Dog Training

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. High quality service using positive reinforcement methods. We have been in business since 1979 and have a facility in a beautiful location. Our staff of 17 is like a big family. Most have been with us for 3-8 years. We train only on a one on one basis so all training is personalized to the client and dog's individual needs. Our training is flexible in that we can train weekly at our facility, or at the clients home, or the client can take a break for a few weeks and have us do all the work. This is always followed by our staff teaching the client with the dog both at our facility and at the clients home.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. What I enjoy most about my job is the client satisfaction. Many of the clients come in at their wits end. The dog may be on it's way out the door or to the shelter if the training doesn't fix the issues. Many of these clients don't want to abandon the dog, but they don't know what to do. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to help them solve the issues and enjoy their pets for the rest of their lives together.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How did you get started in this?

I have always loved animals since I can remember and in particular dogs. I started showing dogs in obedience trials when I was 12 years old. This happened after my parents got me a Labrador Retriever pup that I had been begging them for forever. They told me I had to be responsible to train him. I took a class and found I was good at it. I graduated first in my class of 40 and began competing in AKC obedience trials with him and was always in the ribbons.

When I was 18 a man walked into the law office I was working in and handed me his business card. He was there to get a divorce but his business card said he was a dog trainer and had a photo of a Labrador Retriever (of all breeds) and I was curious. I asked him how he got started and he told me he had attended a school but now her also offered to train trainers. I was hooked and paid to take training from him. I then took more training from two other schools and struck out on my own.

Five years later I met my husband who had just retired from the Army. He had been in the dog program in the military and we eventually were married and ran the business together with a combination of our styles. K-9 Companions has grown in many ways over the years with ongoing learning and seminars we have now been in business for 32 years.