Welcome,

I believe in helping dog guardians build better relationships through positive reinforcement, enrichment, and understanding of canine body language. I offer group classes and privates.

Enrichment: is learning what our dogs’ needs are and then structuring an environment that allows them to meet those needs as much as is feasible. Providing mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise and having the right plan in place with training can improve your dog’s life.

Canine Body Language: Dogs Communicate not verbally but with body language; my focus is to help teach dog guardians how to understand what they are saying. Understanding your dog will help you predict, prevent, and advocate for your dog.

Training Methods: I only use science-based, positive reinforcement methods. Our focus is changing behavior, not just training behaviors.

Our Services

In-Home Private Training: During our private training, we coach you on how to train your dog. While working together, we discuss how dogs learn, how dogs communicate, and how to use positive reinforcement techniques.

Getting a new rescue dog or want to get a rescue dog? With all my years in fostering shelter dogs, volunteering at shelters and all of my dogs being rescued from a shelter there is a lot to know, how to be ready for your new dog, what to expect in the first 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months. Helping shelter dogs and keeping them out of the shelter is my primary reason for being a dog trainer. Reach out so I can help you get ready or pick the right dog for you and your family.

Some reasons to schedule an in-home private training session:

Leash Reactivity, barking, and Lunging during walks.
Preparing your dog to go to the vet or have surgery. How to provide enrichment and training while your dog heals from surgery.
Muzzle Training
Attention barking
Jumping and nipping
Pulling on leash
Body handling issues, not wanting to put on a harness, coat or booties.
Resource guarding (items, food, space, people, etc.)
Bringing home a new rescue, how to get your home ready, and what to expect.
Crate Training, Housebreaking (potty training), and basic obedience.
Fear-related issues.
Want to add more enrichment activities to your daily routine and to help your dog become more confident.

Group Classes

Currently teaching group classes through Unleashed Academy in Evanston.
Basic Obedience
No Nuisance, struggling with naughty behaviors such as jumping, attention barking and so on, this calls is for you.
Coming when Called
Nervous Nelly, a class designed to help your dog build confidence with movement puzzles.
Puppy Kindergarten
Reactive Rover

Puppy Privates

engagement skills
impulse control
leash walking and crate training
building blocks of recall
basic obedience movements: sit, down, stand, look, stay, on, off
environmental and socialization work
building enjoyment in working and training
deconditioning grooming, bathing, nail trimming
(6-week package commitment required)

About Me

I have wanted to work with dogs for as long as I can remember. Right after high school, I started volunteering at an animal hospital, which hired me as a vet assistant for over five years. I also went to college part-time and volunteered at Beardsley Zoo in CT. Life took a different turn, and I became a Construction Project Manager. I worked for companies like Whole Foods, Oak Street Health, and Parachute Home. In the meantime, I volunteered at shelters and fostered many dogs. I currently volunteer at ALIVE Rescue as a volunteer coordinator, I volunteer at One Tail At a Time at their behavior center training dogs, and I’m also volunteering at C.A.R.E in Skokie; I create training protocols and spend my time there helping get the dogs ready for their forever homes.

During Covid, I started to train dogs for my friends and neighbors, and I never looked back. My love for animals extends to everything in my life, and I’ve been vegan for over seven years.

I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Steve Davis, for almost ten years, and we have three wonderful rescue dogs that keep me on my toes and are great demo dogs.

I have my certification through Animal Behavior College. I also have certifications through the Aggressive Dog Master Course with Michael Shakisho, a World-Renowned Aggression Expert, and Emily Strong and Allie Bender in their Enrichment Framework for Behavior Modification Master Class and Completed the Karen Pryor Academy DOG TRAINER FOUNDATIONS IMMERSION.

I’m certified in Pet CPR & First Aid through PetTech CPR, First Aid & Care for Your Pets.

I’m currently attending The Academy for Dog Trainers with Jean Donaldson. It is an intensive two-year behavior and training program. It is known in the training community as the “Harvard School for Dog Trainers.”

In continuing my education, I want to provide my clients with options when training their dogs; each dog is an individual and should be treated as such. What may work for one might not work for the other.

A Constant Source of Support.

Think of me as your dog relationship counselor. I’m all about positive reinforcement, providing support, and helping your family through your learning and training journey.

WHAT YOU GET

One-on-one attention from your personal pet-certified dog trainer
Personalized, actionable training and enrichment plan
Supplemental resources to support your education
Support between sessions via text or WhatsApp
Short Videos of each exercise
Certified trainers who care about your dog’s well-being as you do.
Options for in-person, private dog training at home, or virtual pet training

Pricing

CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS

Attending The Academy For Dog Trainers by Jean Donaldson

Aggression Master Course with Michael Shikashio

Animal Behavior College - Certified Dog Trainer

Enrichment Framework for Behavior Modification Master Class

Member

AKC Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program provides a perfect framework for training your dog to become a polite member of society.

Meet My Furry Family

Matilda

Matilda Is the inspiration for my training business. She taught me so much in her short life; I miss her daily. She was the best dog anyone could wish for, and I’m so lucky I was able to be her dog guardian.
Oban aka "the magical one"

Oban is our perfect dog; we nicknamed him the “magical one” because he is well-behaved, a great teacher to our foster dogs and a great big brother. Oban loves to talk and is very loyal to his family. He is nine years old.
Pink aka "Pinkazoid"

Pink is one massive ball of energy. She is obsessed with the ball and loves to play. She is hilarious. She loves to snuggle and hide under our bed covers. We rescued her from ALIVE Rescue, and she is six years old.
Cranker aka "wrecking ball or my big potato"

Cranker is my foster fail. He came to us very thin, malnourished, with a bad case of mange. He was in rough shape but never dampened his sweet spirit. He is the one who has pushed me to specialize in reactivity and other specific behaviors, as he is leash-reactive and dog-aggressive. He suffers from bad allergies, and that makes him crabby. He is my heart dog. He is three and a half years old.