Your first training session will include an initial consultation via phone or email, an evaluation form to clarify your desired specific areas of focus, one hour of instruction, learning, and hands-on training in your home or at the location of your choice, a printed instructional worksheet pertaining to the area of focus, and a written training plan and/or homework assignment. It also includes an optional fifteen-minute check-in via phone, text, or email (your choice) one week after the training session to assess your dog’s progress and provide further support and resources if necessary. 

Each additional session includes all of the same features and resources as the initial session, minus the consultation and evaluation form. 

Hesitant? Good on you! I encourage caregivers to ask questions and do their due diligence before booking a session. It’s my hope to help create a world in which trainers are held accountable to follow science-based, humane methods. I’m an open book and will always be fully transparent and honest about my capabilities, areas of expertise, and areas in which I lack knowledge. Learn about my training style here.

“Train on the go” with walks, outings and adventures! Below are the areas of focus for your dog’s outing.

Do you need help managing your dog on a daily basis, but don’t want to leave your precious pup in the hands of corporate walking apps, or dangerous high-volume doggy daycares? Do you want to provide consistent training and enrichment for your dog, but just lack the time? Feeling uncertain about your local dog walker’s capabilities? Your concerns are entirely valid and are shared by responsible dog caregivers everywhere. As a former employee for both local high-volume daycares and corporate walking apps, I wholeheartedly testify that these services can cause, at worst, irreversible harm- or, at best, a variety of bad habits- to your dog. Large-scale “pack walks” in which walkers take out several dogs at a time may seem like fun, but the reality is that aversive, firm handling methods are often used to keep so many dogs walking together safely. Most “pack walk” services do not provide each dog with individualized, one-on-one training and attention.

Why not give your dog an outing where they can experience individualized attention and work on their behavioral skills?

My “train on the go” services offer behaviorally enriched walks, outings, and adventures when a pup’s caregiver is unable to come along. These rates are much lower than my training rates to make consistent outings accessible to canine caregivers. Of course, dog trainers’ greatest challenge and most important factor in changing a dog’s behavior is training the humans. This is why I always include a brief write-up of your dog’s behavior as well as strategies used to manage your dog during the walk. Whenever possible, I include videos of training and activities from the walk; the only exception being when the client’s dog is reactive, and my full focus is needed to be aware of our surroundings, engage with the dog, help them feel safe, and prevent reactions from occurring. Your dog’s safety, comfort, and emotional well-being are always my first priorities. 

• Enrichment walks: What’s life without a little enrichment? On an enrichment walk, I will teach your dog to slow down the pace and engage their mind with fun, interactive games. Instead of building a stamina monster who can’t be fulfilled by walking as fast and as far as possible, enrichment walks exercise your dog’s brain. I encourage sniffing and immersion in our surroundings and play simple games such as basic outdoor scentwork and “find it” by tossing treats into grass, leaf piles, and more, encouraging your dog to focus deeply and engage in activities. I also often bring a long line on enrichment walks, introducing simple trick training, confidence-building exercises, and “doggy parkour” using our surroundings. Tug ropes and other toys are often used as additional reinforcers for highly driven pups. I can combine elements of skill-building walks with enrichment walks.

• Skill-building walks: Does your dog’s leash skills need a little work? On skill-building walks, I can focus on a particular skill you want to build in your dog. Using positive reinforcement and high-value rewards, I can help your dog work towards loose leash walking, pausing before we enter the street, heeling on cue, not jumping on strangers, overcoming reactivity, or working on a solid recall. I often combine elements of enrichment walks with skill-building walks to create the most engaging possible environment for your dog. 

• Decompression walks: Everyone needs to clear their head sometimes. Walking on a long line in a quiet location, decompression walks allow dogs to simply sniff, run freely without fear of getting loose, and “just be a dog” without being asked for obedience behaviors. It is a biological necessity for dogs to engage in natural behaviors such as sniffing, tracking, and exploring the environment through their nose and mouth. Weekly decompression walks can improve your dog’s mental health and well-being. Decompression walks are a fantastic outlet for frustration and anxiety that often stem from a lack of autonomy or a lack of ability to engage in species-appropriate behaviors. Using a slack/long line means that a decompression walk will not negatively impact your dog’s ability to walk on a loose leash; in fact, because there is no tension in the long line, these adventures actually help prevent reinforcing a dog’s pulling habits. Dependent on your preference, I can intermittently practice your dog’s recall skills throughout our walk. I always reward dogs for voluntary check-ins (offering me their attention when it wasn’t requested) on decompression walks. 

• Sniffspot adventure: Is letting your dog off-leash a liability? Are they prone to reactivity, or is their recall simply not perfected yet? Perhaps you struggle to take your dog on public outings because those who choose not to follow leash laws are constantly jeopardizing your dog’s safety. For our reactive canine friends and the humans who care for them, being rushed by strange off-leash dogs is just about the scariest thing that can happen. Sniffspot is an app that allows paid hourly access to completely private, fenced properties for dogs to explore and enjoy. For the price of a standard outing plus the price of an agreed-upon Sniffspot of choice, I will take your dog on a worry-free adventure. If you wish for your dog to be off-leash at the Sniffspot, I must first approve the Sniffspot location to ensure it is fully fenced and safe. Once at the Sniffspot location, we can practice elements of decompression walks, enrichment walks, or skill-building walks; or I can simply let your dog run wild, play hard, and have a blast!

For some, virtual coaching may sound counterintuitive. How can I train a dog if I’m not even present? The reality is that the most vital part of training a dog is actually training the humans who care for them. All dogs are different, and for some, virtual training is simply the best option.

Some dogs are so exceptionally fearful of strangers that a trainer’s presence in the home would be counterproductive. In those cases, I can coach caregivers on how to build their dog’s confidence, using counterconditioning and slow desensitization to prepare their dogs for an in-person session. I might use multiple virtual sessions before meeting these dogs in person to maximize training efficiency, prevent traumatic setbacks, and keep a fearful dog’s home as a safe space.

Have you ever gone to show off your dog’s new trick, and your dog performs completely different when someone is watching? “But I swear, he did it so well a minute ago!” For behavioral issues that pertain to the home itself, a trainer’s presence isn’t always necessary. For dogs who become overexcited in the presence of guests and whose caregivers want to work on a separate issue, a virtual session might be most efficient.

With a virtual evaluation and session, I can get a full-picture account of how the dog behaves in all different settings; at home, on walks, at the vet, at a family gathering.

If you’ve stumbled across me in the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Directory or on social media and simply want to work with me, well, I’m honored!

Virtual sessions include the following:

• A free consultation via phone or email
• One hour of coaching via phone, zoom, text, or email; whichever your preferred and most effective communication style is
• An optional video homework assignment and feedback on your timing, mechanics, and methodology
• A complementary extensive informational guide authored by me, tailored specifically to your dog’s behavioral needs
• An optional 15-minute follow-up to check in on your dog’s progress one week from our session.