We empathize with owners and understand what you are going through because we’ve been there ourselves!
— Pawsitive Foundations

Motley having fun at the beach!

What you want:

  • You want a dog that will fill your life with joy but, you find yourself embarrassed by their behavior and sad that you don’t understand their needs.

  • You want a dog that will listen but, the techniques you’ve tried aren’t working. You feel frustrated and afraid that something terrible will happen.

  • You want to do what’s best for your dog but you don’t know which training style or program to try.

We can help!

How Our Program Works:

We challenge owners to think differently about their dogs. We want you and your dogs to feel empowered. We want you to be knowledgeable and confident in understanding your dog’s needs. Our goal is to make your dog feel comfortable, happy, and most importantly, loved.

We will teach you positive reinforcement, how best to reward and encourage behaviors you like, but also, how to interrupt and extinguish behaviors you don’t. Best of all, our methods work without using e-collars or other aversive techniques (pinch collars, choke chains, spray bottles, soda cans with coins, etc).

Rosie in her Halloween costume!

We focus the training on you — the human. We want you to understand what works, what doesn’t (and why) and help you build a relationship with your dog based on mutual understanding, communication, and trust.

How do you do it?

We help people better communicate and understand their dogs. Not only will you learn how to get your dog to listen, but our training solutions are also disguised as games your dog will love to play! At the end of the day, your dog will learn how to make better decisions that are centered around your training goals.

Our techniques rely on structure, consistency, and value which help give you the knowledge you need to feel confident in your dog.

Do you use clickers?

Depending on the family’s lifestyle, we either use clickers or a verbal marker such as (“Yes!”) to communicate to their dogs which behavior is correct. 

What training tools do I need?

We ask that all clients have a four-foot leash, a collar, and treats on hand.  For younger puppies or newly adopted dogs, a crate and an x-pen is needed.

Ruthie enjoying time at the lake!

If we’ll be working on leash walking and off-leash recall, we recommend a front-clip harness such as a Freedom Harness as well as an extra-long training leash (twenty-five feet or more). Finally, all dogs benefit from the mental stimulation treat-dispensing toys like a Bob-a-lot can provide.

Do you guarantee results?

Bella and her little sister.

No, however, we can teach you how to better communicate with your dog, and quickly and effectively help you teach your dog to make better choices. Ultimately, it is up to you to track progress and practice your routines. We can promise you this—if you stick to our training regimen and make sure that everyone in your household is consistent—you will see changes in your dog’s behavior that will remain strong in the long term.

I have two dogs. Does training them both cost more?

No. Each dog is an individual and therefore has different needs however, the obedience cues are the same and can be helpful in different ways. We will discuss each cue in our sessions and how it can be helpful in reaching your training goals. It is easier, however, for each dog to learn in a distraction-free environment, apart from its sibling. We will spend half the time working with one of your dogs and the other half with the second, giving each of them the attention and focus that they need.

How do I prepare for the sessions?

Penny, right before an evening walk.

  1. Try to observe what happens before, during, and after your dog has a meltdown. What’s happening in their environment? What specific body language is your dog exhibiting? What happened earlier in the day? How long does it take your dog to be calm after a stressful event?

  2. If possible, try to record a video of the your dog’s undesirable behavior.

  3. Identify any medical concerns that may be influencing your dog’s behavior.

  4. Determine when you’ll be available for training sessions, and prepare to adjust your schedule. We will meet every week to train together, and you’ll need to train regularly on your own to see progress.

  5. Instead of thinking about all the things you want your dog to stop doing, think about what you’d like your dog to do instead and we’ll explore what success looks like for both of you!


About Our Programs:

Tommy enjoying a snooze.

When should I start training ?

Right away! The sooner you start, the faster you can communicate with your dog and develop a better behaved companion.

Training a younger puppy is easier; habits (good and bad) can be formed in as little as 2-3 weeks. As soon as you walk in the door with a new dog or puppy, whether you know it or not, training has already begun. The sooner you start training your dog – the better!

Ideally, training would start with an In-Home Visit the first week or two after getting a new puppy or adult dog. Once you go through our program and create the right environment for success, training will become second nature.

What’s the advantage to In-Home training ?

Dude getting snuggled.

In home training is ideal because it takes away the stress and provides an easier learning environment. One trainer dedicated to your dog ensures the training fits his personality, allowing you to reach your goals.

You will get a customized training plan based on your dog’s age, breed, and temperament. You’ll also learn how to work with all members of the family—including guests, visitors and people too young or not able to participate in training.

Who in my household should be present?

Consistency really is the key to training, so we invite everyone living with your dog to attend class. It’s the easiest way to ensure that all family members are following the same rules and working together. It’s also tons of fun!

Please know that while we encourage family participation, an extra adult must be at class to supervise young children while one person is dedicated to training their dog.

What is your policy on rescheduling sessions?

We understand that it can be difficult to find time to train with busy day-to-day lives. If you and your dog need to reschedule, please email me 24 hours ahead of our class. 

  • Individual appointments need to be fulfilled within two weeks of booking or they will be forfeited. Obedience packages need to be completed within 7 weeks and Behavioral packages need to be completed within two weeks of the total number of sessions. This means if you booked a 6-week course, sessions need to be completed within 8 weeks and 10-week courses need to be completed in 12. Any additional sessions held after their deadlines will incur an additional fee of $125.00. All charges are non-refundable.

How do I get started?

Visit our Contact page! I am looking forward to meeting you and hearing all about your dog!