A Journey Through Medical Challenges, Recovery, and Progress
We signed up with Paws and Possibilities when Olive was four months old. We started with puppy socialization and then moved into the various beginner classes. I could tell she wasn't progressing the way I expected, but I had no idea why. By seven months, we finally learned she wasn't just a distracted puppy. She was dealing with two separate, unrelated orthopedic conditions and living with real pain. She eventually had surgery and has had to participate in months of rehabilitation and ongoing physical therapy. Between the constant pain, being handled by so many medical professionals, and the activity restrictions, it's no surprise she developed serious anxiety and reactivity.
Through it all, Kim and her staff never treated Olive as "just another dog." They learned her story, celebrated every milestone, and kept adapting her training to fit what she could physically and emotionally handle.
Some of our most valuable training happened over video with trainer Samantha. She quickly learned all of Olive’s little tricks and her talent for doing just enough to earn a treat. Samantha always had a plan for Olive but also tailored sessions to whatever I wanted to work on. In the virtual tricks class, she knew Olive needed to work on ankle flexibility after surgery, so she deliberately chose tricks that were fun for both of us while quietly targeting exactly what Olive's body needed. In confidence building classes, she sat with us virtually on the front steps, ready to help Olive work through whatever sound, person, or distraction had her worried.
The in-person classes gave Olive time around other dogs in a calm, well-run space where she could practice being a dog without getting overwhelmed. Kim, Jovone, Annie, and others were wonderful with her, reading her body language, knowing when to push a little and when to back off, and making sure every class ended on a good note. Between all of them, they also did an incredible job training Olive's owner. I had to work through my own anxiety about what might happen, and find the confidence to help her become the dog she was capable of being. They coached me every bit as much as they coached Olive.
Looking back, Olive was a hot little mess. She's two now. She still has confidence and reactivity challenges, but she's no longer trying to learn while living with constant pain, and the difference has been remarkable. Kim and her team stood by us through a year and a half of medical challenges, surgeries, setbacks, and fresh starts, and every time we had to pause training, they welcomed us back as if we'd never left.
If you're looking for trainers who will teach your dog to sit and stay, you'll certainly find that here. But if you're looking for a team that partners with you and your dog, adjusts when life throws you a curveball, and truly cares whether you succeed, this is the place. Kim and everyone there have been a huge part of Olive's journey, and I'll always be grateful for the role they played in her young little life.