What began with learning to train my own dogs, led to a hobby of helping friends and neighbors with theirs, and then to a full-fledged career, all of which has kept me involved with canines for the last 20 years. Seeing the unconditional devotion dogs give to their owners, and the bond between dog and parent grow, gratifies me immensely.
More recently, The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession, has certified me as CCPDT-KA (Knowledge Assessed) for my mastery of humane, science-based dog training practices. In order to sit for this 4-hour exam I had to first complete at least 300 hours training dogs in class or privately.
The training I offer is customized to fit your lifestyle in the comfort of your own home. I use Reward-Based Training, which has been proven to be the fastest and easiest method to train animals, and we work on the behaviors in a way that meets your training goals. I teach all the basic commands and also use dog games for mental stimulation and confidence building which makes it a fun way for you and your dog to connect the training to your everyday lives. All dogs are different, even within the same breed, so every dog is treated with that in mind.
The basic curriculum is designed for 6 sessions but will be customized based on your dog's current situation, and your relationship/behavior goals with your dog. We meet once per week and you receive a detailed handout of the lesson we completed so you will have a reference on how to practice with your dog. Each session builds on the last and we take them one at a time with no packages to purchase. You can stop anytime you wish, as there is no commitment to me, only to your own dog. You will also be provided with unlimited free phone and email support for the life of your dog! If you finish the whole program you will get, free of charge, an additional brush-up lesson that you can take at a later time of your choosing.
I have trained many different breeds and the appreciation I receive from their owners for showing them the way to a better life with their companions, and the knowledge that this dog will be staying put in his new forever home, is why I do this.