“An essential for anyone who has added a doggo to their family. I looked through many “dog training” classes when we adopted our Mara, and I am so grateful I landed with Happy Hound! Mary is just the best, and for so many reasons: her knowledge and expertise is great. A good variety of activities in class with lots of modeling and repetition. I love that they learn more than just basic “sit” and “come” commands, but also practical things like how to be calm at the vet, play well with other dogs, etc. Weekly homework ideas to continue the practice outside of class. And I can’t say this one enough- the true use of positive reinforcement. Mary’s respect and love for each individual dog in the class is so apparent. She knows them all so well, and loves each one so well! Class sizes are small and personal.

On a personal note, Mara has now completed puppy 1 & puppy 2. We started classes right when we rescued her, and she was a bit unsure and nervous of playful/energetic pups. With Mary’s guidance, respect, and gentle ways- and again with only positive reinforcement- Mara is now a happy playful girl and doing so well with quickly warming up to new pups. A game changer for us!!”

“Mary is a fabulous trainer! I have worked with her for 2 different dogs. 1st dog was an adult rescue (private training) with behavior issues. 2nd dog I got as a puppy (group classes). I love how practical Mary’s methods are. All skills are clear and easy. She offers hand-outs and homework to support our learning process. Mary is a joy to work with, she is always positive and so dedicated!”

“Happy Hound University was the perfect fit for my puppy, Finnegan. I started him in puppy one class and we have continued through puppy three. He absolutely loves coming every week for training and playtime. He will just sit mesmerized listening to Mary. Mary is an excellent instructor and I’m so glad I found her. Her use of only positive reinforcement is so important. She uses class time to get to know each dog and owner and really caters to your needs. With her guidance I was able to build a strong trusting relationship with Finnegan. She really helps your puppy grow in any type of situation they may encounter. I can’t wait to continue our relationship with Happy Hound as Finnegan grows!”

“After three days of being in his new home, our super sweet rescue pup started exhibiting aggressive behavior leaving us perplexed, scared, and in need of a canine behavior specialist. Choosing Mary Thompson with Happy Hound University to help us was the best decision we could have made! Mary is extremely knowledgeable and so good at what she does. She is very, very thorough and clearly communicates her assessments, explanations, and training techniques (to both dog and humans). I really appreciated the follow-up email after our sessions which included a detailed summary of the behavior we were focusing on, a step- by- step review of the training technique, short videos of Mary working with our dog that we could use as a visual reference. If we had any questions or concerns between sessions, Mary encouraged us to contact her. We are so pleased with the progress our dog has made in such a short amount time using nothing but humane, force -free positive training. If you are searching for the best trainer, call Mary at Happy Hound University!”