill that your dog can learn once and remember forever and easily transfer to you. We are working with emotions and creating subtle shifts. That means YOU are the one we primarily need to train, because YOU are the one who is going to have to help your dog on a day-to-day basis. Our experience and training allows us to quickly know what needs to be done and how to do it to get the best results. But since your dog doesn’t live with us, whether or not we personally can get your dog to do (or stop doing) something is immaterial.

The question is, can YOU, with the right guidance? Our approach is designed the way it is minimize roadblocks to progress and to maximize your learning…and therefore, your dog’s learning. 

If you want more info about this, I explain it all here.

Isn't It Better If You Teach My Dog, Then Show Me?

Of course, we could work with your dog directly, and she would respond well to us. But that would accomplish very little, because all she would be learning is how to respond to OUR handling. And our skill, speed, timing, and handling are expert — that is why you are reaching out to us for help. Your pup needs to learn to respond to YOU, with the way you will handle her. 

You’ll get the best results if we keep things as real-world as possible…and that means keeping us as far out of it as we can — while still giving you ample guidance and support. 

So, we will coach YOU to understand deeply what your pup is experiencing and what her needs are, how to meet them, and how to connect with her.  We will coach YOU what steps to take and when to take them to change the way she is responding in a situation.

This way, you will be able to work with your dog and get REAL results that will last even when we are not there…because you and your pup will be starting from a solid foundation of teamwork.

If we are doing behavior work, this is even more true. Behavioral work is different from regular training, because it is not necessarily skills-focused. Think about it this way: if you have a kid who is having emotional outbursts in math class, you could hire a math tutor to teach him better math skills. Would that actually address the behavioral outbursts? Not likely – even if the outbursts are happening because the child is frustrated at not being able to do the work, an outburst is different from an appropriate response, such as asking for help. There is likely a deeper problem going on than a simple lack of math skills. To help this child, he probably needs to see a child psychologist or a child behaviorist.

When we are working with serious behavior issues with dogs, it is the same. We’re not focused on teaching skills (although that may play a part) — we are focused on addressing your dog’s emotions.

To do that, we need to work primarily with YOU, because you are the one who is going to have to help your pup on a day to day basis. And that means YOU need to be the one to handle your dog during the work. 

Is It Really Worth The Cost?

As with any other service-based profession, when you hire a service provider you are paying for so much more than the time we spend directly together.  Your fee covers the prep work done beforehand, driving time to and from the training location and the gas it takes to get there, time spent sending notes and preparing online materials so that the information you need to succeed is easily accessible to you, and the cost of the equipment needed to create any of those materials or to deliver training.  

As a small business, the prices charged also cover our business operating costs (insurance, licensing, marketing, etc…), so that we are able to provide this service.

Furthermore, Horizon emphasizes bringing the highest levels of up-to-date knowledge based in real standards of education, training, and credentialing. All of our trainers hold or are actively pursuing the highest possible standards in professional credentialing and certification, and this represents a substantial amount of time and financial commitment.

When you hire a professional, you are paying for their time, education and expertise. You are here because you can’t fix your problem yourself. You’re looking for qualified insight, from someone who has the education and experience to be able to teach you. That is what we provide, and providing this requires all of the above.

So, at the end of the day, only you can truly answer this question.  Our methods are proven, science-backed, and far deeper than standard dog training. Plus, what you’ll learn will fundamentally shift the way you approach working with your dogs, forever — and you’ll be able to apply that to future dogs. What is that worth to you? 

 

 

Do You Have A Payment Plan/Do You Accept Cards?

Yes! We accept all major credit cards. We invoice through PayPal, but you do NOT need a PayPal account to pay.

You can also set up a payment plan through PayPal Credit, which will give you 6 months interest-free. (After six months, you’ll be charged interest.) We can also offer in-house payment plans if you do not qualify for PayPal Credit.

We do not accept alternative forms of payment at this time. 

Do You Offer Sessions On Nights And Weekends?

We see clients Mon-Sat, with evening and weekend sessions available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

 

What Technology Do I Need For The Initial Consultation?

We use Zoom, which you can download for free on your computer from zoom.us, or on your phone from the app store. It’s free and easy to use.

What If I’ve Worked With Other Trainers Before?

Most of our clients have worked with other trainers before and haven’t gotten the results they’ve been looking for. If you’ve done any of the following — E-collar training, board and train, basic obedience classes, or watched famous dog trainers on TV — this training is fundamentally different. We go deeper, the training is entirely science-based, and there is an emphasis on truly understanding and partnering with your dog.

When Will I See Results?

The majority of our clients see improvement after just a few weeks of focused work, are satisfied with this program, and continue fine-tuning on their own to get full results.

Exact results will depend on your dog’s profile and history, your commitment and implementation, and other variables.

Do You Offer A Guarantee?

Here is what we can promise:

  • We will be honest and transparent with you about the likely outcomes and inform you during the first session if we do not believe we can help you.
  • We will deliver cutting-edge techniques based on the highest levels of current, scientifically-sound research. 
  • We will use only methods that are dog-friendly, maximally positive, minimally aversive, and pain-free. We will never ask you to do anything that might damage your relationship with your best friend.

In return, we ask that you schedule your sessions promptly, utilize all features and benefits (including online resources) made available to you, and do the homework/follow the instructions given to you precisely.

This is necessary to get the highest level of results.

We do not offer a traditional guarantee because it is not honest or ethical to do so. (In fact, we are prohibited from doing so by certain higher-level certifications we hold.) Your dog is a thinking, feeling being capable of independent action, and your situation contains variables that are outside our control and possibly even our ability to predict. 

Have a question that isn’t answered here?

No problem. We are happy to help with any additional questions. Just reach out via the contact form here. Please be specific about how we can help you and we’ll be in touch soon.

Aggressive Dog Behaviorist in Greenville, SC.

Ready to connect with your best friend?

Ready to connect with your best friend?

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10 things you can do right now to end bad behavior and forge a deep connection…without training, guilt, or “dominating” your best friend.

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