Dog training is an unregulated industry in the United States. Anyone can say they are a dog trainer. Check their website for education history like courses taken, and certificates and certifications held. You can view my education history here: Credentials and Education.
I completed the Dog Trainer Professional course from the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2018. The course was a combination of self study, written assignments, video diary, and in-person workshops that were evaluated by a KPA faculty member.
In March 2022 I completed the L.E.G.S Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Professional Course earning a certificate of Family Dog Mediator. There was no skill evaluation in this course. It was strictly self study.
Do your due diligence with any potential trainer or behaviorist and be 100% sure they do not use any punishing methods. As of January 2023 the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers still support the use of shock collars. There are trainers certified by the CCPDT that blatantly ignore their code of ethics with no repercussions.
Dog training can be overwhelming – not just for the dog, but for the human, too! Look beyond the traditional ideas of obedience training. Look beyond the idea that it’s all about training. Our dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They need to be able to dog things like run, sniff, dig, chew, forage.
My goal isn’t to train your dog to stop “being bad”. My goal is for them to be more comfortable with their world by trying to find the cause of whatever it is they are struggling with. And for you and your family is to be confident in your skills to manage their behavior, understand they have needs to be met, and what they are trying to communicate with us.
Think: Life skills for you and your dog.
For the best possible results, I use methods that are free of force and punishment. Don’t believe everything you see on TV. Our dogs are not trying to dominate us. They are not peeing on the floor out of spite. They are not trying to be jerks or dramatic. Your dog is trying to communicate with you.
Setting them up for failure to “teach them a lesson” will not solve anything. Punishing your dog will only suppress behavior. Punishment does not get to the root of the problem. It also creates an unhealthy relationship with your dog.
Instead of using punishment based dog training methods, we try to identify the root cause of the problem. Whatever is troubling your dog could be due to a medical issue or a traumatic event. We may also need to work with your veterinarian or a specialist.
While we investigate the underlying issue we make a plan to manage the environment and behavior to set you and your dog up for success. Management can prevent your dog from practicing the unwanted behaviors. Management doesn’t mean keeping your dog in your house with the shades down for the rest of their life.
There is no such thing as the “alpha” in the home – or pack (there isn’t even a pack). This is an old outdated theory that has been debunked, which you can see in the video below. Dr. L. David Mech talks about the terms “alpha” and “beta” wolves and why they are no longer scientifically accurate.
Aversive training methods that still follow the idea that you have to be the boss of your dog will only suppress their behavior instead of teaching them an alternative response. And, it does not do anything to get to the root of the actual problem. What if your dog doesn’t feel well? Or has an injury you don’t know about? Either can affect their behavior. Your dog isn’t trying to be a jerk!
Clickers, food, target sticks, toys, squeakers, stuffed dogs, leashes, harnesses, collars, and stinky boots – to name a few.
I never use tools that will intentionally cause any kind of physical or mental discomfort in your dog.
The best way to contact me is by scheduling a free 15 minute phone call. That way, you are on my schedule have 100% of my attention. I’m a one person business and do not have an assistant. At this time I do not have office hours where I can answer calls and emails. Once we are working together you’ll be able to contact me by email or text.
I appreciate everyone’s understanding.
I am located in East Providence, Rhode Island but I do not have an office open to the public. Training sessions happen at your home or other public space. Virtual sessions using Google Meet are also available to anyone, anywhere.
Pawtucket, East Providence, Providence, and Barrington Rhode Island
Virtual sessions are available to anyone, anywhere.
If your dog is aggressive, fearful, doesn’t like new guests coming into the home, or just over-excited when meeting new people, virtual consults will allow us to talk without upsetting your dog. I don’t need to see the problem behavior.
The initial consultation is our time to go over your dog’s history and discuss your concerns and goals. There is a short presentation on dogs, breeds, behavior, and why they are not trying to be stubborn or spiteful. After that we review the detailed intake form you fill out 48 hours before the consultation. We’ll talk about everything from the first day they came home, how much they eat, what they do for exercise, and the struggles that all of you are having. 90 minutes can go by pretty quick!
Your dog does not even need to be there for the initial consultation. But, if they are, be sure to have something to keep them busy. Your dog may get annoyed if you are not paying attention to them. Give them a long lasting chew or a stuffed Kong (frozen for extra long lasting power!) so we can talk with minimal interruption.
It is highly recommended that all family members are present for the consultation, or at least watch the recording before our first in person meeting. It is important that everyone is on the same page. Especially when dealing with more serious issues like Resource Guarding or Aggression.
Depending on the age and the case any children in the home are encouraged to participate and learn. They are welcome to attend the consultation (and any training sessions.) But be advised, some love it and some find it boring after 10 minutes.
Normally there isn’t any “training” during the consultation, but I do provide resources to help you get started and manage any issues you are dealing with. I recommend that our first in person session is scheduled to take place no more than 10 days after the initial consultation.
Come with an open mind. Just like you and I our dogs have needs. If those needs are not met our dogs let us know, usually by what we consider “acting up”.
Do you work for free? Neither does your dog! You should always be reinforcing your dogs good behavior. As you learn with your dog you will figure out what else reinforces their good behavior. Opening the door to go for a walk is the reward for being calm while you are putting on your dogs harness. No calm behavior, no harness. No harness, no walk. There are many ways to reinforce your dogs good behavior. Food just happens to work really really well.
No. It’s entirely your choice. But I highly recommend you at least try it out. The training clicker is an extremely helpful training tool. When used correctly it doesn’t take long for your dog to figure out that sound means something great is about to happen, which results in faster learning. It is a new mechanical skill for you the human to learn. I always recommend to first timers to just use it at home, with minimal distractions, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
Once your dog has become fluent in the behavior with multiple types of distractions present you really don’t need to use it to mark the behavior. But, after seeing what an asset it is to your training toolkit, you may find yourself keeping one with you just in case you find yourself in a new environment and you want to mark and reinforce your dogs behavior.
Here is a great article about Clicker Training from Whole Dog Journal: Clicker Training 101
An electric fence gives a false sense of security. What happens when your dog gets past the fence? What happens if something that is a threat to your dog gets into the yard and you are out of sight?
The shock of the electric fence may also cause your dog to be scared of leaving the home or caused them to be stressed while in the yard, even without the collar on. I’ve worked with enough of these dogs to know the risk just isn’t worth it.
No. No trainer should make that guarantee. All of our dogs are different. And just because your dog barks or is mouthy, that doesn’t mean your dog is misbehaving or has regressed. Your dog is always learning and you should continue learning with them and enriching their life. This might mean your dog living a different life than what you expected, and that is OK.
As of 1/2025
