Testimonials
“I can’t recommend Sarah as a trainer enough. As a first-time dog owner with a puppy, Sarah got Murphy and I through some very critical turning points. Sarah understood Murphy from our first session, and Murphy, in turn, responded incredibly well (and fast) to her and her training methods.
Sarah is all about fostering a strong and positive bond between owner and dog, and through this training method I witnessed Murphy grow leaps and bounds.
She cares about the dogs that she works with deeply. I personally learned so much about Murphy, dogs, and dog behavior from Sarah, and she made me a better owner for Murphy.
Thank you Sarah for taking Murphy and I all the way from Puppy Kindergarten to K-9 Good Citizen certified!”
-Jane
“Growing up on a farm and having dogs in my family my entire life, I thought my dogs just needed a little help. Little did I realize that I would learn so much about how to train dogs from Sarah Teffner at Paws 4 Training! She really explains the activity and WHY and HOW it all connects together.
I started with Sarah with my two rescues, one puppy and one older dog. She makes me feel comfortable, even when my dog is misbehaving and I would normally feel embarrassed.
I have seen her make great accommodations for dogs with more difficult issues and gives each dog individual attention every class. I especially appreciate how flexible she is with classes and how you can make them up if something comes up. She is happy to answer questions both in class and over email.
I highly recommend Sarah as a dog trainer for dogs of any age and with any challenges. We love her.”
-Catherine, Indy and Josie
“These are just a few of my dogs who Sarah has helped me with. I wouldn’t go to anyone else. Sarah has always been there for me even when I have brought her some pretty difficult training issues. She has never judged me or made me feel hopeless or like I have failed. Instead she is always positive and patient with me while I translate what she is teaching me into my own style of training for a household of multiple personality dogs.
When my dogs get a certificate of achievement or a ribbon from Sarah for their accomplishments I am so proud and I know we have earned it from the very best trainer possible. Without her by my side and her as my best training tool in the world I couldn't have done it through the years with so many difficult personalities.
She’s a life saver literally because where would so many dogs be without the skills we learn from her.”
-Beth
“Sarah is an amazing dog trainer! We worked with her with two very different dogs—first an anxious, reactive adoptee and then, more recently, a rambunctious puppy.
She has such a friendly and calming manner that works for all kinds of dogs (and people).
She knows a million tips and strategies for everything from fun basic training to very specialized problem behaviors.
She was so helpful to me with both my dogs but she also completely taught my young kids how to be good dog people when we first adopted.
We still repeat phrases and play games we learned from Sarah over a decade ago. I can’t recommend her enough!”
-Leslie
“Sarah is truly a canine “whisperer”, welcoming the uniqueness of each dog and owner(s) that enroll in her classes.
Her knowledge and understanding of dog behaviors is evident in training sessions that are engaging, upbeat and fun! Her skills in managing a wide spectrum of needs among breeds and owners, are impressive.
Most importantly her modeling of positivity and humor, are reflected in the practical strategies that she teaches, resulting in enduring canine happiness!”
-Joanna
“We loved Sarah's puppy classes. The atmosphere was really nice and it was a great chance for our young puppy to socialize with other dogs.
The classes really helped our dog learn to enjoy loose-leash walking, and we learned some fantastic training strategies.”
- Renee
“We've loved all of our classes with Sarah.
We all learned so much and had fun while doing it.
It's a great way to bond with your dog. It really helped us understand how to redirect undesired behaviors and encourage the good ones. It's also fun to see our dog learn new tricks to boot!”
-Sarah and Gregg
“In fall of 2019, my wife and I adopted our first ever dog, a rescue named Windsor, as a boisterous and exuberant hound puppy. Windsor had enough energy to power the sun and we realized pretty quickly that we needed a trainer.
After receiving multiple recommendations to work with Sarah, we began individual training sessions, followed by many life skills classes, Paws in the Park, and doggie adventures.
Sarah taught us how to harness Windsor's excitement using positive reinforcement and addressed problems like frustrated greeting, on-leash reactivity, training him to walk on a treadmill, and even a period of time when he was afraid to go in the backyard.
As much as she trains dogs, she also trains their humans and she has taught us countless tips that we still employ every day with Windsor. I'm proud to say that now, three year old Windsor is a much more balanced dog and brings us so much joy.”
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In spring 2021, we began fostering (and eventually adopted) a second rescue dog, named Maple, who could not be more different from Windsor. When Maple arrived at our house, she spent a month hiding under a bed and only came out at night for food. As you'd expect, we called in Sarah for help and she came to our house many times, laying on our floor and tossing Maple treats under the bed, and explaining to us about rescue dogs and their reaction to extreme fear. She eventually helped us move Maple downstairs to an area where she could observe the daily activity of our household from the safety of a crate. As Sarah predicted, it only took Maple about a week before she started venturing out of her crate, first to check out Windsor, then eventually working up the courage to go out in the backyard, and after a few months she started coming over and sniffing my wife and I (when she thought we weren't looking). By fall of 2021 she had made enough progress that we could take her out of the house for Sarah's life skills class at Saves, where she began learning sit, down, place, and touch. I was worried that she would be too nervous to participate in Sarah's class, but Sarah adapted all of the activities to match Maple's comfort level. Maple did so well in class, far exceeding my expectations and she was even used as the "demo dog" for the touch activity, which made us so proud!! Sarah helped us learn about fearful dogs, which was totally new to us, and her training is a huge reason that Maple has come so far.I cannot recommend Sarah enough, in fact we regularly refer our friends and people we meet at the dog park to her. She takes the time to learn your family situation and your dog personally and adapts the training to the dog. We've seen firsthand that she can handle any behavioral issue that comes her way, as evident by our two totally different dogs, each with their own unique challenges. You won't regret working with Sarah, and I guarantee your dog will love her too!
- Emily
“We are so grateful to be able to work with Sarah and have such an expert available here in the area! Sarah put us immediately at ease, and our pup, of course, absolutely loves her.
Her private training has been so helpful to us, and not only are we impressed with her knowledge and expertise, her follow up communications were so comprehensive that we truly felt we had the necessary tools to tackle each next step.
Her training class was excellent, and I was so grateful for her extraordinary ability to meet our pup where his needs were. She has been an amazing resource to our family, and we feel so lucky to work with her!”
- Lauren
“We have participated in four of Sarah's group classes and currently work with her for individual training. As an owner of a 1-year-old German Shepherd, who has always been highly nervous of strangers, Sarah's training and guidance has been invaluable. She has equipped us not only with useful skills and knowledge, but also with the confidence to effectively use such skills and knowledge.
Sarah's training style fosters a unique balance of being smart and direct, and friendly, validating, and empowering. I'm also always struck by how much she truly cares about the dogs. Her training style integrates a sense of gentle advocacy for what's best and most ethical for the dogs, which has guided us toward making training decisions that have been more in service of our dog's overall well-being.
Lastly, her classes and trainings are fun and a great way to be out in the community!”
- Suze and Russ
“Sarah Teffner is a Dog Whisperer, and she is wonderful with people as well!
She clearly knows how much she can ask of each pup and its person. Her classes are fun, safe and informative. We love her!”
- Nyla and her people
“We have a 6 month old Mini-Aussie named Rosie and are finishing our 3rd level of training with Sarah. Australian Shepherds can be a challenge and demanding. Sarah has given us tools we need to be consistent and encouraging to Rosie.
The classes are fun, safe but definitely demanding of the owners and the dogs. Each level class is geared appropriately to the developmental stage of the dogs. It is a gift to have Sarah and her business, Paws 4 Training in our area. Sarah always provides feedback via email after each session and is available when questions arise. We feel so fortunate to be training with her.”
- Rick
“Sarah is wonderful with all dogs. My girls absolutely adore her. We call her the dog whisperer.
She is so patient and kind with the parents as well as the pups. You can tell she truly loves what she does.”
- Scott & Maureen
“Sarah Teffner is a godsend! She taught us how to help our two rescue dogs – one of whom was extremely anxious and quick to fight – to live together. Now they curl up with one another, co-groom, and play.
Daily we follow Sarah's strategies – which really work! – for reducing anxiety and relaxing the dogs, and us! We were told by the shelter that our second rescue dog needed to be an only dog. Well, now he's blissful being one of two, thanks to Sarah!”
- Margaret
“I have been bringing my dogs to Sarah for years. I couldn’t be without her help!
Either private sessions or her group classes my dogs and I learn so much and we enjoy doing it!”
- Elizabeth
“Tally Ho and I learned valuable lessons from the puppy class.
I have had other dogs previously and I knew some basics but it goes to show you – you CAN teach an old dog new tricks (namely me). Thanks Sarah!”
- Debra
“Sarah gets dogs. She understands how they think and what motivates them. She devises resourceful and fun ways to shape behavior.
My goldendoodle adores her, training is a blast with Sarah!”
- Tina
“Sarah is a kind, sensitive and extremely fun trainer using only positive reinforcement.
I can’t recommend her highly enough!”
- Bonnie