I think that labels are a double-edged sword, and that while they can help identify community, they also can become toxic. I am a positive reinforcement based trainer - to me, that means that I believe that positive reinforcement is the best way to influence behavior and the least harmful to our relationship with our animals. I do not use “tools” or aversives in my training. I believe the most important thing in a training relationship is being kind and clear, and to foster a sense of security and companionship on both ends of the leash.

The important questions for pet professionals, in my opinion, are:

1.) What happens when my dog does something right? When training with me, your dog will be set up to make correct choices, and be rewarded for making them. A reward may mean food, a toy, or access to something they want.

2.) What happens when my dog does something wrong? In the moment, we act as the guardians of our dogs and remove them from a situation where they are making a wrong choice. Within a training plan, it means that we asked for something beyond the scope of the dog’s abilities - something going wrong is a reason to re-evaluate the skills we’ve taught and the challenges we’ve presented.

3.) Is there a less invasive approach to solve the problem behavior? Quite possibly! I’m committed to continuing education and certainly don’t think I know everything yet. I am always adjusting and fine tuning my methods. In the moment, I want to use the method that is least invasive to both you and your dog’s lives - and the answer to what that approach is may differ both from dog to dog, but also from human to human. I want to find a behavior solution that is sustainable and positive for everyone involved.

Training methods inform what’s valued in a program. When looking for a trainer, consider the answer to those three questions and how they align with your philosophy and the relationship you would like to build with your dog.

There are wonderful trainers out there who use only positive reinforcement - who may be “more positive” than I am in what they consider limiting or aversive. There are also phenomenal trainers who use corrections in their training, and do so fairly and to great effect.

You should always feel comfortable asking for solutions with your trainer, and comfortable expressing what will or will not work with your family to your trainer.

My certifications currently include CPDT-KA and FFCP.

CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed) means that I have accumulated a number of hours of hands-on teaching, coaching, and training, as well as passed a written test on behavior theory, husbandry, and training skills. It also means I commit to continuing education that has been vetted as valuable to the CCPDT to maintain my certfication. I have signed agreement with the organization to pursue the least invasive, minimally aversive training route in any given training situation.

FFCP (Fear Free Certified Professional) means I have completed a course and assessment on how to reduce Fear, Anxiety, and Stress during training visits as well as veterinary, husbandry, and care tasks.

In pursuance of continuing education requirements, I have also taken a Master Course regarding Dog Aggression, as well as courses on kids and dogs from Family Paws and The Dial Guide.

My goals over the next year is to apply and confirm my IAABC Behavior Consultant certification to codify my skills and focus on behavior consultation and modification.

Private Sessions start with a “Session Zero” or a consultation session, held virtually over Zoom. This session serves two purposes - first, it allows for time to focus on the human side of the team. Once I’m in the picture and working with your dog, most dogs are preoccupied with me, one way or another! The Session Zero gives me a chance to devote 100% of my focus to you - your experiences with your dog, your goals, and your challenges.

The other advantage the Session Zero gives me is the ability to introduce a behavior or two virtually. You can work on the behavior on screen with your dog in the environment they feel most comfortable. Ideally these skills will be easy to learn and implement, and give you a plan for immediate relief from the challenges you’re having. It also starts the training relationship with you and your dog, so when I come into the picture, I’m just a little less exciting and they can focus on working with their most important person - you!

Privates are scheduled Tuesday-Thursday in the midday and evening. They are generally held at Rockburn Park unless otherwise arranged with your trainer. You’ll be able to view your scheduler upon completion of your Session Zero, but generally speaking privates book anywhere from two-six weeks in advance, depending on the time of year.

Following your Session Zero, you’ll receive a personalized webpage with resources specific to your dog and your behavior goals. You’ll also receive a recommendation for further training - whether that’s one of our training packages, group classes, or something more self-led like our online courses with periodic coaching sessions. Once you’re signed up with continued in person sessions, you’ll also have access to an orientation video geared towards your challenges.

Following each in person session, your website will be updated with video and written recaps of your session and what your homework is to prepare for your next lesson. It will also include any additional resources, services or products that might be recommended as part of that session.

Generally I recommend setting up a series of consecutive sessions all at once - the more consistent you can be, the more progress you will make, and the more valuable subsequent sessions will become! That said, before scheduling, take a look at your calendar - if you have busy weeks coming up, or periods of time you know you won’t have availability to train, consider adding more time between sessions to give you the time you need to practice.

Our packages are designed for your busy lives - including self-led material, day training, and private training elements to make sure that you can keep things steady even if your personal schedule needs to shift.

Board and trains can be a difficult commitment - not only is it emotionally challenging to send your pup to camp for weeks, but it’s also difficult as a trainer to be able to be fully transparent about what you can expect at the end of their stay. It is unethical, and irresponsible, to guarantee results from any training service. Dogs are individuals, and like any other individual, respond to unique environments with unique behaviors. Their behavior is influenced not only by their training but also by genetics, emotions, physical sensation, and many other factors that cannot be unilaterally controlled for.

What you can expect from a board and train is that your dog will receive consistent, kind, clear training to improve their skills and be successful in the situations and behaviors you are looking for changes with. You can expect that you will receive feedback on that progression - what skills worked best for them in what scenarios, how they developed those skills, and where they currently still need handler support - throughout and at the end of their stay. You can also expect support from your trainer after their stay in the form of follow ups and feedback to allow you to transition those behaviors to your home environment.

Generally speaking, I recommend one week stays for dogs looking to work on one (potentially two) specific manners challenges - either behaviors (like recall or go to place) or situations (like loose leash walking or patio manners). Two week board and trains are most likely to be recommended for more comprehensive manners training - 3-5 behaviors or situations. For behavior modification training (fear, anxiety, reactivity), I will likely recommend a 3 week or longer stay. Let me know what you’re looking for and we can have a more personalized discussion about what fits your dog’s needs and your training budget!

Boarding is ideal for a shorter stay or a dog for whom you don’t have specific behavior challenges or goals during their stay. While they will attend Heroes’ Guild day school and I’m happy to work on a particular behavior of your request, the daily focus is on the mental and physical enrichment of a school day, and not specific behavior or skill progression. Consider the training sessions in day school part of an extended enrichment plan for your dog during their stay.

Meanwhile, a board and train program means selecting a set of skills or training goals and providing focused pursuit of those goals alongside physical and mental enrichment. The details you’ll receive, coaching you’ll access, and training follow up you’ll use to transition those skills is all within a board and train program. If you’re looking to address specific behaviors, board and train should be your focus!

Absolutely! Especially for dogs who are nervous or worried about people, or if you as the owner just want to see how I work and interact with your dog, you can sign up for a “meet and greet” training session - a Mini Game Session - prior to your dog’s acclimation stay. These 30 minute meet and greet training or acclimation sessions are available to clients who would like to work in person before committing to other packages like Board and Train. Mini Game sessions take place at Rockburn Park in Elkridge or at Liz’s home in Ellicott City unless otherwise confirmed and start at $85/session.

I also encourage every interested client to review my about me section, my blog, and my social media to get a picture of what my training methodology, training space, and training approach looks like, and to ask me any questions you have so you feel totally comfortable bringing your pet to stay!

I’m so excited about the board and train packages I’m able to offer. Each board and train starts with an acclimation stay. The cost of a trial overnight is $105, and assuming the stay is successful the cost of the overnight is credited to their longer stay.

Following the acclimation stay, we will set up a brief (20-30 minute) Zoom session to discuss your stay goals, as well as the dates and length of your stay. You’ll also be furnished with a questionnaire to document those behavior goals in detail to reference during the call.

During your dog’s stay, you will receive photos and video updates of your dog - some social outings and some training. You will also receive the link to your personalized webpage with some initial resources and behavior plan. This site will be updated at the end of your dog’s stay with progression videos of the behaviors they worked on with feedback and homework! You will also receive access to a virtual course most relevant to your behavior goals.

Upon pick up, you’ll also get your very own Campaigns “loot pack” with some of my top recommended products.

All stays include a virtual “handoff” session to review the webpage and behaviors that your dog learned, as well as an in person follow up session to coach you through specific behavior scenarios. Stays of 3 weeks or more also include a mid-stay session to review your dog’s progress and adjust goals as needed.

Acclimation stays benefit everyone! For your dog, they have a chance to meet me and get accustomed to the space - the smells of the training room and the other dogs, the sound of our family upstairs, and the experience of being in and out of the crate. Most importantly, they learn that when they stay here, their people come back soon!

For me, I ensure that your dog is comfortable in my space, and responsive to training even if they are a little nervous. For you, you get to see them adjust to the new space, feel out your comfort in having them stay here, and can observe them after they get home. Having that overnight goes a long way towards making sure everyone is set up for a comfortable longer stay.

For some dogs, they may benefit from more acclimation time than a single overnight. I will make those recommendations individually following their initial trial stay. Please be aware that, after that initial trial stay, the cost of further stays cannot be credited to a longer stay.

As a dog trainer, I’m able to enjoy a good amount of flexibility in my schedule, so there are some days where the routine doesn’t apply. That said, there’s a general shape of the day you can expect to see with your pup:

I am usually up with the dogs (both my house dogs and boarders) around 7:00am. We will do short bathroom walks along the creek behind my house, and will have breakfast/supplements/medication for the dogs who receive them.

After breakfast they will generally be back in their crates for a bit - either while I have breakfast myself, or while day school dogs are arriving. The general structure of a day school day is enrichment in the morning - walks, playgroups, sniffy games, dig pits - and rotating through training in the afternoon. Your boarding dog will have their enrichment and training sessions alongside the day school dogs during the day.

If it is not a day school day, your dog will come along with me and my dogs with whatever we are doing that day. Sometimes that means hanging out at home doing paperwork and playing, with breaks for training sessions. On others it means coming along to dog sport events, training club, sniffspots, hikes, or even family gatherings.

In the evening, your board and train dog will receive another training session or two with their dinner, and enjoy some more play or enrichment time before last potty breaks between 10:00 and 11:00pm.

No worries! We are very familiar with the crate and rotate life here. My senior pit bull, Mouse, is almost never integrated with boarding dogs because she generally prefers her own company. My younger dog, Fig, is more interested in being your dog’s friend, but also has no issue being a neutral dog for your dog to work off of for reactivity without ever having direct contact, or indeed having no interactions whatsoever with your dog.

If your dog prefers to hang with humans solo, that’s exactly what they will get! While dogs are crated nearby, they are always covered and space is given for each dog to be out on their own without other dogs visible.

Food! They will need meals for the duration of their stay. Up to you if you’d like to separate them by meal (always appreciated) or provide a bag and scoop. If your dog eats refrigerated meals, please be cognizant of fridge/freezer space.

Everything else - crate, crate pad, treats, leash for walking - will be provided for them. I always appreciate a harness or collar provided, and if you’d like to send your dog along with a comfort item (blanket/toy/etc) from home, they are welcome to that in their crate assuming it is not an ingestion risk for your pet.

I wrote a post about this in 2020!

In short, I started creating online classes because I saw shortcomings in my own experience with private training and classes, and how those shortcomings were addressed by online learning.

Lives are insanely busy. I could stand on a soapbox for hours about how the expectations of modern families is beyond the capabilities of any one person. As a result, even if you choose your training session times strategically, carefully, and with all the best of intentions - you’re likely to start the session distracted and preoccupied with other parts of your life. Your personalized webpages in private training are meant to help with that - give you resources and personalized feedback and instructions so you don’t need to remember everything in the moment, but sometimes you need training help and can’t afford to devote 45 minutes of your time, plus travel, to learning it.

Self-led online training lets you identify when you have a few minutes, spend the time you have available learning, and implement it right away. Lifetime access means you can come back to those lessons whenever you need to.

Online classes can be great standalone options for busy lives, or helpful supplemental instruction to augment private sessions or other services to help you remember details of behavior skills you’ve learned.

I’m so excited about my self-led classes. All of them include orientation to set up for success as well as several modules of behavior instruction so you can choose the best behaviors to meet your goals and progress your dog’s skills. They also include lifetime access to the course, which may be edited or added to as I have new things to say (one of my favorite things about online courses - I can continue to add value to client goals past the last time we met)

You’re also encouraged to use the application “Marco Polo” to send me videos of your dog’s behavior and training for direct feedback personalized to you and your pup.

Full Length Courses - these are the big ones! Full Length courses are the comprehensive behavior classes where you can work on reactivity, manners behaviors, or puppy development. You can expect to see an orientation, several videos with behavior instruction, recommendations for additional training, as well as continued support as I add “extra credit” modules. Full Length Courses start at $75.00.

Roll Initiative - these are the orientations for my full length courses - they’ll allow you to get a jump on your training and see if you like the set up for online classes before your commit to a full length course. It’s a “try before you buy” option that’s already packed with information all on it’s own.

All clients receive access to a relevant orientation for their behavior goals, and online clients can credit the cost of a Roll Initiative class to the full length course if they choose to sign up! Roll Initiative Category courses are $15.00.

Side Quests - this is the “everything else” category. Some extra credit modules from full length courses may be available here for individual purchase, but primarily this is for courses and webinars that aren’t quite the length of a full length course and have specific behavior goals in mind. Side Quests start at $20.00.