As manager of the spcaLA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) PetAdoption Center in Studio City, I see a great deal of animals and understand the importance of a well-trained dog of any age. A dog with even the very basics of good manners is more likely to stay in the home permanently and be an appreciated member of the family.

So when it came time for me to pick a trainer for my own rescue dogs, I understood the importance but was extremely cautious on whom I chose. After all, a good dog trainer should be firm but never harmful. I wanted a trainer that could get me on the right path to taking charge but also one who promoted gentle yet effective training. Caryl Wolff was that person.

Throughout the course, Caryl didn’t train my dogs. She trained me to train my dogs. This was the most valuable thing because after all, she isn’t going to be with them 24 hours a day when I need them to listen - I am. To help reinforce every lesson, she even writes up mini lessons and provides you with the entire package on the first day of class. Therefore, we worked at our own pace.

Furthermore, Caryl understands that every dog works at different levels and even requires different training methods. I have two sibling puppies, and she quickly caught on that they would need different modes of training tailored to their needs. Without her insight and intuition with them, I would have never been as successful of a “parent.”

Caryl always looked at the entire situation when training in order to get the most out of every session - she incorporates the dog’s mood, the owner’s mood, the environment, etc. but what I was most impressed with was how she taught me to take charge of our life. I always knew that having dogs was a huge commitment, but I had a real tendency to baby them and give in all of the time. Caryl made me realize the importance of being a leader. Because if I wasn’t, the dogs would be in charge - and that’s dangerous for the dog’s own safety.

It’s a delicate and difficult balance to be a take-charge trainer and never use unnecessary force. Caryl blends these two principles together beautifully. I took the time to write this letter to present to the public because I can’t express the importance of a good trainer enough – I want everyone to choose wisely and to be happy like I was with Caryl.

Jennifer Gooding, SpcaLA ManagerLos Angeles Dog & Puppy Training

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