Max

“We adopted our dog Max from the Southeast German Shepherd Rescue 8 years ago and John has proven you can teach an old dog new tricks.

“We adopted Max as a 1-year-old shepherd with very few issues other than just wanting to be part of a family. Our existing family consisted of an older dog and 3-year-old daughter, which Max adjusted to seamlessly. Given that he adjusted so well, we never did any formal training with him. He was potty trained, walked well on a leash, exhibited little reactivity to other animals and was a great family companion.

“When our older dog passed, Max took on a new role in our family dynamics and became more protective of us and territorial in our home. We had called several trainers who turned us away due to Max’s age and because he was a German Shepherd. Without hesitation, John came in to help us. We started with the basics, acknowledged his triggers and worked through all aspects. This translated to a more relaxed, comfortable state for Max inside our home and in the outside world.

“John is patient, knows and reads dogs instinctively, communicates effectively, follows up routinely and is undoubtedly passionate about helping. He is a wonderful trainer and has changed our relationship for the best. It has been our privilege to work with John and we could not possibly thank him enough for all he has done for our family.”

—Shilpa

Laika

“Laika came to me through Southeast German Shepherd Rescue, arriving at her final home at the end of a long and tumultuous journey. She was shy of both new people and new experiences but, thanks to John's help, was able to quickly adapt. He had worked with her during her initial stay in the foster system and upon her return.

“By the time he brought her to me he was familiar with both her history and her personality and was able to train me how to keep up with the excellent training foundation he had built with her. Throughout Laika's journey, and through the duration of her life with me, John was available and supportive as a resource to continue her training and to ensure her success in her forever home. His program is passionately dedicated to the support and training of dogs to ensure that they have successful and stable lives with the people who love them.

“Whenever Laika meets new people they are very complimentary of her manners and training, which I have maintained thanks to her excellent start with Casey's Legacy.”

— Ann

leo

“If you are the owner of a rescue pup who is struggling with behavioral issues, you need to call Casey’s Legacy, Inc. today. By the time I contacted John, my three-year-old German Shepherd was badly misbehaving, hardly listened to commands and exhibited leash reactive behavior (e.g. lunging/barking at other dogs, bicyclists and runners while on a leash). I was determined to not give up on him, but John’s number was the last on a list of 10 dog trainers, all of whom scoffed and hurried me off the phone when I asked if they could help with leash reactivity. I was at my wits’ end. But luckily, John was just as determined to not give up on us. He’s worked with us for 2+ years now, with countless hours of sessions, phone calls, texts, etc. He’s an incredibly genuine person, with a big heart, who truly wants to help you and your pup overcome his/her issues. He’s also one of the few trainers I’ve ever met who is effective at communicating with both dogs and their people. He’s even put up with me crying during a couple of training sessions! Now, I get compliments from strangers about how well-behaved my dog is. He no longer reacts while on a leash and now trusts me as much as I trust him. John was instrumental in orchestrating this bond between my dog and me, and he truly gave us our lives back. I could not recommend him more.”

—Shawna

Zea

“I adopted my girl Zea from a rescue. I hadn't had a large dog in years, or a GSD since I was a kid. John was so helpful and understanding. He had already worked with her through the rescue, so he was familiar with her personality. He walked my family and I through basic commands with her, came to our home several times to check our progress and offered ways to improve. (John) has always made himself available when we had questions, and has checked up on us pretty regularly. It was a great experience working with him.”

—Angie

Jax

“We adopted Jax a few months after losing our 8-year-old German Shepherd. We knew we wanted a younger dog, and although he needed extra care, we knew Jax would be a perfect fit the moment we met him. Being experienced GSD owners and having gone through training with our first dog, I figured I could handle him on my own. Boy, was I wrong. Thankfully John was willing to come to our rescue when our pup got too comfy and started acting out. After the first session, we started seeing results. John was amazing at assessing and working with our dog and me. He continued to build Jax’s confidence and my leadership role within our pack. He was able to work through biting issues, basic obedience, and now we are successfully off leash training.”

—Tricia

Levi

“I highly recommend John as a dog trainer! He’s knowledgeable, professional, committed and has everyone’s best interest in mind when training. Our dog, Levi, was rescued from the street when he was young and as years progressed he grew more and more aggressive to other dogs and people. I had taken him to two other dog trainers with very little success. After two vets had suggested to euthanize Levi, an area rescue program encouraged me to contact John. From the very first meeting, Levi and I began to change for the better! Within a few sessions, I had complete control and many strategies to assist with Levi’s needs. In addition to one-to-one training, John continues to frequently check-in, offers refresher sessions, tackles new issues and provides feedback from our home video sessions. John changed Levi’s behaviors, which is allowing him to have the brightest future!”

—Jane

Lily

“When I took Lily to John, I was at my wits’ end. She ran off all the time to terrorize the neighborhood, and was aggressive toward other dogs and people. I could never take her out in public. I was ready to find her a new home and took her to John for training as my final attempt at fixing the situation.

“John completely changed things with Lily. She listens much better and understands what I'm asking her to do. We go out on hikes all the time now, and love to chill at the brewery for an afternoon. She still has some aggression issues, but we both know how to work through them. John taught me how to read Lily's signals and adjust before things got out of hand. He's completely changed my relationship with Lily and helped me to keep a really great puppy. I can't recommend John enough, he's a fantastic trainer and is the best dog whisperer.”

—Kate

Ellie

“I can’t recommend the Casey’s Legacy, Inc. team enough! Our first walk on a leash with our rescue pup Ellie was a disaster, and that’s putting it mildly. I clearly remember my husband throwing her leash across the yard in frustration when we got home. We didn’t have a clue when it came to training her and were lost as to what to do. Thank goodness we found John! His work with Ellie transformed our puppy into a well-behaved dog that we can now take for walks without any issues and comfortably have around family and friends in our home without fear of her jumping on them or acting inappropriately. If we ever adopt another dog, John will definitely be our first call.”

—Annette

Tilley

“When we adopted Tilley at age 7, it was clear she had some conditioned bad habits and really needed some structured guidance and leadership to thrive. Although sweet, Tilley had anxiety and some stubbornness. While she knew basic commands, she complied with them at her own discretion.

“John helped us learn the skills and techniques needed to build confidence in our pup and establish a lasting, trusting bond with her. He is incredibly knowledgeable and does a great job of teaching both the animal and owner simultaneously. John helped educate us on our own behaviors and how to best foster our relationship with Tilley.

“After several sessions and ongoing consistent training, Tilley has made tremendous progress and is absolutely thriving! She has significantly less anxiety and reacts much more positively to environmental stimulants like delivery trucks, children yelling and even other dogs barking on our walks. She is a fantastic on the leash and looks to us as her leaders, trusts us, and listens on command. Our friends, family, and veterinarian have all noticed a positive improvement in demeanor and behavior over time!

“In addition to our training sessions, John was very communicative and regularly checked in on our progress. He is still always available if we have a question or concern! He sought to understand both our needs and Tilley’s, so he could develop an approach and training plan that would work best for our family. He truly cares about the welfare of animals and educating owners on how to be effective leaders and responsible pet owners. We recommend John’s services without hesitation!”

—Sarah

Brody

“It is a huge help to have him not running to the door when my husband gets home. Thank you to John for working with us! Well behaved pups make this mamma happy.”

— Karen