Pre-Puppy Counseling +
Temperament Testing

Are you ready to welcome a new dog or puppy into your life but feeling a bit overwhelmed by the process? Let me help you! My pre-puppy counseling service is here to guide you through every step of the way, from finding the perfect puppy to puppy-proofing your home. I also provide temperament testing, where I can administer a series of tests on potential puppies to help you choose the perfect companion for your lifestyle. With almost four decades of experience, I can help you navigate the often confusing process of adopting a dog.

During our first thirty-minute session, we'll discuss your lifestyle and preferences to help find the perfect match for you. I'll also provide advice on how to prepare your home and family for the new addition. And if you're feeling lost in the sea of information out there, my book "Puppies for Dummies, 4th Edition" is an excellent resource that provides even more guidance.

Let me be your advocate and guide on this exciting journey of finding your dog or puppy!

Pre-Puppy Form

To save time during our first session, fill out this form. If questions don't apply, you may leave them blank. Please make sure to hit 'Submit' when you finish filling out your form. If you don't hear back from us within three days, assume human error and fill out another form.

  • 60-minute initial sessions - $245

    30-minute follow-up sessions - $145

    Discounted 4 Lesson Package (30 minutes each) - $525

    The Discount Lesson Package is ideal for those who have completed an initial virtual session with Sarah. You may continue working with Sarah through Individual Private Lessons or with this discount 4-lesson package.

Testimonials

Featured
“Sarah stands out above the rest!”
“Sarah stands out above the rest!”

“We have used a few dog trainers and attended a variety of dog classes over the last two decades and multiple dogs. ... Sarah's approach comes with a deep, deep understanding of dogs, compassion, logic and a human kindness that is never about dominance or obedience. ... We have learned a lot from her that carries far beyond just our dogs and I am grateful that we have had the chance to work with her with newest puppy, Petey! She is an amazing trainer.”

- Mandy C.

“I highly recommend Sarah”
“I highly recommend Sarah”

“I never thought someone could help my family train our dog to have good manners. We have been unsure of what to do and how to do it. Sarah has been wonderful! She takes her time with us and explains what she is doing. She demonstrates proper techniques and then allows us to carry them out. With her guidance, our dog has calmed down and is a better-behaved part of our family. She also lets us record parts of the session so that we are able to review the proper technique between sessions. I highly recommend Sarah to anyone that would like to train their pets.”

- Helen B.

“I can't say enough wonderful things!”
“I can't say enough wonderful things!”

“I can't say enough wonderful things about Sarah! We recently got a golden retriever puppy. Not our first dog, just our first puppy. We were overwhelmed and so was our other dog (age 14). I quickly started researching programs. I immediately liked Sarah as a person - so effusive and also firm and so very knowledgable. I was a little skeptical about how much she could do with Georgia in just 1 week but we were happily surprised! Georgia came home a different dog. Best money spent and more importantly, we got our puppy joy.”

- Diane M.

“She saved us!”
“She saved us!”

“There are no words to describe Sarah, she saved us!  We adopted a dog post pandemic that was not socialized or trained, coming into a family with no dog experience, which resulted in a bad situation. We met Sarah at Bedford Barks and she and her family welcomed my family into their home.  She comforted my girls with the help of her adorable litter from Peekaboo. As luck would have it, within time, a puppy became available. She has guided us through and will continue to be a member of our family, as she has so kindly done for us!”

- Colleen M.

“My vet recommended Sarah”
“My vet recommended Sarah”

“My veterinarian recommended Sarah to me years ago, and I have been working with her ever since!  This is my third dog Sarah has helped me with.  She is understanding, patient, and kind with both my dog and me, while encouraging us both along the way.  Her knowledge and experience are impressive and ever growing.  I have recommended Sarah to several of my friends and neighbors, all whom were more than satisfied with the end results.  Sarah is professional while maintaining a warm and personal touch considering the individual needs of each dog and owner.  Working with Sarah is always a successful and fun experience. I wouldn't work with anyone else!”

- Lisa G.

“100% Recommend Sarah”
“100% Recommend Sarah”

“100% recommend Sarah Hodgson for training your puppy or dog at any stage or temperament!  I've worked with her privately and in puppy training class, and it's an absolute delight.  She is incredibly knowledgeable and intuitive and is very gentle with dogs, believing in kind, positive training.  I've watched my dog and others learn basic commands and proper behavior with a single lesson (but of course, parents must follow up with consistent reinforcement).  Highly recommend!”

- Caryn G.

“‘Sarah Says’ has become a catchphrase in our house.”
“‘Sarah Says’ has become a catchphrase in our house.”

“I cannot say enough great things about Sarah. “Sarah says” has become a catchphrase in our house. She is not only a dog whisperer but she understands and works with the whole family system. My toddler adored her session with Sarah and our 6 month old puppy, Cleo, and I have loved my private training sessions with Sarah and group classes. She has given us so many tools to better train our puppy. We currently have her imprinting our new 8 week old puppy (yes, we’re taking on a lot!)! Stay tuned on our next review as we know she will work wonders on our little pup!”

- Sarah C.

“What Sarah Says Goes!”
“What Sarah Says Goes!”

“Sarah Hodgson is the very best!!! Not only does she know dogs but she loves them which to me makes the difference. I have a new puppy and was totally bamboozled over how to proceed. In two short sessions Sarah taught me so much about puppyhood, from housebreaking-to what toys they like-to nipping and grooming. What Sarah says goes. Sarah knows pets.”

- Susan B.

“We couldn’t have done it without Sarah”
“We couldn’t have done it without Sarah”

“Winnie has really settled into herself after we started training with Sarah. She used to be very aggressive when new people showed up at our home, but now she greets new guests at the door calmly and moves on. She’s much better meeting new friends on the trail instead of making enemies with other dogs. Best of all she no longer lunges at people. Thanks for helping us get her on the right path! We couldn’t have done it without you, Sarah.”

- Vanessa C.

“Sarah is the best!”
“Sarah is the best!”

“My family has worked with Sarah for years. She helped us find our dog Gilly at a local rescue, and she has been so supportive throughout the entire process: city transition strategies to basic puppy manners and sleep training tips. We wouldn't want to work with anyone else. We wish we lived closer so we could do all her group training classes.”

- Lisa G

“We’ve been working with Sarah for a long time.”
“We’ve been working with Sarah for a long time.”

“We’ve been working with Sarah for a long time. She could tell us things about our puppy’s personality we would’ve never realized. She taught us happy techniques to replace punishments. Our kids, who were young at the time, still reminded me of what ‘Sarah Says!’ Years later, when we got our second Bernese Mountain dog, we used Sarah's puppy camp to get her off to the best start. Now we're using Sarah to help us learn to walk the dogs together-nearly 200 pounds of dog power!”

- Melissa G

"Sarah is a wise, creative, empathic, responsive teacher, and coach."
"Sarah is a wise, creative, empathic, responsive teacher, and coach."

”I can’t help but disclose to you that I am a child psychiatrist with a new Goldendoodle puppy. On top of that, this puppy is a clone of our beloved dog that passed away. That’s a lot of pressure and also means she is a puppy not born into a typical litter. What drew me to Sarah’s philosophy for training animals is her focus on attachment and bonding. Her way of working with animals and their human parents is to establish strong trustful bonds where the dogs do all the right things because they are attached to you and want to please you. Sarah described our pup as a “drama queen” that was “high maintenance”. She spent a week with Sarah combined with some serious coaching of us to keep the good things happening, and they have. Sarah is a wise, creative, empathic, responsive teacher, and coach. Today, we still have a spirited pup to be sure, but she is a pure delight and a wonderful family member.”

- Pamela Cantor MD

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