Hi, I’m Joe. I am certified through the CCPTD and have been working directly with animals for about 6 years. For the last two years, I have been working as a professional dog trainer and continue to do so. Before that, I worked at a dog daycare as a handler and then as a manager. Prior to that I was a sitter for cats and dogs during my nights and weekends as a college student.
I share this experience because it has informed my perspective and methodology. I have seen the challenges brought by modern life and culture to dog keeping. The vast majority of obstacles I help people overcome are the result of misconceptions, fatigue, or sheer circumstance. Many of the people and dogs I work with simply need permission to make life easier for all parties. The most important part of my philosophy is this:
It is not what we teach dogs that matters, but what they learn.
Dogs do not need discipline or dominance projected upon them. They are not so simple as that. When we exert healthy discipline on ourselves, it creates consistent behavior that allows our animal companions to accurately predict responses in their environment. This is the beginning and end of all training. The details in between are how we tailor training to a given situation to produce the desired consistency.
I utilize reward oriented training. You may have heard this referred to as “positive reinforcement”. I find this term to be imprecise. What you and your dog need to know is that aversive stimuli, AKA punishment, is a rarely used tool in my toolbox. This is for several reasons:
For the humans in the equation, I focus on realistic and attainable goals. I typically give people three exercises to practice with their dog between training sessions me. I will say “If you only have time and energy to do one exercise this week, please do this.” I structure training around prioritized goals, and adjust timetables around progress.
I meet with you and your dog together to assess behavior and discuss goals. The cost of the meet and greet is used as a deposit towards your first training session!
Individual training sessions where we work together with your dog to develop solutions in real time. Includes verbal instruction. A great option for confident keepers who want some extra help and/or outside perspective. Also good for those with irregular schedules.
Six hours of training over the course of several weeks. After establishing goals, we will set a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Training hours can be divided into hour long or thirty minute sessions depending on the client's schedule and the dog's temperament. This package includes written session summaries and training exercises.
Walks are priced per 30 minutes. I do not walk more than one dog at the same time unless they are siblings/housemates and a shared walk is a normal part of their routine. Walks are part of a dog's health monitoring. When I walk a dog, I am looking for changes in their gate, bowel movements, and general behavior. This personal attention is a fantastic opportunity to catch early signs of pain, disease, reactivity, and general welfare
Dogs have a need to exercise both the mind and body just as humans do. Dogs however, do not have books or crossword puzzles. Their need for enrichment is instead satisfied by activities that tap into their instinctive behaviors. I utilize my experience with and knowledge of canine psychology to craft challenges that gives a given dog the outlet they crave. For some this involves scent work. For others, it is satisfying their prey drive with games that simulate hunting. Some dogs simply enjoy the
Pricing is based on time and difficulty. By default, I charge $15 per 15 minutes needed. If a dog is highly reactive, I will recommend training with a goal of minimal stress grooming rather than brute forcing through grooming week after week.
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