Q: What is your training philosophy?

A: My philosophy is to communicate with animals in a way they understand best, which is positive reinforcement without spoiling them. I also strongly believe in owner education and lessons to insure you can bring out the full potential of your housemate. A trainer that limits their style to one way of training is only limiting what an animal can learn.

Q: What are your qualifications as a trainer?

A: It seems over the past few years more and more dog trainers have popped up. It’s easy for someone to call themselves a dog trainer if they have had a few successes getting a dog to listen to them, but a skilled dog trainer has done the dirty work, made mistakes with their own dogs, and worked with many dogs.
Each Each year, I have trained hundreds of dogs of all breeds and temperaments as well as coached their owners how to better communicate with their friends. At a minimum, a trainer should have a recognized certification and be knowledgeable of all types of dogs and their behaviors. I am a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) and am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the American Kennel Club (AKC), National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), and International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). I regularly attend seminars and workshops to learn from the best in the business and maintain my status through continuous learning. Thus, my education and hands-on experience with dogs qualifies me to provide you and your family member with the best training available.

Q: Do you guarantee your training?

A: Since dogs are living beings, there can never be a guarantee on what an animal will learn. I can however guarantee that you will be delighted and satisfied with my training and my service. Be cautious of programs that guarantee they can fix your dogs behavior for a lifetime; training is a process of continuous improvement.

Q: What type of dog is your specialty?

A: While people and owner training is my specialty, I focus my training on improving lives of family dogs of all breeds. A skilled trainer has experience working with all breeds and types of dogs in different stages of their lives.

Q: How do private lessons differ from group classes?

A: If you are a first time owner, some classes can be a fantastic place to start, especially with young puppies. I have many years of experience teaching group classes and can speak from first-hand experience that classes often leave owners feeling frustrated due to lack of one-on-one time with the instructor Also, classes usually follow a curriculum that might not be relevant to your dog’s needs. Private lessons are tailored and customized to you and your buddy’s unique situation and relationship thus providing you with solutions and strategies to improve your communication.



Q: What will my dog learn while working with you?

A: Before we start any training program, I will sit down with you to discuss current and past concerns with your dog’s behavior. From there, we come up with a customized training plan that is relevant to your dog’s specific needs. Depending on the need, your dog will learn anything from basic obedience to advanced behavior.