TESTIMONIALS!

My experience with Oh Hey, Dog! has truly saved my relationship with my Husky, Leia. Leia had never experienced love, she was chained to a tree her entire first year of her life before the rescue saved her. She didn’t understand living inside, and she didn’t understand that there were rules. When I first started working with OHD, Leia was completely unmanageable for me. I was at my wits end and was ready to give her back to the rescue I got her from. She was impossible to walk, she destroyed everything she could reach (she’s tall she can reach everything), and she was having a lot of accidents in the house for months. Molly came and did a 1 on 1 with me and helped me to see what my dog needed from me. After one session and getting her on a gentle leader everything changed; walks became easier, the accidents became less frequent, and the destruction slowed down. I started going to the play groups with both of my dogs. My other dog, Luna, would go in with the puppies and would act as an authority figure with them. Because Luna didn’t really need help with anything, we were able to use her to help with some of the puppies by correcting them and just by being a dog who already knows the ropes. The play groups helped so much. I could work with the Coaches with Leia while Luna was able to play and be helpful by herself. 

When I first started with Oh Hey, Dog! I was emotionally exhausted from trying to manage Leia, I was ready to make a very difficult decision that would’ve broken my heart. All the coaches helped me so much to see that Leia just needed guidance and to understand what I wanted out of her. Since working with Oh Hey, Dog! Leia has been awesome. We’ve still had an occasional destructive streak, but she is night and day different from when I first started working with the Coaches to now. She still goes through phases where she needs to be put on a gentle leader for walks, but she understands when it goes on what I’m looking for from her and she behaves every time. 

Having people who understand what you’re going through is so important. The way that everybody at the play groups would talk to me about their experiences helped me to see that I wasn’t alone in this. It helped me to see that maybe my expectations of Leia were set too high because of my first dog. My first dog, Luna, was the easiest dog imaginable. She was potty trained in 3 weeks, she never destroyed anything except the occasional croc, she walks right next to me loose leash, and she always seemed to just kind of get what she needed to do. When I got Leia it was the complete opposite, but everybody in the organization helped me to realize that ALL DOGS ARE DIFFERENT and you can’t expect one to learn like another. I am so thankful for the help of Oh Hey, Dog! and all of the people involved with it, without them I don’t know that I would still have Leia, and I am so glad I still have her because she’s an awesome dog who just needed a little more help. 

Molly from Oh Hey, Dog! asked me to bring my pup, Dude, to the weekend play group because he brings a good energy to the park apparently? After joining the group, Molly quickly became one of his favorite people and he now thinks he works for Oh Hey, Dog! too. Molly, Diane and Abby are all great with the pups and I've seen how hard they work with the Guardians dogs as well as their own. Dude loves them all and would love to make new friends so bring your pup and come hang out.

Overall I highly recommend working with these awesome people. They are knowledgeable and can not only help your dog but, they can also help you recognize behaviors in your dog that may be problematic so you can be more prepared to help prevent or correct behaviors.

Dozer and I have been a part of the Oh Hey, Dog! community since he was a puppy in early 2023. Dozer has always been a boisterous, confident and fun-seeking guy but around puberty his confidence and tenacity turned into a problem that results in one too many conflicts. What started as fun Saturday playgroup trips turned into full blown training and behavior intervention. 

As I write this I have been working for about 2 years on Dozer's behavior. He started with no manners in the house or out, dog reactivity where he could essentially not walk on leash in the vicinity of another dog and he also could not be trusted to play with other dogs to any degree. Oh Hey, Dog! gave me the information, tools and most importantly the space to help guide Dozer back on track to being a functional member of society.

I was always nervous to do public training sessions with Dozer for fear of being judged. Not only because sometimes I simply feel silly doing it but also because of Dozer's appearance he is often perceived as aggressive when the truth is nothing but the opposite. The group activities give Dozer and me the opportunity to practice behaviors with others who understand. 

Through all of this Dozer has still been able to maintain his goofy, big-head-no-thoughts, carefree personality but we have given him the rules and boundaries to fit into a world not built for pure-joy packed into 85lbs of dense muscle. 

We will always still have work to do but as of today he is a polite public patron, trustworthy off-leash in most scenarios, able to coexist with other dogs when on-leash or quick to disengage if he has a moment of reaction and able to play with select dog friends if properly introduced. Without OHD! I cannot imagine where Dozer and I would be now. I love bringing Dozer everywhere with me, but I never want to be a nuisance to others and OHD! has given us that privilege!

We’d soon adopted Toph and we were adopted into the Oh Hey, Dog! family. Right away everyone involved in Oh Hey, Dog! told us that they’d be there to help us if we ever needed any support. They had organized puppy coaching and socializing activities. We hadn’t had a puppy in 13 years. We had forgotten about all the challenges and emotions that came along with raising a young dog. Oh Hey, Dog! was there for us all along the way. Through their activities and a culture of community, the folks at Oh Hey, Dog! have cultivated a network of incredible people and incredible dogs that all help teach each other. Then Toph needed playmates, Molly connected us to Dude and his Guardian, Josh. This became one of Toph’s best friends. Meeting up with them helped us deal with our anxieties about playing at the dog park. 

Oh Hey, Dog! has helped make mine and Toph’s life bigger. Together we’ve tried brand new experiences like dock diving, the beach, seeing horses, going to markets, and hikes! They walked us through taking our first big trip to visit family. Which felt daunting at first but talking through a plan with Molly before we left made it feel manageable. She reminded us about the skills we’d learned, the tools we had, and about advocating for ourselves and Toph. 

As Toph grew into her personality we were faced with new experiences and phases. We’re always learning something new together. We discovered Toph’s happy place was the beach and that she was really good at helping other dogs learn about play and joy. That makes me really proud when she opens up and helps other dogs come out of their shells, too. She is, however, a sassy lady and we spend a lot of time practicing our listening and communication skills with her. 

Most recently we have been working with Abby and Zech doing one on one coaching and training on an e-collar. Toph loves working with her friends at Oh Hey, Dog! and loves to get ready to work when she wears her e-collar. Abby helped us make it fun for Toph and now her recall is very reliable. This work has been so helpful in helping Toph reduce her reactivity to dogs on the other side of fences, it has eased our anxieties, and has made being out in the world more fun for us both.

I love our friends at Oh Hey, Dog! and, I do genuinely consider them my friends. 

They come from a place of care and knowledge. Willingly, they share their time and resources to make our community better for dogs and for the Guardians who will do anything for the dogs they love. I am forever grateful to my Oh Hey, Dog! friends because they brought Toph into my life.

I first heard about Oh Hey Dog! from a friend who shared her amazing experience with the group and how much support she found there. Inspired by her story, I decided to get involved - but honestly, I was nervous at first. I worried about being judged, that my dog wouldn’t behave, or that I simply wouldn’t fit in. My sweet girl Coco is a rescue, full of personality and at this time she had zero training, no leash skills, plenty of sass, and a bit of anxiety to top it all off. I wasn't sure how we would be received or if we were "ready" for something like this. 

From the very beginning, though, all those fears melted away. Everyone in the group was so welcoming, understanding, and genuinely supportive. Molly has been absolutely incredible and from our initial meeting, I could tell she was someone special. She has this amazing ability to read and understand dogs on a whole different level. She’s patient, compassionate, and somehow always knows exactly what to say when I’m feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. More than once, she’s come to my rescue right when I was ready to give up — and her kindness and encouragement have meant the world to me.

Coco absolutely adores Molly, Diana and other leaders of the group. Watching how excited she gets around them — and seeing how much she’s grown, both in confidence and behavior, because of this group — makes my heart so full.

The truth is, I’m not sure I could have kept Coco if it weren’t for the unwavering support and encouragement I’ve found here. This community didn’t just help me train my dog — they helped me believe in her, and in myself as her person. For that, I’ll always be grateful.

Through Oh Hey Dog! I’ve met wonderful people, gained confidence as a dog owner, and found a place where Coco and I both truly belong. I wholeheartedly recommend Oh Hey, Dog! to anyone in the Gainesville area who’s looking for not just a dog group, but a community where you and your pup, no matter what stage they are in, will be welcomed with open arms.

In October of 2024 I was asked by the rescue I volunteer with if I would be willing to foster a dog (Martin) from Alachua County Animal Services. He was on the euthanasia list but staff felt that he was a dog that could be rehabilitated. I agreed to foster him and within weeks I knew he was just a big goofy dog with no manners and not an aggressive, savage beast, as he was labelled. 

The first couple of months went pretty well, teaching him basic house manners, etc, but leash walking proved to be a great challenge as he was very reactive when he saw other dogs. I tried everything I knew but nothing worked and I was giving up hope. Once Martin was no longer in the care of the shelter, they would not pay for any training. My rescue group didn’t really have the resources either, so I paid out of pocket for a couple of lessons but came away feeling I had gained nothing for the money I spent. 

Then I remembered meeting a group one Sunday at Celebration Point. I talked to one of the members and that’s where I first learned about Oh Hey, Dog. I had kept their card and decided to message them on Facebook, and within a week I had my first 1 on 1 with Molly. We worked together for months, no fee, no judgement, no shame, nothing, just great info on how to fix problems, sometimes that problem being me.

It’s a very helpless feeling when you can’t seem to make progress with your dog, be it your own or a foster dog. You feel that you’re on your own and let me tell you, it’s a real feeling of failure.

With Oh Hey, Dog, I felt supported, I wasn’t alone, I wasn’t judged and the entire community rallied around when it was needed. Through weekly pack walks and continued work with Molly 1 on 1, Martin flourished and learned manners, better leash walking, and the ability to be around other dogs and remain calm. He became the best dog. He’s still a work in progress, but I look back and see how much he’s grown, how much he is loved by his community of guardians and dogs from Oh Hey, Dog, and ultimately by Molly, who never gave up on him and now is his permanent guardian. Nowhere else will you find this kind of resource, we are lucky to have them be a part of our community.

I’ve always been a pet owner. When we got a 4 month old Rottie as a surprise, I already had two senior dogs, they lived to be 16 years old (both of them). The Rottie, Xena, was not planned, a friend showed up at the door and she was like “I know you are ready for another baby” and handed me this cute 4 month Rottweiler. She was a love bug, my other two older dogs didn’t seem to mind her either so we took her in. 

2 weeks went by, and this dog was a menace, destroying everything, angry barking at everyone that came into my house, we couldn’t walk her because she would totally go nuts, or refuse to walk. She would chew on her leash, and get out. She was a nervous wreck around everyone and everything. If the wind blew too hard and the plants started moving, she would get in attack mode. She would guard her food and toys, ANYONE that would get near her things, or near her while she was eating, she would automatically bite. She got into a few fights with my other dogs, which left them bleeding. It was so bad.

I have a 4 yr old and got pregnant with my second shortly after getting Xena. I started to freak out, thinking this dog, when it’s full size, will bite my kids, my newborn. I was thinking of my kids safety, thinking this dog would never learn. We’ve tried loving her, being patient, but nothing was working. She would pee and poop everywhere, I kept working with her, watching 1000 training videos to help her, we implemented stuff, daily routines, nothing was working, that is until I met Molly.

Molly gave me hope, she gave me tips on different things to work on. She told me to be patient. I followed her lead, and started noticing changes, it was hard work, but it was working. My dog wasn’t broken. We were able to get her toy/food guarding under control, but with me being pregnant, I couldn’t risk Xena pulling me down the street while trying to leash-train.

Then, I got set up with another member, Abby, Xena’s new best friend. With Abby, Xena has learned to walk on a leash. She can completely ignore other people while walking. She is totally almost a normal dog. We haven’t gotten to other dogs yet, but I am sure that with Abby and Molly, my Xena will learn to interact appropriately with dogs and people.

Oh Hey, Dog! has been the light at the end of the tunnel, and honestly, the only reason Xena is still with our family. Without Oh, Hey Dog! I probably would have done something I never thought I would do; I would have probably returned her to my friend, or been one of those people posting their pets online looking for a good home.

Thank you, Oh, Hey Dog!, Molly and Abby!! You guys have been a blessing to us.  You are healing my Xena, and saving us from being “that family that gave up on their dog.” Thank you for your continued help with training Xena. I can’t wait till I can bring her to pack walks!

I’ve had Teddy since he was 8 weeks old. He’s a stubborn, sassy Pyrenees mix who’s always on alert and always convinced he’s right. I’ve always been consistent with his training, but when we moved to Gainesville, I was nervous — new city, new people, new dogs. I wasn’t sure how he would adjust or if I’d find a community that understood us.

Oh Hey, Dog! completely changed everything for us. They provided a safe, supportive space where Teddy could play, learn, and build confidence. The group gave him the chance to engage with other dogs in a nurturing environment, and it gave me peace of mind knowing we weren’t alone.

The pack walks were a game-changer — we got to continue practicing loose leash walking with real-world distractions and support. On top of that, we had the opportunity to foster, which helped Teddy grow even more. It taught him how to welcome strange dogs into his space, how to set healthy boundaries, and how to be a more confident, balanced dog.

What Oh Hey, Dog! does doesn't exist anywhere else. It’s more than training — it’s real community, real support, and a safe space for both dogs and their humans to grow. I’m so grateful we found them.

Before finding Oh Hey, Dog!, Splash was a really anxious dog; however, after just two days of small, positive interactions with other group members, Splash was showing big improvements! He accepted help from his Guardians and was so relaxed that he took a nap in the car on the way home from the group! Through group sessions, Splash was able to gain confidence and be more comfortable around other dogs and trust his Guardians in new surroundings. He has progressed more since and is comfortably interacting with other friends in the group and playing using his voice, something he would never do before. The Oh Hey, Dog! community showed up for Splash and created a safe space for him to gain confidence and make some great dog friends!

The first time that Bunny went to a dog park was a terrifying experience. She was rushed by several big, aggressive dogs that pounced on her, growling and snarling. She became fearful of any other dogs and was not interested in interacting at all. When we first met Molly, I was overwhelmed with her openness, her confidence with Bunny, and her unending generosity and kindness.  Throughout several training sessions, she helped us build up our confidence in each other and strengthen our relationship.  She helped me understand the reasons behind dog behavior as well as many helpful strategies, not only for helping Bunny be more polite, but also for teaching her how to be a dog. Thanks to Molly’s guidance and the welcoming, familial atmosphere of the group, we had a fantastic time. The more we learned, the more Bunny’s confidence grew.  Each week, she’d get a little bit braver. Each week she saw other dogs having fun, interacting, and demonstrating appropriate dog behavior. We continue to attend play group and ask Molly for advice all the time.  But the progress that Bunny has made in just a few short months has been remarkable.  We are so grateful to Molly and the Oh Hey, Dog! community for the incredible support and love they show us.

We are so thankful for Molly and the fellow Guardians and participants in Oh Hey, Dog! community. Brittany was a Pandemic pet adopted from the local county animal shelter. She was an energetic ~9mos old that LOVED people and kids.  It took us several months to figure out ways to effectively correct and/or redirect her behavior and even longer to “read” her vocalizations around us. It was definitely a learning process that, at times, we almost gave up on. She seemed to like being around other dogs, but she had a hard time trying to dominate some of them. Being able to ask other owners about their dogs tolerance for other dogs and explaining to others about her reactions, which allowed her to be around other dogs and learn that she didn’t need to show or tell every dog she interacted with that she was a “top-dog”. We worked at having her interact or at least coexist with other dogs without her reacting. Eventually, she started calming down around other dogs at the park, on her walks and while out at other public places. Now we can take her to the playgroup and she runs with and interacts with the other dogs and we haven’t had to remove her. We are thankful for the OHD community for allowing her to learn how to be content and play around other dogs.

After losing my older dog, Gus, my younger dog Hank began to struggle with some behavior issues. I had never experienced anything like this with any of my dogs, so I sought out a trainer. Unfortunately, that first trainer left me feeling discouraged, warning me that Hank was reactive and aggressive—labels that made me fear I wouldn’t be able to handle him.

Thankfully, a friend introduced me to Molly and the team at Oh Hey Dog, and everything changed. I still remember our first visit to Bass Pro Shop—I was nervous and convinced Hank wouldn’t do well. But Molly and her team immediately put me at ease. They took one look at Hank, saw his potential, and encouraged me to let him off leash with a small playgroup. I was a nervous wreck, but Hank did great, and it gave me hope.

From that moment on, I attended every weekend playgroup I could. Over time, Molly and her team not only built Hank’s confidence, but also mine. Today, Hank has a wonderful circle of dog friends and enjoys our walks, dock diving, and traveling—without the issues that once seemed overwhelming.

I can’t recommend Oh Hey Dog enough. They helped me see the best in Hank and gave us both the confidence to enjoy life together again.

Oh Hey, Dog! has changed me and Penny’s lives in indescribable ways. When I adopted Penny, I quickly learned she was a major work in progress and needed support and structure that I had no idea how to provide. We went through group obedience training, and I followed online dog trainers, but I felt like I had no real communication with her. Penny has very big feelings, which oftentimes feel impossibly overwhelming as her Guardian. I felt disheartened, like I was letting her down. It felt like a miracle when I discovered Oh Hey, Dog!; this group is so much more than just a training and play group. Every single Coach offers patience and intentionality towards not just managing the big feelings but understanding them.Structured play groups to learn socialization with other dogs, one-on-one training sessions with real-life triggers to provide context to training, group pack walks that empower us to try new things and push ourselves and our pups towards success. I once thought “dog training” was drilling Sit and Stay, but OHD has helped me realize sometimes the best help for a special pup like Penny is just sitting at a park for a couple of hours doing nothing. I will be forever grateful for this community we have found and for the Coaches and other Guardians who put their heart and soul into understanding and nurturing our relationships with these incredible dogs.

After a 12 year lull in puppy parenting due to the heavy heartbreak of losing our three shepherd-mix kids to various, old age issues, we finally decided to get another pup. We wanted to experience the fun, playfulness of a puppy again so we finally found our adorable little Shepard, Bunny. She was eight weeks old and full of fire. The feisty one they said. Not just high energy, the highest energy!

The first week after she moved in, both of us had head colds and were already a bit miserable. Now our once quiet, hair free home was completely filled with chaos from an adorable beast from hell. Luckily we work from home, or at least tried, so we were able to take shifts with potty training. Bunny was extremely smart and picked that up right away but the little demon child would bark, nip, anchor, not sleep, run us ragged and knew how to push every aggravating button perfectly. She was threatened multiple times daily. "If you weren't so cute....", "What have we done?", "This was such a mistake!" These were just a few of the more tame things that were yelled. Nothing we could do would tire out the little monster, nothing! Tons of toys, chase, 5 mile walks a day, zoomies, drives, store walking, still the little maniac would refuse to behave on a leash and would never tire out. Hundreds of dollars on classes and training did give us a few ideas and a slight glimmer of what she may become in the future but she still fought us at every turn.

Then after almost a year, we discovered a group, Oh Hey, Dog!, that hosted pack walks around Gainesville. Aware that our beast would try to jump and play with every person and pup involved, we reluctantly followed their walk from a distance one day. The second attempt was a trail walk. A small group was gathered to begin the hike as we approached with our bouncing, barking spawn of Satan. One of the group leaders instantly offered some assistance. A simple new collar and a little quick coaching and suddenly Bunny wasn't quite as manic. Now we are roughly four monthS\s into these play dates and pack walks. The Oh Hey, Dog! group has literally changed our world. Bunny plays great with the other pack pups that suit her needs. She is quickly learning the proper puppy ropes on leash walking, playing, and general good manners. She is a changed pup and getting better every day. The threats on her have (almost) completely stopped and all the learning wears her out quickly. Bunny has made great friends and so have we! The knowledge and assistance they share has made all the difference in the world. We, and Bunny, appreciate all your help so much... Thanks, Oh Hey, Dog! for everything!