“Don is the best in the game! We brought our dog to UBHaven because our dog struggles with reactivity, separation anxiety, meeting new people, etc. Don has helped us unlearn many lessons learned from a negative training experience from when our dog was younger, and taught us new ways to manage our dog’s behavior in an individualized way. She still has a long way to go, but our dog has made significant improvements and we’ve learned a multitude of ways to manage her behavior and set her up for success. It’s important to have realistic expectations about your dog’s specific situation and behaviors, and Don has tailored his training to what works best for our dog, and she’s met some milestones we otherwise wouldn’t have known how to meet. Can’t recommend him enough!!!”

“We can’t say enough positive things about Don & UB Haven! He helped us create a stable and fun environment for our pup, cat and us to thrive! We are so grateful for Don’s expertise! We had a dog that didn’t know how to be a “family pet” after many years of overstimulation through a local dog daycare. We now have a smart, trained pup that loves structure, routine and is FUN to be with. The Behavior Modification program we completed with Don was worth every penny and minute of time spent. We look forward to a lifelong relationship with Don and his knowledge as he continues to make each of our lives better together.”

“Do you have a new puppy? Do you know how to integrate the puppy with your other dog(s)? Do you have adult dogs that are a bit out of hand and need some redirecting? Do you have a specific issue or are you completely lost on what to do? Whatever your current challenge(s) is, Don and UBH have options for you. I grew up on a farm and have had animals all my life, and came to UBHaven in desperation as my new puppy was more of a handful with behaviors I didn’t recognize and my own methods were failing miserably. I also have a senior dog who was struggling with transitioning to life with the new baby raptor. What I love most about Don and UBH is their ability to actively listen to the baggage that comes along with being unequipped to properly train your dog - sometimes its guilt, sometimes its shame, sometimes its recognizing what you are doing that contributes to the situation - and they listen with compassion and are able to lay out pathways to success with you and your dog. I also like how their program is set up - there are different levels based on what you need, so it’s tailored to you. For me and my puppy, we are going through their training program that includes virtual and in-home one-on-one training sessions. It is self paced with some structure to make sure we stay on track but they’re really flexible to work around my life happenings and travel and what’s been going on health wise with my puppy and my older dog and that’s made the relationship with them one of trust and understanding. At the one-on-one training sessions, they collect the notes from the session and then send a follow up email as what happened and what the homework is for the next session, which is just a level of service that is unmatched in the market. They also have their training modules online, so when you get home and you think “oh I forgot how they did that exactly...” you can go into the video links and review it to make sure you’re not missing something. In my crazy life I rarely get home and start practicing, it’s a few days later and I need a little review, it’s just great because the videos are high production value, they didn’t cut corners at all there. I initially was hesitant to consult with UBHaven because of the upfront cost but I’m glad it didn’t stop me because it’s been the best experience from their approach to dog training, to their down to earth nature, good-people energy and absolute professionalism. I’ve referred friends to them and also purchased gift sessions for a friend because they are just, THAT GOOD.”

“I have a very special dog daughter, Mavis Blue. I rescued her from a shelter in North Carolina when she was 8 months old. About six months after bringing Mavis home she had a string of aggressive incidents. A year and many biting incidents later my dear friend Lara, of Pup Active, told me, “Mavis needs Don. Don is the one who can fix this.” Our experience with UB Haven has helped in such tremendous ways it is hard to know where to start. I cannot begin to express how our experience with Don has been next level. It truly does not even compare. Mavis has learned coping mechanisms as an alternative to aggression – shaking off, keeping eyes on me, etc. We have learned tricks as a healthy way to be simulated and interact with strangers at a distance. The day we walked into UB Haven I struggled to think of what the future might look like for Mavis and me. After completing our initial course and continuing with training, the future is bright. I know and “get” my dog. Important to note, through this process we are now off meds completely, but continue to use CBD and plan to always have it as part of our care routine. We attend sessions on Wednesdays for reinforcement on skills learned and the opportunity to learn new tricks/challenges. I love going to training for the learning and stimulation, but also the peace of mind that everyone else there knows how to behave wisely around dogs they don’t know. UB Haven offers great training – they fixed me, taught me, trained me and also my dog. Don KNOWS dogs. He reads, understands and interprets dogs (my dog!) like no other – and subsequently has taught be to do the same. If you are frustrated and concerned, at a loss, unsure what to do – UB Haven is the place for you. There is hope here. I never in a million years would have thought my Mavis and I would be where we are right now. All credit to Don and his team. ”

“I’ve been working with an incredible dog trainer, Don, and I can’t recommend him enough. My Mini Schnauzer has made remarkable progress thanks to the virtual puppy training sessions we’ve been doing.

The benefits of virtual puppy training have been immense. Don has been able to provide personalized guidance to me in the comfort of my own home. I’ve been able to implement his training techniques throughout my daily routine, and the results have been phenomenal. My puppy is well-behaved and on track to become a therapy dog.

Don has helped me establish a solid foundation through daily routines, potty training, protocols for leaving my puppy unsupervised, leash training, socialization, come when called, and other obedience cues. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and his approach is both gentle and effective. He has a real talent for teaching both dogs and humans!

Working with Don has been an absolute pleasure. He is kind, patient, and knowledgeable. He has a deep understanding of dog behavior and has been able to address any concerns I’ve had along the way. He truly cares about the well-being of my puppy and has been a fantastic resource throughout this process.

If you’re looking for a dog trainer, I highly recommend Don. His virtual puppy training sessions have been a game-changer for me and my Mini Schnauzer. Thank you, Don, for everything you’ve done for us!”

“We noticed our dog was having some unwanted behaviors a few years after the birth of our first child and wanted a way to keep her a happy member of the family.

Since we started training with UB Haven, we have noticed increased engagement from our dog. We’re on track towards seeing that our desired behavior modifications are permanently a part of her day-to-day life.

Our virtual Behavior Modification Program is perfect. We like the ability to rewatch videos. It’s also nice to be able to virtually check in with the trainer and show our progress as well as troubleshooting.

We certainly feel like we’ve made progress despite the pandemic lockdown, which is nice that we didn’t have to defer this aspect of our lives. We’re really happy with the course and the success we’ve seen thus far.”

“We had Nikki at a private trainer for several months after she was 4 months old - then we went to 3 classes at the local Dog Training Club.  Even though Nikki learned quickly, she had a lot of puppy in her and was often impulsive, and difficult to walk if she saw a person or another dog!  We felt we needed to continue on in our training but were looking for something that would give us a much more thorough and ongoing training since I wanted Nikki to get her CGC for possible therapy work.  SO, due to my involvement with Friends of Strays I was familiar with all vendors on Central and knew about UB Haven.  I checked Don’s reviews and then had an online consultation.  My husband and I decided based on all of that to give Don a try.  

I am a lifelong animal lover, and I always felt I would never do anything to harm a living creature.  Don taught me to reassess my thoughts on all training methods and helped us get Nikki comfortable and confident with her training. Teaching her to overcome her fear of “things” in the tricks sessions.  After a number of weeks, she loved all of the equipment, even the “hated” skate board.  So her fear from a tiny puppy to today is vastly improved and she is a confident, silly, sweet and loving pup.  We appreciate so much the confidence she has learned with Don.

She now teaches my even more fearful, Harley, what things are okay.  If Harley is afraid, I can use Nikki to come up to the item and sniff it - then Harley does it too.  Without her and this confidence, I don’t know how much longer and harder it would be to help Harley.  

Seeing that Nikki learns quickly and completely with Don’s instruction methods.  She will come when called (always so far in the yard at least LOL), will do a sit/stay for almost as long as you ask (even if I leave the room), on her bed in a flash, shake hands, high 5, crawl, “bang”, sit pretty (she tries to cheat her by leaning on the cabinet) but so many other great attributes. 

As I mentioned to Don yesterday, the virtual plan works well for us.  I usually watch the lesson all the way through to familiarize myself with the instructions.  Then I do it with Harley stopping it or going back if I wanted to review the right way to do things.  Then the quiz.  Then my husband watches the lesson.  Each day we try to work on all of the lesson items as we have time. 

I feel like I am more “responsible” with the training lessons and more prepared with our virtual sessions.  The one on one is more focused than in the classroom setting because you have 100% of Don’s attention on your dog’s performance.  So I like it. 

My overall assessment of our training with Don has been great.  Don is a compassionate, kind and obvious dog-loving person who uses his skills to resolve behavior problems of all types, and ensure that students follow and understand his directions and why he trains as he does.  I think Don has changed us forever in how we train and understand our dogs.  We couldn’t be more appreciative !”

“We came to UB Haven because we previously went there with Barnaby. With Barnaby I wanted to do just basic manners but with my busy schedule it was hard finding a program. I loved that at UB Haven there was not set 6-week program, but I could drop into sessions whenever I was able and got guidance on homework assignments that I could do on my own time. I work full time and am in law school, so being able to drop into sessions was a major reason I first chose UB Haven. Since then I have been in love with going to UB Haven, the staff is always so accommodating and knowledgeable, plus it is fun for me and Barnaby. When we planned on getting a third dog we always planned to take him to UBH for puppy sessions and obedience drop in sessions. However, Watson turned out to be a special case with more than just the normal puppy issues. Watson was extremely fearful of people and the outside world, so we decided to join the Basic Manners Program in order to help him gain confidence.

So far I have seen such a huge improvement in Watson. Even from just learning about creating a zen den for him, helped him in the house when we had visitors. Watson knowing he had a safe place to retreat to gave him confidence to be more curious when visitors came too. Before Watson could not even walk alone on a leash. Thanks to Don’s guidance, he is now going on walks around the neighborhood.

With the virtual training, it’s nice to be able go back and watch certain training lessons. Sometimes after sessions when doing the homework, it is easy to forget exactly how to conduct a certain trick. I am more of a visual learner so it helps to be able to watch it again rather than just read the homework how-tos. Also for Watson, he is still terrified of other people, so being able to learn in the comfort of our home helps him and his confidence. Also, being able to check in with Don and have him answer any specific questions is always so helpful. Every week with Watson he is developing and different concerns or issues can always arise, so it’s nice to have the check in with Don. Also it keeps us more motivated / accountable to do the online trainings with Watson knowing we will have to do a demonstration as well.”

“I came to UB Haven to continue to challenge Pearl. I believe that for a dog to be truly balanced there must be 2 components to the training (in addition to a loving low stress home) it is a physical component and a mental component. UB Haven provides both along with appropriate socialization.

Pearl has become more balanced because of the work we have been doing at UB Haven. But she is not the only one that benefits from the training. In addition to learning, training provides a great bonding opportunity, and it helps me with my stress management too.

Virtual training is a great alternative especially if a regular class schedule does not work for the doggie parents. Pearl and I love it. This is very much part of her “education and training” and it is something we plan on continuing indefinitely.”

“Addy was less than six months old when we started our UB Haven journey. She went from an unruly puppy who pulled on her leash, begged for food and chewed everything to a classy and mature lady who is so well behaved she doesn’t even make a sound when we travel through the airport. Not only did I get a well behaved dog, but I grew an amazing bond with my best friend. Training made me understand Addy and her needs and how to help her grow into a well behaved adult dog. Addy and I still drop in to the FUNgility sessions as a way to keep Addy active and obedient. I appreciate that UB Haven is always willing to add on tasks or accommodate us so Addy and I are still learning new material after two years. I wanted Addy to become a Canine Good Citizen because I wanted to feel at ease traveling with her or taking her around town or to the park. Once I saw how kind and loving she was with new people, I realized I wanted the certification as a first step to preparing Addy to volunteer as a therapy dog in hospitals and nursing homes.”

“Cellie and I are very happy with the time we spend with UB Haven! Cellie, a then 10 week old border collie, came into my life at an awkward moment, but it was love at first sight. So I needed to find a way to make it work. Enter UB Haven and Don. We needed manners, first and foremost. Basic skills to get along with her canine and elderly human housemates. I work a full-time, sometimes unpredictable job, and LOVE the drop-in sessions. I am not “punished” for needing to miss a week. Homework was explained in sessions, and in email. I always felt encouraged, even if we didn’t get much homework done. In our first few months of training the biggest accomplishment for us was not jumping on people. Though we learned lots of things, and they all help to curb that jumping urge! Cellie and I practice, sometimes without realizing it, in every day activity. Walks, greeting strangers, greeting great friends, all require good manners. Don has been a great teacher and best supporter all the way through. My puppy has grown into a lovey companion with UB Haven’s guidance. She is a bigger part of my life than any dog before her. We now even preparing for our Canine Good Citizens test with the help of everyone.”

“We love UB Haven! I could watch Don train my baby labradoodle all day. I came to him before I decided what kind of dog we were getting and he completely opened my eyes to the perfect kind of dog for our needs AND pointed us to our dream breeders. We have 2 toddlers, 2 businesses, and travel frequently, and Don has helped make getting a puppy a reality for us. 
He helps you change your mindset about your dog’s behaviors and what your responsibility as a dog owner actually is. Our baby Hetfield is a fluffy little angel, so let’s be real who is actually getting the training.
Do the homework he gives you, practice weekly, and remember when they mess up it is your responsibility and UB Haven will be the perfect place for you to learn how to train your dog.”

“Meeko is an extra challenge-a mix of Husky, Chow, and Pomeranian. Three very independent breeds = one super hyper & sassy dog. Don at UB Haven has been working with crazy Meeko since he was a 4 month old puppy. He helped me overcome several challenges with him from being fearful of children, the pool, the vet & groomer and some men to now he is fearful of none of these and sits, stays and comes when called on command. Most recently he has gotten him to the point where he passed his canine good citizen test so we can work towards someday making Meeko a Therapy dog, my biggest wish for him. I never thought I would see the day but Mr. Meeko has developed some good manners and is becoming a calmer sweet boy thanks to Don.”

“I’ve been taking my mini schnauzer to Don’s group classes for two years. Not because my dog isn’t well trained by now, but because of how much she enjoys going. We mastered basic obedience and earned the American Kennel Club’s canine good citizen recognition. Now, we’re having fun in agility class and working toward getting her able to pass a therapy dog test to volunteer at local hospitals. 

Don preaches ethical, positive reinforcement training. No choke collars or anything that would ever harm your dog. He explains how your dogs brain is working — it’s as much lessons for you as it is for the dog! It can be hard work, but it’s so worth and Don and his team make it such a joy.”

“Life saver! We started training with our 6 mo old terrier mix who had limitless energy. UB Haven helped us replace her bad behaviors when she was excited with correct ones. We did the sessions, Level 1 then Level 2 and our dog is constantly praised on how well mannered she is. Not only did it help correct her behaviors but it also taught us how to lead her when she is over stimulated. Now she no longer barks in public and can be calm in social settings such as restaurants. A unique feature to UB Haven is you don’t have to book all at once. With the use of their app you can schedule classes when its convenient for you and pay only once you’ve been. Looking forward to Level 3 and some fungility courses!”

“Two of our friends came over today and they haven’t been around Ellie. Usually she barks and is so anxious. We practiced what we learned last night and here she is belly up totally relaxed! This is seriously magical! I’m SO happy! ”

“Don is excellent! Our pugs are always learning something new and are getting better and better trained every time we see him ! ”

“Don is fantastic. We recently adopted a two month old puppy and had no idea what to do. Don holds a free puppy parenting class that covers the basics and really cleared up a ton of our confusion. We’ve been taking classes with him for the past several weeks as well as participating in group puppy playtime and could not be happier. Chewie is picking up the lessons so quickly (he’s mastered sit, down and drop it already) and it’s great to let him socialize and get used to other dogs in a safe and controlled environment. The space is clean and very inviting and Don is patient and very helpful and knowledgeable. We can’t wait to continue our training and look forward to every class (Chewie does too!).”

“I can attest to Don’s expertise. He helped my young blind dog overcome fearful aggression. And, he absolutely adores Don!”

“Love Sit Happens! First of all, the decor is adorable. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable - they started putting up pictures of all the dogs they train and it’s a really personal touch. It’s been really amazing to see the growth of this company compared to when it first started, now they offer so many services. I actually live in Tampa and drive about an hour to get to classes and love seeing the change in my dogs. Thanks Don!”

“Sit Happens has been the absolute best thing for my dog! I can’t believe that so much has changed in only a few months. I walked into Sit Happens struggling to even take my dog for walks because of how she reacted towards other dogs. Now, she has completed her very first group class and I take her for daily walks without any problems. I can’t thank Sit Happens enough for teaching me how to correctly socialize and walk my dog.”

“Wonderful staff and great space. Don is amazing and attentive to every dog’s individual needs. I highly recommend and will bring future rescues.”

“Don is amazing! I reached out via their website to learn about puppy training and Don responded basically immediately and answered all of my questions. Just for the record, this was after hours on a Friday, so I didn’t expect to hear back so quickly. Very impressive and I don’t take that for granted. He is so knowledgeable and I feel so happy and thankful I found this place to teach our puppy some tricks and manners. We had a great experience at puppy class. There was a small group of people with their pups and the training felt personal and efficient. Treats and clickers were provided for everyone. Instructions were clear and easy to follow and I had a lot of fun! So did our puppy! The homework handout really helped as well and we are practicing at home. Thank you and we’re already excited for the next class!”

“I brought my dog in to work with Don on some behaviors I’m hoping to change. Don was super friendly, demonstrated skills and then had me practice them, and explained why we were working on these skills. I would highly recommend sit happens! Friendly, knowledgeable staff!!”

“Sit Happens is an excellent business! Don and Aubrey are awesome!! Great owner and most effective results! I recommend to anyone seeking behavior modification, for their fur babe!”

“Don & Aubrey are the BEST. The care they have for every individual animal is more than amazing and admirable. ”

“Don is by far the best trainer that we have worked with. He really understands dog behavior and individualizes his approach to each dog. We previously had lessons with a training club that often didn’t feel safe due to aggressive dogs in close proximity. Our dog is really small and we feel completely comfortable at Sit Happens. Our dog has really come a long way since staring training here. It was evident after just the first lesson that we were working with an expert in the field. We are so happy to have found this St. Pete gem!”

“As a veterinarian I have referred a lot of my patients to Don Hoover over the years for many reasons, the biggest is the awesome feedback I get from my clients. I have come to trust and believe in his judgement in so many facets of my job and education of my clients. He’s genuine, and the real deal.”

“I’ve been working with Don for a while now with my standard poodle. She LOVES Don! He has more patience as a trainer than I’ve ever experienced. Very knowledgable & upbeat. He has taught my poodle so many wonderful behaviors with the utmost kindness and gentleness. I highly recommend him!!! (So does Whisper my poodle).”

“Magoo perfectly “says hello” to the Mayor of St. Petersburg on Friday at the Pier event. Thanks Don and Sit Happens!”

“Your classes were a pleasure to attend and it is quite evident that you are the “Pied Piper” of pets! I am already feeling a sense of withdrawal now that we don’t have our Monday night sessions anymore and I know that it will really seem strange not to go to St. Pete next week. It is amazing to see the progress we have made!”

“Don Hoover has worked with our dogs! He is a miracle worker! He has an incredible talent. He can help you understand and speak your pups language. If you’re having trouble with your dogs behavior or want to teach an old dog new tricks He’s the man to talk to!”

“Savannah wouldn’t be the well-behaved 7 year old dog that she is or 15 year old Sydney would not know how to “wave” were it not for Sit Happens. You can teach an old dog new tricks.”

“Don’t know what me and our girls would do without Sit Happens and all the wonderful services they provide.”

“The best thing about you is you are always available for questions. You always help us so much. Thanks again for coming to the rescue.”

“Don is one of the most amazing trainers one could hope to have for their dogs. One of the most knowledgeable and passionate people I have ever had the pleasure of encountering in the dog community. He consistently displays professionalism and patience that is truly amazing when working with animals (and their owners) no matter how difficult the case may be.”

“Don is an amazing trainer! He’s extremely knowledgeable, compassionate, and kind. Give yourself and your pup this great gift that will last a lifetime.”

“AMAZING! 5 stars.”

“Don is amazing ! Class is always great and I learn something new every time.”

“Best dog trainer in the bay! Don has an amazing way with dogs and their owners, and he has the awards to prove it. Stop by the studio and see him in action. Also, his training sessions make great gifts for your friends with unruly dogs 😁”

“I LOVE sit happens, and so do my furkids! We drive an hour just to take classes with Don :)”

“We need more places like this. I have met the owner of the facility and he is wonderful. So sweet and polite!”

“Don provides excellent training for our Bulldogs and their human servants. Great price and top notch training!”

“I brought my dog in to work with Don on some behaviors I’m hoping to change. Don was super friendly, demonstrated skills and then had me practice them, and explained why we were working on these skills. I would highly recommend sit happens! Friendly, knowledgeable staff!!”

“I cannot say enough about this place. I have 6 dogs and we are slowly making our way through them all. So much knowledge and patience!”

“We took in an abused, unsocialized foster, and at 70 lbs he can be very hard to control. Don has managed to make a HUGE difference in just a few private lessons, and we have learned so many tools to help him in his journey to becoming a gentleman. Because of his past, we were adamant of finding training with positive-only reinforcement, and Don has exceeded our expectations. We could not recommend him enough!”

“Had our first session today and it went so great! Don was amazing very calming and even in one session I felt like I learned a lot! Can’t wait ‘til next week!”

“Wonderful staff and a great atmosphere.”