Good Dog Workshop

A family (human and pet) focused company. They build off all our strengths to use in areas of need. I would definitely recommend!

Super! Thanks Brian for letting Petey, my Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin), and me borrow Marina. She’s a keeper for sure! My Min Pin tends to have hissy fits whenever he sees another dog or another dog approaches us. Once he calms down he usually accepts the other dog. Marina is right in that he needs more exposure to other dogs and that I need to be more assertive. I LOVE that your modis operandi is to include your own well-behaved dogs in a client’s training sessions. My Min Pin behaved beautifully when Marina visited us at home with her dogs Sasha and Sailor and behaved perfectly when we visited with Marina again, this time at and in the dog park in Warrenton – so perfectly Marina wondered why I needed her again. It was plain to see that my rascal can tolerate other dogs. Yet Petey still has hissy fits when it’s just him and me though I’m usually able to stop him sooner thanks to her recommendations. And since our last visit with Marina we’ve had success meeting three dogs (medium and large) whose owners were willing to wait for my little guy to finish his drama. We also visited the dog park in our neighborhood. It was crowded with dogs of all sizes and children with their families, ball throwing everywhere. But we walked around the exterior of the fence anyway to meet and greet toward deciding whether we’d enter. All seemed well until one big dog decided to bark and growl at Petey. That ended it for me, but we’ll try again. Anyway I continue to believe that my little guy will ultimately drop the hissy fits and behave nonchalantly around other dogs as he has already shown to be possible.

Brian is adept at interpreting humans and dogs and especially how they interact together. In just a couple of hours he revolutionized how we interact with our dog and now we have had tons of succes getting her to do things that were not impossible the prior 7 months. He listens and is patient as we describe our needs and struggles. He offers practical solutions that you can do without having to buy a lot of equipment or requiring treats on hand 25/7. We highly recommend Brian and will be calling on him periodically but in the future.

Brian was very professional and has a clear understanding of canine behavior. He made himself available for follow up questions via telephone or email. I am seeing changes in my dog's behavior with less barking and less aggression toward strangers.

I was having such a difficult time getting my new puppy Leo to enjoy his crate. Brian helped me rearrange Leo’s space and he went and fell asleep in his crate instantly. I also had Brain teach me how to help Leo with recall and commands. Such an eye opening experience, we both learned so much!

He was so helpful and provided me with so much information that helped me and my dog. He helped me bond with my dog better and be able to control his aggression and better socialize with other dogs.

Brian was right on with his assessment of the current challenges I’m having and provided me with a few things I need to work on with my dog prior to working with a trainer. I’ve been frustrated for a while trying to find the solution and felt a weight lift off my shoulders after my call with Brian.

I found Good Dog Workshop through the Bark website, and I am very thankful that I found this incredible place to help people with their puppies and dogs. I purchased Brian's services for my friend who has a new bluetick coonhound and needed instruction about how to train and take care of his new pup. Brian had one of his skilled trainers named Marina come over to my friend's place to do in-person training with his new puppy. For three months after that, my friend will be able to call Marina with any questions and advice. After training with Marina, my friend's relationship with his new pup was transformed. He now feels confident that he can have a harmonious and healthy relationship with his new pup. I wholeheartedly recommend Good Dog Workshop.

After some convincing from my boyfriend, I agreed to have Marina come visit and provide some guidance with my Newfoundland. It was the best thing we could have done! Marina was amazing! She came to the house and was direct, confident, provided more structure and answered all our questions and concerns with out hesitation or guesswork. I had attempted to train my Newfoundland, Bruce, in the early stages of his life because I knew the size he could be and how I could loose control quickly. We were able to get the basics down fairly easily but there were concerns later that a training class at Petco just wasn't really addressing. Bruce is approaching his 2nd birthday and Marina showed us more in depth of what Bruce was seeking from us, that we can teach and he can learn/obey/accept these new commands, how to obtain and hold the dominant role within our pack and how we can all live in a happy home with less worries. We are excited to continue using the tools she has provided us and take Bruce on more walks 😊

Very prompt response to my online inquiry. I spoke with Brian (free consultation) who gave me some solid advice about our new senior rescue who is barking a lot. His understanding of dogs and how they communicate was apparent and he offered solid advice. I'm thankful to have connected with him.

Before hiring Brian, I talked to a few trainers and all of them had made me feel uneasy about my chow chow. Talking to Brian made feel like I was actually being listened too, he asked questions other trainers didn’t and even made me feel at ease. I decided to go to him to help me train my dog and it was the best decision I could’ve made! Brian and marina were extremely helpful and patient. Every minute spent with them made me and my sister and boyfriend feel more comfortable and sure with handling the behavior our chow chow was displaying. We learned so much and have seen so much improvement already. We are extremely happy and grateful!

Brian was extremely helpful and offered great insights and advice. We saw immediate results. We appreciated that he would come to our house, and his own dogs also were a great asset as we worked to determine exactly how our dog would react to various situations. Brian also was willing to work with our schedule.

CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH FOR BRIAN, who, even though my husband and I only recently met him, already feels like a trusted friend! We had tried working with another local trainer previously, and Brian was SO MUCH BETTER! Results were emerging immediately, rather than eventually-to-not-at-all. Brian showed genuine respect, warmth and attentiveness to the human side of his Client team, while demonstrating care and best practices for the Canine side. Very professional, experienced and down to earth, Brian also exceeds expectations in responsiveness. Excellent WRITTEN communication skills a bonus! We also met Marina, a hands-on assistant with a great attitude! If you have ever dealt with a dog trainer who obviously liked dogs better than their fellow man, this group will be a refreshing change! Recommended by our Vet’s staff, and we are so grateful. You can not go wrong with Good Dog Workshop! (Did I say he’s good? He’s good.)

I can't say enough good things about our experience with Good Dog Workshop. We were having some trouble with our 3 y/o adopted pit mix (he came to us untrained) and our goal was to have him better trained in time for visiting family for the holidays. We called Brian and within a week we had our in-home training with him. He showed us how to understand and communicate with our dog. And it was really beneficial for our first dog who is 7 y/o who participated. We could use the training on both of them. It's been 2 days and we've been putting in the time and the boys are already responding and doing so well on walks. It's really incredible and we have nothing but faith they're going to excel as we keep up the work.

Excellent! Brian was a great teacher and helped me realize that MY behavior and approach had to change before my dogs bad behavior would change.

After speaking to Brian on the phone, I was very skeptical about what he could teach me in a couple of hours. When Brian entered through the front door I felt his calming nature, as did my 3-month-old puppy Skylar. He taught us that Skylar was acting up frequently because he needed more structure and he was really confused about where he belonged in our house. He also explained that Skylar needed more exercise on a daily basis, as he had a lot of built up energy. After spending a few hours with Brian, I felt more confident that I could help my puppy be more comfortable and happy in our home. Brian also called a few days later to see how things were going with Skylar, and he gave me some more advice on the phone. Overall, my puppy is more calm for most of the day and is considerably more obedient, as well! I would highly recommend Brian and her services!

Brian did a great job assessing my dog, and gave me the tools I needed to correct the behaviors that were causing problems.

I have a 4 year old Lab/Chow that I took to Brian so that my dog could socialize with other dogs. I was very impressed with Brian because he was so knowledgeable about the behavior of dogs. He would explain to me certain behaviors that I never noticed before. I was happy to see my dog be so comfortable with other dogs by slowly being introduced to them. My dog even wanted to get inside Brian's truck with his other dogs by the end of it. I highly recommend Brian, he was very helpful and knowledgeable.

Our session with Brian was great! We have a one and a half year old Bluetick Coonhound who has a few behavioral issues we were looking for guidance with to help correct. Our primary concern was his anxiousness when we have people enter our home. Brian was highly praised by a member of the staff at our vet and came highly recommended. Before our session, Brian was quick to respond to my inquiry through their website and gave me a call the same day. He spent a long time on the phone with me to understand how our dog acts and importantly, how WE act, and what our concerns were and outlined a plan for the best way to approach working to correct the behaviors. He was extremely thorough and insightful and knows so much about dogs and the best way to handle them. The session itself was great and I feel like all members of our “pack” very much benefited from it and took away a lot of great points and tips to work on! Brian was very observant in pointing out a lot of things that we wouldn’t have thought of with regard to our relationship with our dog and really nailed down what our dog ultimately needs to be respectful and compliant.

Within a few short hours, Brian showed us how to take the lead to help Ozzy feel safe and secure when he’s with us. Ozzy socialized with Brian’s dogs, went for a walk, and visited a dog park, all with much improved behavior. We got great results - Brian is remarkable. We’re scheduling a follow up session to build on this success.

Brian was great. When he contacted me via the telephone he spent a half hour asking me all kinds of questions about my dog and her behavior. As soon as we met Brian, he immediately assessed my dog. He got her!!! My daughter and I spent approximately an hour and a half learning new techniques for controlling our dog. It's been about a month since we had our training. I can honestly say that with what we learned from Brian, we are both more confident when walking a dog. I would definitely use him again and refer him to anyone who needs a dog trainer.

We just added a new member to our family, a 7 week old Cocker Spaniel, Bailey. I was fortunate to Google my way to “Good Dog Workshop” and Brian, the owner. I called to make an appointment and he was more than willing to accommodate my schedule. We discussed my goals/concerns and set a date. He came to our home, wasted no time getting started and immediately recognized that she was submissive and willing to please puppy. That took 2 minutes. Without hesitation Brian was on the floor demonstrating how I should communicate with Bailey. He has an insight that he communicates to you and your pet. In one short hour he showed me how to read Bailey, how to communicate to her, even how to walk her off leash with her following each step of the way. Of course I am a work in progress, but now I have the tools. His insight and knowledge is invaluable. Brian doesn’t leave you high and dry he is available should you have follow up questions. This was a great experience and money well spent. You won’t regret calling Good Dog Workshop, they far exceeded my expectations.

I had a telephone conference with Brian to explain our situation prior to Brian coming to our home. He asked a lot of questions and gave some advice that we could implement prior to the in-person appointment to help manage the situation. He then met with my husband and me at our home later that week. Luna was open to meeting Brian, but Layla would not approach him. We talked about techniques for managing her fear and how to reestablish her place in the pack by asserting greater leadership around her and using Luna as a partner in her training. Brian also assessed the home environment and gave us some possible reasons for her changed behavior. He helped me understand how my interactions with Layla could contribute to her acting out because I was providing too much emotive energy. We talked about how my husband's natural authoritative demeanor and even the cadence and energy of his walk could be more than Layla could absorb, which was causing her to react fearfully. Although Brian was not able to interact with Layla, he provided us valuable information and tools for creating a better home environment for her. He also understood and respected the behavior that she was exhibiting toward him and did not try to impose his will on her. I was very impressed with Brian's knowledge and his understanding of our dogs. I felt much better after our meeting. We immediately began using the tools and techniques Brian suggested. It is now day 4 since our appointment. Layla is still wary of my husband, but she has begun to take treats from him occasionally. She has growled at him only once in the 4 days, when I was at work and he was on his way down to the basement. We will continue to work with her and realize that it will take many more months--maybe even a year or more--to change her behavior and earn her trust.

Brian took over 1 hour on the phone to listen to my situation. He warned me that not all problems are fixable (meaning not every dog is a perfect fit for just ANY family). He was honest, kind, caring, and compassionate about ALL members of our pack AKA FAMILY. He did NOT want me throwing tons of money at him and expecting an instant fix. Brian has a gift for reading people and what I call "man and woman's best friend". Please reach out to Brian. He opened my eyes to truth. He also saved a friend's issue with dogs, so I know he is an expert grade "A" dog trainer.

We adopted Luna, a Husky rescue, three months ago. We soon realized that she did not do well when we encountered other dogs - fearful, anxious, hyper. We tried to deal with it on our own and then hired a trainer, who helped us with basics but didn't solve the dog socialization/interaction issue. We searched and found Brian and Good Dog Workshop on Angie's List. After reading every great review, checking out their website and watching some videos, we felt this might be our answer. We met Brian at his location in Warrenton. He met us at the car and immediately had Luna's attention and respect. He started with introducing her to the two horses so they wouldn't be a distraction when we got to dog interactions. After a previous experience in a park with horses where she freaked out, we were dubious. Brian quickly had Luna calm and nose to nose with the horse. She seemed happy, relaxed and very interested in her new friend. We then moved on to introductions with Brian's four dogs. He demonstrated with each introduction how we should communicate with Luna so that she knew she had to become calm and respectful of the other dogs before she could meet them. After introductions, we took a couple walks with his dogs. It was amazing to see how well Luna was doing with the other dogs. Brian was professional and extremely knowledgeable. We were amazed with the results we saw after spending an hour and a half with him. He showed us what we need to do to be better leaders for Luna. We still have work to do to reinforce our new training. Brian showed us that Luna is capable of good behavior around dogs and we left with great confidence and hope. Thanks Brian!