Positive Professionals
Our Companions offers a variety of training services at our Valerie Friedman Program Center at 34 Sanrico Dr, Manchester, CT 06042. Click here to view our current class schedule. If you are in need of assistance, please call us at 860-242-9999 or email [email protected]
Should we be too far from you, please refer to our recommended trainers & other pet professionals in the New England Area below. All trainers included are positive and force-free. Trainer's locations are listed by state, but many serve surrounding areas. Check descriptions for details.
NOTE: If you are experiencing behavioral concerns such as fear, anxiety, resource guarding, and/or aggression. Please first contact a certified behavioral consultant. Licensure includes CAAB, CBCC, CDBC, or an MS or Ph.D. in applied animal behavior.
Connecticut
Advanced Dog Behavior Solutions, LLC
Michele Wan, PhD, CAAB
Southern Fairfield County, CT
(203) 227-3647
Advanced Dog Behavior Solutions offers private training and behavior consultations for puppies and adult dogs.
Click with Your Canine
Aubrey Sancho, CDBC, ADT, CPDT-KA
Fairfield County, CT
(203) 224-9771
Click with Your Canine provides private in-home training, outdoor group classes and workshops, virtual training, and webinars. Specific behavioral goals include puppy training and socialization, basic foundational obedience training, reactivity/fear-based aggression, human-directed aggression, dog-directed aggression, fear, separation anxiety, resource guarding, and sound aversion.
Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling
Amanda Caron, IAABC - SBA, Fear Fear Certified Animal Trainer, Feline Inappropriate Elimination Master Course Certificant, Surrender Prevention Specialist
Hartford County, CT
(860) 387-9637
Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling is honored to be one of the few cat behavior professionals in Connecticut that specializes in helping families find solutions for their cat's behavior. With our combined experience, education and science based fear free methods, we support families with the tools and knowledge they'll need to reach their goals.
Happy Homes Dog Daycare and Training
Kristen Iannucci, CPDT-KA, CVT
New Haven County, CT
(203) 298-0970
Happy Homes offers positive reinforcement clicker training, daycare, and boarding. We strive to offer a clean, safe, caring environment for dogs to play and learn.
High Ten Dog Training
Kate Naito, CDBC, CPDT-KA, FFCP, MS
Fairfield County, CT
(203) 539-0231
Kate is a certified dog behavior consultant, dog trainer, and award-winning author of two training books. She serves Stamford, CT and vicinity. High Ten Dog Training offers private in-home or online lessons for puppies, manners concerns, and behavioral issues.
Karen's Dogs
Karen Irons, CPDT-KA
New London County, CT
(860) 303-2495
Karen's Dogs offers private, positive reinforcement dog training sessions for dogs with behavioral problems.
LEDR Dog Training
Casey Coughlin, LLA Course Graduate
Hartford County, CT
(860) 324-0585
LEDR Dog Training offers private family manners training for puppies and adult dogs and specializes in reactive dog training, co-operative care husbandry courses, and owner-trained psychiatric service dogs.
North Star Canines
Virginia Dare, KPA-CTP
Fairfield County, CT
(804) 784-0120
North Star Canines offers remote consultations via Zoom, in-person private lessons, and behavior consultations. Service areas include northern Fairfield County, Putnam County, northern Westchester County, southern Dutchess County, and southern Litchfield County.
One Dog at a Time
Beth Vincent, CPDT-KA, Family Paws Educator, Family Dog Presenter
Tolland County, CT
(860) 335-4833
I love working with families and kids! Having the whole family involved in training sets the dog up for success, and it’s a lot of fun! One Dog at a Time specializes in manners, life skills, and problem-solving for dogs of all ages. Using positive force-free training, we create stress-free learning for dogs and their guardians. Our training techniques are easy to incorporate into busy daily life. Our aim is to get people thinking that every interaction with their dogs is a potential learning session and to not underestimate the power of play!
Pawsitive Approach
Evelia Rivera, CPDT-KA
Fairfield County, Connecticut
(203) 699-6364
Pawsitive Approach offers a variety of group training classes including Puppy Kindergarten, CGC preparation, Loose Leash Walking, and Reactive Dog at their location in Shelton, CT. They also offer in-home private lessons from Westport to New Haven.
Pawsitive Steps
Kim MicHalewicz, CPDT-KA
Hartford County, CT
(860) 614-6625
Pawsitive Steps is a dog training company that focuses on positive reinforcement and the relationship between owner and dog, to help each individual reach their potential. I provide both classes and individual home training services.
Where Sit Happens
Jessica Barry, KPA CTP, Fear Free, Family Paws Educator
Oxford, CT
(203) 587-8857
Where Sit Happens provides group classes in our Oxford, CT facility. Classes include basic 'manners,' puppy socialization, reactivity relief, intro to nose work and more. Private lessons are also available in facility and in-home sessions can be provided in Oxford and surrounding towns (i.e. Southbury, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Woodbury).
New York
The Behavior Clinic for Cats & Dogs
Dr. Sarah J. Cutler, VMD
Candy Higgins, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Westchester County, NY
behaviorclinicforcatsanddogs.com
(914) 486-0580
The Behavior Clinic for Cats & Dogs provides comprehensive and individualized care for animals facing behavioral issues including consultations, evaulations, and specialized treatment plans based on the animal’s unique experience and history.
Massachusetts
Animal Alliances
Caroline Moore, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Hampshire County, MA
Animal Alliances offers a wide variety of group classes: Puppy Starter Kit, several levels of Manners classes, Canine Good Citizen prep and testing, reactive dog classes, and classes in Agility, Tricks, Nosework, Dog Parkour, and Rally-O. We also offer private manners training for basic behaviors and private behavior consults for more serious behavioral issues. We serve Hampshire and Franklin counties in MA, and offer online training and consults as well.
Canine Congeniality LLC
Robyn Lucier, CPDT-KA
Worcester County, MA
(508) 344-1655
We provide private dog training and behavior consulting services to clients in central Massachusetts. Our coaching services include puppy training, obedience and manners training, behavior problem solving, and Canine Good Citizen Exam preparation. We also offer the Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) program.
Companion Dog Training
Sue Thibedeau, CTC, CPDT-KA, Fear Free
Norfolk County, MA
www.companion-dog-training.com
(508) 212-6923
Private one-on-one dog training in people's homes and helping with manners, resolving nuisance behaviors, and loose-leash walking. Offer board and train on a limited basis.
It's PAWSible Dog Training Center, Inc.
Beth Ostrowiski-Parks, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Hampshire County, MA
(413) 527-7364
It's PAWSible works with people in one-on-one behavior consultations for puppies and adult dogs who may or may not have serious issues such as aggression, fear, and/or separation anxiety. "I also work to calm the anxiety of the pet parent. That's REALLY what it's about." -Beth, owner.
They also offer 12 group classes a week for puppy and adult dogs in manners and more advanced training, with 5 or 6 competitive agility classes as well.
Peaceful Paws Pet Care and Therapy & Wiggle Butt University
Jenni Coes, CPDT-KA
Norfolk County, MA
(508) 451-6779
Peaceful Paws offers Force-Free and Fear-Free Training for puppies and dogs of all ages. From Puppy Preschool to Family Dog Basics and Beyond. My company Peaceful Paws also offers Fear-Free dog walks and adventure hikes. In addition, I am the founder of Peaceful Paws Pet Therapy a 501c3, active, dog therapy, visitation group.
Sandy Meadow Farm Obedience School
Melissa Kielbasa, CPDT-KA
Hampden County, MA
(413) 572-4936
At Sandy Meadow Farm Obedience School, we specialize in family-friendly group classes designed to make training user-friendly and fun. Puppy Kindergarten, Basic Manners, upper-level Companion and Competition classes, CGC. Therapy Dog preparation, Dancing Dog, Sniffers Skills, Trick training, Courageous Canine, Social Strugglers. Small class sizes offer maximum assistance and guidance in a climate-controlled facility on a working farm in Westfield, Massachusetts.
Zippity Do Dog Training and Behavior Modification
Lee Desmarais, KPA-CTP, FFCP, CDT, Licensed Family Dog Mediator, Family Paws Educator
Bristol County, MA
(774) 409-5065
Zippity Do Dog Training provides skills and manners training such as loose leash walking, polite greetings, and recall. We also specialize in working with more challenging issues like anxious, fearful, and reactive dogs. We routinely offer training plans for dogs that struggle with aggression, leash reactivity, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and phobias that include regular manners training. We accept all dogs, of all ages and sizes. We do not discriminate and welcome pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs, as well as large breed dogs. Whether you're looking for basic manners or behavioral modification, we are here to help you on that journey.
Rhode Island
Patience Inspired Dog Training
Michelle Alexandre, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Kent County, RI
(401) 862-6740
Michelle is an internationally Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). She is the owner and lead trainer of Patience Inspired Dog Training. All PIDT trainers are in school or have graduated from an accredited dog training school and are working towards their certifications. PIDT is a science-based positive reinforcement training facility. Our number one goal is to improve your relationship with your dog. We offer group classes in obedience and for fun. Private behavioral/obedience training for canines of all ages. Agility, Trick, Rally, and Scent group classes. We also offer certifications for Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dogs International.
Pooch Pawsitivie LLC
Heidi Pamer McNeil, CTC, CPDT-KA
Providence, RI
(401) 714-5652
Pooch Pawsitive offers programs for puppies through adulthood that focus on good manners and building the relationship between families and their dogs. Puppy Socials, Puppy Kindergarten, and Basic Manners classes provide foundation skills. Wag It Games, Canine Good Citizen, and other classes build upon that. We are positive, reward-based clicker trainers in business since 2002.
Sirius Positive Dog Training LLC
Michele McLeod CDBC, CBATI, FFCP, CPDT-KA, VSA-DT
Washington County, RI
www.siriuspositivedogtraining.com
(203) 788-7647
Science-based, positive training based on creating partnerships with our dogs. Services include behavior modification (for behavior problems including aggression (dog-dog, dog-human, dog-cat), separation anxiety, phobias, biting, jumping, fearfulness (including of other humans, of other animals), reactivity on leash); in-home issues including housetraining problems, counter surfing, stealing objects, reactivity at the door); and teaching good manners in a way that encourages a dog's cooperation so that on or off-leash, the dog is willing to respond. The service area includes CT, RI, and MA. Board & Train package is available on a limited basis.
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