Client Stories
Every dog comes to us with a different story.
Some families come to STABLE for help with reactivity or fear. Others are building better everyday manners, working through puppy chaos, preparing for more advanced training, or simply looking for a better way to communicate with their dog.
These are the experiences of the people who have trained, learned, struggled, progressed, and celebrated alongside their dogs with STABLE.
I had such a great experience with Stable Dog Training! From the moment we arrived, it was clear this wasn't just about obedience -- it was about creating a safe, friendly, and enjoyable environment for both dogs and their humans.
Our one-year-old puppy can be a handful, but the team made the whole process feel surprisingly easy and stress-free. They took the time to get to know my pup's personality and worked with me at a pace that felt comfortable and encouraging. You can tell they genuinely care about each dog and want to help them succeed.
The trainers are incredibly knowledgeable but also super approachable -- I felt supported the entire way through. It was a relief knowing my puppy was in a space that prioritized safety and positivity.
I can't recommend Stable Dog Training enough if you're looking for professional, kind, and effective training in a welcoming atmosphere.
Even for just an evaluation and I already noticed a difference before we left the evaluation.
- Anna G.
Mari was so incredible and helpful with our dogs. We have one dog who has become incredibly reactive over time. We've tried different trainers, and none of them worked, possibly even made the situation worse by making our dog more anxious. After a weeklong stay with Mari, our dog can do a whole walk on a loose leash (never did that before) and I know how to address her reactivity if and when others dogs approach. She's taught me important tools to use when needed, like the e-collar, a muzzle, and how best to communicate with our dogs clearly, directly, and consistently. She was so responsive via text, sent amazing updates while she had our dogs, and I know she'll be there if I have any questions or we need to do a brush up course with our dog. Thank you Mari and Stable Dog Training!
- Reg T.
We had a wonderful experience at Stable Dog Training's mixed-level group class. As first-timers, my two rescued dogs and I were immediately made to feel welcome. I was especially impressed by how encouraging and supportive the more experienced handlers were—it created such a positive learning environment.
The trainers showed incredible patience, compassion, and genuine care, meeting each dog where they were and celebrating every success along the way. I was amazed at how well my girls did during class, and we all left feeling more confident. I highly recommend Stable Dog Training to anyone looking for knowledgeable trainers and a welcoming community.
- Elizabeth Yost, Athena & Juno
Mariana, the lead trainer at STABLE Dog Training is a life saver. Prior to attending her class, my dog Rusty was so reactive, he got kicked out of doggy daycare. We attended different obedience classes to figure out a way to stop or at least manage his reactivity. Nothing seemed to work and I was ready to throw in the towel and return him to the rescue. Right when I was about to give up, I met Mariana.
Mariana taught us not only skills and techniques to control his reactivity, we delved into the root of the problem and little by little we started to notice a change in both Rusty’s and my behavior. When we would have challenging moments in the training process, Mari was always there to provide support and guidance.
I don’t know what would have happened to Rusty if we had not met you.
Thank you STABLE Dog Training!!
- Lillian DeGroof and Rusty
Nobody wanted work with Buddy after he bit a few people and ended up in “dog jail”. I was trying to get help from the rescue group to pull him out of Animal Control but there was no guarantee that he would make it out alive. Especially since he’s a Pit Bull with a bite history.
Meanwhile, I contacted a few trainers, and only Mariana was willing to meet us if he came out alive.
He made it out on 1/6/2022 and now that day is our anniversary. I can't thank Mari enough for her guidance, patience, and endless support for us. Without her talented skill of handling dogs, Buddy and I would not be together today.
Thank you, Mariana, Griffin, and your fur babies.
- Yumie and Buddy
Hi! I’m Audri, I have two testimonials to share with you, first I will talk about my dog Sasha a German shepherd.
We got Sasha about 2 years ago, she was abandoned by my next-door neighbor. She had absolutely zero training, had never stepped foot outside of her yard, and hated being confined in a kennel. Sasha was also a bit reactive towards other dogs so I couldn’t bring her around my small dogs at first.
Then we started training with STABLE, through Mariana I got advice on how to positively introduce a kennel, we were told to feed meals in the kennel, and do short sessions of going in and out of said kennel. Through much work Sasha’s favorite place now is her kennel, we can even send her to her kennel from across the room, by saying “kennel” and she happily goes into it and sits/lays down to wait to be released.
Sasha’s dog reactivity also stopped with training, we slowly introduced her to my small dogs Honey and Lucy, and she absolutely adores them. Today we can walk past reactive dogs barking/growling at us, and Sasha could care less. We have STABLE to thank for that, we learned how to appropriately correct the behavior and use tools like prong collar and ecollar to get us where we are now. Sasha no longer needs a prong collar to walk nicely in a heel, she has graduated to a flat collar and we couldn’t be prouder.
- Audri & Sasha
Next is Tortuga the Bouvier des Flandres.
I brought Tortuga home at the end of July 2022, she is a retired show dog and her only training that she came with was show ring procedure. In the beginning I had much difficulty teaching basic commands like sit and down, her breeds personality is very stubborn and over thinkers. I worked with her at home on these commands but i struggled to get her to comply and be motivated to work with me.
I took a private session with Mariana, she took the leash and worked with her maybe 5-10 minutes and Tortuga was a completely different dog, she’d come when called, sit, down and she was eager and motivated. I had to learn how to be very exciting to Tortuga, I have to play a game of chase, move backwards away from and lure with a treat after she gives me the correct behavior. I can proudly say Tortuga and I have figured each other out, she likes clicker training and the chase the treat game, we’ve made so much progress.
I love working with STABLE, they will always be my go-to for training and I highly recommend the company to anyone I can! Without them I wouldn’t have the tools and knowledge to train my dogs successfully!
Thank you STABLE!
- Audri and Tortuga
My rescue pup, Frida, came into my home with a good heart cloaked by her insecurities. I knew I needed to find a trainer who could appreciate her good heart and willingness to learn while providing the technical and psychological structure for Frida and me to grow as partners.
At our first meeting Mari welcomed us without any judgement and the magic started. She provided instruction specific to our needs clearly, calmly, and timely. Mari’s super skills also included building confidence in my ability to affect positive change, especially in situations around other dogs.
I am delighted with the results and am eager to continue our education! I wholeheartedly recommend Mari and STABLE Dog Training for anyone looking for a supportive, results-oriented, and fun learning environment.
- Carol and Frida
We've been working with Stable Dog Training to help address our dog Brady's reactivity and improve his obedience, and the experience has been outstanding. Mari has a very structured, professional approach to training and always prioritizes the safety and well-being of every dog in her care. Her deep understanding of dog behavior and psychology is evident in every session, and she's always willing to answer our questions and help us better understand Brady's behavior and care.
We absolutely love the group classes. Her classes are fun and very welcoming especially to those on the beginning stage of their dog training. Brady has made dramatic improvements since we started training with Mari. While he still has his challenging days, we've seen a remarkable change in his behavior, especially around dogs of all sizes with different temperament. There have been many moments where we've been genuinely surprised by how well Brady has handled situations that would have been difficult for him in the past. Mari has also helped us understand that successful training is truly a partnership between the trainer and the owner, and that consistency at home is just as important as the work done during training.
We also trust Stable Dog Training whenever we need boarding, and it's truly like a vacation for Brady. He gets excited every time we drop him off, which gives us complete peace of mind knowing he's receiving the best care while we're away. Mari regularly sends updates and photos/videos, which we absolutely love, and it's reassuring to know Brady is happy, safe, and well cared for.
We wholeheartedly recommend Stable Dog Training to any dog owner looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated trainer. Whether you're working through behavioral challenges, building obedience, or looking for a safe and caring place to board your dog, Mari and StableDog Training have exceeded our expectations.
- BJ, Rita and Brady
We have done a few group lessons with our dogs Lola and Wilton and plan to do many more. The lessons are very personalized, fun, kind and easy to follow with lots of tips to follow up with at home. Our dogs (Wilton and Lola) enjoy the outing and we have seen their confidence growing with each session. We highly recommend Marianna and the Stable team for your dog training needs
- Rachel, Sydney, Wilton and Lola
reactivity issues. Walking him had become such a challenge, I ended up walking him before the crack of dawn so I could be pretty sure we wouldn't run into any other dogs. I also knew he had oodles of potential. It was tough finding in-person training around the pandemic closures. There is only so much you can teach a reactive dog, without the assistance of other dogs modeling appropriate behavior.
That's when I found Stable Dog Training and their regular group classes. Having a dog with "issues" can be frustrating and lonely, and Mari and Griff were incredibly warm and welcoming. We primarily worked with Mari in a group class setting and her read on my boy's behavior and training suggestions were spot on. After only a few weeks, my boy was briefly allowed to meet a couple of the balanced dogs in class, the first dogs he ever met politely. That apparently was a revelation for both of us and as time progressed, he was allowed to interact with more of the class dogs (always with owner permission). Short meetings at first, and gradually he was able to join the knot of dogs who know each other and greet each other before and after class.
The change has been incredible. My boy went from overreacting when he saw a dog a little distance off, to being very appropriately social. This has led to more freedom, some off-leash playdates, and the ability for us to take him anywhere well behaved pet dogs are allowed. Working together with Mari and Griff has been a pleasure and I would and have recommended them to anyone who wants a dog with lovely public manners. If you need help getting there, this is your program.
-Rebecca Barocas