Training Resources
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists can provide effective, scientific, state of the art help to understand, prevent, and manage your pet’s behavior.
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Trainers
It is important to find trainers that understand how to work with fearful dogs. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, but it doesn't mean that they have studied the current literature on dog behavior. A bad trainer can make matters worse for you and your dog.
These are trainers that have experience working with fearful dogs and understand how positive reinforcement is used to help a scared dog learn new behaviors and become more confident.
I welcome feedback on any trainer on this list. If you are a trainer and would like to be included on this list, or know a trainer who should be, please contact us!
California
Amy Cook-Oakland
Go Fetch Dog Training- San Francisco
Pawsitive Tails-San Francisco
Braveheart Dog Training-San Leandro
R+ Dog Training-Davis
C.H.A.C.O Dog Training-Berkeley
BADDogsInc Family Dog Training & Behavior- Riverside County• Inland Valley • San Bernardino County • Eastern Orange County
Paws and Praise Dog Training- East Bay, Oakland, Alameda, Walnut Creek, Berkeley
The Sophisticated Dog- West Side of Los Angeles, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica & Westwood
Whole Dog Training- San Diego
Colorado
Bolder Dogs-Boulder
Waggin's West Dog Training-Denver
Maryland
Pat Miller-Hagerstown
Laurie Luck-Mount Airy
Special Paws-Gaithersburg
Massachusetts
Jill Haley Rose-Westfield
Liz Shaw-Belmont
Ann Dupuis-Greater Boston, Metrowest, and
Metrosouth/South Shore
Marjie Alonzo-Somerville
Vera Wilkinson-Brookline
Dr. Amy Marder-Boston
Kim Melanson-Boston
MSPCA -Boston
Terri Bright- Boston
Jo Jacques- Greater Boston & North Shore
Caryl-Rose Pofcher-Amherst
Leea Foran-Lenox
Carolyn Barney- Groton
Minnesota
Wallflower Class-Golden Valley
Missouri
Kim's Canines- St. Charles
Nevada
Robin Baizel-Reno, Sparks
New Hampshire
Dee Ganley-White River Junction
Sharon Winant-Monadnock Humane Society-Keene
Anne Firestone-Acworth
New Jersey
Sit and Stay- Bergen, Hudson, Union, Morris, Passaic and Essex counties
New York
Viviane Arzoumanian-Brooklyn
Jamie & Stephen McKay-Westchester
Peg Munves-Greater New York City area, including all five boroughs, Fairfield Country and Westchester County.
Rewarding Behaviors-Binghamton NY
Give Paw Dog Training-Brooklyn & Metro NY
Oregon
Country Dog City Dog- Portland
Companion Animal Solutions- Portland
Pennsylvania
Ali Brown- Lehigh Valley, Allentown and Bethlehem
DeDe Crough- Glen Moore
Faithful Companion Dog Training- Lancaster County
SilverSkyk9- Lancaster County (will travel as needed)
Texas
Be Kind To Dogs Training-Dallas
Utah
Anna Bettina Johnson-Salt Lake City
Vermont
Deb Theriault-Jacksonville
Bill Grant- Putney
Virginia
Kari Koulmentas-Williamsburg
Washington
Ahimsa Dog Training-Seattle & Bellevue
Companion Animal Solutions- metro Seattle & Vancouver
Kathy Sdao- Tacoma
West Virginia
Kitty Bowman-Falling Waters
Canada
Ontario
Lucinda Glenny-Markham
Ruth Wozniak-Newmarket
More Resources
You can also find a list of positive trainers here.
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers provides lists of certified trainers around the world. The Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers also lets you search for trainers in your area.
Questions to ask a trainer
How would you describe the type of training methods you teach?
You want to hear 'positive reinforcement', 'relationship based' or 'clicker training' somewhere in their answer. These are not the only ways to help scared dogs but are less likely to cause your dog's behavior to become worse, as can happen if dogs are punished for their behavior.
What was the last training book you read? What did you think of it?
Do an online search and see who wrote the book and when it was written. Read it yourself.
Who is your favorite trainer? Which trainers have you learned the most from?
Names of well-known positive reinforcement trainers incude; Patricia McConnell, Jean Donaldson, Ian Dunbar, Pat Miller, Karen Pryor.
Avoid Cesar Millan enthusiasts (most professional trainers do not believe he's as wonderful as TV audiences do).
How long have you been training dogs?
Do you have experience working with fearful dogs? Have you been successful helping these dogs?
Fearful Dogs

