Success Story
Anxious Rescue Dog Finds Confidence
Blackberry, a 3-year-old lab mix, came to Sit Happens Tampa with a long history of anxiety- driven behaviors. Despite being sweet and affectionate with her family, her world had become extremely small. She rarely felt safe outside the home and struggled to cope with everyday stressors—guests, the car, the cats, even the simple act of being leashed.
Her family was at their breaking point. They loved her deeply but didn’t know how to help her.
Trainer
Jenna
Sit Happens Tampa
DOGS
Blackberry
2-year-old Lab Mix
Our dog had intense anxiety and confidence issues that led to her being confined to the area around our house. With the help of Jenna and the Sit Happens training program […] our dog’s world is a much happier and less stressful place. Highly recommend!!
Priya W.
Tampa, FL
Challenges
What dog training challenges did we face?
When I first arrived at the home, Blackberry barked nonstop for 45 minutes. Her mom did everything she knew to try to calm her: treats, talking softly, reassurance…but nothing changed the behavior. This wasn’t disobedience. This was anxiety with no structure to guide her.
Issues that jumped out:
- She barked intensely at me and avoided settling.
- When her crate was used, a family member would sit beside it, unintentionally preventing her from learning self-soothing or independence.
- The moment I brought out the leash for the step-on-the-leash drill, Blackberry escalated
— pacing, whining, pushing forward, and expressing frustration. - She lunged, barked, and pulled on walks—not out of aggression, but because she felt
overwhelmed. - At home, she barked at the cats and fixated on them so much that the family had to keep
gates up all day. - In the car, Blackberry would pace, bark, and had even chewed through seatbelts.
Despite all that, there was something very important: Blackberry had no issues when boarded or when staying with friends.
This told me one thing clearly: she wasn’t a bad dog. She just needed structure, clarity, and a
calm leader.
Training Goals
What was our dog training plan?
Together with her family, we set clear, achievable goals:
What Mom Was Accidentally Reinforcing
- Stop reactive barking at people
- Reduce leash reactivity and lunging
- Loose leash walking with confidence
- Calm, appropriate behavior around guests
- Begin safe integration with the cats
- Improve car manners and reduce pacing and chewing
Blackberry enrolled in our 7-lesson program to build these foundations.
Training Approach
The dog training journey
Jenna focused on building structure, confidence, and calm routines for both dogs and Mom.
Structure & calming the brain
#1-2
Our very first step was reducing anxiety by adding structure.
We introduced crate independence, calmer thresholds, and engagement exercises to shift Blackberry’s focus away from panic and toward her handler.
Blackberry learned quickly. By lesson two, we had already cut her barking time drastically and brought her arousal level down enough to begin more serious leash work.
Leash Manners
#3-4
As soon as we added the right tools and rules, Blackberry transformed. Her family practiced daily loose-leash walking, impulse control, and guest protocols.
Her leash reactivity, once explosive, started to reduce. She began to check in with her handler instead of defaulting to barking and lunging.
Car sessions also improved — she learned how to settle, stay in place, and ride calmly.
Social Exposure
#5-6
We pushed Blackberry gently but consistently outside her comfort zone:
- Dog-friendly stores
- Walking around new people
- Calmly meeting strangers
- Practicing neutrality around distractions
This is where everything clicked.
Blackberry not only tolerated new environments — she began enjoying them.
She walked into places she would’ve once panicked in, and she handled them with minimal pulling, minimal barking, and noticeably more confidence.
Introducing the Cat
#7
Back inside the home, we shifted to controlled cat exposure and guest behavior protocols. By this point Blackberry had:
- Better impulse control
- Lower overall anxiety
- The ability to redirect instead of reacting
- Improved focus on her family
Her barking at guests decreased dramatically, and she was finally able to start learning how to coexist more calmly with the cats instead of immediately chasing and barking.
The Results
How are they doing today?
By the end of the program, Blackberry was a completely different dog.
Blackberry now enjoys:
- Calm, quiet car rides
- Friendly greetings with new people
- Leash manners and controlled walks
- Visits to dog-friendly places
- Reduced barking
- More confidence and less anxiety
- A peaceful home environment
Her world has expanded — and her family finally has the dog they always hoped she could be.
Tampa’s trusted in-home dog training team
Let us help you take your life back.
Our trainers are available daily from 9am–7pm and are happy to answer your training questions before you get started.
Call us today:
+1 (813) 695-9430
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
You bet! Sit Happens is the most established dog training provider in the Tampa area with over 14 years in business and 10,000+ dogs trained. We’re experienced in working with puppies and dogs of all life stages and have catered to more than 250 breeds.
Sit Happens is the leading dog training provider in the Tampa area, and we also proudly serve Tampa and St. Augustine. But we’re more than just another dog trainer— we’ve earned our reputation for a reason. While typical training might focus on getting your dog to follow commands, we go beyond the basics. Our approach is all about your dog’s overall wellbeing, helping them feel comfortable in their environment and strengthening their bond with you.
We make sure you and your family are part of the process, giving you hands-on lessons and exercises to practice with your dog between sessions. This way, you’re not just teaching your dog commands— you’re building an unbreakable bond with your furry friend.
Yes. Each of our trainers goes through a rigorous 90-day certification course. We only hire trainers with extensive prior experience who pass our thorough vetting process. Each of our trainers also carries their own professional accreditations and affiliations. They are required to undergo 100+ hours of continued education each year to stay up-to-date on the latest science-backed methods.
Of course. One major advantage of private training is that it fits into your lifestyle. Other training services make you drive to a facility on a strict schedule and charge extra for the flexibility of in-home lessons. At Sit Happens, all of our training plans are designed to work within your schedule.
Yes, we can either train each of your dogs individually or hold private group sessions with all of your dogs together. Each of our trainers can work with up to five dogs at a time.
Yes. In order to keep you, your dog, and your trainer safe, we kindly ask that you ensure that your dog has received all their vaccinations.
Yes, the cost of private dog training is comparable to group dog training, yet it’s twice as effective. In a group training setting, your dog has to overcome the distraction of other dogs they don’t know while still trying to learn the basics. Private training offers an array of additional benefits, including flexible scheduling, personalized lessons, and one-on-one attention from the trainer.