Services

I offer private in-home behavior modification and dog training services for people and their dogs in the Hudson Valley using positive reinforcement training.

Common behavior challenges include:

  • Greetings
  • Excessive barking
  • Not coming when called
  • Loose leash walking
  • Environmental reactivity
  • “Doesn’t listen”
  • Overall skills deficit
  • Aggressive/fearful behaviors
  • Cooperative care (vet visits and grooming)

Who is my client:

  • Your dog is exhibiting unwanted or concerning behaviors
  • You added a puppy to your household
  • You adopted a dog from a shelter
  • Your dog hit adolescence full-paws blazing
  • You want to improve your training skills and bond
  • You want to improve your dog’s quality of life
  • You are ready to invest the time and effort because your dog’s well-being is important to you

Services include:

  • Behavior modification
  • Puppy training – We can work on socialization, housetraining, life skills and manners such as waiting at doors and greeting people, stress-free vet visits and grooming, foundation behaviors like coming when called and sit, and common challenges such as biting, chewing and running away with your socks
  • Foundation skills for all dogs such as sit, down, coming when called, happy crating, go to mat and so on
  • Train the trainer – I can help you improve your training skills, understand how you take your training from inside your home to outside, better read your dog’s body behavior, create a weekly enrichment routine, help you troubleshoot a behavioral challenge and improve your engagement and bond
  • Cooperative care training (vet visits and grooming)

The Process

Step 1 – Contact me.

Step 2 – I will reach out to you within 24-hours to schedule an initial consultation.

Step 3 – Have faith in yourself and your dog. You can do it! You can meet your goals and have fun along the way! I’m here to support, guide and make the process a positively reinforcing one for both people and dogs.

Step 4 – Enjoy watching your dog transform into the super star you knew he could be! I love hearing clients exclaim in disbelief, “He is brilliant!”

I’ll tell you a secret… Regardless of why you contacted me, your dog will have no idea why I am at your house. Zero. For dogs who don’t love visitors, they are counting the seconds until I leave. But after a few minutes or a few sessions, regardless of whether your puppy is too sweet for words or your dog has been exhibiting less than desirable behaviors, your dog will be convinced that he figured it out!!! I visit your house so we can all play games and have fun! When teaching is done well, learning is fun!

I tailor our training to meet both your dog’s and your goals and needs. We teach your dog new skills and behaviors so that he can better manage and cope in the world. We’ll also explain to him how our crazy human world works and increase your dog’s behavior repertoire so he is able to behave successfully in specific contexts. We can teach him how to greet people, what to do when the front door opens, what his job is when the family sits down for dinner, and so on. You would be surprised how often our dogs are confused and guessing. As your dog’s skills, mastery and successes increase, so does his confidence and his connection to you. Training can feel like magic!

“I have learned that training is a transformative process for both the learner and the teacher. Critical to success in this transformation is developing trust among all involved.”
Ken Ramirez