Testimonials
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Testimonial 61 - Remy
We adopted Remy from a shelter after she’d been there for four months and all her puppies were adopted. We knew she was a little shy but didn’t realize the true extent until we had her home for a few weeks. Remy was terrified of the outside world – walking …
Testimonial 60 - Pumpkin
Our cat has had issues with urinating on our shoes / laundry / carpet, etc. off and on for years. After trying all the store bought deterrents in the past with limited success, I decided to purchase Mary’s services when I knew that my cat would be moving and that …
Testimonial 59 - Sigma
So much has changed in our dog Sigma in the months following our session with Mary. He has turned from fearful, aggressive, and unpredictable, to communicative, affectionate, and tolerant due to Mary’s insightful training regimen.My partner and I adopted a 4-year old Wheaten Terrier via a rescue site – his …
Testimonial 58
Courage, cat owners I’ve always been good with cats: they know I love them and I can usually figure out what they’re trying to tell me. When one of my then 5 ½-year-old male cats began spraying back in November (now 10 months ago), I was stymied. We did everything …
Testimonial 57
I am beyond pleased with the progress my dog has made with Mary’s help! I was very worried when my 80-lb. Staffordshire Terrier started acting aggressively toward other dogs and people, so my vet recommended Mary. She came to our home to evaluate the situation and make recommendations. She was …
Testimonial 56 - Emma and Dolly
You Get Back What You Give BackPart 1 - EmmaEmma was not the right dog for me. From the start, there were red flags. Why were her owners giving her away for free, instead of returning her to the rescue like their contract stipulated? Why was she wildly jumping up …
Testimonial 55 - Winnie
When I adopted my Pomeranian/Chihuahua, Winnie, in September 2016, she was a senior pup who had recently been given up for adoption. While very sweet and affectionate the overwhelming majority of the time, I started seeing another side of her within a month of bringing her home. Her attacks increased …
Testimonial 54 - Sadie
Sadie, Belgian Malinois, adopted from breed rescue –When we came to Mary four months ago, we were quite despondent. Our dog had just attacked and nearly killed our neighbor’s small dog and we were at the absolute end of our rope.Before finding Mary we had consulted with 3 other trainers, …
Testimonial 53 - Rummy
We’ve had Rummy for three years, but we only moved to the city a year ago. Before moving to the city, Rummy was loving, bubbly, and generally calm and quiet. Once we moved to DC, Rummy became very anxious so we called Mary. Mary was very easy to have in …
Testimonial 52 - Sasha and Jax
Working with Mary Huntsberry was the best decision we could make, for ourselves and for our 2 dogs!! Mary has the expertise (wow on the credentials!), and a wonderful way of relating with you, your pet(s), and understanding your unique situation. The result is that Mary effectively guides you to …
Testimonial 51 - Baxter
We are so grateful for Mary’s sessions with our dog Baxter. He had taken previous obedience classes, but his behavior did not improve. We adopted Baxter from a rescue about 2 years ago and over the 2 years we had noticed he was extremely skittish and shy. He would cower, …
Testimonial 50
Walking your dogs can be fun!After 3 years of working with over-priced canine behaviorists and ineffective dog “trainers”, my dogs and I found Mary. Now, my formerly fear-aggressive male is a new boy and my over-protective barking female is a new girl. Mary’s practical techniques, easy-to-use equipment, and gentle encouragement …
Testimonial 49 - Lizzie and Gizmo
We contacted Mary because we were at a loss on what to do with our two cats. Lizzie and Gizmo are siblings from the same litter. The rescue wanted them adopted together because Gizmo was so attached to his sister. A few months ago, something happened and Lizzie decided to …
Testimonial 48 - Muffin
Mary at Helping Pets Behave is an absolutely phenomenal trainer. We learned so much about handling our little Morkie, Muffin. In my opinion, the way to tell if a trainer is good is by watching your dog. Our dog Muffin was so excited when we pulled into Mary’s driveway. She …
Testimonial 47 - Rami
I sought Mary’s help after taking in a stray adolescent cat. Rami was extremely affectionate with people, but he was behaving aggressively toward our two older cats, Kali and Feyla. At the time, I didn’t realize Rami’s behavior was aggressive – I thought he was just an overly-playful (if annoying) …
Testimonial 46 - Lucy and Gracie
I am writing to say how thankful I was to take Mary Huntsberry’s Helping Pets Behave classes. Over the years I had taken classes from pet stores, read books from the library and watched TV shows but none of the information made as much sense to me as the instruction …
Testimonial 45 - Cubby
Once my 3 year old Morkie’s dog aggression and anxiety got out of hand I decided to take him to see Mary. Cubby lived with 3 older Bichons and would attack them for no reason at all. He began snapping at other dogs while on walks and would bark uncontrollably, …
Testimonial 44 - Lucy and Oliver
In September 2016, after getting along without any problems for 8 years, my cats, Lucy and Oliver (ages 15 and 8) started fighting to the point where they had to be separated 24/7. Needless to say, this created a lot of stress in the household for both the cats and …
Testimonial 43 - Raylan
I came to Helping Pets Behave when I realized that my dog’s obedient behavior in the house wasn’t coming with us outside in new settings. The Professional Handling for Everyday Obedience class taught me ways to help Raylan deal with his uncertainty around new things and places and how to …
Testimonial 42 - Pepita
I had Pepita less than two months when I received complaints from neighbors about her constant barking for hours when I wasn’t home. At three years old, her foster owner was muzzling her to keep her from barking even though she had company from other dogs. Unfortunately, her behavior was …
Testimonial 41 - Jebby
I’m so grateful to have found Mary! She took the time to educate me, explain Jebby’s threatening behavior towards dogs and people, and made recommendations on how to help him and correct this issue. She listened to our struggles with an open heart and made no judgement. I also believe …
Testimonial 40 - Ava, Kaia, and Achilles
I was introduced to Mary through a really good friend of mine. At the time I was dealing with two extremely dog aggressive pups and a 4 pound Chihuahua that was setting himself up to be injured through resource guarding. We started off with individual sessions for all 3 dogs. …
Testimonial 39 - Tara
I adopted my Beagle mix, Tara, when she was about 2 years old. She was a bag of bones and skittish, but also sweet and affectionate. For the first eight months or so, she seemed to adapt well to her new surroundings - she put on weight, and her coat …
Testimonial 38 - Quincy
Our Cockapoo puppy, Quincy, started hiding and behaving aggressively soon after we brought him home. Not knowing how to handle the situation, every family member reacted differently. We called Mary for help when he bit and broke skin for the first time. Her evaluation of Quincy and recommendations were very …
Testimonial 37
I wish I had found Mary years ago. My 5 year old dog has fear and anxiety that had gotten worse with age. In addition to being afraid of dogs and people, she pulled, lunged, and barked at them when on leash. During the last two years, we couldn’t even …
Testimonial 36
We have taken two classes with Mary, with two different dogs. Both of our dogs are sweet and smart but were unable to focus while in public. Mary’s classes have made such a positive change in both our dogs’ behavior. Instead of holding our dogs back when we pass other …
Testimonial 35 - Rosie
My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rosie, was 4 years old and very sweet and loving but spoiled when we began lessons with Mary at Helping Pets Behave. It was frustrating for me because I adored my dog but not always her behavior. The result of my lack of training her …
Testimonial 34 - Poppy for Canine Good Citizen
While searching for a trainer to initially evaluate my Goldendoodle for the Canine Good Citizen test, I came across Mary’s website and liked what I read about her educational background and training philosophy. Even though Poppy (the above mentioned doodle) had passed beginner and intermediate training classes at another facility, …
Testimonial 33 - Bailey
I was referred to Mary in 2012 when my dog, Bailey, was 5 years old. He had begun reacting aggressively to people coming into our home and to other dogs when we were out walking. His anxiety was the cause of many of his problems so Mary gave us a …
Testimonial 32
I had a cat (2.5 year old male) for 1.5 years and decided to adopt another one (2 year old male). Their first week together was going decently well. Then things took a turn for the worst. There was a screaming cat fight every time the cats encountered each other! …
Testimonial 30 Update
Update on Snowy from Testimonial 30Debby S. from Stafford, VA wrote: “A few weeks ago, we had a couple of musicians over to the house whom Snowy had never met before. They arrived earlier than expected, and I hadn’t had a chance to put Snowy in her pen or in …
Testimonial 31 - TuPaw and Snoop Catt
Testimonial 31I was desperate when I reached out to Helping Pets Behave. In the 9 years I’ve shared my home with my two cats, TuPaw has destroyed 3 sofas and was increasingly refusing to use the litter box. While I had come to terms that as a cat owner, I …
Testimonial 30 - Snowy
Our rescue dog Snowy, a Jindo-Collie mix, came to us from a home where she did not have much socialization with people or other animals. We knew we’d have some challenges, but we weren’t quite prepared to address all of the issues we would need to face.We discovered she was …
Testimonial 29 - Piper
Before I met Mary Huntsberry, I was desperate: my usually very sweet four-year-old cat, Piper, had been acting out aggressively, to the point where I felt unsafe. Her attacks were increasing in frequency and intensity, and were especially alarming as I have a compromised lymphatic system—a bite or scratch from …
Testimonial 28 - Jillian
We rescued Jillian, a 4 year old German Shepard, in September. She was very friendly with me and my husband. However, she was a very nervous dog with multiple issues, including aggression towards dogs on walks, aggression towards people inside our house, and food guarding.We had tried obedience training, which …
Testimonial 27 - Ralphie
“Mary speaks dog, and in my professional opinion is a valuable asset to animal welfare…” - Brenda A. Klaunberg, VMDI sought Mary’s help in the spring of 2014. As a veterinarian, I have substantial knowledge of canine behavioral problems, but it is not my area of expertise. After adopting a …
Testimonial 26 - Topcat and Isabel
Seven years ago my husband and I adopted two wonderful 4 month old kittens. They were beautiful black and white domestic shorthaired brother and sister. They, as kittens, were intertwined together as they slept and we knew that we needed to adopt both of them so as not to split …
Testimonial 25
I had recently gone through a major life change losing a spouse and then moving to a new place where I was renting a room. My 5 year old chihuahua started exhibiting massive levels of separation anxiety to the point where she was hurting herself whenever I left the house …
Testimonial 24 - Lily
Mary is the answer to our one year old Lily’s needs! Lily is a rescue dog who at about six months started displaying fear aggression. We were frightened and upset for our puppy. Mary helped us to understand that Lily’s problem is in the range of issues that dogs can …
Testimonial 23 - Buggy
Buggy was a hurricane rescue, estimated to be 2 to 3 weeks old when we found him alone in the storm. He was about 4 weeks old the first time this adorable kitten sat on my chest, looked me in the face, and swung at me. From there, I felt …
Testimonial 22 - Tigger
Shortly after moving to Bethesda in July of 2013, our beloved blind cat Tigger began urinating on the carpet intermittently. This had never been a problem in our old house that had hardwood floors. After months of repeated cleaning with just about every product on the market (thinking the scent …
Testimonial 21 - BB
Shortly after adopting my Pit Bull mix, BB, I realized that she was uncomfortable around children. This became an immediate problem for me considering I have 6 nieces and nephews. After just one hour session with Mary Huntsberry there was improvement! Mary gave me the tools I needed to help …
Testimonial 20
I was surprised at how quickly my Schnoodle responded to Mary and her training tips. Normally suspicious of strangers, Mary gained his trust quickly and was able to work with him. Additionally, Mary has more than just one way of dealing with a behavior. She works with you to find …
Testimonial 19 - Oliver and Dodger
I called Mary for help with our two cats, Oliver and Dodger. Ever since we had moved to a new house a few years ago, we’d been battling litter box problems. We had them into the vet multiple times to check for any physical issues. I tried moving around their …
Testimonial 18
I had two very sweet and well-behaved 3.5 year old cats who were extremely scared of strangers. They’d run anytime someone approached the house and hid the entire time I had guests over. No one ever got to see how sweet and funny my cats were until Mary came to …
Testimonial 17 - Jett
I have a 5-year old rescue Border Collie named Jett who came with many issues – extremely reactive to noises, cats, dogs, any distraction really, and with a strong prey drive. One trainer told me it might be best if he was put down because he’s a hard case. With …
Testimonial 16 - Jazz, Rex, and Tux
We hired Mary because we adopted a sweet new cat (Jazz) and thought he would easily get along with our other nice cats (Rex and Tux). After a few months of trying things without any luck, we decided to look for a professional who could help us with new ideas. …
Testimonial 15 - Roxy
My husband and I called Mary out of desperation - our 8 month Jack Russell mix puppy, Roxy, couldn’t be left out while we were gone because she destroyed everything in sight, and we couldn’t leave her in her crate because she got really stressed and drooled to the point …
Testimonial 14 - Stanley
We have a 15 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Stanley, and have had him since he was a puppy. We have had Rhodesian’s previously so we knew he would be a high energy strong willed project. We have spend countless hours working with Stanley and generally he is obedient and great …
Testimonial 13 - Winnie
Our high-energy bull terrier puppy, Winnie, fractured her tibia when she was four months old, and had to be confined to her crate for most of the day. She was unable to play with other dogs and only went for short walks. We’re happy to report Winnie has since made …
Testimonial 12
As a new puppy owner, I was thrilled to find someone with Mary’s credentials teaching nearby. I wanted to ensure the training I attended was offered by someone with an animal behavior background and Mary has an impressive education and work history. From Day 1, I couldn’t have been more …
Testimonial 11 - Elsa
I came to Mary for help with our recently rescued 4 year old GSD, Elsa. We believe she had come from an abusive environment and had an extreme fear of people. She didn’t want people to come near her, much less try and pet her or give her treats. She …
Testimonial 10 - Matilda
Our cat, Matilda, had been in a cage at Petsmart for at least six months when we adopted her. We had two other cats and she immediately began getting in fights with our male cat and spraying/urinating everywhere, we couldn’t tell which. At first we were letting her sleep in …
Testimonial 9 - Sundae
From the moment we brought our Shetland Sheepdog Sundae, home, we realized she was going to be a handful. She is the first dog we’ve ever raised and lived with, and we muddled through her puppyhood using books and website advice until the day a severe storm put a tree …
Testimonial 8 - Joey
It occurs to me that Joey (the magnificent) and I have taken several courses with Mary over the past 18 months or so. I’ve honestly lost count but know that we’ve participated in 5 or 6, including Hollywood Tricks, Hollywood Tricks II, Backyard Agility, Doggie Come Here (Right Now, Please), …
Testimonial 7
I can’t thank Mary enough for how she helped our new puppy but most of all for showing me the most effective way to work with him. Before calling Helping Pets Behave, I truly thought I made a mistake in getting a puppy. He was biting, barking, growling and my …
Testimonial 6
Before meeting Mary Huntsberry, I was feeling overwhelmed by all the books that were telling me the best way to raise my puppy. It reminded me of when I was a new mom! Just like then, everything I read was conflicting and totally convinced that it was the only way …
Testimonial 5 - Sunny
Mary helped us to help our new addition to, well, behave! We adopted our dog after losing our beloved pit bull to lymphoma. As experienced bully owners, we did not hesitate to rescue another. In comes Sunny. She was fun loving, so sweet, and came into our house with much …
Testimonial 4 - Sammy and Happy
We started working with Mary to address issues with our two dogs: Sammy, a high-energy 11-month old miniature poodle; and Happy, a recently adopted young adult mini poodle. We were having a number of problems with Sammy including issues with visitors to the house, stealing, and jumping/snapping. However, our number …
Testimonial 3 - Mumford
My dog, Mumford, and I had the pleasure of taking the Puppies WITHOUT Issues puppy class with Mary last November. I must admit I was hesitant to do this with him as I wasn’t sure how he (or I) would handle it. He is a high-energy terrier mix and, often, …
Testimonial 2 - Dexter
Dexter, our 1.5-year-old standard schnauzer, started to exhibit discomfort and unease after moving from a quiet Minnesota suburb to the noisy and densely populated King Farm (Rockville) area. He saw more people, off-leash dogs, and bikes and also heard more noise than he was accustomed to. While we tried our …
Testimonial 1 Update
Video of Remi after 5 weeks of training. The owner supplied this as evidence of how she is becoming a very well adjusted and happy dog, which was NOT what I saw when I first met her. Remi loves playing with the other two dogs and this is a common …
Testimonial 1 - Remi
As a lifelong dog caregiver and dog rescuer, I really thought I could handle just about any type of dog issue - or rather, my pack of dogs would handle it. I always had luck with my rescues just bringing them into our ‘pack’ and letting the other dogs help …
Mary Huntsberry, MA
Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Elite Fear Free Certified Professional
Montgomery County, MD
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