I cannot begin to tell you how happy we are to have met you. We believe you are a God sent and you are going to change all three of our lives. I also wanted to say that what you do for people and their animals is a gift beyond words and I think the world (or at least Florida) needs to know about you. You are so smart and so good at what you do and there are too many dog parents giving up their pets because they don’t know where to turn. You really should start video taping your meetings and your training. What you did for Roxy in just 20 minutes yesterday made a difference and your techniques need to be out there for people to see and learn from.

Just wanted to give you an update on our GSD, Pig. She’s been doing great. I can’t believe what a difference your business has made for our family. Today I forgot to put her in her crate before I left for work. She was on her place. Four hours later as I was driving home, I recalled with horror what I had done and braced myself for the worst…house torn up, toys destroyed, piles and puddles. She is, after all, not even nine months old. We got home and she had not left her place. You can imagine how grateful we are for the training she got from you. What a good girl she is and a pleasure to have in our lives. Thanks again.

Throughout the past 2.5 years, Carrie Silva has assisted the federal government in the selection and training of their Special Response Team (SRT) canines. Ms. Silva has conducted foundation obedience and aggression training with six (6) SRT canines, to include the latest canine in August, 2010. The outstanding foundation training of these dogs by Ms. Silva has allowed the handler and canine to move more rapidly into tactical canine training, and thus increasing their potential for success during high-risk operations.

CBS News Canine Video

Our dog was out of control and we didn’t know what to do! Nola, our 5 year old mixed breed came to us with some quirky behaviors as she is a Hurricane Katrina rescue. When we adopted her, she was only 6 months old and everyone forgave those quirks because of her background. She was always very friendly with people and kids, however, over time she became increasingly aggressive toward other dogs. As Nola aged, instead of settling down, the aggression issue worsened. We do not have a yard and could only take walks when we were sure we would not see another dog. On those occasions when we did run into another dog, Nola became a snarling mess, lunging aggressively toward any dog, big or small, that came across her path. Vacations were always an issue because we could not do anything with her. We couldn’t chance having a pet sitter walk her, we couldn’t take her to a kennel and if we did take her with us, she had to stay in the hotel all day for fear of running into another dog. At times, she even attacked our older Aussie.

Clearly this was not an issue we could address on our own. We had tried the different methods on the dog shows without success. Thankfully, we were referred to Carrie by some other happy clients-we needed an intervention after several years of avoiding other dogs at all costs.

After consulting with Carrie, she educated my husband and I on what we were doing to contribute to Nola’s bad behavior. We decided to send her to the Dog House for full service training. It was a difficult decision to make, as it was the middle of summer and Nola was accustomed to air conditioning and sleeping on a nice comfy bed. But something had to be done. I dropped Nola off and spent a few days worrying about how she was handling the heat and being away from us. Then, Carrie began sending videos that astounded me. She was actually socializing with other dogs and appeared to be enjoying herself! When we met with Carrie for our training at a very busy dog park, it was truly amazing! She actually walked by other dogs and ignored them-with a loose leash! While this may not seem like a big deal to most, anyone who has been ashamed to walk their dog in public knows exactly what I am talking about.

The true test was when we brought Nola home. Carrie taught us to face the issues straight on, rather than avoiding them. I was very nervous at first, but followed her advice. We walked around our neighborhood and while Nola did try to test us, she quickly realized we were not going to be pushovers with her like before. Carrie trained us well. We have even taken her on vacation and over to friend’s houses. We can exercise when it is convenient for us, not when we know all of the other dogs in the neighborhood are safely tucked away. We can go anywhere and I am confident I can control my dog.

Our household is much more relaxed as Nola’s out of control behavior had an adverse effect on our other dog. Now, both are much calmer. Carrie also taught us other nifty tricks, like how to make our dogs “place” so they are not jumping all over guests. Now, they wait to be greeted.

The Dog House training we all received has had a positive impact on our lives. Most notably is how much more relaxed our lives have become. We do not have the aggressive barking every time a dog walks by, and there is no agonizing over when and where to walk the dogs in order to avoid a fight while still making sure they are exercised. I can even talk to my neighbors as they are no longer in fear for their dogs lives! The best part is that Nola is a much happier, calmer dog.

We still practice with Nola daily . The words “Carrie said…” have become part of our regular conversations as Nola is a bit stubborn and pushes the envelope when she can-after all, Carrie changed her behavior and not her personality. But, now we know how to deal with it, and that has made all the difference.

Could there ever be a more naughty dog than my 7 month old rescue beagle Mo??… I think not! Mo and I have had quite the adventure from Rochester, NY to Tampa, FL! He came to me at 6.5 months with absolutely NO training and two months later he traveled down the coast with me (If my car could talk!). After battling crate training as well as basic obedience for about 3 months, I decided it was either my sanity or the dog! After many suggestions from fellow dog enthusiasts, I decided to find a trainer. Carrie was my answered prayer! On our first meeting, I warned her about how lacking Mo was in everything! She reassured me that he would be a much better puppy at the end of the full service training. Carrie stayed in touch with me throughout the full training and even sent me pictures and videos of Mo and all his progress! I couldn’t BELIEVE that my Mo was indeed a GOOD BOY! Carrie helped Myself and Mo find the confidence in each other to work together and be a functional “pack”. He is now happily crate trained, (which Carrie so creatively dubbed his “Dugout”) and has basic obedience!! I never thought it could happen but I absolutely adore my dog and the fun we can now have! He even went to the dog beach without a leash and had a ball with his friends! Thank you, Thank you, a million times THANK YOU Carrie! I’m so glad that Mo has found a friend here in Florida!

I own and operate my own restaurant and one morning when I was opening, a robber broke in and robbed me at gunpoint. After that horrible experience, I didn’t feel safe anymore and decided that I wanted a protection dog. And that’s how my beautiful boy Tyson came into my life. When Tyson was about 5 months old, I knew it was time to find the right trainer. After much research and many phone calls, I found The Doghouse. I was amazed that I had found such accomplished world class trainers so close to home. Without reservations, I sent Tyson to full service training. I was amazed to see how fast Tyson learned and soon he would sit, stay, and come without any hesitation. After the 3 week session, I brought Tyson back home and he was a completely different dog, well behaved and confident. Now, when I bring him out in public, I get so many complements on what a nice well behaved dog he is. After letting him grow up a little bit, it was time to go back to The Doghouse. This time for advanced obedience training and some protection work. Tyson loved his bite training . He was doing so well during this session that we felt that it was time for him to compete for his first working title. At the age of only 16 months, Carrie successfully handled him to complete his German style Obedience (BH) title. That was an exciting and fun day. I was so proud of my boy. During one of our training classes, Carrie remarked “you know you could show this dog if you wanted to, he is a good looking dog and has nice movement”. Then I thought about it and thought “that would be fun, now how do we get started?” So back to the doghouse for conformation training. This time, Tyson had to learn stacking, showing his teeth, and we even taught him how to work out on a treadmill. Now we travel to different dog shows all over the United States and are having a blast doing it. Tyson has completed two championships and is working on his third. His first title competition was the UKC Championship which he won by winning multiple best of breed and group placements in one weekend. Then he went onto compete for his international championship winning 4V1 ratings under four different judges. Now we are working on his AKC championship which he has halfway completed by winning numerous best of Winners and Winners Dogs titles. He is now known as “International Champion, UKC Champion, AKC Major Pointed, MultiV1 rated King Tyson von Evman, BH CGC” I know this is long overdue, but I wanted to send you a letter to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for everything you have done for Tyson and me. You guys have become great friends and have been there for us every step of the way and for that I am truly grateful. Our future plans for Tyson include completing his AKC championship and then we are once again back to The Doghouse to finish his protection training. I also have a new puppy named Raven who will be coming to see you guys really soon! I have and will always recommend The Doghouse to coworkers, friends, and family members. Thank you again for everything!

Dear Carrie, I just wanted to drop a note to let you know that Sammy is doing an excellent job. We even have him heeling, sit, and down without a leash on now. Found a great field area within walking distance to our place and we go every day to play fetch. He comes right back to us with his toy. I have taken him to Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas Trail, and anywhere I go that I know he can tag along. We spent the day in Downtown Dunedin a few weeks back and had him down/stay right along the sidewalk. People and dogs came by constantly and he didn’t make a move. It amazed me! I feel that thank you doesn’t come close to how much I appreciate you working with Sammy. You taught Sammy so much more than I expected, it was a dream come true. Don and I are still saying I can’t believe it on a daily basis. We are so happy when we play fetch with him because we know before he would’ve just ran off without paying attention to us. Sammy is so much happier now too. He has the biggest smile on his face when we are outside or when he knows were going in the car together. He accepts any challenge we give him and is eager to take on new things. Thank you so much for all that you have done. I would recommend sending anyone in need of dog training to you

Dear Carrie I wanted to take a little time to send a heartfelt thanks to you and the Doghouse LLC team for all you have done for our family and our dog Gracie. Gracie in a nut shell is a very intelligent, energetic and vibrant, sheltie/Papillion mix. We knew very little about her past experiences when we rescued her from the shelter, we also love her very much and wanted the best for her, which is why we decided to entrust her to the most qualified and professional trainers available. Yes, I did my research before making my decision . (The Doghouse LLC) We as a family decided the “Full Service Training” was going to be the most appropriate option for us; our schedule is very busy, as you know, and we new Gracie would most benefit from the everyday structure and decades of experience you bring. We were correct in that thinking. Just as the web site says “you will be glad you found us” We sure are! Although a very happy and loving dog, Gracie often showed signs of rebellion and arrogance which had the potential to put her in danger, when her unwillingness to recall/curiosity joined forces. This is something we knew would never be good for her as well as for us, as I bring her to work with me every day at a very busy airport. We wanted to give her all the freedom she deserves, but we also wanted her to be clear with her role within the family structure and understand the boundaries we would need her to adhere to. Our family/Gracie received all that we expected and far more, from you and your team! Gracie came home with not only a larger variety/understanding of important commands, she also came back to us a more relaxed and clearer minded part of our family, willing and ready to learn whatever we asked of her. We can´ say enough, we can´t thank you enough! This I´m sure will be for us, only the beginning of our relationship. We would love for Gracie to continue to develop many skills and quit honestly after bringing her to you once, we can´t ever imagine having the need to bring her anywhere else.

Our darling “dog delinquent” Bella was on her way to a Yorkie rescue group. Between five and six months of age, she had become more puppy than we were capable of handling. Definitely an alpha type dog, she ruled the house. Jumping off of everything including the back of the couch.
Bella was quick as lightening, darting out doors and refusing to come back. Chasing her was a daily exercise for both of us. We had taken her to two puppy schools where she succeeded in biting the trainers and not much else. By the time she came to The Dog House, she knew how to sit, retrieve a toy, and generally boss me around. Bella attended what I called, “puppy bootcamp” for three weeks at The Dog House. Wow – – what an amazing difference between the dog we picked dropped off and the dog we picked up. This is the puppy I always wanted.
We wouldn’t dream of giving her away now. In the three weeks she spent with The Dog House team, she learned basic obedience and then some. She walks on a leash, sits, stays, down/stay, goes to her “place” (I just love “place”) knows what “no” means. Bella is no longer a doggie delinquent as she is an expert now at coming when called.I heart-felt THANK YOU to the Dog House training team for making our dreams come true!!!! We wouldn’t dream of adding another dog without sending it thru “puppy bootcamp” first.

We have two dogs, both 21/2 years old; one is a black lab mix named Sasha, and the other is an Australian Shepherd mix named Hildy. One could consider this to be both ends of the dog personality spectrum, with Sasha being more laid-back and easy-going, and Hildy being wound up nearly 99% of the time. Being our first dogs, we had no clue what we were doing, and for two years went through two previous trainers, one being very well renowned locally-neither methodology worked whatsoever.
Over time, Hildy´s behavior became problematic, in that she became insecure around young children and began to chase them at will-this, in addition to birds/cats/anything that ran past her line of sight. We knew this couldn´t continue (chasing Children, etc.) and we met Carrie through a referral of a friend who had put her dog through the three-week boot camp dog training program.
I cannot stress how impressed we were from the onset, wherein we spent nearly 4 hours interviewing with Carrie to help her understand Hildy´s behaviors=down to what she and when, etc. Carrie knew exactly what she was dealing with, and we determined we would in fact take both dogs through the boot camp-the results literally speak for themselves.
As of this writing, we can execute any number of commands to control both of our dogs- Hildy in English, and Sasha in German, to prevent confusion. The methodology works perfectly (although Hildy is quick enough to pick up on the German commands now), and thanks to Carrie´s constant attention after their initial stays at the Doghouse, our leadership has only continued to grow. I can say without a doubt that Hildy is much more at ease now, realizing she´s a working dog and has a job to do, and knows when to do it; she understands that we are in charge, and we understand more about how important it is for US to remain consistent with her training.
No longer does she feel she must bark and chase everything, and Sasha is no longer the lazy stubborn mule she was before…Overall, it´s like night and day looking back-the day we watched Hildy from the car for the first time in two weeks was so overwhelming to witness, it literally put shivers down our spines. We only wish that we´d gone to Carrie from the start, and saved our time, efforts and money on previous trainers that didn´t work; I cannot commend them enough for their dedication to helping us with Hildy and Sasha-constant phone calls and emails, even when on the road-it´s dedicated personalized training at it´s very best, and anyone who isn´t a believer is more that welcome to come see our girls in action.

We purchased Boomer (an adorable Maltepoo) from a breeder at the age of 4 months. From the time he came into our lives, he was “the boss.” We pampered and spoiled him, not realizing we were creating a “monster pup.” After wanting a dog for such a long time, we soon began to regret the decision.
Our lives were no longer out own. Because of his behaviors, we were no longer living our own lives, which had previously included peaceful meals, T.V. watching, and even reading books or magazines. All of our attention was dedicated to Boomer and his mischievousness. We were not even able to bend down, pet him or pick him up which was frustrating!
Boomer was enrolled and we turned him over to Carrie, and for 3 weeks he lived and was trainer by her. She was great about keeping us informed regarding his progress. When we saw him on “you Tube”, which Carrie had posted, we couldn´t believe it was the same dog!
When we went to get Boomer, she gave us a personal training sessions. She shared training techniques and follow-up training ideas for him once he returned home. The role of boss had now passed on to us!
Boomer has now been home with us for several months and has been a different dog. He has retained his spunky and bright personality, but now we can really enjoy him. One of the most beneficial commands is when he is put on “his place” where he will remain until he is “released.” He now follows commands and will play by himself. It is wonderful to bend down and pick him up without him backing sway. He is my shadow, but one I am happy to have around!!
We would highly recommend this full service program for any family that has a dog with “bad behaviors.” It is also great to educate the owners…obviously it was not only his problem! The staff is highly professional and knowledgeable. It is also very apparent that they are Dog Lovers.