I had the bright idea to get a puppy that coincidentally coincided just as COVID-19 hit. Blithely I thought, well at least I’d have the company of an adorable fluff-ball, plus an involved project while I sheltered in place.

But not having had a puppy in 20 years, I’d forgotten about the house breaking from two-flights up. I’d forgotten about the whining, the whimpering and the crying. Oh the crying. And, how does one socialize a puppy in the age of social distancing? But… I had an advantage, the brilliant Joana Watsky, and...she even has a phone!

Joana talked me through some bad habits that I was beginning to establish. She walked me through the steps of positive reinforcement, in real time—on the phone!

Her approach to training is clear and concise and reasoned. Although training seemed overwhelming at first, Joana laid out the clear and entirely logical steps to follow, and follow, and continue to follow. And follow again. Joana has helped me over the years, once with an obstinate (but entirely cute) puppy, and then with an adult rescue that had more challenges than I knew what to do with. She has come to the rescue again with my two-month old pup, and set me on the right course. Whether in group class, or a private lesson, or through email, and sometimes by necessity over the phone, Joana is an expert and nimble problem solver. She’s compassionate, generous and pleasure to work with. And, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather talk to endlessly about my dog.