Reviews (45)

I first called Terra at Wholistic Canine when Rio was still a puppy. I own a swim school, so I needed him to be able to behave around the pool, control himself around all of the students, and eventually have the freedom to be off leash safely. We were also struggling with grooming, and our groomer had asked us to get some help with his grooming manners. Terra worked with us on all of it—grooming, impulse control, off-leash reliability, and e-collar training. Rio is going to be 9 now, and I think that says more about the training than anything else. He walks off leash with me every day at Arden Park and is fabulous. He still wears his e-collar, just like Terra told me he probably always would, but I very rarely ever have to use it. It’s simply there as a backup if I need it, and Rio knows it. Almost nine years later, I’m still benefiting from what Terra taught us when he was a puppy. I’m incredibly grateful that we put the work in early and that she taught me how to maintain it for the rest of his life.

Terra is wonderful. Thankfully, I was referred to her when we rescued our German Shepherd. I am so very grateful for her guidance. Terra is very knowledgeable and experienced. She taught me how to be consistent and clear with my expectations. Our sweet pup is thriving, and does great both on and off leash. She has been able to enjoy many summer adventures with us because she behaves so well. I am so very grateful!!

I’ve trusted Terra at Wholistic Canine with both of my dogs, and I can’t recommend her enough! Chai started training and puppy socialization when he was just 10 weeks old, and the confidence and manners he’s developed have been amazing to watch. My Great Dane, Otis, struggled with pulling on walks, and thanks to Terra’s training, he now walks beautifully on a leash. Terra truly cares about the dogs she works with and takes the time to understand what each one needs. She also carries healthy dog treats that my pups absolutely loved, and her shop kitty is the sweetest bonus every time you visit! If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely caring trainer, Terra is the one. 11/10 recommend!

Terra is the very best! All most a year ago, I had to take my boy Ace, due to some major behavioral issues to her. Something without her intervention, could have lead to a behavioral euthanasia. Terra was able to course correct and helped save my baby. I just took a 7 day trip and left Ace with Terra during my vacation. She sent videos often so that I could see how he was doing! He was happy and got to socialize with other dogs and even a chicken, yes you read that right. During his stay she also took him during training sessions with other customers. This trainer is a life saver literally and will always be my go to person for training and boarding’s.

I can't say enough good things about Wholistic Canine and Terra when it comes to training and understanding their furry companions. Terra has worked with myself and my four legged friend, Doug, on and off for a year and a half now. While Doug brought so much joy into my life he was also a little ball of anxiety when it came to any new experiences, including meeting new people and new dogs. Through some specialized training catering to little Dougie we were able to better understand what might be going on in his head and how to help him cope with new situations. Leaving for vacation (without the dogs), having guests over or even going on a walk with other fur friends were unthinkable things before the training. Im excited to report we are now able to do ALL of these things and much more! Doug and I still have more learn and I won't hesitate to continue to use Terra for all our training needs.

We recently got a mini Aussie from a breeder. Although we'd had Aussies before, this little guy was displaying behaviors that made us think we'd made a mistake and we should give him back. Terra and Michelle gave us some suggestions to begin with which were helpful. At our first visit with Michelle, she clued us in on some things about this breed that we hadn't been aware of or had forgotten. She made several suggestions (including mentioning the fact that she was training US maybe more than our puppy) that made some significant differences in how we worked with the puppy. Initially, we were a little concerned about the price of the training sessions, but after 3 visits with Michelle, we know that this investment is going to pay huge dividends in raising a puppy and dog who is a joy to be around! We would highly recommend Wholistic Canine to anyone who wants to learn how to have a great relationship with their canine companion.

I contacted Terra to look at my dogs novice trick title for Do More With Your Dog. She was quick to respond and reviewed my videos. Thank you for being associated with Do More With Your Dog!

I don't really know where to begin because I have so many positive things to say about Terra from Wholistic Canine. Although I have owned many dogs, they have all been older rescues, so when I inherited a three month old puppy I felt really lost. How do you control all that biting, chewing, jumping and that whirlwind of energy?! I was so apprehensive about working with a trainer, but Terra put me at ease the moment she walked through our door. Friendly, but a consummate professional, she walked me through many steps of positive reinforcement training. Our puppy immediately bonded with her and it was so much fun to see how well he responded to her training. We even went for a walk and she she showed me how to discourage leash pulling. She was incredibly patient in answering all my many questions and recommended books for me to read. Although I have never worked with a trainer, I can't imagine how anyone could top Terra. She's fantastic and I plan to sign up for her puppy program as now I need to be trained!! I would highly recommend her if you have a puppy or dog that needs training! Thank you Terra!!

Michelle was a wonderful trainer who helped us get our bearings straight with training our rescue puppy. She was always available and quick to answer questions. She was incredibly knowledgeable and always encouraging during and outside training sessions. She worked with us to create an individual plan for our dog’s needs and taught us the skills needed to further train him after we completed all our training sessions. We feel much more confident working with our puppy, all thanks to Michelle. We can’t recommend her enough!

We have worked with a few trainers and Terra is the best by far. She understands our dog’s behavior as well as how his little brain works. She give us easy and practical steps which help greatly with his obedience and behavior. We have a better relationship with our dog because of her advice. Terra is patient, consistent, great at communicating, and very kind to us and our dog. Highly recommended. Updating about a year later: our dog is continuing to learn and improve. He is kind with strangers and other dogs thanks to the tips Terra has given us. We recently took him on a long road trip and he was so well behaved that we actually got compliments everywhere we went. He hiked the woods totally off leash with excellent recall. Can’t say enough good stuff.

Prompt, friendly yet professional, organized, and general good vibes. I only had the consultation session for behavior mod with Terra, but I can tell she cares a lot about her clients. She is able to cater to your individual dog and your individual goals; dog training isn’t black and white, and this versatility (“train the dog - or owner - in front of you”) is a sign of a good trainer imo. I come in with a decent knowledge of training and I am pretty critical about which trainers I trust because of a bad experience that left my dog reactive, and so far I’ve only seen green flags for Terra. I would definitely work with her again!

We have had many great dogs. Some were quirky but all great! We realized quickly our new pack member is a very independent high energy girl with little interest in joining the team or following any rules! Not something we had previously encountered. We needed help. Tried some options, but I don't think they picked up on our dog's personality. We are very glad we found Terra. With the tools she provided we know we are on a great path with our girl and that's thanks to Terra and her team.

After adopting my 2-year old rescue pup, I realized I needed help for his behavioral issues (including anxiety and fear of people and loud noises). After a few sessions with Terra, my dog’s anxiety was noticeably better than before and continues to improve. She provided us strategies using positive reinforcement to help reduce my dog’s fear in everyday situations. It’s great to have the option to have private sessions where she comes to us, so my dog can be comfortable in our home. She’s very knowledgable, explains everything clearly, and tailors each training session to my dog and me. I’d highly recommend Wholistic Canine!

I'm so thrilled to connect with Terra! Terra took so much care to listen to my issues, understand my dog's breed mix and diagnose the issues we are having. Terra gave me useful practical advice and tools to implement immediately. I feel confident now that I can resolve some of the problematic behavior my dog is exhibiting and everything Terra said just clicked. I can't recommend Wholistic Canine highly enough!

I have used Terra of Wholistic Canine for almost a year now, first with my fear aggressive dog who is becoming more loving and patient by me continuing to use Terra’s training tips, and most recently with her helping us integrate a new pup into our pack. Aside from her very helpful training, I really appreciate how quickly she responds to texts or phone calls.

Michelle is so knowledgeable and has helped us so much with our two high energy dogs. She helped us understand more about their different needs and introduced us to knew ways of working with them that have made our walks more pleasant. She does not overload us with information. We highly recommend Wholistic Canine!! We will definitely continue to work with these trainers.

Terra began training our dog Moose AND my husband and I the moment she came to the door! She connected with our dog so quickly and within the first 15 minutes she taught us multiple easy, yet simple language/commands to help us better communicate with our dog. She looks at the big picture-his environment, his food, his parents (we need the training more than Moose), and is able to offer very effective and realistic ideas to allow us to train Moose in ways that meet our goals based on our concerns regarding Moose. She gave us an honest assessment of our dog and the type of training/program he needs from the start. So grateful for Terra and excited to begin consistently working with Moose using her training techniques.

Michelle was a great trainer and we learned some very valuable techniques through our puppy package with her. Our puppy is extremely high energy and Michelle taught us how to help him control his urges and calm himself down when play time is over. I also love the continuous group classes Wholistic Canine has to offer, they are fun and helpful.

Our 15 week puppy is a bundle of love but he also had some behavioral issue. And although he was our second dog, we wanted to make sure this time we were doing all the right things as early as possible. Terra came to our home for our first session after our puppy had a long nap so I anticipated that he would not be at his best. We went over my long list of training goals, discussed the appropriate steps to take and she also made sure to leave behind videos and literature to remind us what we learned that day. The two things at the top of our list was walking with a leash and going to the bathroom at a certain spot in our back yard. After 24 hours of us following Terra’s instruction, our little fluff ball is walking properly on his leash AND going to the bathroom in the right spot. I cannot thank Terra enough and as we work on the other goals, I’m looking forward to having her back for more advanced training.

In early November of 2021 I rescued a deaf cattle dog that had been abused. I was well out of my league! After a lot of phone calls and research on the top-rated dog trainers I determined that out of the highly qualified trainers I found Terra was the one I had a connection with that made me feel I could trust her to help us. Upon meeting her it was clear that my dog agreed, the connection and trust came almost immediately. After working with Terra, this terrified and at times uncontrollable dog is the sweetest well behaved cuddle bug! She has trained me along with my dog, which is an important part of the process. Terra goes above and beyond in everything she does, and you can feel how much she cares for you and your dog. She assisted me in finding a wholistic vet as well a trustworthy dog walker. Terra makes herself available to me for calls, questions, and direction as needed. I highly recommend her and her team!

Before working with Wholistic Canine, my dog was very anxious and had a lot of behavior issues. After just a few private sessions, I saw a huge change in my dog. She was calmer and more responsive to my commands. I also learned a lot about how to better communicate with my dog and take care of her overall health. I'm so grateful to Wholistic Canine.

Terra helped me get my elderly dog at a healthy weight which dramatically helped with her hip issues. Molly is able to go up the stairs now where she struggled previously. Terra also provided guidance when it came to tips on how to assist with hyper behavior during walks! When I think of any questions she is always a message away and so helpful!

Michelle from Wholistic Canine has been a lifesaver. I had just adopted a rescue - a VERY active, high energy, and sometimes anxious husky/german shepherd mix. The first few weeks were extremely stressful as a new dog owner - he would countersurf, nip a ton and jump on me during my work calls, pull on the leash so much that my hands were cut up, and was reactive whenever we saw other dogs because he wanted to play with them. I remember calling Wholistic Canine and speaking to Michelle overwhelmed and on the verge of tears. Michelle instantly made me feel at ease, and she was confident that we could get him on track. I had 5-6 private sessions with Michelle, each one incredibly helpful and with actionable follow up steps. Michelle's vet tech background is another added benefit. I remember a time when I called her desperately because he had chewed up a plastic belt buckle and my vet was OOO. Even though it was her day off, she took the time to chat with me patiently about best practices and calm me down. Overall, Michelle was very patient with him - and with me! She basically trained ME as the owner how to properly communicate with my dog and recorrect his poor learned behaviors. Fast forward to 4 months since I've adopted him, with lots of consistency and repetition, he's made tremendous progress both at home and outdoors with his leash manners. I've even received compliments from strangers that he's a "such a well behaved dog" :) I HIGHLY recommend Wholistic Canine if you are looking for training.

Terra was an absolute savior for my boy Dawson. Dawson was struggling with some behavior issues and we needed to fix his aggression quickly. Terra helped turn my boys attitude around. Its genuinely difficult to find a trainer who cares about your dog and the results they have but Terra was the best. 5 stars all the way!! Highly recommend to all!!

My near-perfect foster dog had some issues on a leash that Tara quickly observed and got right to the root of the problem. Spoiler - it was more me than the dog - and she helped us both! The next walk was stress-free. We still have some work to do but Wholistic Canine’s hands-on approach gave me the tools I needed. Thank you!!

I strongly advise hiring a qualified dog trainer. The behavioural differences between my dog and the others I've dealt with throughout the years are astounding. They not only help you comprehend your dog's thoughts and behaviours, but they also instruct you on how to communicate with your dog efficiently. Having a well-behaved dog depends on having this understanding.

Without a doubt, would recommend Wholistic Canine to anyone. They are so compassionate and very knowledgeable. They provide support and are well rounded, an active part of the community, bringing a sense of ease to all pet parents in need of training help.

My dog Django has been with Terra and her company Wholistic Canine since December 2021. He was 5 1/2 months old at the time. He was in dire need of a lot of training as he had several issues, one of which was high anxiety and major fear of noises, people, movements, the wind, objects, almost everything. The only way for him was to be board and trained because he is a very large dog and too much for me alone to handle and I believe he needed constant attention which I could not give him nor did I have the skills to teach him. If I could write 15 pages here I could properly give this company its due accolades. I’ll say that Terra is extremely involved with every dog she takes in as I’ve observed, she treats them as if they were her own animals. Django has come so far, the anxiety is under control, he had a habit of incessantly barking and she taught me how to shut that off when he starts that in the front yard. Stops like a light switch. Amazing. Nothing punitive. All love. Django loves Terra like a second (maybe first) Mama and that makes me so happy. We still have a ways to go, I don’t want to say but it’s true, he was below square one when he started and he’s more than acceptable now. I’m so proud of him and Terra. Big smiles here. I highly recommend. It’s well worth having a well behaved pet for the rest of its life and peace in yours.

Terra has been work with my grooming shop We Love Paws in River Park since 2016! She has done an amazing job with all my dogs that struggle with grooming! I am so thankful for such a strong working relationship.

I have a dog that has been suffering from anxiety, and after meeting with the professional trainers at Wholistic Canine, I am happy to report that my dog has improved immensely. The whole process was smooth and it seemed like the trainers were always willing to help.

Working with a qualified dog trainer is something I strongly advise. Private sessions are conducted in your house or another authorised place, which is quite practical. I improved my communication skills with my dog, and now we function like a well-oiled machine. Additionally, the free phone consultation is a huge plus.

Terra is one of the most knowledgeable trainers I know. Without hesitation she will always be there when I have a question that needs answers or help with training any dog. She is truly passionate about what she does!

Terra has been a huge life saver for me and multiple people I’ve referred her to - all for some seriously troubled dogs who were in desperate need of help. What stands out about her work is her ability to effectively communicate with pet parents as well as providing a thorough understanding as to what behavioral issues need to be fixed (and precisely how to fix them!). Terra is and will remain the first person I refer clients to because of this.

Terra is full of knowledge and has been a great help to me. She’s patient, kind, and most importantly helped me improve my relationship with my Golden. Great with anxiety pups.

I can’t say enough great things about the help and training I’ve received from Wholistic Canine! From learning how to train my puppy, to how to care for puppy, I can honestly say my puppy is happier and healthier because of wholistic canine and I highly recommend.

terra is the one of the best trainers i’ve seen! she’s able to understand dogs body language and teach the owner how to train their dog without over stepping boundaries. i’ve been along side her for some time and she does amazing work!

Terra was awesome. She clearly knows her stuff and I’ve seen marked improvements in my dogs behavior from her methods.

One of the easiest companies I have ever had to deal with in the professional pet care industry. Great team and Great People

Top dog!!!! Green Ribbon Dogs preferred association loved this trainer experience.

Down to earth and makes training about the dogs needs!

Awesome place ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can’t say enough good things about Terra and Wholistic Canine! I adopted a rescue maltipoo puppy and Terra has been instrumental in helping to train Teddy and giving us sound advice as first time dog owners. My favorite thing about Wholistic Canine is the availability of boarding services. We have had to use them numerous times to board our puppy and he comes back happy and well trained. I am grateful to have Wholistic Canine to help with the new addition to our family!

Terra has been a wonderful partner to my business, Leash and Collar Dog Boutique. Her free Speak Dog Saturdays at our midtown shop have been such a gift to our customers. People leave with real answers and have a better understanding of their dogs. I've also worked with Terra on my own dog, and it's been a pleasure watching her help so many others in our community. She's patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about both the dogs and their people. I recommend Wholistic Canine to anyone looking for thoughtful, in-home dog training in Sacramento.

We had a SUPER reactive dog, and Terra totally changed our lives. She's taught me how to be a better dog handler and I've learned so much from her!!! Thank you Terra, for helping us with our Jojo and for being the best dog trainer!!!