When our family of six decided to add a puppy to our home in 2023, we were excited but also overwhelmed. My husband and I had never owned dogs as adults, and with four busy kids, we already had plenty on our plates. However, it was important to us that our children grow up with dogs.

When I asked friends for advice, my best friend told me, "You have to start training almost immediately when you get your puppy." She highly recommended Sarika to us, a trainer she had worked with for years. Looking back, that recommendation was one of the best ideas she could have given us.

At the time, I had no idea where to start. I didn't know what to do, what to expect, or even what questions to ask. I simply didn't know what I didn't know. The thought of training a puppy felt overwhelming.

Sarika came to our rescue. Through weekly training sessions, she taught us so much and gave us the confidence we needed as dog owners. We quickly grew to trust her expertise and care. In fact, we had her board and train Murphy while we were away for Thanksgiving, and then again when we went to Hawaii.

Working with Sarika over the past three years has truly been a game changer for our family and our dogs. Today, our dogs, Murphy and Cally, are three and one years old, and they absolutely adore her.

One of my favorite services she offers is her day training program. With my busy schedule, finding one to two hours for private training sessions became difficult. Now, I can drop off one or both dogs in the morning and pick them up later that day after they've had focused training with Sarika. She takes them to stores, parks, and other public places to help them gain confidence around noises, distractions, and people. When I pick them up, she spends 20 to 30 minutes reviewing everything they worked on and teaching me how to reinforce those skills at home.

Over the years, Sarika has helped us work through a wide range of challenges. She guided us through Murphy's puppy stage, including destructive backyard behavior, marking in the house before he was neutered, leash manners, reactivity toward other dogs, and even nail trimming. When we brought Cally home, Sarika helped us introduce her to our family and to Murphy. She worked with Cally's fear of noises and helped address barking behaviors she picked up from Murphy. She has also helped us with toy sharing between the dogs, e-collar training, and countless other situations that naturally come up as dogs grow and change.

What I appreciate most is that she isn't just a trainer; she's an ongoing resource. Whenever a new challenge arises, she's there with practical advice, guidance, and support. She takes the time to understand each dog's personality and gives us tools that actually work in real life. Her training methods are clear, positive, practical, and effective.

Not only have our dogs made incredible progress, but our entire family has become more confident and knowledgeable. Sarika has even helped us teach our children how to respectfully interact with our dogs and recognize when they need space or have had enough playtime.

We trust Sarika completely. She truly understands dogs and seems to speak their language. We are so grateful for her knowledge, patience, dedication, and encouragement over the years. The difference she has made in our daily lives is incredible, and I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and highly effective dog trainer.