Our philosophy is that dog training should be stress free and a lot of fun.

Our overall goal is to teach you to have the skills, confidence and knowledge necessary to effectively work with your dog. Concepts in dog training are not difficult to understand.

Successful dog training involves:

Developing a strong relationship with your dog

Opening clear lines of communication

Applying objective, consistent science-based techniques

It is also essential that you develop a strong relationship with your dog based on trust, play, affection and respect before starting any training program.

Laying this foundation results in dogs who are happy to be with you and more focused during training sessions.

Additionally, we feel there are much better ways to motivate your dog than only handing it a food reward. Using more dynamic reward methods involving movement, play, praise, and prey drive makes every interaction you more fun, motivating, and rewarding.

When done correctly, dogs learn to value the interaction with you first before accessing a food or toy reward. This approach turns every training session into a relationship building experience and develops dogs who are highly motivated to work with you.

Our job is to teach you to use clear verbal commands, good timing, and correct body language when working with your dog, which help dogs understand expectations during training.

We also realize that not every dog learns at the same pace and will work to set up an appropriate training program setting your dog up to succeed.

Meet the Staff

Keith Vaquera-Little

OWNER

My interest in dog training started 16 years ago when I adopted my dog, Pancho. Like most rescue dogs, he had significant behavioral issues that needed to be addressed. Our journey together sparked a passion that led me to become a certified dog trainer.

Over the years, my philosophy has evolved significantly. Initially, my focus was on teaching obedience behaviors. However, I've come to realize the importance of also teaching dogs to thrive in various environments and communities. High-level competitive obedience and sport dog training have heavily influenced my methods. These disciplines emphasize teaching dogs to think and solve problems rather than merely controlling them. The result? Happier dogs with better obedience.

One unique aspect of my training approach is building communities of dog owners who regularly work together. This collaborative effort benefits everyone involved and fosters a supportive environment. I am committed to keeping training affordable, allowing clients to achieve realistic goals within a manageable timeframe.

As a reward-based trainer, I believe in using positive reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviors. This approach not only builds trust between dogs and their owners but also leads to more lasting and effective results.

My current projects include creating high-quality online training programs that reach a broader audience and designing engaging events that provide significant value for dogs in training while also being enjoyable for our clients.

Looking ahead, I aim to make dog training accessible and affordable for everyone, fostering a strong sense of community support and collaboration. Together, we create happier, more obedient dogs and a stronger community.