eBook Update #1: A Lot of “Whys” & Whack-A-Mole
June 25, 2025
This is so exciting getting to take you along for one of the most challenging rides of my business: creating an eBook. Running my business, doing my private in-home training lessons, and posting to socials are nothing in comparison. Why? Because those things are necessity’s to run my business successfully. An eBook on the other hand is an option, but no one looks at a business and goes “Oh, she doesn’t have resources outside of her services. How unprofessional.”
Because of this, there is no “Need” for me to do it (Which means all of my grit needs to come from a rather motivating “Why.”) That’s where you come in. Knowing that this eBook will help supplement the training y’all have done or will do with your dog in the future is my “Why.”
I had to remind myself of this “Why” MULTIPLE times in this last week as I’m in the very technical portion of my eBook (which is proving very meticulous and detail-dependent).
On the ‘Gram: “Not Feeling Motivated? My Top Tips to Pick Yourself Back Up“
I’m currently in the portion of my eBook where I show owners (both with descriptions and pictures) how to add links into and remove links out of a prong collar. If owners have done training with me when there dog was 6 months old, their dog is undoubtedly going to grow (which may mean that the prong collar we fitted them for during training, may not be the same proper fit 6 months from now).
For this reason, this portion of the eBook is imperative but very very tedious. I can’t do the next portion of that part of my eBook until I get my nails done an eBook immortalizes the state of them for as long as you sell it for.
Fun story actually (and it relates to dog training, too!)
I have a “Daily Habits Checklist” that I use to build up healthy habits (until I don’t need to “track” them anymore because they’ve become automatic). A new habit I added this month is “No picking at face” (I have a tendency to do this).
You know what the problem with this goal is?
It’s desire is to stop the “effect” without looking at the “cause.”
Trust me when I say, I did not come to that conclusion by mediating on it. I actually came to this conclusion when I bit off all of the gel of my manicure and then ripped off the leftover length at the top of my nails. I haven’t done this in YEARS. It wasn’t until I thought about “Why” I had done it that I realized I took away one of my cooping mechanisms with stress (Picking my face) and I just moved to the next in line.
You know what I call this in my training?
Training Whack-A-Mole
If you only get rid of the “Effect” of a problem behavior (without eliminating the cause), another problem behavior will just pop up right in it’s place.
All this to say that if you get this eBook and are thinking “Yeah, yeah, all of this is great, but how do I just stop that behavior,” get ready for a little reframe on “getting rid of something quickly” and instead “work on what’s causing that behavior so it doesn’t show up somewhere else.” Oh, and that I got to get a manicure before I do any more “photoshoots” for my eBook.
I’m currently at 99 pages and that’s only from transferring 10 out of the 19 pages of my outline.
As Dory from “Finding Nemo” would say, “Just keep swimming” (especially with this 100 degree week in Pennsylvania).
Actually, I think I’m gonna do just that. Gonna go take a dip in the pool.
Until next time!
"Hurricane Ida; My Scariest Experience As a Dog Sitter"
"eBook Update #2: Roo, “How Not Tos” & Pink Duos"
About Heather
⬆ 2023 – Stitch (10 yrs), Me (28 yrs)
⬇ 2016 – Stitch (2 yrs), Me (21 yrs)
My Favorites
Breed: Aussie Shepherds, Blue Heelers, Long-Haired Dachshunds
Owner: Open-Minded, Fun-Loving, & Involved
Treat: Macaroons & Pumpkin Pie
Trick: Finding gems at the thrift store, the Rubix Cube, & making friends anywhere
Heather Kemmerer
1 year ago
Heather from Handful of Leashes is an exceptional trainer! I have 2 rescue dogs who were highly anxious & terrible leash walkers. Both are MUCH more adjusted after implementing the training tools that Heather gave us and both walk extremely well on the leash now, without pulling! Heather gives you her full time & attention when you work with her. She makes herself available for questions & provides additional resources, going above and beyond the “big box” trainers out there. The only downside? You will miss her when the training is done!!
Kathryn Siti
1 year ago
Heather is such a pleasure to work with. After banging my head against the wall for two years trying to train my dog on my own, I needed a trainer who would answer all my questions, give me specific details about how to communicate with my dog, and assign me straightforward homework to maintain progress. Heather checked all these boxes and more. She is warm, caring, and deeply knowledgeable.
From the moment she walked through my door, my dog behaved better than I believed she could. With body language alone, Heather brought out the best in my dog. I was so impressed by the progress made with just an hour spent together.
Heather is also an incredible business owner who makes you feel respected and taken care of. I am so grateful to how she extended herself to my dog and I.
From the moment she walked through my door, my dog behaved better than I believed she could. With body language alone, Heather brought out the best in my dog. I was so impressed by the progress made with just an hour spent together.
Heather is also an incredible business owner who makes you feel respected and taken care of. I am so grateful to how she extended herself to my dog and I.
Catherine Thompson
2 years ago
We owe our Beau's obedience to Heather who on boarded with us in the very first months of his training days. Heather was exactly what we needed to train Beau to be attentive and responsive to our commands. We highly recommend Handful of Leashes - Heather has the mind of a dog and knows how this training thing works!!
Katherine Andrade
2 years ago
Heather, our family cannot thank you enough for the insight and guidance you provided for our babies (Ali & Pacino) IN JUST ONE SESSION. She helped us set clear boundaries with our dogs and taught us how to create a harmonious environment where everyone can thrive. The training was not just for the dogs but for us as well. We can't thank you enough Heather :)
Dana Rose
2 years ago
Heather is a gem. So responsive and accommodating after I followed her very clear instructions on her website. And she actually fit me in for a first lesson the same day we connected, it was just meant to be and the simple skills she taught me in that hour were very impactful and exactly what I needed, not overwhelmed or anything I couldn’t manage with a little focus. Appreciate you Heather.
Jamie Davis
2 years ago
We hired Heather to help us with loose leash training. Our dog was pulling to the point of not being able to walk him without something hurting after the walk! We also wanted him to be able to enjoy his walks.
From the very first lesson, not only did Heather show us what to do, but also explained why it works. She is beyond patient, and very positive. We have seen incredible improvement and couldn’t recommend Heather more! She really understands the mind of a dog and does a great job explaining it and making it make sense.
From the very first lesson, not only did Heather show us what to do, but also explained why it works. She is beyond patient, and very positive. We have seen incredible improvement and couldn’t recommend Heather more! She really understands the mind of a dog and does a great job explaining it and making it make sense.
Christopher T.
2 years ago
Heather was the best! You couldn’t ask for a better trainer. Right from the beginning it was clear that she absolutely loves what she does. The whole experience was flawless from start to finish. She let us pick our schedule each week, she was always on time, taught our pup Benny valuable commands and behaviors, and most importantly, provided my wife and I with the tools and the knowledge to continue the training after our sessions concluded. We have seen major improvements with Benny and we couldn’t be happier. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Amber Pettinato
2 years ago
I couldn’t recommend enough! Great trainer I loved how she came to my home to work directly 1 on 1 with me and my dog. My dog was scared of every person she saw and now I have the skills to work through my dogs issues. My dogs life has drastically improved! Couldn’t thank handful of leashes enough
Hailey Berry
2 years ago
I’m not usually a review leaver but I felt I had to tell everyone how worth every cent working with Heather has been. I have known Heather a while and seen all the work she’s put into learning all she can about dogs, training, and business but I had yet to use her services. Incomes Wyatt my foster fail of a puppy and suddenly I had aspirations and dreams of having a “good boy” off leash and walking well on a leash. I have had dogs for my entire life so the cocky 30 something in me thought - I can master this, I don’t know if I have the $ to spend on a trainer. I was wrong 🤣. We started with a basic obedience group class because I was trying to spend less since I’m not rocking a giant budget. It was a kind, helpful group but I got what I paid for - I ended up missing a couple classes since it wasn’t a flexible schedule and though Wyatt learned a few commands we did not learn things I could take outside of the class setting well and it only gave us a foundation to build off of. Wyatt was a small nightmare on a leash and a flight risk. He confidently stared me in my eyes as I asked him to come and chose to continue doing whatever he wanted. Once he got loose and the only way to catch him was for a kind neighbor up the street to literally open her doors to him and trap him in her home. At that point it was clear - owning dogs costs money and you get what you pay for. It was time to invest in private one on one training because it would affect Wyatt and I for the rest of our relationship and we were worth investing in. I could feel my frustration building with him despite how much I love him and I didn’t want puppyhood and being a dog mom to become something I struggled through - I wanted to enjoy every moment with my growing man. Heather managed to transform Wyatt and more importantly ME in the 5 weeks we had for our package. She was so knowledgeable and it was so helpful to be able to ask questions when she showed me things and have her help me get my form, tone, actions, and communication down. She customized each lesson around what Wyatt and I were struggling with or what I wanted to learn and she had an answer for every question I had. It showed me how much I had been miscommunicating with Wyatt and how many of the “he just doesn’t listen” or the “he just doesn’t care” moments were him not understanding what I was asking; How many of those moments were caused by my actions and lack of accountability rather than his feelings. Despite knowing what I thought was a lot about dog behavior and dog care, Heather opened my eyes to so many things I had never thought about or didn’t realize were harming instead of helping. I can’t wait to keep building this relationship with my best friend Wyatt and am so excited and proud to send Heather updates as we grow together. Wyatt is so much easier on a leash already and just had his first hike where I was able to drop his leash to explore because he respects recall now! If you want to grow that relationship between you and your pup - it’s worth the investment. Invest in Heather and she will invest in you and your dog 🩷☺️
Paulina A G
2 years ago
Heather is the most amazing trainer you could find!
She is VERY knowledgeable and kind. We have two big dogs that were very reactive during walks, thanks to her we can now go for walks with no issues, communicate with them the right way, and meet their exercise needs without stress.
Her service and communication with the owners is also AMAZING, she is very accommodating and easy to talk to
I would recommend her in a heartbeat!!! You won’t regret it
She is VERY knowledgeable and kind. We have two big dogs that were very reactive during walks, thanks to her we can now go for walks with no issues, communicate with them the right way, and meet their exercise needs without stress.
Her service and communication with the owners is also AMAZING, she is very accommodating and easy to talk to
I would recommend her in a heartbeat!!! You won’t regret it
Debbie Mangus Kempf
2 years ago
Heather is an exceptional dog trainer and a consummate professional--always on time, very reliable and responsible, and she jam packs her training sessions with valuable information to give you true value for your money. Her love for, and connection with, dogs is so evident from the moment you meet her. She guided me through crate training and basic obedience starting when my puppy, Dory, was just 10 weeks old. Not sure I would have survived these first few months with Dory without Heather's help! I will be purchasing further sessions with Heather as Dory matures. I highly recommend her!
Raquel Tomaine
2 years ago
Heather worked with our puppy & taught us essential skills in enabling him to be more calm & to walk right beside us on his leash. We did the puppy package & then the loose leash package & we are very happy with what we learned. Heather is great, very patient, very friendly, and extremely knowledgable!
Roma Mehul
2 years ago
We hired Heather to help train our 8-week-old Golden Mountain doodle.
We were first time puppy parents, so we didn’t know what to expect with the puppy. Heather was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. She helped us navigate through the first few weeks by helping us connect with our newest member of the family. Heather was so patient and asked what we wanted to focus on in the beginning of each session, which was great.
With the 5-week package, we learned how to stop the pup from jumping up on us, reduce on the biting, climbing up/down the steps, sitting, waiting for food vs. jumping up, and crate training.
She gave us the tools we needed to continue the training.
I highly recommend Heather!
Heather – thank you for all you do!!!
We were first time puppy parents, so we didn’t know what to expect with the puppy. Heather was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. She helped us navigate through the first few weeks by helping us connect with our newest member of the family. Heather was so patient and asked what we wanted to focus on in the beginning of each session, which was great.
With the 5-week package, we learned how to stop the pup from jumping up on us, reduce on the biting, climbing up/down the steps, sitting, waiting for food vs. jumping up, and crate training.
She gave us the tools we needed to continue the training.
I highly recommend Heather!
Heather – thank you for all you do!!!
Kiersten Bojanowski
2 years ago
Heather is amazing!!! Before I hired her, my dog was unbearable on walks. He would pulled like crazy, jump at people or lay down randomly. Now he knows how to loose leash walk and actually listens! With this training, it has also helped with create training. Before he would not go in the cage and would cry the whole time. Now he takes 3 hour naps in there and can be left for a bit without crying because he is mentally drained from his walks. I used to have to do 2 snuffle mats and 3 puzzles a day along with 4 walks because he is so high energy and could never really settle, now he can sleep for hours in between naps. I no longer get stressed taking him on walks and it’s all thanks to Heather!
Michael Profrock
2 years ago
We just recently adopted two dogs that were 18months old. With having the worries of introducing new dogs into an environment that they have never been around was already stressful enough. Having followed Heather on her social media accounts, I was excited to see her skills put to the test. From simple suggestions on how to get both dogs to love their crates and to listen to us was impressive. She was able to answer any questions that I had and explained her reasons for her suggestions. She is the true dog whisperer. I look forward to scheduling another visit so she can help on other improvements. I hope to anyone reading this realizes that they will not be disappointed. She is truly the best!
holly corson
3 years ago
Heather is a fantastic dog trainer! We needed her services recently for our dog (9ish months old at the time) who seemed determined to listen as little as possible. We had major issues with her pulling on the leash and barking/whining during walks, constantly counter surfing, jumping out of our fenced in yard, and more. Heather was able to help with all of them. She taught us (and our dog!) how to do a beautiful loose leash walk along with how to use an e-collar to keep her in "place" and correct for bad behavior. Our relationship with our dog is so much less stressful now and we're looking forward to many years of happy dog ownership. All that, and Heather was great with our kids and fun to be around! We could not recommend her more. The investment was worth it.
Charlotte Baratta
3 years ago
Heather is a fantastic trainer! She truly understands them and their needs, and is so helpful in training the people who are handling the dog too!
One of our dogs was experiencing anxiety and through some fairly simple steps he’s calmed down so much
I’ve recommended her to friends and everyone has had a great experience with her. Thank you Heather!
One of our dogs was experiencing anxiety and through some fairly simple steps he’s calmed down so much
I’ve recommended her to friends and everyone has had a great experience with her. Thank you Heather!
Lisa Madden
3 years ago
I found Handful of Leashes on a google search after my 9 month old puppy started resource guarding and it was becoming a HUGE problem. From our first session, I knew I liked Heather's approach. She is confident, knowledgeable, professional and honest. After our first session, I ended up buying a package and doing e-collar training with my pup. Heather provided me with the tools that I needed to stop this bad habit and it worked! I highly recommend Handful of Leashes if you need any help with your dog!
Eric Fay
3 years ago
Heather was fantastic for our Abigail (mini goldendoodle)! We did a 5 session package, starting with Heather at 10 weeks, and the progress made in even the first session was remarkable. Would have been in a tough place without Heather!
We’re also looking to use Heather for boarding services in the future, as well as further training as Abigail gets older.
UPDATE:
We’ve done 2 more packages (loose leash & e-collar) with Heather and it has made such a difference. Without Heather we have no idea we’d be with this crazy pup!
We’ve also used Heather for boarding on a couple of occasions, and Abigail comes home (although probably would rather stay) so fulfilled. We also get regular updates via social media which is awesome. Very much trust Heather to take care of our girl!
We’re also looking to use Heather for boarding services in the future, as well as further training as Abigail gets older.
UPDATE:
We’ve done 2 more packages (loose leash & e-collar) with Heather and it has made such a difference. Without Heather we have no idea we’d be with this crazy pup!
We’ve also used Heather for boarding on a couple of occasions, and Abigail comes home (although probably would rather stay) so fulfilled. We also get regular updates via social media which is awesome. Very much trust Heather to take care of our girl!
Tia Regec
3 years ago
Earlier this year, I was struggling to walk my Aussie puppy (Ranger) in a local park when someone recommended Handful of Leashes – and I’m so glad they did! When I finally had the time to fully commit, I decided to reach out to Heather. We started with the loose leash package and moved on to the e-collar package.
I was nervous when it came time for our first training lesson, but Heather put me at ease. She is the best! All questions are answered in a way that is relatable and shows you the big picture. Even now that we are done with our training packages, she is there with all the tips and tricks.
There are so many things I learned throughout our lessons that I never would have thought were related. One example that sticks out is how crate training improves confidence and problematic behaviors. Before we started training with Heather, Ranger was not crate trained. He behaved well enough outside of the crate that I didn’t think he needed it. Now, I don’t think we will ever go back! Many of the issues we were dealing with were resolved shortly after introducing the crate to Ranger.
Four weeks into our training, family and friends were already commenting on the improvements to Ranger’s behavior. Now that we have adapted everything Heather taught us into our lifestyle, I only see this getting better!
Two training packages later and Ranger is confident, he is a better listener, walks are no longer stressful, we get a full night’s sleep, he eats all his food again – I could go on and on. I look forward to utilizing other services provided by Handful of Leashes in the future.
I was nervous when it came time for our first training lesson, but Heather put me at ease. She is the best! All questions are answered in a way that is relatable and shows you the big picture. Even now that we are done with our training packages, she is there with all the tips and tricks.
There are so many things I learned throughout our lessons that I never would have thought were related. One example that sticks out is how crate training improves confidence and problematic behaviors. Before we started training with Heather, Ranger was not crate trained. He behaved well enough outside of the crate that I didn’t think he needed it. Now, I don’t think we will ever go back! Many of the issues we were dealing with were resolved shortly after introducing the crate to Ranger.
Four weeks into our training, family and friends were already commenting on the improvements to Ranger’s behavior. Now that we have adapted everything Heather taught us into our lifestyle, I only see this getting better!
Two training packages later and Ranger is confident, he is a better listener, walks are no longer stressful, we get a full night’s sleep, he eats all his food again – I could go on and on. I look forward to utilizing other services provided by Handful of Leashes in the future.
Michele Cleary
3 years ago
Heather is truly amazing! She is remarkably upbeat and has a very natural rapport with dogs. Our pup was completely at ease with her as she guided all of us through learning new commands and how to experience awesome loose leash walks. She was also extremely flexible working with us to accommodate our hectic schedules. We highly recommend Heather as your trainer of choice!
Rosanne Keep
3 years ago
We worked with Heather for a 10-week period, on basic obedience training for our puppy and then loose leash walking. Heather is a warm, insightful, intelligent teacher, who is skilled in connecting with both dogs and people. She understands and explains the motivations behind dogs' behaviors in a way that serves to strengthen the bond we have with our pups. The knowledge Heather shared about interacting with dogs was broadly relatable to engaging with other humans in the world and I so appreciated those parallels. Heather is more than a dog trainer, she's also like an undercover therapist. :) I highly recommend her and wouldn't hesitate to bring her back in the future for further training.
Lizzy Carr
3 years ago
Update!! May 2023:
We purchased another package from Heather to work with Rex on some new issues. Her new packages are now 5 lessons instead of 4. By the 5th lesson we had nothing to work on because Rex was already ecollar trained and doing great. Rex is still the best listening dog we have (out of all 4). He knows his basic manners (from our first package) but since having a baby in February, he became very over protective. He came close to nipping one of our friends and that is when we decided we really needed to do something about it. Heather came over the following week and started training Rex. She taught my husband and I how to use the ecollar and within 2 weeks, he was a completely different dog. He no longer charges at people barking. When I call him, I no longer need to push his ecollar button, he automatically comes running to my side and sits. We really appreciate everything Heather has taught us. If it wasn't for her, something serious could have happened and we might not have been able to keep Rex. She is very knowledgeable, passionate and amazing at what she does. We will be moving soon and if any issues arise getting our 4 dogs adjusted to their new home, we will definitely call Heather again.
September 2022: I can't recommend Heather enough! We have 4 dogs, our newest one being a 1 year old German Shepherd rescue. We wanted to train him on basic manners, especially having a baby on the way. We purchased a pack of 4 training lessons and the difference from the first lesson to the last was HUGE. He learned basic commands like come, sit, stay, place, heel, etc. She taught us how to work with him on his barking, cage manners and jumping. It has only been about 2 months and he is by far the best listener out of all 4 of our dogs. The skills and knowledge Heather taught us is something we will continue to work on and start training our other dogs on as well. SHE IS THE BEST!!!!
We purchased another package from Heather to work with Rex on some new issues. Her new packages are now 5 lessons instead of 4. By the 5th lesson we had nothing to work on because Rex was already ecollar trained and doing great. Rex is still the best listening dog we have (out of all 4). He knows his basic manners (from our first package) but since having a baby in February, he became very over protective. He came close to nipping one of our friends and that is when we decided we really needed to do something about it. Heather came over the following week and started training Rex. She taught my husband and I how to use the ecollar and within 2 weeks, he was a completely different dog. He no longer charges at people barking. When I call him, I no longer need to push his ecollar button, he automatically comes running to my side and sits. We really appreciate everything Heather has taught us. If it wasn't for her, something serious could have happened and we might not have been able to keep Rex. She is very knowledgeable, passionate and amazing at what she does. We will be moving soon and if any issues arise getting our 4 dogs adjusted to their new home, we will definitely call Heather again.
September 2022: I can't recommend Heather enough! We have 4 dogs, our newest one being a 1 year old German Shepherd rescue. We wanted to train him on basic manners, especially having a baby on the way. We purchased a pack of 4 training lessons and the difference from the first lesson to the last was HUGE. He learned basic commands like come, sit, stay, place, heel, etc. She taught us how to work with him on his barking, cage manners and jumping. It has only been about 2 months and he is by far the best listener out of all 4 of our dogs. The skills and knowledge Heather taught us is something we will continue to work on and start training our other dogs on as well. SHE IS THE BEST!!!!
Sarah Tantum
3 years ago
So glad we made the decision to contact Heather to help us with training our puppy Murphy. Heather gave us the tools necessary to help meet our goals with recall, loose leash walking and place. Don’t wait any longer call Heather today….you won’t regret it!
We’ve also used Heather for boarding services while on vacation. Murphy loved every minute!!
We’ve also used Heather for boarding services while on vacation. Murphy loved every minute!!
jen collopy
3 years ago
We hired Heather to train us on loose leash walking for my two dogs, Lola and Ravi, who were very leash reactive. Within only a few sessions we had all of the tools we needed to reinforce the right behavior and now walk with ease! Not to mention my dogs loved her! Money well spent.
Barbara Rogers
3 years ago
We truly lucked out when looking for a dog trainer! Heather came into our life the week we rescued our 13 month old golden lab retriever. She is the biggest dog we ever had & we were very apprehensive to say the least. Thanks to Heather, we can walk her without being pulled over. She is much calmer, listens, and stays on her mat (place) for longer periods of time. Aside from in-home training, Heather also dog sits at her home. Heather is a breath of fresh air, caring, knowledgeable, understanding, & totally dedicated! Our dog, Sammie, just loves her! We look forward to being able to go on vacation knowing Sammie is in good hands!
Bianca Reist Steadman
3 years ago
Heather is the absolute BEST--knowledgable, patient, understanding, reliable, flexible, and so obviously LOVES what she does (and our pup adores her). After deciding to get a puppy our first call was Heather! Having witnessed her train my parents dog (the older sister of our puppy) to perfection, the decision was an easy one. Initially our plan was to work with Heather over Zoom before getting our puppy, train with her in person when we were back east, and find someone else to train her in person in LA. We quickly realized it wasn't necessary to work with someone in person in LA as our Zoom sessions with Heather were truly JUST as effective as in person sessions. I was skeptical about this initially but after experiencing both over the past 6 months I can say she gets the job done extremely effectively in BOTH mediums.
Heather helped us to not only devise a training plan for our pup beginning the first hour we brought her home but also prepare her to fly across the country 2.5 weeks after getting her. Heather gave us the tools to make it a successful reality. Indie crushed her first two flights in a carry bag thanks to the training (crate training, bag training, socialization, alone time, potty training, and boundaries etc.) Heather had us strictly implement from day 1.
Next, Heather began working on obedience, distractions, behavior, impulse control, resource guarding, and more boundaries over Zoom and in person. Her training was so successful we were able to fly back and forth with Indie on leash (4-6 months old) before she even began leash training because her foundation was SO strong thanks to Heather.
When Indie hit 6 months she did a lodge and learn with Heather where she began leash training. We assumed she would learn the basics since she was only with her for 10 days. However, Indie was a different dog on leash when we picked her up. It was unbelievable. Prior to this, Indie would pull and walk all over the place, tripping us constantly. In the airport on the way back to LA, I didn't have to even use her e-collar once--just light prong collar pressure to lead her in the right direction. I was actually able to have her leash loose on my arm while holding a coffee...that would have been IMPOSSIBLE 10 days prior to her stay with Heather. The airport is a crazy place with many distractions (kids, food, crowds, etc) and she didn't break a heel ONCE. I was speechless and couldn't believe the progress she made in only 10 days.
When we started working with Heather our main goal was to have a dog that we could both take anywhere but also leave home whenever we chose to...In essence, we wanted her to be trained to behave perfectly in every environment and happy to be in her crate at home, as well. Heather made that dream a reality. Indie flies across the country twice a month, comes on every vacation with us, sits through long dinners, goes grocery shopping with me, and is now playing in the park off leash at only 8 months. She holds an hour long place and walks into her crate every night when she's ready for bed.
NONE of this would be possible without Heather's training of both Indie and us! It is a lot of work outside of training sessions but it is also incredibly rewarding and has bonded us deeply. Heather's expertise has enabled us to live our lives on our schedules with Indie by our side and we couldn't be more grateful for her. If you are considering hiring Heather to train your pup, I promise it is worth every penny.
Heather helped us to not only devise a training plan for our pup beginning the first hour we brought her home but also prepare her to fly across the country 2.5 weeks after getting her. Heather gave us the tools to make it a successful reality. Indie crushed her first two flights in a carry bag thanks to the training (crate training, bag training, socialization, alone time, potty training, and boundaries etc.) Heather had us strictly implement from day 1.
Next, Heather began working on obedience, distractions, behavior, impulse control, resource guarding, and more boundaries over Zoom and in person. Her training was so successful we were able to fly back and forth with Indie on leash (4-6 months old) before she even began leash training because her foundation was SO strong thanks to Heather.
When Indie hit 6 months she did a lodge and learn with Heather where she began leash training. We assumed she would learn the basics since she was only with her for 10 days. However, Indie was a different dog on leash when we picked her up. It was unbelievable. Prior to this, Indie would pull and walk all over the place, tripping us constantly. In the airport on the way back to LA, I didn't have to even use her e-collar once--just light prong collar pressure to lead her in the right direction. I was actually able to have her leash loose on my arm while holding a coffee...that would have been IMPOSSIBLE 10 days prior to her stay with Heather. The airport is a crazy place with many distractions (kids, food, crowds, etc) and she didn't break a heel ONCE. I was speechless and couldn't believe the progress she made in only 10 days.
When we started working with Heather our main goal was to have a dog that we could both take anywhere but also leave home whenever we chose to...In essence, we wanted her to be trained to behave perfectly in every environment and happy to be in her crate at home, as well. Heather made that dream a reality. Indie flies across the country twice a month, comes on every vacation with us, sits through long dinners, goes grocery shopping with me, and is now playing in the park off leash at only 8 months. She holds an hour long place and walks into her crate every night when she's ready for bed.
NONE of this would be possible without Heather's training of both Indie and us! It is a lot of work outside of training sessions but it is also incredibly rewarding and has bonded us deeply. Heather's expertise has enabled us to live our lives on our schedules with Indie by our side and we couldn't be more grateful for her. If you are considering hiring Heather to train your pup, I promise it is worth every penny.
Kayla DeWitt
4 years ago
100% would recommend Heather and Handful of Leashes! Our 3 year old Chocolate Lab was a terrible walker, jumped on everyone who entered our house and was just an all around crazy dog. After a few sessions she has become a great walker, has calmed down when people enter our home, and has become great at “place” command which has calmed her down significantly. I love how Heather comes to your home for the training so she can see how they are in their environment and the common behaviors. She is worth every penny!
Miriam Lerner
4 years ago
Heather is the dog whisperer! She is professional and knowledgeable
She had our puppy literally eating out of her hand! She had practical and effective strategies for us to employ to encourage desirable behaviors while discouraging those issues that we were trying to eliminate. Highly recommend having a training session with her to address your concerns!
She had our puppy literally eating out of her hand! She had practical and effective strategies for us to employ to encourage desirable behaviors while discouraging those issues that we were trying to eliminate. Highly recommend having a training session with her to address your concerns!
Brett Herman
4 years ago
Heather, owner of handful of leashes provides absolutely impeccable service. Her ability to connect with her trainees and their humans is unmatched. Heather is an excellent listener and will ease your mind about the dog training process. Our dog Sadie came into our home in late January 2022. Heather was with us from the start, even before we brought Sadie into our home heather helped us to figure out how to make our resident dog comfortable during our transition from a one dog household to a two dog home.
Heather was incredibly patient with me and thoughtfully and thoroughly answered all of my questions and eased my anxiety.
Once Sadie came home we bought Heathers 4 session training package to help Sadie learn the basics of being a well kept house dog. That package led to 2 more 4 session training packages. Heather spent dozens of hours helping us to train Sadie. Without Heathers common sense approach to good dog behavior Sadie would not be the dog she is today.
We have also utilized Heathers boarding offering at her
Family farm and we could not be happier with how well our Sadie is treated while at the farm. Heather is a wonderful dog trainer and even better person. I would highly recommend her services if you want your four legged family member to be well trained.
Heather was incredibly patient with me and thoughtfully and thoroughly answered all of my questions and eased my anxiety.
Once Sadie came home we bought Heathers 4 session training package to help Sadie learn the basics of being a well kept house dog. That package led to 2 more 4 session training packages. Heather spent dozens of hours helping us to train Sadie. Without Heathers common sense approach to good dog behavior Sadie would not be the dog she is today.
We have also utilized Heathers boarding offering at her
Family farm and we could not be happier with how well our Sadie is treated while at the farm. Heather is a wonderful dog trainer and even better person. I would highly recommend her services if you want your four legged family member to be well trained.
Ilana Brucker
4 years ago
We had a great experience with private dog training sessions with Heather. We have a newborn baby and needed to redefine our relationship with our dog Ruby so she would listen better around our baby. Heather was patient and listened to our needs. She also explained why she was teaching us and ruby certain skills and commands. Since completing training I have had many family members comment on how better behaved Ruby is! She has also been so much better behaved around the baby! I would definitely recommend Heather/handful of leashes for dog training!
Dodi Klimoff
4 years ago
We thought we were experienced dog owners until we brought home a puppy!! Heather took us through a step by step process over 5 lessons that helped us put systems in place that brought peace to our home and made walking enjoyable. With her gentle manner and cheerful warmth, Heather taught us how to use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. We love Heather!
Feb 2023 Update!! We hired Heather a second time to train us in using an e-collar. Our whole experience with Little Dipper has shifted. With Heather’s guidance Dipper is free to be his Shepherd self. He can run free and has shown excellent re-call. We are thrilled!
Feb 2023 Update!! We hired Heather a second time to train us in using an e-collar. Our whole experience with Little Dipper has shifted. With Heather’s guidance Dipper is free to be his Shepherd self. He can run free and has shown excellent re-call. We are thrilled!
Ira Saft
5 years ago
I was initially looking to have Maynard, my standard poodle not pull on walks, not rush to the door and have generally good house behavior. Maynard learned all of that and much more.
Not only did Heather do a great job in training our puppy but also taught us how to think as the dog sees the world in order to understand why and how dogs learn and act.
I would highly recommend Heather to anyone needing their dog trained. I will be using her in the future for additional training we may need.
Not only did Heather do a great job in training our puppy but also taught us how to think as the dog sees the world in order to understand why and how dogs learn and act.
I would highly recommend Heather to anyone needing their dog trained. I will be using her in the future for additional training we may need.
Cecile Kandl
5 years ago
Heather is amazing. On her first visit she organized the family so we could do the work that we needed to do with our 9-week old puppy, Honey. Heather addressed all of our concerns and gave us actionable suggestions to help Honey move forward with her growth and development. Finally, it is clear that Heather has a special way with animals. She loves them and they love her. I highly recommend Handful Of Leashes.
Kevin Osborne
5 years ago
We adopted a rescued Rottweiler named Stella almost a year ago. She came with issues but was improving……...SLOWLY! Stella is intimidating, stubborn, and highly energetic. Since she is a Rottweiler she scares and intimidates most people. Her breed, vocalizations, alpha-like demeanor and energy level would make many shy away from her even though she is very sweet. She would try to intimidate (again, Alpha behavior) other dogs at the dog park and was “encouraged” to get training at the day care she goes to where she can release some energy. Heather was recommended to us and she very quickly helped us understand Stella and gave us strategies to use to help wrangle her feistiness into some structure and discipline. We learned that Stella is extremely bright and needs “work” to keep her engaged and productive. I mentioned to Heather on her first time here that she is more of a “dog owner trainer” than a dog trainer. In five weeks we have gotten Stella to the point that we think we can continue to help her progress without Heather’s assistance. I cannot recommend Heather highly enough. She is professional, friendly, and very conscientious with her work. I’d hire Heather in a second if we needed additional support going forward. Don’t hesitate to give Heather a call.
Morgan Fitzpatrick
5 years ago
Heather absolutely changed our lives for the better! Ted is learning every day to be the best version of himself all thanks to Heather! In four sessions we have seen a total transformation of his door manners and walking etiquette. I would highly recommend Heather if you are looking to better improve your dogs life and yours!
Roseanne Sullivan
5 years ago
Hi my name is Leo 🦮. I am writing to recommend my friend Heather. Heather is very patient with me even when I mess up. Sometimes I get a little rowdy but Heather always calms me down. I have learned how to be a good boy working with her. I think my mom and dad like her too because they always smile when she comes over.
Biscuits and bully sticks ❤️
Leo🐾
Biscuits and bully sticks ❤️
Leo🐾
