Testimonials

~ Abby / Fearful & Aggressive ~

We recently adopted a young, energetic lab/shepherd mix from the shelter.  Abby was very fearful, extremely under-socialized, and quite leash aggressive, lunging and barking at other people and dogs.  She also immediately developed separation anxiety.  When Abby first met Dr. K, she barked and lunged almost uncontrollably.  After only a few sessions with Dr. K, she is calmer, has nice leash manners, and walks past people without any fuss.  She spends time calmly in her crate, jumps willingly into the car for rides, and is well on her way to becoming the calm companion that we know she can be.  In addition to training Abby, Dr. K’s approach has trained us in how to manage and socialize our dog.

~ Xena / Warrior Princess Puppy ~

As soon as we met and spoke with Kathryn (Dr. K), we knew she was going to be perfect for our puppy! Through her training and techniques, she is helping us sculpt our puppy into the dog of our dreams. We recommend Lucky Dog Training Asheville to anyone, whether you have just got a puppy or have a dog that needs a helping hand. Dr K’s an outstanding trainer who simply adores dogs. Thank you so much Lucky Dog Training Asheville!

~ Luca / BIG Dog with BIG Issues ~

It is one thing to have a dog with “issues”, but it is quite another to have a Saint Bernard with “issues”.  When 2 other local trainers did nothing to stop Luca’s extreme behaviors, we were desperate and decided to give it one more try.  That is when a friend recommended Kathryn and Lucky Dog Training Asheville. This was the best decision we could have made.

Kathryn embraced Luca’s issues and quickly got him turned in the right direction.  She was willing to be creative as she stopped his unwanted behaviors.  As he improved, she encouraged me to keep pushing Luca for more and better behaviors.  She saw the potential in him when others gave up. She coached us through the process.

Kathryn has helped give us an XL dog with XXL personality that we can control. Luca now give us joy and companionship without the constant worry of bad behaviors.  I can honestly say that without Kathryn, Luca’s life would be a sad and confined existence, which would be so stressful to him and his mom and dad.

~ Benny / Little Dog with Attitude ~

Benny and I bonded more than I could have imagined through Kathryn’s dog training sessions.  As a first time dog owner, I was not a natural, and Benny was a handful for me.  But when we found Lucky Dog Training Asheville, we learned so much and continue to look forward to class every week.  In addition to the weekly classes, Benny sometimes spends time with Kathryn and her Muttley Crew dogs for Board & Train Sessions.  He comes back home happily having made leaps and bounds in his training!  Kathryn is amazing!  Benny knows her name and does a whole body wiggle whenever I say it.  We’re both so grateful to have her in our lives.

~ Lucca / Headed for the Shelter ~

“Lucca was headed to the shelter. He was a crazy dog, out of control. But guilt made me try one more thing, a dog trainer (we had already tried a dog training class). Not just any trainer but Lucky Dog Training Asheville with Kathryn Gubista. A miracle!!! After the first session, Lucca’s behavior was so much improved and it continues to improve. No shelter for him now. He is my buddy. I have and would highly recommend Lucky Dog Training Asheville to everyone.”

~ Zelda / High Maintenance Poodle ~

We have been blessed with a beautiful, but very strong-willed and demanding female black standard poodle. Zelda and I have been working with Lucky Dog Training Asheville for the past year. With Kathryn’s knowledge and guidance, we have been able to overcome many of Zelda’s bad habits and bring out the best in her personality. Individual and group training sessions have made a huge difference in both our lives. As Zelda approaches her second birthday, we continue to work with Kathryn on her socialization with other dogs in aprogram that was designed specifically for Zelda.

~ Spaceman / Aggressive & Scary ~

Spaceman is an older dog who I felt was very aggressive and had scared some of our family members and friends. After one training session with my Space, I could already tell a huge difference. My house guests even commented that he seemed much calmer and happier. After four training sessions, I am much more confident in handling my dog around other dogs and I know I made the right decision with Lucky Dog Training!

~ Carmen / Nervous & Noisy ~

After a few sessions with Kathryn and her therapy dog, Cognac, my nervous little dog, Carmen, learned the joys of walking with other dogs.  Carmen initially barked at all dogs she encountered.  Now she walks calmly by them or even wants to meet passing dogs.  Carmen’s transformation was a joy to behold.

~ Jake & Chimmie / Pulling Pains ~

We were at our wits end on how to get our two dogs under control. For three years, we’ve been jerked off our feet and pulled to the ground countless times. One snowy day, both dogs pulled me so hard my feet slipped on ice and I fell very hard, injuring both wrists. After this serious fall, I continued to walk my dogs, but my wrists were in constant pain and they could never fully heal. Even if I walked them separately, the dogs would pull and my wrists would still have a burning, stabbing pain.

Dr. K showed us a new way to fully control our dogs and have them respond to our voice commands. We finally have the confidence to walk them in the same proximity of other dogs, cats, and squirrels. And best of all, no more pulling! The results from Dr. K’s training have been miraculous. Not only are my wrists healing, but my wife and I can walk our dogs without the terror of thinking we might fall again and injure ourselves.