THINK LIKE A DOG TRAINING
Amplifying your dog's potential with customized positive reinforcement training.
about
Welcome! I founded Think Like a Dog Training in Fall 2021 to bring positive reinforcement dog training services to the North Shore. As of 3/2026, my service area is limited to: Salem, Peabody, Danvers, Beverly, and Lynn. Subject to change!
I am an alumna of Animal Behavior College, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and a Nationally-Accredited Pet CPR/First-Aid Instructor. I have 15+ years of experience working with dogs in various settings: dog daycare, one-on-one training, group training, animal shelters, rescue organizations, pet insurance, and pet retailers. My passion and fascination includes canine thinking and learning, pathology, psychology, and evolution and development alongside humans. I am always in continuing education, whether it be just for knowledge or for certifications.
What sets Think Like a Dog Training apart from others is that my philosophy that one-size-fits-all dog training is not practical for all dogs. Our sessions are conducted in the dog's most familiar and successful learning environment, their home. I do not utilize a training facility or a group setting. The formula of cultivating a successful learning environment and customizing your dog's training plan ensures we will produce great results, and have a lot of fun along the way.
My main fundamentals are:
I am an alumna of Animal Behavior College, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and a Nationally-Accredited Pet CPR/First-Aid Instructor. I have 15+ years of experience working with dogs in various settings: dog daycare, one-on-one training, group training, animal shelters, rescue organizations, pet insurance, and pet retailers. My passion and fascination includes canine thinking and learning, pathology, psychology, and evolution and development alongside humans. I am always in continuing education, whether it be just for knowledge or for certifications.
What sets Think Like a Dog Training apart from others is that my philosophy that one-size-fits-all dog training is not practical for all dogs. Our sessions are conducted in the dog's most familiar and successful learning environment, their home. I do not utilize a training facility or a group setting. The formula of cultivating a successful learning environment and customizing your dog's training plan ensures we will produce great results, and have a lot of fun along the way.
My main fundamentals are:
- Education: enlighten you on how your dog learns, why they do what they do, and how we can use positive association exercises, activities, and processes to facilitate their learning.
- Confidence: amplifying the dog's confidence through respect, constancy, and fun not only deepens your bond, but your dog's overall well-being. Positive association paves the way for success. We will never suppress your dog's personality or use physical force/domination.
- Customization: creating a tailored training plan for each individual dog--no cookie cutters or copy and paste programs here--and providing you with the tools and knowledge you need for daily progress.
- Generalization: Ensuring your dog can respond to learned cues in situations outside the home.
services
F.A.Q
Do you come to my home?
Yes! Our consultation will be at your home. Then, our first few sessions, depending on your goals and our training plan, will take place both in your home and around your neighborhood. We always begin in the most familiar locations then branch out.
Do you work with reactive dogs?
Yes! Many dogs I work with have leash reactivity. We approach this behavior with patience and consistency, working from a safe distance without crossing the dog's threshold, and we decrease that threshold over time using positive reinforcement.
I just got a puppy. When do you recommend signing them up for your training?
This is a great question! Every puppy is going to be different, but they all need some time to decompress and get used to their new home. We want this to be as stress-free as possible for them. My professional recommendation is giving them at least a week to settle in and let their personality shine through, then from there, we can book a consultation, and after another week or two, depending on the puppy's anxiety level, we can begin training. Typically, a puppy needs 2-3 weeks to adjust properly and establish a routine before introducing any new routines like training.
Can you train my adult dog?
Yes, of course! That quote "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", turns out to be completely false. You CAN teach any dog, any trick. I have worked with dogs from ages 10 weeks to 13 years old, successfully helping their parents with any goals they need.
Do you use shock or vibration collars?
Never. They are only aversive tools meant to essentially harm your dog into submission. Sure they "work"--if by "work" you mean the dog is wearing it and they are too afraid to even move with it on. We will only use positive reinforcement, with treats and verbal/physical praise. Any other method can produce harmful results for both you and the dog. When choosing a dog trainer, make sure you ask them explicitly if they utilize positive reinforcement. Also note that "Balanced" trainers use a combination of positive reinforcement and aversive techniques.
How do you structure training plans?
Everything is fully customized, so depending on your goals for training, we have endless options! For example, a dog who is fearful of other dogs on leash will have a different training plan than a dog who wants to greet every single thing with legs and pulls on leash.