Client (Private Training) - The Lawton Family, March/April 2024
"We contacted Bill following an incident in which our 18 month old male cockapoo acted aggressively with a family member. We
previously had six individual lessons with a trainer and had consulted with a behaviorist regarding problematic behaviors. Bill focused on helping our puppy with socialization skills and addressing anxious behavior which made daily walks challenging. We found Bill’s observations and suggestions helpful and benefitted from the videos and handouts which accompanied his sessions. We also found that sessions in our home time gave a much more accurate picture of the issues needing to be addressed. Our work with him left us feeling hopeful and took us farther than previous efforts at getting help. While far from done we feel we have made progress and have hope that with time we will see further change. Bill is dedicated and committed to helping his clients. We would definitely recommend him as a trainer."
Bill's Note: This client was a joy to work with. Their use of the term "socialization" actually refers to the desensitization and counter conditioning process that we worked with their dog, Ori.
"We contacted Bill following an incident in which our 18 month old male cockapoo acted aggressively with a family member. We
previously had six individual lessons with a trainer and had consulted with a behaviorist regarding problematic behaviors. Bill focused on helping our puppy with socialization skills and addressing anxious behavior which made daily walks challenging. We found Bill’s observations and suggestions helpful and benefitted from the videos and handouts which accompanied his sessions. We also found that sessions in our home time gave a much more accurate picture of the issues needing to be addressed. Our work with him left us feeling hopeful and took us farther than previous efforts at getting help. While far from done we feel we have made progress and have hope that with time we will see further change. Bill is dedicated and committed to helping his clients. We would definitely recommend him as a trainer."
Bill's Note: This client was a joy to work with. Their use of the term "socialization" actually refers to the desensitization and counter conditioning process that we worked with their dog, Ori.
Client (Private Training) - S. McDonough
"Duke is a rescue, kenneled for the majority of the day for the first 10 months of his life. Fortunately, his previous owner surrendered him; unfortunately he had no training prior to being adopted. I am very appreciative of the personal one on one training provided by Bill as well as the valuable session notes, videos and additional resources to continue your training at home. The key has been teaching me the tools I need to train Duke in multiple skills including but not limited to loose leash walking and changing reactive behavior. I wasn’t able to walk Duke in our neighborhood prior to training but can now say that we look forward to our daily walks with no concerns about seeing people, dogs and squirrels. I highly recommend Bill for your training needs."
"Duke is a rescue, kenneled for the majority of the day for the first 10 months of his life. Fortunately, his previous owner surrendered him; unfortunately he had no training prior to being adopted. I am very appreciative of the personal one on one training provided by Bill as well as the valuable session notes, videos and additional resources to continue your training at home. The key has been teaching me the tools I need to train Duke in multiple skills including but not limited to loose leash walking and changing reactive behavior. I wasn’t able to walk Duke in our neighborhood prior to training but can now say that we look forward to our daily walks with no concerns about seeing people, dogs and squirrels. I highly recommend Bill for your training needs."
Client (Private Training) - Allyson M.
"Bill was a tremendous help with addressing some behavioral issues with my dog, Smeatley. With his help we can now successfully walk past people and delivery trucks without barking, which is a major improvement. Bill was very knowledgeable, patient, and a great teacher for both me and my dog. I especially appreciated that he was realistic with his training and advice, helping us to find training strategies that could reasonably be implemented with our specific work schedules and home layout. I wish we would have started working with him sooner!"
"Bill was a tremendous help with addressing some behavioral issues with my dog, Smeatley. With his help we can now successfully walk past people and delivery trucks without barking, which is a major improvement. Bill was very knowledgeable, patient, and a great teacher for both me and my dog. I especially appreciated that he was realistic with his training and advice, helping us to find training strategies that could reasonably be implemented with our specific work schedules and home layout. I wish we would have started working with him sooner!"
Client (Private Training) - Julie D.
"I had the pleasure of working with Bill for several months. Our German Shepherd had been through different types of training with some success but after suffering an attack from another dog, we needed a positive approach. Bill was thorough and professional. His follow up summarizing lessons as well as providing resources was so helpful. Our Shepherd responded so well to high value treats and positive tactics to get the desired behavior. Our walks are now much more pleasant. He is desensitized to things that caused such reactivity in the past. We are still working on “drop” as it has been challenging for a dog that loves the ball over food! We are making some progress. I am so happy to have found Bill and I plan to continue the positive training!"
"I had the pleasure of working with Bill for several months. Our German Shepherd had been through different types of training with some success but after suffering an attack from another dog, we needed a positive approach. Bill was thorough and professional. His follow up summarizing lessons as well as providing resources was so helpful. Our Shepherd responded so well to high value treats and positive tactics to get the desired behavior. Our walks are now much more pleasant. He is desensitized to things that caused such reactivity in the past. We are still working on “drop” as it has been challenging for a dog that loves the ball over food! We are making some progress. I am so happy to have found Bill and I plan to continue the positive training!"
Client (Private Training) - Elizabeth D.
"I greatly enjoyed working with Bill, who takes a kind and thoughtful approach when training dogs. I found him effective, professional and thorough during our training sessions as well as in all of the documentation and resources he provided to further aid our training process. After working with Bill, I have seen very positive changes in my eleven-year-old dog, Pepper, who has had a long history of barrier aggression. I have recommended Bill to family and friends in need of dog training services and will continue to do so! "
"I greatly enjoyed working with Bill, who takes a kind and thoughtful approach when training dogs. I found him effective, professional and thorough during our training sessions as well as in all of the documentation and resources he provided to further aid our training process. After working with Bill, I have seen very positive changes in my eleven-year-old dog, Pepper, who has had a long history of barrier aggression. I have recommended Bill to family and friends in need of dog training services and will continue to do so! "
Client (Private Training - virtual sessions) - Rachel K.
"My family has been so grateful to Bill with By My Side Dog Training. His guidance and support, through virtual training sessions, was instrumental to our “puppy” success. Bill’s knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to force-free, positive reinforcement dog training helped us build a strong foundation and wonderful relationship with our first puppy, Olive. Being a first time puppy family we had LOTS of questions. We appreciated his patience and positive attitude throughout all our training sessions. Olive is off to a wonderful start – thanks to Bill!" "
"My family has been so grateful to Bill with By My Side Dog Training. His guidance and support, through virtual training sessions, was instrumental to our “puppy” success. Bill’s knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to force-free, positive reinforcement dog training helped us build a strong foundation and wonderful relationship with our first puppy, Olive. Being a first time puppy family we had LOTS of questions. We appreciated his patience and positive attitude throughout all our training sessions. Olive is off to a wonderful start – thanks to Bill!" "
Client (Private Training - virtual and outside sessions) - Beth and Kevin A.
" We rescued Phoebe at the beginning of the pandemic. Our original plan was to enroll in obedience classes, but they were all cancelled due to the quarantine. We found Bill through the St. Louis Kennel Club [Greater St. Louis Training Club] and he came highly recommended. We were skeptical that we could work with a trainer virtually, but Bill was confident he could address our needs virtually and he was right! We needed to work on loose leash walking and keeping our family cat safe from our new, energetic puppy. We initially met with Bill weekly and then progressed to biweekly. During the virtual sessions, we learned about dog behaviors and why Phoebe was doing some of the things that she was doing. We were able to apply Bill's techniques with Phoebe during the lessons under his watchful eye and received homework to work on in between sessions as well. He always provided videos and resources after our sessions, so we have lifelong references. We also really liked that Bill does not use pain or punishment in his training techniques as his aligns with our values. People comment all the time about how well trained Phoebe is and we owe this to Bill! He made adopting a puppy during quarantine a wonderful and enjoyable experience and we are so thankful for all of his wonderful help with our beloved Phoebe! "
" We rescued Phoebe at the beginning of the pandemic. Our original plan was to enroll in obedience classes, but they were all cancelled due to the quarantine. We found Bill through the St. Louis Kennel Club [Greater St. Louis Training Club] and he came highly recommended. We were skeptical that we could work with a trainer virtually, but Bill was confident he could address our needs virtually and he was right! We needed to work on loose leash walking and keeping our family cat safe from our new, energetic puppy. We initially met with Bill weekly and then progressed to biweekly. During the virtual sessions, we learned about dog behaviors and why Phoebe was doing some of the things that she was doing. We were able to apply Bill's techniques with Phoebe during the lessons under his watchful eye and received homework to work on in between sessions as well. He always provided videos and resources after our sessions, so we have lifelong references. We also really liked that Bill does not use pain or punishment in his training techniques as his aligns with our values. People comment all the time about how well trained Phoebe is and we owe this to Bill! He made adopting a puppy during quarantine a wonderful and enjoyable experience and we are so thankful for all of his wonderful help with our beloved Phoebe! "
Client (Private Training - virtual and outside sessions) - Cassie and Logan B.
"We got our golden retriever puppy Hudson just weeks before the stay-at-home order was issued. Luckily, we were able to find Bill, who at the time was offering virtual sessions online.
We attended weekly and bi-weekly training sessions with Bill for a few months and without it, I'm not sure we would have survived the early weeks of puppyhood! We are now well-equipped with a strong foundational knowledge on not only how to teach new behaviors but avoid problem behaviors as well.
Our online sessions were incredibly invaluable and we looked forward to working with Bill every week. We get so many compliments on how well-behaved our sweet golden boy is. Bill is an extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, and patient trainer and we loved working with him. I would absolutely recommend By My Side Dog Training to anyone who is looking to train their dog using positive reinforcement techniques."
"We got our golden retriever puppy Hudson just weeks before the stay-at-home order was issued. Luckily, we were able to find Bill, who at the time was offering virtual sessions online.
We attended weekly and bi-weekly training sessions with Bill for a few months and without it, I'm not sure we would have survived the early weeks of puppyhood! We are now well-equipped with a strong foundational knowledge on not only how to teach new behaviors but avoid problem behaviors as well.
Our online sessions were incredibly invaluable and we looked forward to working with Bill every week. We get so many compliments on how well-behaved our sweet golden boy is. Bill is an extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, and patient trainer and we loved working with him. I would absolutely recommend By My Side Dog Training to anyone who is looking to train their dog using positive reinforcement techniques."
Client (Private Training) - Sarah and Matt K.
"It was a real pleasure working with Bill. We made great strides with Louis throughout our training sessions, and we now feel much better equipped to be able to care for Louis and handle his triggers."
"It was a real pleasure working with Bill. We made great strides with Louis throughout our training sessions, and we now feel much better equipped to be able to care for Louis and handle his triggers."
Client (Private Training) - Meagan and Nick M.
"We cannot say enough good things about Bill! He has helped Apollo conquer so many obstacles and anxieties in a short period of time! He offered exceptional guidance and I would recommend him to anyone! "
"We cannot say enough good things about Bill! He has helped Apollo conquer so many obstacles and anxieties in a short period of time! He offered exceptional guidance and I would recommend him to anyone! "
Client (Private Training) - Anna M. & Adam M.
"Bill with By My Side was a godsend! My fiancé and I rescued Buddy last year and within 2 months he was experiencing severe separation anxiety causing major destruction to our walls. We were desperate to find a way to bring Buddy peace and security while we were gone and better learn how to modify our own actions so that he was comforted with and away from him. Bill immediately came to the rescue! He not only provided knowledge on books to read to understand what Buddy was experiencing, but also how medication paired with appropriate behavior modifications would improve Additionally, he left us with homework to practice with Buddy after he left each session and followed up with notes and comments to remind us of anything new. We are thrilled to say Buddy is now able to stay home alone with some specific steps that worked for him for hours at a time without any anxiety issues at all! Thank you Bill!"
"Bill with By My Side was a godsend! My fiancé and I rescued Buddy last year and within 2 months he was experiencing severe separation anxiety causing major destruction to our walls. We were desperate to find a way to bring Buddy peace and security while we were gone and better learn how to modify our own actions so that he was comforted with and away from him. Bill immediately came to the rescue! He not only provided knowledge on books to read to understand what Buddy was experiencing, but also how medication paired with appropriate behavior modifications would improve Additionally, he left us with homework to practice with Buddy after he left each session and followed up with notes and comments to remind us of anything new. We are thrilled to say Buddy is now able to stay home alone with some specific steps that worked for him for hours at a time without any anxiety issues at all! Thank you Bill!"
Client (Private Training) - Linda B. & Carol T.
"Bill, you were over and above what we expected with in-house training. You got Catlin under control quickly and your pointers were spot on. Thanks for all your help! By the way, Catlin misses you!"
"Bill, you were over and above what we expected with in-house training. You got Catlin under control quickly and your pointers were spot on. Thanks for all your help! By the way, Catlin misses you!"
Client (Private Training) - Emily R. & Chris B.
"Bill's guidance has made an incredible difference on how we handle our dog's triggers and work on undesirable behaviors. We are a much happier family because of the foundation of knowledge Bill has helped us build over the past year. We could not have had a better experience!."
"Bill's guidance has made an incredible difference on how we handle our dog's triggers and work on undesirable behaviors. We are a much happier family because of the foundation of knowledge Bill has helped us build over the past year. We could not have had a better experience!."
Client (Private Training) - Becky M.
"Bill did an exceptional job with our Great Pyr Walter. He is a rescue dog with very challenging behaviors but a huge heart. Bill taught us as much as he taught Walter. I can honestly say our private training with Bill was so impactful, and Walter has come a very long way. I know I can always reach out to Bill if any issues arise in the future. Our family will be forever grateful for Bill's patience and expertise."
"Bill did an exceptional job with our Great Pyr Walter. He is a rescue dog with very challenging behaviors but a huge heart. Bill taught us as much as he taught Walter. I can honestly say our private training with Bill was so impactful, and Walter has come a very long way. I know I can always reach out to Bill if any issues arise in the future. Our family will be forever grateful for Bill's patience and expertise."
Client (Private Training) - Jesse K.
"Thank you so much, Bill! We couldn't have made this progress without you. If we need more help, you'll be the first person I call."
"Thank you so much, Bill! We couldn't have made this progress without you. If we need more help, you'll be the first person I call."
Client (Reactive Rover) - Samantha M.
"This class was extremely helpful in educating not only my dog, but also me, about how to react in intense situations. I think we will both have a more enjoyable life thanks to reactive rover!"
"This class was extremely helpful in educating not only my dog, but also me, about how to react in intense situations. I think we will both have a more enjoyable life thanks to reactive rover!"
Client (Reactive Rover) - Chris S.
"Duke and I experienced instant positive results after the first class. The lessons learned definitely helped in his day-to-day activities."
"Duke and I experienced instant positive results after the first class. The lessons learned definitely helped in his day-to-day activities."
Client (Private Training) - Stephanie & Aaron B.
"Bill was wonderful in providing set skills for us to practice to reinforce positive interactions and behavior. He also helped us learn how to read our dog better and understand his body language. We can’t thank him enough!"
"Bill was wonderful in providing set skills for us to practice to reinforce positive interactions and behavior. He also helped us learn how to read our dog better and understand his body language. We can’t thank him enough!"
Client (Reactive Rover) - Steph K.
"This class has given me more confidence with Honey in knowing how to handle triggers & knowing her limits. Honey has more confidence & seems happier."
"This class has given me more confidence with Honey in knowing how to handle triggers & knowing her limits. Honey has more confidence & seems happier."
Client (Private Training) - Randy R.
"Bill did a great job with our two dogs Winnie and Scamp. As a professional dog walker, I really appreciated Bill's insights and training methods."
"Bill did a great job with our two dogs Winnie and Scamp. As a professional dog walker, I really appreciated Bill's insights and training methods."
Client (Reactive Rover) - Jennifer F.
"Thank you guys so much! The amount of personal attention / coaching was fabulous."
"Thank you guys so much! The amount of personal attention / coaching was fabulous."
Client (Reactive Rover) - Kat W.
"Very structured & safe environment for our dog to become more comfortable interacting with other dogs!"
"Very structured & safe environment for our dog to become more comfortable interacting with other dogs!"
Client (Good Canine Manners) - Jeff N. and family
"Our family appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to work with Bill and participate in the By My Side manners course. We all learned a lot form Bill's patient instruction and demonstrations, and we continue to go back to the videos and handouts that Bill provided. We also had plenty of time to practice in class and get helpful feedback as we learned new skills. Most importantly, the By My Side force-free and kind approach brought us closer to our new dog Phoebe. We would highly recommend the course to any new dog owner!"
"Our family appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to work with Bill and participate in the By My Side manners course. We all learned a lot form Bill's patient instruction and demonstrations, and we continue to go back to the videos and handouts that Bill provided. We also had plenty of time to practice in class and get helpful feedback as we learned new skills. Most importantly, the By My Side force-free and kind approach brought us closer to our new dog Phoebe. We would highly recommend the course to any new dog owner!"
Client (Private Training) - Tyler and Megan M.
"Bill was very knowledgeable when it came to training our puppy. We have made a lot of progress in the three sessions we had. We would absolutely recommend Bill to any of our friends and family who are considering training. He took the time to understand our needs and what we wanted to gain out of training, and then helped us apply it. Cannot overstate how much we appreciate Bill and By My Side."
"Bill was very knowledgeable when it came to training our puppy. We have made a lot of progress in the three sessions we had. We would absolutely recommend Bill to any of our friends and family who are considering training. He took the time to understand our needs and what we wanted to gain out of training, and then helped us apply it. Cannot overstate how much we appreciate Bill and By My Side."
Client (Private Training) - Julie N.
"Bill was the right person to call to start our puppy training off in the right direction. He's been so helpful in helping us manage her puppy energy around three young children, making it safe and enjoyable for everyone."
Client (Private Training) - Aimee L
"Bill did an amazing job at training me (and my pup Tootsie) on improving her skills. He focused on our needs, ensuring we were always using positive reinforcement and offered additional insights and tips to help Tootsie and our family. Bill would be my first call for any future training needs!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Mari J.
“I am really glad Ketchup and I did this class, like I said I was trying an approach that wasn't suiting for Ketchup and positive conditioning and reinforcement are helping out little by little.”
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Kristen H.
"Just wanted to let you know that we are really enjoying the class. Sophie's grown tremendously with her management of the reactivity, and I can really see both of us improving our confidence and calmness."
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Meg L.
"John, Dobby and I got a lot out of this class. Mostly it helped us understand Dobby’s underlying fear issue and know that we needed to focus on making him less afraid so we can shape his behavior better."
Client (Good Canine Manners) - Tom M.
"Thank you so much for the class, we learned a lot!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Wendy W.
"Thank you for having such a great professionally run class. Your attention to protocols guaranteeing safety and your calm and positive manner was so very helpful. I have been working with my reactive Gamble for a year and a half, and this is the first time that I felt like I was with trainers who had a highly developed understanding of reactivity and a series of strategies to help with it. As I am sure you are aware having a reactive dog can be a real roller coaster – but I was able to leave class each week feeling like I had received new strategies and encouragement. Thank you so much."
Client (Private Training) - Michelle S.
"Buddy is doing very well and getting better every day. He has come a long way. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you for giving me the tools to identify his triggers and how to handle different situations. It has been a life saver for Buddy and me both."
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Kelly H.
"Reactive Rover Rehab with Bill & Lisa equipped us with the tools to help recondition Sally to calm down & present desirable behaviors, such as sitting & giving us attention, rather than barking at triggers on our walks. Her behavior has improved & so has our ability to work with her. The class offered plenty of practice opportunities for every level, & we took advantage of other activities in the homework packet as well. We highly recommend this class for anyone with a reactive dog!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Monica H.
"Doug and I are thrilled at the progress we and our dog, Cooper, have made as a result of attending the Reactive Rover Rehab class taught by Bill and Lisa. Fundamentally, the class gave us confidence in handling trigger situations and it taught Cooper to learn to associate something positive with those same situations. The class teaches a positive-reinforcement training method in a safe environment with controlled exposure to triggers. We were provided with a class syllabus or agenda prior to the first class. Classes always started on time. We enthusiastically recommend this class and we are definitely interested in a Rover Rehab 2 to keep us progressing!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Alana S.
"Reactive Rover Rehab gave us the tools to demonstrate how smart she is and to work on her triggers and learn how to manage her behaviors. I recommend learning how to use the clicker to train your dog! It's been a great tool to take home to our personal dogs as well."
See more client reviews by clicking on Home, About, or Current Services!
"Bill was the right person to call to start our puppy training off in the right direction. He's been so helpful in helping us manage her puppy energy around three young children, making it safe and enjoyable for everyone."
Client (Private Training) - Aimee L
"Bill did an amazing job at training me (and my pup Tootsie) on improving her skills. He focused on our needs, ensuring we were always using positive reinforcement and offered additional insights and tips to help Tootsie and our family. Bill would be my first call for any future training needs!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Mari J.
“I am really glad Ketchup and I did this class, like I said I was trying an approach that wasn't suiting for Ketchup and positive conditioning and reinforcement are helping out little by little.”
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Kristen H.
"Just wanted to let you know that we are really enjoying the class. Sophie's grown tremendously with her management of the reactivity, and I can really see both of us improving our confidence and calmness."
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Meg L.
"John, Dobby and I got a lot out of this class. Mostly it helped us understand Dobby’s underlying fear issue and know that we needed to focus on making him less afraid so we can shape his behavior better."
Client (Good Canine Manners) - Tom M.
"Thank you so much for the class, we learned a lot!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Wendy W.
"Thank you for having such a great professionally run class. Your attention to protocols guaranteeing safety and your calm and positive manner was so very helpful. I have been working with my reactive Gamble for a year and a half, and this is the first time that I felt like I was with trainers who had a highly developed understanding of reactivity and a series of strategies to help with it. As I am sure you are aware having a reactive dog can be a real roller coaster – but I was able to leave class each week feeling like I had received new strategies and encouragement. Thank you so much."
Client (Private Training) - Michelle S.
"Buddy is doing very well and getting better every day. He has come a long way. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you for giving me the tools to identify his triggers and how to handle different situations. It has been a life saver for Buddy and me both."
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Kelly H.
"Reactive Rover Rehab with Bill & Lisa equipped us with the tools to help recondition Sally to calm down & present desirable behaviors, such as sitting & giving us attention, rather than barking at triggers on our walks. Her behavior has improved & so has our ability to work with her. The class offered plenty of practice opportunities for every level, & we took advantage of other activities in the homework packet as well. We highly recommend this class for anyone with a reactive dog!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Monica H.
"Doug and I are thrilled at the progress we and our dog, Cooper, have made as a result of attending the Reactive Rover Rehab class taught by Bill and Lisa. Fundamentally, the class gave us confidence in handling trigger situations and it taught Cooper to learn to associate something positive with those same situations. The class teaches a positive-reinforcement training method in a safe environment with controlled exposure to triggers. We were provided with a class syllabus or agenda prior to the first class. Classes always started on time. We enthusiastically recommend this class and we are definitely interested in a Rover Rehab 2 to keep us progressing!"
Client (Reactive Rover Rehab class) - Alana S.
"Reactive Rover Rehab gave us the tools to demonstrate how smart she is and to work on her triggers and learn how to manage her behaviors. I recommend learning how to use the clicker to train your dog! It's been a great tool to take home to our personal dogs as well."
See more client reviews by clicking on Home, About, or Current Services!
Group Class Photos
Reactive Rover Grads - February 2019 Classes
Reactive Rover Grads - October 2018 Classes
Reactive Rover Grads - February 2018 Classes
Reactive Rover Grads - September 2017 Classes
Reactive Rover Grads - July 2017 Classes
Reactive Rover Grads - April 2017 Classes
Reactive Rover grads - July 2016 Classes
Reactive Rover Rehab grads - May 2016
During Reactive Rover Rehab class, many dogs become able to perform cued behaviors, such as loose leash walking, while observing their triggers (other dogs and/or people). Every dog is an individual, and progress is dependent on many variables. In this short video, two teams are walking, one on each side of the barrier with "windows" created in the barrier for visual perception.