Services

I would love to help you build a harmonious relationship with your four-legged friend. With my expertise, education, and passion for dogs, I offer high-quality training solutions tailored to meet each family's unique needs.

As a specialist in fear and aggression, I possess a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding these behavior concerns in dogs, and I employ gentle, positive reinforcement techniques to help your furry friend feel more relaxed and live safely in your home.

I am also well qualified to address simple manners concerns, and I love helping clients find the perfect furry friend too! I take pride in deeply considering each client's life with their dog and offering practical, evidence-based approaches to enrich that relationship.

Services

I would love to help you build a harmonious relationship with your four-legged friend. With my expertise, education, and passion for dogs, I offer high-quality training solutions tailored to meet each family's unique needs.

As a specialist in fear and aggression, I possess a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding these behavior concerns in dogs, and I employ gentle, positive reinforcement techniques to help your furry friend feel more relaxed and live safely in your home.

I am also well qualified to address simple manners concerns, and I love helping clients find the perfect furry friend too! I take pride in deeply considering each client's life with their dog and offering practical, evidence-based approaches to enrich that relationship.

How can I help you?

Dog Adoption and Purchase Consulting

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! I've seen so many cases where the primary "problem" was not the dog's behavior - it was a mismatch between the dog and their guardians. Examples of avoidable mismatches:

Placing a working dog in a companion dog role

Rescuing a dog that has been socialized to a certain environment and placing them in a radically different environment (such as a dog coming from rural Texas to Brooklyn - that dog may be very scared of the city!)

Expecting dogs to eliminate essential breed-specific behaviors (such as barking in guardian dogs or herding in shepherds)

Purchasing a hypoallergenic dog with the expectation that the dog is truly 100% hypoallergenic (they're not!)

Underestimating the importance of "dating" between dogs before adding an additional dog into the home

Other services I can provide to help with bringing a new dog into your home:

Reviewing breeder's and/or rescue's materials to check if you're working with a reputable facility

Helping you choose a puppy from the litter based on early behavior information

Helping you establish reasonable expectations about the likely behavior of the dog you've selected

Creating a Getting Home Plan to help you feel confident about your initial setup (this is especially helpful if you're traveling with your new dog or if you're introducing the new dog to existing pets or kids)

This service can take place in-person or over Zoom. A virtual session allows us to easily review online materials together, which can be very helpful!

How To Get Started

1. Request A Consultation

You'll tell me a little about yourself and ask any questions you have. Then we'll decide if we should work together.

2. Intake Form

You'll complete an extensive intake form to tell me all about you and your hopes for your future pup. This ensures that I can see the whole picture before making any recommendations.

3. Consult (& Beyond)

You'll attend a consultation where we discuss your current plan, your goals, and my recommendations. You have the option to purchase additional sessions if you need more help (these sessions can also be rolled into training sessions when the dog gets home).

One-on-One Manners Training

This service includes:

In-person demonstrations

Live coaching and feedback for you

A written, customized behavior plan for you and your pup

A package with some fun training freebies for you

Ongoing support via email between sessions

One-on-One Manners Training

Your dog is your baby. You're ready to train them, you just don't know what to do. I can help you teach your dog the standard manners, including:

Sit

Lie Down

Stay

Wait

Leave It

Drop It

Come (Recall)

Touch (Hand Targeting)

Loose Leash Walking

Tricks

Crate Training (As Appropriate)

House Training

Or maybe you need interventions for some common dog behavior challenges, such as:

Pulling On Leash

Counter Surfing

Nipping & Chewing

Jumping On People

Puppyhood Potty Accidents

And yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks! Manners training works whether your dog is a brand new puppy, a rescue you recently adopted, or a dog who's been in your home for years.

How To Get Started

1. Request Training

You'll tell me a little about yourself and ask any questions you have. Then we'll decide if we should work together.

2. Intake Form

You'll complete an intake form to tell me all about you and your dog. This ensures that I can see the whole picture before making decisions about your dog's training plan.

3. Consult (& Beyond)

You'll attend an initial consultation where we set goals, discuss what's realistic, and get to work. I'll get you started on the first steps of training, and you'll practice at home. In our follow-ups, we'll level you up and add in new skills.

Please note: I am disabled and cannot drive. I meet with clients in my home or public spaces that are walkable to me in Staatsburg, NY. I generally do not travel to clients' homes. Please contact me if you have questions about this!

One-on-One Behavior Modification

This service includes:

In-person demonstrations

A written, customized behavior plan for you and your pup

Live coaching and feedback for you

A package with some fun training freebies for you

Ongoing support via email between sessions

Communication with your veterinarian, where needed

One-on-One Behavior Modification

You're worried about your dog. You've seen some behavior that doesn't seem totally healthy, and you've wisely decided to get help sooner rather than later. This one's for you! Behaviors and problems I can help with include (but are not limited to):

Fear & Anxiety

Human-Directed Aggression (Resource Guarding, Territorial Aggression, Human Guarding, and more)

Dog-Directed Aggression

Cat/Dog Relationship Issues

Dangerous Predatory Behavior

Trouble with Grooming and Other Care

Other Significant Unusual Behavior

In these cases, our goals will be extremely customized to your individual needs and what is reasonable to expect from the dog. Some example goals include:

Be able to host a dinner party without causing intense fear in the dog

Walk the dog at normal hours of the day without aggressive behaviors

Take the dog to necessary vet and grooming appointments without significant stress-related fallout

Feel that all animals and people in the home are safe and all needs are met

You should know: responsible trainers will never guarantee that any dog can reach any specific outcome. There is ample scientific evidence that, just like humans, dogs can have experiences that permanently alter their brain's functioning. Each dog's prognosis depends on many factors, including their previous experiences, their individual brain and genetic factors, the training and management choices we make for them, and how well those choices are carried out. The best thing we can do is work together to give each dog the best chance at the fullest life possible.

How To Get Started

1. Request Training

You'll tell me a little about yourself and ask any questions you have. Then we'll decide if we should work together.

2. Intake Form

You'll complete an extensive intake form to tell me all about you and your dog. This ensures that I can see the whole picture before making decisions about your dog's training plan. We will also establish a safety plan if needed.

3. Consult (& Beyond)

You'll attend an initial consultation where we set goals, discuss what's realistic, and get to work. Your behavior plan may include training, home management changes, vet care assignments, and more. In our follow-ups, we'll assess progress and make changes as needed.

Please note: I am disabled and cannot drive. I meet with clients in my home or public spaces that are walkable to me in Staatsburg, NY (depending on safety measures needed). I generally do not travel to clients' homes. Please contact me if you have questions about this!

What I Don't Do

Sometimes, a case comes to me that is beyond my professional abilities. If that happens, I'll help you find the right pro for your situation. The most common example:

Separation anxiety is a disorder where a dog experiences significant panic or distress when left alone or when separated from a specific person/people. True separation anxiety often manifests as lengthy distressed vocalizations, otherwise unexplained accidents indoors, extreme property destruction, extreme attempts to escape confinement/the home, and other seriously concerning responses to being left alone.

The treatment of separation anxiety has been well-studied by individuals with the CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer) credential. If you think your dog may have separation anxiety, please contact me for screening. If we find that separation anxiety is likely, I will help you connect with a CSAT.

If your dog has any other problem that doesn't fall within my abilities, I will explain why and help you find the appropriate professional for you.

Pricing

Money spent on your dog's training is an investment in their well-being and the bond you share. My pricing reflects the exceptional quality of education that I bring to the table and the high investment of time that I spend getting to know the details of every single training case I take.