Waggy's Dog Training Links
This page was designed as a reference page so you may review the different dog trainers philosophies and techniques. We are always expanding our list of excellent dog trainers. If you have had a personal experience with a good dog trainer, please contact us. We'd love to add them to our list.
Pawsitive Rewards Dog Training
Amanda Mills
pawsitiverewards.amanda@yahoo.com
(916) 899-8641
Associations, Awards:
I am certified in Dog Training and Behavior Counseling through the San Francisco SPCA and am a registered Veterinary Technician who has been in the veterinary field for over 12 years. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Biology from UC Davis, which I obtained in 2003. I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), a member of the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (SVBT), and a member of The Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors (ACABC).
Training Methods:
My training methods are based on the scientific principles of how dogs learn. Dogs effectively learn to do more of the things we want and less of the things we dont want through consequence. In learning by consequence dogs are rewarded for the behaviors we want, like sit. The reward can be food, play, access to something like dogs or people, or pets and praise. To teach dogs to do less of the things we dont want, like jumping up on people, they are taught through negative punishment, in which the unwanted behavior causes the removal of what the dog wants, like access to people think of this as a time-out. When it comes to fear and aggression it is usually best for dogs to learn by association, in which they learn to correlate people, places, dogs, objects, and events that may trigger fear and/or aggression with something positive (like food, play, or pets and praises). With this training they learn that everything is okay and therefore are less fearful and/or aggressive. My training methods never use physical punishment, such as choke chains, pinch collars, shock collars, yelling, or alpha-rolling. The type of training I use helps to build a strong bond and a positive, rewarding relationship between you and your companion pet.
My main focus and specialty is puppy training. By starting training early while puppies are still young you can prevent behavior problems before they start. Beginning puppy training around the age of ten weeks is ideal as waiting until the puppy is older will result in missing the critical socialization age. I teach puppy preschool for puppies ten to sixteen weeks of age at Blue Ravine Animal Hospital, a safe and sanitary environment. I also conduct private obedience training sessions for dogs four months of age and older called Good Dog Private Training, which takes place in your home. Lastly, I offer in-home behavior counseling sessions, helping you with anything from barking, to housetraining, to fear or aggression. My goal is to help you understand your canine companion and to give you the tools to have a well-adjusted, well-behaved dog that will be an enjoyable part of your family and your life.
Recommended Books:
How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks by Ian Dunbar
Dont Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
Canine Performance Dog Training
Ron Gully
www.canineperformance.net
(916) 992-8925
Philosophy:
Dog training is not an exact science. Every dog is different and has different drives. Therefore, the trainer must have the knowledge and feeling to mold the training to the individual dog. Timing, consistency and motivation are the big three of dog training.
Canine performance offers private lessons in home or at our private training field.
Some extra info on Ron:
I am a retired police k-9 handler. I have been training, showing and involved in dog sports for 20 plus years. (my competition accomplishments are on my web page).
Recommended Books:
How Dogs Learn by Burch and Bailey
Purely Positive Training by Shelia Booth
FabDogz
Kris Morin & Annie Bailey, Personal Dog Trainers & Behaviorist
www.FabDogz.com
Kris@FabDogz.com
Annie@FabDogz.com
(916) 768-6849 Sacramento Area
(707) 430-1104 Bay Area
*Member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Our in-home training is based on Leadership and Dog Psychology. We address issues from house training to aggression and everything inbetween! We come to your home, assess your dog's behavior, and discover your needs. We educate you on what changes need to be implemented, demonstrate how to apply training techniques to get instant results, and verify that you are able to get those results with your dog before we leave! We teach you how your dog thinks; we teach you proper leash techniques, effective timing, and ways to shape your dogs behavior with praise and corrections your dog will understand. We give you a step by step plan to follow that will establish you as the clear leader and promote a relationship with your dog that is based on respect, trust, and affection. We have developed our programs using both our knowledge and experience, as well as the studies and research of the generations of trainers and behaviorists who came before us. Our programs will give you confidence, a plan, immediate and lasting results!
Recommended Books:
The Dogs Mind: Understanding Your Dog's Behavior by Bruce Fogle
All books by Cesar Millan
All books by Patricia McConnell
(Our book recommendations truly reflect that our philosophy and methods are a marriage of Dog Psychology and Positive Reinforcement come together!)
All Star Dog Training
Leah Ruiz
www.allstardogtraining.net
allstardogtraining@gmail.com
(916) 338-0744
All Star Dog Training Mission
With positive reinforcement, create and nurture trusting relationships between humans and pets, without resorting to methods that may be aggressive or produce fear.
We utilize Levels Training, which is a 16 week course with 4 levels of classes. In each level, you will learn and master the steps necessary to move onto the next level. There is no time schedule per level, so you and your dog will move at your own pace. This allows you to understand and retain information as you are ready. It also provides you and your dog the necessary time to learn and build a mutually respectful relationship. We train weekly at Howe Park in Sacramento, and arrangements for private in-home sessions can be arranged if necessary.
About the Trainer:
Leah Ruiz, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is a co-developer of Levels Training, as well as owner and founder of All Star Dog Training. She has been a trainer since 1991, and regularly attends educational seminars to increase her understanding of canine behavior. Her positive methods of training have been successful on all breeds and demeanors of dogs. She has had exceptional success with dogs seen as aggressive, dominant, or just problematic.
Recommended Books:
Why Does My Dog? by John Fisher
Dog Problems by Carol Lea Benjamin
Pampered Pups Dog Training
Laurie Maris
Located in Lincoln
www.pamperedpupstraining.com
lauriemaris@gmail.com
(916) 300-2989
Volunteer trainer at Placer SPCA.
I have been trained in several methods so I try to match the method with the dog and owner or use a combination that will work. My favorite method is using praise to motivate a dog. Each situation is different and I always keep that in mind. My main goal is to teach the owners how to train and motivate their dog and ultimately be their leader. It isn't worth a penny if I can train the dog and get them to do what I want, I need to make sure that the owners and family can do it as well. I am mobile so I go to the owner's homes, then if necessary we can meet at a park etc for more advanced or distraction training. I love working with people one on one in their homes because that is where the problems occur. My speciality is general obedience, leadership training and problem solving, and my customer service is like no other. I truely care about every dog and owner I train and it is most important to me that they succeed!
Recommended Books:
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
Work Wonders Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones by Tom Lonsdale
(I make sure I talk to every client about nutrition).
The Inner Dog
Dawn Capp, M.S.
Sacramento, CA
www.theinnerdog.com
bark@theinnerdog.com
(916) 641-3388
Board Member, ADOA; Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
The Inner Dog trainers perform private evaluations and training in-home and out in the field. We do not have a facility, rather our trainers go out to clients' homes and work with their dogs both in the home and outside in the real world. We emphasize positive training methods but incorporate mild corrections if needed, as appropriate. We offer private temperament evaluations, training, problem-solving, canine good citizen training and testing, service dog training, and a service for homes with children and dogs.
Recommended Books:
Culture Class
by Jean DonaldsonAt Your Service available at www.chako.org
4PAWS UNIVERSITY
Lisa Mullinax, CPDT
Mandy Kennedy, CPDT
Serving Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville and surrounding areas
www.4pawsu.com
training@4pawsu.com
(916) 549.0364
About Us:
Certified Pet Dog Trainers, Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
4Paws University offers practical positive training solutions. Training and behavior problems are solved using positive training methods, without aversive techniques or equipment that can result in the escalation of problem behaviors. Dog training is an unregulated industry, so it is important that dog owners choose a professional carefully. Our trainers have earned their certification through an independent organization, proving their knowledge and experience. We are recommended by the Sacramento SPCA, local veterinarians and fellow trainers. We offer group classes in McKinley Park in Sacramento (indoor facilities available during the winter) and private lessons throughout the Sacramento and Folsom areas and specialize in behavior problems of all kinds, including aggression and fear.
Recommended Books:
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
When Pigs Fly, Training Success With Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion
Recommended DVD:
The Language of Dogs by Sarah Kalnajs
Recommended TV Show:
Its Me or the Dog on Animal Planet
D.O.G.S., Diensthunde of Greater Sacramento
Charis Tawney
Folsom, CA
www.norcaldogs.com
trainers@norcaldogs.com
(916) 316-5776
We are an active member of The Western States Police Canine Assoc., The California Narcotics Canine Assoc., and the APDT (The Association of Pet Dog Trainers).
Our trainers are certified California P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training) K-9 Evaluators.
We have over fifteen years of training experience with pets, companion dogs, and working dogs such as sport and police dogs -from large to small and everything in between. Our motivation to work in this field was inspired by our love for dogs and our continuing amazement of what dogs are capable of learning. We assist in the development of the relationship between handler and their canine partner, as well as the family and their devoted pet. We currently offer private obedience and behavior modification in Folsom and El Dorado Hills, as well as the development and maintenance training of police dogs. We are currently the trainers for seven law enforcement agencies in Northern California.
Recommended Books:
Obedience in Drive by Sheila Booth
Don't Shoot The Dog by Karen Pryor
CompliantK9: Training & Life Skills for Your Dog
Ann King, Certified Dog Obedience Trainer
www.CompliantK9.com
info@compliantk9.com
(916) 221.8833
Member of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers)
CompliantK9 uses leadership theory and positive-reinforcement training to help dog owners build a bond of trust and cooperation with their dog.
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Training is based on the following principles:
- Leadership
- Positive Reinforcement of Alternate Behaviors
- Setting the Dog Up to Succeed
- Consequences
- Consistency
CompliantK9 currently offers group classes and private in-home sessions. Coming soon: CompliantK9s board-and-train. Stay tuned.
Recommended Books:
Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog by Dr. Ian Dunbar
The Other End of the Leash by by Patricia McConnell, PhD.
Our Furry Friends & Canine College Programs
Training with Respect & UnderstandingCherie Maitland
www.dog-b-good.com - Programs at the Training Center in El Dorado County
www.CanineCollege-California.com - Individualized Programs in Your Own Neigborhood - Sacramento & El Dorado Counties
trainer@dog-b-good.com
530-622-PUPS or 1-888-DOG-B-GOOD
Member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers
I have an indoor training facility where I offer small group puppy and obedience classes. In addition other classes are offered including Agility For Fun, Rally Obedience, Helping the Cautious Canine, Feisty Fido, Intermediate Off-Leash Skills, Reliable Recall, Preparing for the Canine Good Citizen and more. Other experienced instructors also offer Canine Massage, Basic First Aid and CPR for Dog Owners, Disaster Preparedness, Canine Freestyle and Competition Rally Obedience. Well supervised drop-in playgroups, doggie day care and Yappy Hour are other programs available at Our Furry Friends. In addition, in-home sessions are available plus private behavioral appointments for more serious issues.
I help people understand things more from the dog's perspective, so that they can more consciously and effectively influence their dog's behavior. While I believe that we need to be in charge and be our dog's guide and leader, this leadership approach should not include misguided bullying that people sometimes fall into when following their understanding of Dominance Theory. Any being - dog or human - who respects another, still has to be taught how to do a certain task and to deal with their own emotions and challenges. In addition to being a clear, loving and firm leader and following through on discipline, which is different from starting a fight with a dog, the Resource Theory approach is extremely effective in training good manners. We have control of almost everything our dogs want and a dog owner can impact their dog's access to these desired things based upon their dog's behavior and performance using a "Learn to Earn" program. For example, a sit and eye contact earns dinner or an open door, a sit without pawing, nudging or barking can be rewarded with attention and petting. A loose leash walk is rewarded with forward movement, a respectful sit and wait earns the toy or the toss of the ball.
Recommended Books:
Any of Patricia McConnell's books including: How to Be the Leader of the Pack . . . and Have Your Dog Love You For It! and Feisty Fido
Dog Training For Owners
Kelvin Limm
2201 Francisco Drive, Suite 140-102
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
916-939-3534
Experience:
Training Supervisor, Man-Dog Team Patrol Service
Professional Trainer since 1984.
Philosophy:
There are many philosophies and methods used in dog training today. Some philosophies advocate having a professional train your dog, while others boast "secret" training tools. Dog Training for Owners is not simply your run-of-the-mill trainers who receive certificates from a dog trainer's course and then attempt to "train" your dog in a classroom setting full of other dogs and owners with a wide range of issues. From more than 25 years of hands-on training experience ranging from basic obedience to advanced protection training, we've learned that the key to success in any dog training program begins with the owner or handler of the dog. Our philosophy is that a dog owner is the best vehicle through which reliable results are achieved in the shortest amount of time. Thus, rather than train only your dog, we emphasize training YOU as a dog owner. Our experience also shows that a strong bond between a dog and its owner pays big dividends when it comes to training. We'll show you one-on-one how to work with your canine companion to strengthen the bond between the two of you, and how to use this bond to motivate your pal to want to learn. Think about that for a moment. Would you rather learn the things you HAVE to learn or the things you WANT to learn? We'll also show you how to use motivation to effectively communicate with your buddy, and pave the way for solid training. These skills, coupled with you becoming your dog's best friend, will form the foundation for sound training. In just a few sessions you can quickly learn the principles that set the stage for training success. And, that success will make training what it should be - fun for you and your best friend!
Specialities:
Dog Training For Owners specializes in obedience, behavior and protection training in a one-on-one environment.
Recommended Books:
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend by The Monks of New Skete, Training the Hard to Train Dog by Peggy Swager
