Hear what Stephanie's clients have to say!
Erika D. & Kali Testimonial
"Stephanie is an extremely knowledgable and compassionate animal behaviorist [consultant]".
Dr. Sarah Spindell, DVM
Fantastic Beasts Veterinary Care, Southern Maine
"Stephanie is so knowledgable in all things dog! She truly cares about the dogs she works with and really takes time to get to know them and personalize her recommendations to the specific dog. Stephanie works hard to correct the root cause of the issue instead of just recommending a quick fix. A true professional who goes above and beyond for her clients, both human and dog!"
Megan & Erl Brown
Brown Maine Realty, Maine Real Estate Experts
"Stephanie's knowledge and consideration for dog/handler training teams never ceases to amaze me! She is always upbeat and really knows how dogs think and the importance of understanding a dog as a whole. I always enjoy getting to work with her and feel like I learn something new each time!"
Tiffany Brown, CPDT-KA
Otter Pond Dog Training, Bridgton, Maine
"Oh gosh I couldn't recommend anyone any higher than I do Stephanie Smith! 😃 Although Stephanie lives in Maine and Kali and I live in CT I only wanted to work with her as she uses a gentle positive reinforcement type of training with her pups that I love. Stephanie met Kali briefly on a visit to CT in February 2022. She brought her 4 dogs with her as well and when I saw how she engaged so beautifully with Kali AND her own four lovebugs I was hooked. Her pups follow her directions because of her gentle and confident strength and guidance. They respect and love her rather than fearing her.
When I told her I really wanted to work only with her, Stephanie set us up with weekly virtual training sessions via Zoom that worked great! So well in fact that when Kali saw Stephanie's face on the laptop screen and heard her say 'sit' - sit she did! Lol! 😁 Even Stephanie was surprised!
She sent the Zoom invites with plenty of time to prepare. She used a combination of showing me how to run an exercise with her own pups along with simple verbal and hand cues. With our cameras on she watched me run through the exercises with Kali and could easily correct something if need be or simply encourage both of us that we're on the right track.
Kali and I Have learned soooo much from these virtual lessons! Following each lesson, Stephanie sends out homework to practice with detailed instructions. She is readily available via email and/or text and is a tremendous resource for anyone with a focus on providing a happy, holistic lifestyle for their fur babies.
She is a shining star out there and for those of you lucky enough to live close to her to experience her peaceful, strong energy in person I would highly recommend you check her out!
Thank you, Stephanie!! Looking forward to learning some cool new agility tricks with you soon! xoxo 🌟💖😘🤗"
Erika D.
Somers, Connecticut
"Where do I start? Stephanie is truly one of the most amazing souls I have ever met. I first met Stephanie when I adopted a dog to her several years ago. I was the co-founder and adoption coordinator for a non-profit dog rescue. She is so knowledgable, attentive, loving and in-tune to her dogs and any dogs she's taking care of. We became friends over the years and even adopted two more dogs to her. She lived close to me for a while, when I was going to be home late from work, she would walk my personal and foster dogs, feed dinner, etc. I am very picky about who cares for my animals. Its such a nice feeling to have someone you fully TRUST to care for your animals.
Stephanie also helped me switch my senior dog to a raw diet; its been the best thing for her health and allergies. She's so knowledgable about nutrition and doesn't make you feel overwhelmed. She wrote out my dogs diet in a way I could easily understand. I couldn't recommend Stephanie more, she's truly amazing!"
Stephanie also helped me switch my senior dog to a raw diet; its been the best thing for her health and allergies. She's so knowledgable about nutrition and doesn't make you feel overwhelmed. She wrote out my dogs diet in a way I could easily understand. I couldn't recommend Stephanie more, she's truly amazing!"
Melissa W.
Syracuse, New York
"Stephanie is brilliant at what she does! I have had the pleasure of working with Stephanie in the past in other modalities, so I knew when it came to getting to the root of what was going on with our pup, and creating a foundation for long term success, I needed to work with someone that puts their ALL into what they do. Stephanie has blended K9 science with her background in holistic modalities which created an approach that not only works, but feels good! Over the course of four sessions, I felt like I could understand our dogs true needs, and who she is as an individual plus the nature of her breed. The Kora Pack can not say enough good, we are grateful for all the support and knowledge".
Erin B.
Auburn, Maine
"I can't possibly say enough about Stephanie and how much she had helped our family with our anxious pup, Bentley. In addition, to being extremely educated and an expert in dog behavior, she is compassionate, empathetic, and non-judgmental. She listened to understand our concerns and our family dynamics and helped create opportunities for Bentley to interact with the world in a safe environment. She gave us confidence by helping us understand his behavior as well as his limitations and gave us tools to ensure we helped him grow. She was supportive and understanding the entire time. In addition, she is just a kind, thoughtful person we enjoyed getting to know. Following the several weeks that Stephanie worked with Bentley, all of us are in a much better position to handle strangers, dogs, and other anxiety provoking situations for Bentley. She is truly one of a kind!"
Tracy K.
Scarborough, Maine
"I cannot recommend Stephanie enough. I found her to be kind, non-judgmental, and very insightful. As a first time dog owner, I am so grateful for her patience and understanding. I felt completely comfortable talking about my concerns, and she did a great job teaching me about how dogs learn. She took the time to listen to my concerns, and showed great care for me, my crotchety senior cats, and my new rescue dog. She even went above nd beyond (on her own time) to seek out a cat nutritionist. I'd work with her again in a heartbeat".
Christina S.
Portland, Maine
"This was a really great experience. I got the guidance I needed to help make the day to day life easier with my anxious dog. Stephanie has a calming presence and is very patient. She is clearly passionate and knowledgable about what she does. Would definitely recommend especially if you have an anxious dog".
Bianca P.
Cumberland, Maine
"Stephanie is extraordinarily thoughtful and intentional in her approach--both with us humans and our little pup. She has a huge amount of knowledge and experience and all the passion and warmth to go along with it. Even though our little puppy has graduated from her training sessions with Stephanie, we know she will continue to be a resource to us".
Rebecca S
Portland, Maine
"This was a really great experience. I got the guidance I needed to help make the day to day life easier with my anxious dog. Stephanie has a calming presence and is very patient. She is clearly passionate and knowledgable about what she does. Would definitely recommend especially if you have an anxious dog".
Bianca P.
Cumberland, Maine
"We have a 5 year old deaf pitbull with anxiety. She had a traumatic experience during COVID with a stranger on our property. She became very untrusting/aggressive toward people. It took a couple of years to find a trainer willing to work with an anxious aggressive pitbull. Stephanie came to our house well prepared with treats and engaging toys and spent a great deal of time listening to our dog's history, our concerns and goals, as well as assessing her behavior. [Stephanie] taught us ways to begin working with our dog to reduce her anxiety related to people and skills to work on triggers like the gate and driveway. We have had several training sessions with time in between to work on new skills and advance other skills. Our dog is a work in progress, but in a few short months she is able to not only walk the driveway without reactive behaviors, but we have progressed to walking on [quiet] back [roads]. She is much less reactive in the car (due to parking lot training techniques Stephanie taught us) and when warmer weather comes we will progress to an open car and then outside the car. Our dog's anxiety has much improved and we have learned new ways to keep her engaged and happy. We also have greater confidence in our ability to work with her and teach her. We have been able to adopt and slowly transition a beautiful companion for her. We plan to continue to work with Stephanie. It has been a very positive experience for us and our dog. We are very grateful to have found Sacred Paws! If you are looking for a great trainer with the knowledge and skills to work with you and your dog in fun positive techniques, then Sacred Paws is for you!
Cheryl F.
Madison, New Hampshire
"We absolutely love working with Stephanie! She helped us with a new puppy and older dog struggling to adjust to his new sibling. Stephanie made us feel so comfortable with her and with the training process, and we saw SUCH wonderful progress over our time with her. I was incredibly anxious and upset before we started working with Stephanie, thinking through the worst case scenarios and panicking that our problem could not be resolved. From our first meeting, she helped our family keep calm and work toward our goal. Stephanie is obviously one of those people with great dog instincts, but also incorporates tons of science and evidence based research into her treatment plans, which I particularly loved. I would work with Stephanie again and would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking to make big or small changes with their pup."
Caroline S.
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
"We are forever grateful Stephanie. We have worked with multiple trainers and none have taken the time to really understand our dog the way that she did. She meets dogs where they are at and personalizes the plan. Her training is gentle and kind. She helped us get through a major life transition (a new baby), and our fearful/reactive dog is doing so well"
Sasha H.
Cumberland Foreside, Maine
"Stephanie of Sacred Paws is a trainer like no other. If you are searching for a trainer for your pup, you would be wise to consider Stephanie. Stephanie is extremely knowledgable about all things "dog" and has the demeanor and patience to impart said knowledge to dog parents. We welcomed Stephanie into our home for one on one training for our new (7 month old) pup and we are so glad we did. We found her vast amount of information very helpful and timely. Stephanie always took the time to check in with us to determine what we felt our pup needed to work on. She broke down the training into manageable steps and was always available via email if we had any questions. She is timely in her email communication, she is punctual with regards to her training sessions, and she is most knowledgeable, kind, and skilled trainer we have ever met. We are very pleased with the sessions Stephanie has had with our pup and look forward to continuing to learn from her. If you are considering hiring a trainer to work with your dog, please consider Stephanie. She is a game changer with regards to your pup's manners and skills. Thank you Stephanie!"
Alana C.
Silver Lake, New Hampshire
"We adopted a dog and after about 3.5 months, [we] started to pick up on some significant anxiety and we [were] experiencing a lot of behavioral [issues]. We honestly weren't sure if we would be able to keep him at some point. We are so thankful to have found Stephanie. She helped us so much learn how to read Leo's body langauge and better understand him, which allowed to be proactive and better meet his needs. He's still a young high energy dog, but he is so much more settled and we have a much better understanding of how to pair physical and mental stimulation to wear him out and have our home feel much more peaceful. She also gave us confidence to consider taking in more pups in the future. Again, we are so grateful for her support and I really don't know how we would have done this without her. "
Kaitlyn D.
Bethlehem, New Hampshire
" If you are looking for a trainer with an educational background and who understands the science behind the mind of your dog, look no further! Our consultation with Stephanie set us up for success with our new puppy and she has even offered ongoing coaching and support! I highly recommend Sacred Paws!
Heather R.
Windham, Maine
"Stephanie is a positive ray of light for dogs and their families! You and your canine companions will feel medially at ease I her presence. No judgement or stress. She will teach you how to help your dog feel more safe in the world".
Heather R.
Windham, Maine
"We enrolled our adult wild child in one of Stephanie's group classes, and we absolutely loved the experience! I was pleasantly surprised that our guy made it through the graduation day course that goes through each of her teachings that we all learned throughout the program. It really shows how much change can happen for your pup when you take the time for proper training. Stephanie teaches both basic and complex skills so well and in such an easy to understand way. I've never had to get into the brain of a dog as much before, but she breaks it all down into manageable steps. She was always available via email outside of class and shared so much knowledge with us. I'd wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone that is interested in training their dog!"
Lindsey B.
Portland, Maine
"I would highly recommend Stephanie to be your dog trainer. We were looking for someone to work with out 6 year old Great Pyrenees who has grown very protective behaviors over out family. We found Stephanie because of her great reviews on Sacred Paws. We were worried about someone coming to our house because of our dog Elsa can react very negatively to with strangers. Stephanie knew exactly how to approach Elsa and within 10 minutes, Elsa loved her. During our consult, she gave us great information and a few techniques to get started with our training. [During] our sessions, Stephanie was extremely patient with all of our questions and concerns. Her approach is with positive reinforcement, which helps Elsa feel good. Stephanie also met with us in different settings including a ball park to try new strategies to help Elsa when seeing strangers/dogs. After only 2 sessions, we can already see improvement with Elsa. You can clearly see that Stephanie takes pride in her work and loves what she does. She is intuitive and extremely kind to Elsa. She checks in with us frequently to see how we are doing and gave us techniques to continue to try until our next session. I highly recommend Stephanie to work with you pet!"
Christen M.
Lakeville, Massachusetts
"Stephanie helped me greatly with my reactive dog. Although I have a lot of experience training my dogs, I did not have any experience with owning a reactive one. Stephanie is extremely knowledgable and full of great ideas! Taking dogs on walks and into settings with other dogs around has become much more relaxed and fun for us both!"
Teri H.
Fryeburg, Maine
"We had a great experience with Sacred Paws! Our dog is finally on a diet that works great for him. Stephanie is knowledgable, kind, and a pleasure to work with. Thank you!!"
Mercedes M.
North Conway, New Hampshire
"Stephanie is a great resource for not just dogs, but for humans as well! She is in tune with (in my case) difficult dynamics and respectful of each situation. She explains dog behavior in a way that all can understand. This helps humans understand why the dog is mis-behaving. She definitely goes above and beyond to assist and make this a greta experience. I would HIGHLY recommend her to everyone".
Carrie M-W.
Naples, Maine
"Buddy had graduated from obedience class with another training facility, but I knew in my heart that Buddy needed more one on one training. My boy is a sensitive and sweet soul, and at times suffers from a little anxiety. Fortunately, a friend referred Sacred Paws at a family get together a while back, and honestly, it was the best decision I made by contacting Stephanie. I am totally grateful to Stephanie. She gave me everything I needed to help Buddy be his best. I learned so much about his behaviors and mine, especially patience and understanding. He is reaching his "teenage" years and is turning 1 year old on June 5. Ironically, we have the same birthday and we will be celebrating it together with our family. I am super excited about the future."
Cecilia V.
South Hadley, Massachusetts
"I adopted my dog at three months old from the Conway [Area] Humane Society. It was clear that he needed some training, so I enrolled in Sacred Paws's six week puppy training course. This is not just for training dogs; it also trains dog owners. Weeks of "homework" from Stephanie paid off 1000 fold. She gives you every tool you need to raise a well mannered good boy or gal, but you have to work at it. She made that abundantly clear.
I use the techniques she taught me and my catapult leopard dog every day. As he matures, I see progress constantly. The change isn't instant, but if you treat your pup as part of the family the way I do, I very highly recommend Sacred Paws.
My dog Cash is now my absolute best friend, and I can't thank Stephanie enough for helping us form that inseparable bond.
I use the techniques she taught me and my catapult leopard dog every day. As he matures, I see progress constantly. The change isn't instant, but if you treat your pup as part of the family the way I do, I very highly recommend Sacred Paws.
My dog Cash is now my absolute best friend, and I can't thank Stephanie enough for helping us form that inseparable bond.
Sean D.
North Conway, New Hampshire
"Stephanie was an incredible source of information and encouragement in getting to understand the challenges of raising a new puppy. It had been some years since I have had a puppy. Also, this was my first "city dog". Stephanie helped me to understand both the physical and developmental factors that impact on my puppy's behavior which helped to guide me and my puppy. I cannot recommend Stephanie any more highly. She was a great gift to both me and my puppy".
Tricia D.
Portland, Maine
"I have attended dozens of classes in the past for various reasons, from obedience to sports to reactivity training. I recently participated in Stephanie's 6 week Family Dog course with my adult dog. We covered more than any other class I've ever participated in. Stephanie sets you and your dog up for positivity and success. She goes above and beyond to help each dog individually while creating a safe environment to train as a group. I highly recommend working with Stephanie for your canine needs, and I look forward to attending more classes [with her] in the future! "
Elizabeth L.
Conway, New Hampshire
"Stephanie at Sacred Paws is AMAZING! The time, case, support she put into our pups and continues to do so even after our training sessions ended, deifinelty goes above and beyond any other trainers I have encountered! I highly recommend Sacred Paws for any and all of your training needs!".
Trinity R.
Surprise, Arizona
"Stephanie has been such a tremendous help with our pup. She has helped us to help our pup overcome some anxiety and behavior issues. Stephanie is always prepared with an abundance of useful information and she has a genuine love of dogs. I am happy I contacted her and would 100% recommend her for all your training needs."
Cherie C.
Sebago, Maine
"Stephanie's classes were well organized and informational. She is super responsive to questions and sends homework in detail. We highly recommend her classes."
Donna W.
Bartlett, New Hampshire
"When Stephanie came to our home my four dogs were a mess. None of them were very happy and had trouble getting along. My two big dogs were totally out of control. Jumping on people and knocking them down and would not listen. Stephanie changed our lives by teaching me to listen and be aware of my dog's needs. She gave advice to keep the older little dogs happy and gave me ideas about creating their own space. She helped me to teach them sit, lay down, stay, and many other commands. She breaks it down step by step and works to achieve good results. Many times, Stephanie amazed me, she absolutely is a wonderful trainer! And she really is loving, compassionate person. The dogs behave much better when company comes, and I feel I have developed a better relationship with my boys! I am so happy she came into our lives!"
Lisa E.
Porter, Maine
"It is with only our highest regards and praise that we say thank you to Stephanie Smith, owner of Sacred Paws, trainer and pet care. We recommend her to anyone who is looking for a loving, honest, conscientious, and knowledgable professional who truly loves and is dedicated to providing quality care and enriching the lives of dogs and their owners. She has provided loving care for our Golden Paisley for the last 10 months and Auntie Stephanie is what we call her. She has been amazing with her training of doggie manners, fun walks, games, agility, obedience, and even provided ice cubes in Paisley's pool on a hot day, which she loved.
Auntie Stephanie goes above and beyond and we are grateful for her precious care! Thank you!!!"
Auntie Stephanie goes above and beyond and we are grateful for her precious care! Thank you!!!"
Robyn & Pat M.
Limington, Maine
"Stephanie is a one of a kind trainer who is passionate, caring, knowledgeable and understanding of dogs and what families need. I've never experienced someone like Stephanie who came into our home for one of our four dogs who's the naughty one of the group. We were at the end of our rope, not knowing what to do with Layla. Nothing seemed to work. Stephanie came in to our home and changed everything in the very first session!! Layla is calmer, can greet some people now, and has become a whole new dog since meeting her! I couldn't recommend her more or talk more highly about her skills, the way she "talks" to dogs and how they transform with her! It's like she's been working with them for years!! Her homework and instructions were clear, her willingness to keep conversations going throughout the week, and hr willingness to go the extra mile when Layla needed a bit more, she was there with just what she needed. No matter the question I had, she always had an answer and if not, she knew someone that did. We were lucky to have found Stephanie for Layla".
Jessica S.
Ocala, Florida
"I've had the pleasure of working with Stephanie from Sacred Paws for a couple months now. When we began our journey I was worried about my golden retriever Sophie. She was very afraid of just about everyone and anything. I'm so happy to say with the work Stephanie and I did together we created a Pawsitive environment where she is no longer a nervous girl. She is happy, confident, and no longer afraid of people, places of things!!! Thank you so much for teaching me along with Sophie how to desensitize life's journey! Thank you so much Stephanie! Sophie already misses you!!!"
Colleen A.
Parsonsfield, Maine
"Stephanie has been working with my husky Luna for about six months and its been an absolute pleasure. She is very knowledgable in her field, very caring, and genuine which has reflected in Luna's behavior. I would recommend anybody in need of her services. I'm happy with Sacred Paws and look forward to continuing with Luna's training".
Adam L.
Porter, Maine
"We highly recommend Stephanie as a dog trainer. She is patient, which isn't always the easiest with two stubborn pitties. She not only teaches the dogs, but teaches the owners how to behave/act to accommodate the training and continue successful training even when she is not there. 5 stars aren't enough!!"
Shawn & Kelly S.
Ludlow, Massachusetts
"I highly recommend Stephanie to anyone that is training or thinking of training their puppy or dog . She is thoughtful and caring and knows what is needed to accomplish the goals that you have for your furry friend. We threw many curve balls at her with training our dog and she handled them unbelievably well! She saw that we needed more time in between sessions and made us and our dog feel comfortable and supported. I asked enough questions to drive anyone crazy, but she answered each and every question and sent links that were relevant and very helpful! She is very intuitive and an AMAZING teacher!"
Sherri P.
Parsonsfield, Maine
"Stephanie was amazing when she was working with Oscar and Ginger. Would definitely recommend her to anyone."
Joseph G.
Parsonsfield, Maine
"Many thanks Stephanie! We learned a lot and Bassi is learning a lot too. Your supporting materials are very good and we appreciate your being available online for questions and concerns."
Louise S.
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
"She is doing so well with all her training and I just wanted to thank you for the huge role you've played in her learning. Thank you!!"
Daniel B.
Cornish, Maine
"I have used your high value reward system and have gotten Jake trained to stay in the yard and "leave it" for noises that would excite him (cars, squirrels running in front of him, sudden movements). I've learned his body language and adapted myself to them. Thank you so much for all the help and advice! I truly appreciate your teaching styles!!"
Brandy B.
Limington, Maine
"A couple of months ago, I was looking for a dog trainer. A friend had told me that this woman who ran the business "Sacred Paws" was a very good person, although he never did mention whether or not she was a good dog trainer. I decided to call her number and expected to get an answering machine, but what I got instead was an in depth sixty minute conversation about dogs from a deeply sincere, knowledgable and committed woman.
Our sessions are [now] over; I feel it was worth every penny!
Stephanie is clear, patient, organized, and dedicated. I highly recommend her as a dog trainer. I know I will be working on all the "homework" assignments many years to come."
Our sessions are [now] over; I feel it was worth every penny!
Stephanie is clear, patient, organized, and dedicated. I highly recommend her as a dog trainer. I know I will be working on all the "homework" assignments many years to come."
Marty T.
Porter, Maine
"Our two girls are in love with Steph. Steph is the most sweetest, loving, and caring person that we have seen with our babies. She takes time out of her days to lend us a hand any chance she can. With our busy schedule, Steph is with our girls at least 3 days a week and we're so grateful. Not only is she flexible, understanding, and compassionate, but she is absolutely amazing with our kitties and Guinea pig too. It's such a relief going to work long shifts knowing Steph will be there to help look after our mini farm. We would never recommend anyone else".
Melissa T.
Tamworth, New Hampshire
"Stephanie did a great job with our dogs. Very professional and caring. Was very knowledgeable with training and followed up to see how things were going. Would definitely recommend Sacred Paws/Stephanie for any dog training needs."
Kaylee D.
Freedom, New Hampshire
" I could not recommend Stephanie's services at Sacred Paws higher. She has been working with our family for. few months now after we decided to seek professional assistance for our Great Pyrenees who have become quite protective and at times very agressive to outsiders. We were very anxious because our initial consult was in our home where she is most territorial, but Stephanie knew exactly what to do and had Elsa quite literally eating out of the palm of her hand in minutes. Stephanie has been very patient with our family. We aren't the most experience dog trainers, and her philosophy with Elsa has been centered around reducing anxiety towards triggers that result in aggressive behavior and positive reinforcement with treats, not punishment. Although she has been very honest with us and indicated that Elsa's behavioral plan will likely be life long due to her breed's nature, we now feel we have the tools to [support] Elsa's behavior that are very practical and over just a few sessions we have seen significant results! After a few in person meetings, [Stephanie] has consistently followed up with us via email with detailed answers to our questions. I cannot recommend anyone higher. If she was able to help our 6 year old Great Pyrenees who is set in her ways, I imagine that a puppy or other breeds would be a walk in the park for her!"
Courtney M.
Parsonsfield, Maine
"Stephanie is absolutely superb. Our pup Lola has required walks/food/socialization from time to time during long work days. Stephanie is flexible, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgable on canine behavior and stimulation. She'll even take the time to send multiple photos, a through update, and even advice for you and your pet with her visits. I feel so lucky to have Stephanie nearby to care for Lola-highly recommended."
Jade W.
Center Ossipee, New Hampshire
"Steph is an amazing caregiver for our two pups, Oakley and Ember! Our dogs love her, and she always goes above and beyond to ensure our dogs have everything they need while my fence and I are at work. She is extremely flexible and there for us when we need her in a pinch. Definitely recommend her to take care of anyone's four legged companions".
Matt T.
Tamworth, New Hampshire
"Amazing person and sitter! Bo had such a good time and Stephanie kept me updated the hole time. Highly recommend!!"
David K.
Moltonborough, New Hampshire
"Stephanie was fantastic. Only having had my senior dog a few weeks, I was nervous to leave her. But, after meeting Stephanie my mind was instantly at ease. She was great about corresponding, sharing photos and videos. I will definitely be requesting her in the future."
Larissa M.
Effingham, New Hampshire
"Stephanie was a great cat sitter. She was a good communicator who sent great comforting pictures of her and my cat together which illustrated her relationship with our cat. It reassured us and obviously our cat as well. We would use her [services] again."
Lana O.
Freedom, New Hampshire
"Stephanie was such a delight!! So kind and attentive to our pup while we were gone for the day! She gave him so much love and left us a sweet note that we came home to. I'm so grateful for her help and hope to use her services again in the future."
Amanda M.
Brownfield, Maine
"We are so happy we found Stephanie at Sacred Paws! We have two huskies and preferred someone with husky experience. Having huskies of her own, we were elated she would understand our two. She is wonderful with our pups and they love her. The visits do not just include walks but also fun games and lots of snuggles. Post visit reports include all the details of the visit, plus a bonus of videos and photos. Stephanie is professional, provides fabulous customer service, and most importantly, is simply wonderful with our dogs. Highly recommend Sacred Paws!"
Melissa & Russ M.
Freedom, New Hampshire
"Stephanie was amazing! We had troubles getting to her an she was extremely flexible with timing and assisting us in any way she could. Stephanie is a dog provider hat goes above and beyond any other dog provider I've ever had. I totally recommend her for anyone looking to leave their dogs in a safe beautiful loving place with an extremely caring and generous person. Thank you Stephanie."
Heidi M.
Bronx, New York
"Stephanie was the best dog sitter. She was kind and considerate towards me and she took good care of my puppy. Stephanie is wonderful at communicating with you and sends you multiple pictures throughout the day. I was looking for a dog sitter before going on vacation in Maine. I am very thankful for her help [and] I was able to enjoy my vacation and be not worried about my puppy. I definitely recommend Stephanie. She is great."
Kiran Y.
Boston, Massachusetts
"Highly recommend Stephanie and Sacred Paws! Stephanie has cared for our dog and 2 kitties for over the last 10 months and we are so glad we found her. We feel confident that our pets are in the best of hands with Stephanie. Plus she always sends updates and photos and leaves behind notes and special treats for them. Its clear how much she cares and we are so grateful for that. In fact we are extremely sad to moving out of Stephanie's area of care very soon. We will miss her very much!"
Kari O.
Baldwin, Maine
"I have known Stephanie for a number of years and I can honestly say she is such a special person. She is kind, loving, caring, and generous, not only towards people, but absolutely toward dogs. Her dogs are her babies, extremely well loved and cared for. I know she will treat those she cares for in the same way as she does her own. Stephanie has an extremely easy going and gentle manner. Very patient and extremely smart. She is in excellent physical condition, extremely energetic, having no problem meeting your dogs physical needs. I can't say enough about how wonderful Stephanie is. Anyone leaving their dog with Stephanie will immediately see all of her wonderful attributes and know their dog is being cared for by a safe and loving individual".
Jill D.
Palmer, Massachusetts
"Stephanie has a gift working with dogs!! We rescued Yasha that had been terribly abused, lots of serious medical issues and no trust for humans. Stephanie began working with Yasha, gained her trust, and used Reiki to help Yasha. It was amazing to watch Yasha heal, and learn to trust others at the sanctuary. Stephanie is working with me again to train a 2 year old Doberman that has been rescued, neglected, no training at all, no socialization, with biting issues. Stephanie is very caring and compassionate. Her love for animals is clear. Her knowledge, intuitive ways and responsibility make her fantastic at her job!"
Kimberly P.
Cornish, Maine
"Sometimes I wake up in the morning and wish I could be one of Stephanie's dogs-no joke! I have known Stephanie for years and have always been in awe of how she lovingly cares for her own animals. They eat pure organic whole food...she carefully gives them the best of supplements herbs for their ailments...she brings them to the most beautiful places (parks, beaches, woods, back country roads) so they may run free. She mindfully cares for her own and each dog entrusted into her care as a blessed tribe but also individually----always making sure their mental, emotional, physical, spiritual needs are met...she is the ultimate mother of mothers, healer, helper of all canines and without a doubt I would entrust my animals, my children under her care without hesitation".
Lynnette D.
West Newfield, Maine
"Stephanie is a very compassionate person. She treats all dogs like they are her family. It is amazing to observe".
Betsy S.
Springfield, Massachusetts
"There are very few people I would leave my dog with but Stephanie would be one of them. She is loving, yet very protective of the fur babies in her care. She would have fun with them yet be completely aware of their safety. I highly recommend Stephanie".
Janice W.
Cornish, Maine
"Stephanie is a caring, reliable, kind person. I have known Stephanie professionally and personally for 4.5 years. Her dogs are family and were always welcomed to our activities. They are well cared for, friendly and well behaved. You can trust Stephanie with your dogs, knowing they are safe and enjoy their time in her care. She is a passionate dog caregiver".
Deborah G.
Scarborough, Maine
"Over many years, I've seen Stephanie's love, respect, enthusiasm, and knowledge of animals of all kinds-especially dogs. I can say with certainty that she will care for your pets as they were her own. She is smart, intuitive, and patient-and instantly bonds with new dog friends. You will enjoy her positive attitude and responsible, communicative, and trustworthy nature. You could not leave your four-legged family member in better hands",
John D.
Palmer, Massachusetts