Massachusetts & Virtual

Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

I train people. And sometimes dogs.

No, really. Dog training’s biggest secret is that we mostly train other people (shh… don’t tell). I’m here to help you and your dog live your best lives, and that means considering both ends of the leash.

If you’re here for that, awesome! Keep scrolling for info on my services. Or click the button to learn more about me.

What I Can Help With

Behavior (and training) is a study of one, which means what we work on will be customized to exactly what your dog needs.

If you’re not sure, or you don’t see what you’re looking for, please reach out. If I’m unable to help, I will be happy to provide you with appropriate referrals.

Socialization is the process of introducing your puppy to the human world, with all its different people, animals, surfaces, sounds, smells, objects, and places. It involves positive experiences with new things in which your puppy leads the way, with you there to support them.

It also includes cooperative care, happy vet and groomer visits, and just watching the world without interacting with it.

It doesn’t mean forcing your puppy to interact with every person or dog they meet, or making them interact with things they find scary. They need to learn at their own pace, and our job is to keep them safe and secure while they figure things out.

There is something called the critical socialization period, which occurs up until about 16 weeks (~4 months) of age where a puppy’s sociability outweighs fear, making it the best time to introduce them to new things. “Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance, and/or aggression” (AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization).

I can help with socialization and the foundations of positive training, so you can give your puppy the best start possible.

Teaching your dog the skills they need to be good canine citizens, including traditional obedience skills, loose-leash walking, recall, waiting and polite greetings, cooperative care, and fun tricks.

Undesirable behaviors like jumping, mouthing, house soiling, and destructive chewing can be exhausting and frustrating. But these actions are never done out of spite; they’re often the result of miscommunication or unmet needs. I’ll help you understand why the behavior is happening and teach positive, effective ways to guide your dog toward better choices.

Fear, anxiety, or stress can also drive undesirable behaviors—like excessive barking, hiding, reactivity, hyper-arousal, or difficulty relaxing. When a dog feels overwhelmed, their behavior is a coping mechanism, not “bad” behavior. Rather than simply suppressing these symptoms, we’ll work together to address the emotional cause, helping your dog shift from a state of stress to one of security.

There are times when working together with your vet or a vet behaviorist is the best course of action. In these cases, I’ll discuss options with you so you can make an informed decision.

Every dog has unique needs (and sometimes they’re difficult to figure out!). Unmet needs can trigger unwanted behaviors or affect a dog’s overall quality of life. I can help you identify where your dog is thriving and where extra support will make the biggest difference.

We’ll create a Well-Being Profile looking at four key areas—physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive—to shape your dog’s personalized plan.

Whether you feel something is missing or just want to ensure all their bases are covered, the profile is the perfect place to start. When a dog’s needs are met, learning becomes so much easier!

Cooperative care involves using positive reinforcement to teach your dog certain behaviors so that they can choose to be a willing and active participant in their own medical or grooming care. Part of the process is consent, which makes cooperative care both ethical and functional. It gives your dog agency and a means to avoid discomfort. Cooperative care makes at-home care, vet visits, and groomer visits less stressful.

Examples of cooperative care behaviors include:

  • Bathing
  • Grooming
  • Nail trimming
  • Teeth brushing
  • Ear cleaning
  • Muzzle wearing
  • Tick checking and removal
  • Vet visit preparation (e.g. exam handling, injections, blood draws)

Happy vet and groomer visits are short trips when your dog doesn’t have an appointment. These are stress-free trips designed to build a positive experience with the staff and facility.

Socialization for dogs who may have missed it during their critical period, who were undersocialized, or socialized poorly. These dogs often exhibit fearful, anxious, or aggressive behaviors.

Social remediation generally involves two aspects: changing how your dog feels and building skills that will help them handle difficult situations.

Bringing home a new dog is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming! I’ll help you puppy-proof your home, pick the right supplies, create a smooth routine, and navigate the first few weeks—so you can skip the stress and focus on bonding.

Strong relationships are built on clear communication, mutual trust, and secure attachment.

I’ll help you foster a stronger bond with your dog by teaching you how to:

  • Read your dog’s body language
  • Communicate more effectively with them
  • Reduce frustration on both ends of the leash
  • Play with your dog in a way that’s enriching for them
  • Become the secure base your dog turns to for reassurance
  • Provide more choice and agency in their lives

Connecting the Dots of Well-Being

Learning happens most effectively when our dogs’ needs are met and we use evidence-based training methods.

Why Well-Being Matters

Meeting your dog’s needs contributes to their overall well-being, making learning possible and training more effective. A fearful, anxious, or stressed dog is focused on survival, not learning.

Many people want to skip straight to the learning (aka training). I get it! It’s the fun, satisfying bit where you see your hard work pay off. But without a foundation of well-being, your dog will struggle—not just with learning, but in all aspect of their life.

Because well-being is a fundamental part of learning, we’ll create a Well-Being Profile during the intake process. If I notice aspects that could use extra support, they’ll be included in your dog’s training plan. And if you’re interested in boosting your dog’s well-being without a particular training goal in mind, I’ve got you covered!

Well-being, coupled with best practices in applied behavior analysis and learning theory, will ensure the learning process is positive, effective, and ethical for both you and your dog.

Training & Behavior Services

Choose from Day Training or Client Coaching (or a mix). Both are structured around you and your dog’s unique needs and goals.

In-Person sessions available in Worcester County, MA.

Day Training

I train your dog directly.

Perfect for busy people who would like professional training and behavior support.

✓ In-person sessions
✓ Initial consultation
✓ Well-Being Profile
✓ Personalized plan
✓ Between-session support
✓ Skill transfer sessions

Client Coaching

I coach you while you train your dog.

For the pet parent who prefers a more hands-on approach. I provide coaching and support while you work with your dog.

✓ In-person or virtual
✓ Initial consultation
✓ Well-Being Profile
✓ Personalized plan
✓ Between-session support

Not sure which approach is best for you? No problem—we can discuss each option at your initial consultation.

What to Expect

Step 1: Get Started

Get in touch with me via my contact form!

For training/behavior service requests, I’ll reach out if I have any follow-up questions. Otherwise, if we’re a good match I’ll send you my service agreement, intake questionnaire, and a link to book your initial consultation.

For discovery call requests, I’ll send an email with a link to book.

Step 2: Initial Consultation

The initial consultation is so I can get to know you and your dog, understand your needs and priorities, and devise a suitable training plan. We’ll review your intake questionnaire, discuss follow-up questions, and go over the Well-Being Profile.

I’ll provide you with suggestions for immediate management or training, so you can start right away. We’ll also decide what training approach works best for you and schedule your sessions.

  • Your personalized plan, which I’ll send within 1-3 days of the initial consultation. Plans generally include sections on management, training, and enrichment.
  • Handouts and instructions to assist you in implementing the plan.
  • Record sheets to help you keep track of data so we can assess progress and make adjustments if needed.

Step 3: Training in Action

We get to work implementing the training plan, whether that’s through Day Training, Client Coaching, or a mix of both. If you choose Day Training, we’ll be doing some skill transfer sessions where I review what your dog and I have been working on, and then show you how to continue/maintain their new skills.

Along the way, we’ll be recording data to help us assess how your dog is progressing, and making adjustments as needed.

Once we’ve completed a session package, you’re welcome to book another package or individual sessions.

Rates

Cost Cost Per Session
Initial Consultation (90 mins) $175 –
4-Session Package $480 $120
8-Session Package $920 $115
12-Session Package $1,320 $110
Individual Session $125 $125

Plus applicable taxes.

Get Started

Head on over to my contact form to get in touch, whether you’re interested in services, have questions, or want to book a discovery call.