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The Cooperative Dog
- Brookline, MA 02446 (map)
- (617) 803-4086
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News feed
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Do you live in Charlestown, East Boston, Winthrop, Somerville, Beachmont, Chelsea, Everett, Arlington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Lynn or Revere MA? If you're looking for a dog training class, I'm teaching in Revere on Wednesday nights at Paws Here Doggy Daycare. New classes start April 25th at 630pm. Call 781-286-7297 to register for class today! – Apr 01, 2012 at 7:34 am
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Does your dog bark, lunge, snarl, snap, and more at other dogs while on leash? Not trustworthy off leash around other dogs? As a prerequisite for dog owners to join my Rowdy Rovers class, I'm holding a Reactive Dog Seminar from 2-4pm on Sunday, April 15th in Brookline. Pre-registration for the seminar AND my Rowdy Rovers class is required. This is a leave-your-dog-at-home event. For more information, call Vera at 617-803-4086 or email vera@cooperativedog.com today. – Apr 01, 2012 at 7:25 am
Expert Dog Training & Behavior Consulting
Request a quote
The Cooperative Dog • Brookline, MA
- You'll be asked a few quick questions that will help describe your needs.
- You'll be asked to provide your contact information so that Vera Wilkinson will be able to get in touch with you.
- You'll have the option to get competing quotes from other qualified service professionals, saving you time and money.
Vera Wilkinson CDBC, CPDT-KA has offered group dog training classes, in-home dog training lessons and behavioral consultations throughout Boston and Greater Boston Area of Massachusetts since 1996.
Vera teaches a variety of group dog training classes:
* Sundays at No Bones About It in Brookline
* Monday evenings in Wellesley
* Wednesday evenings at Paws Here in Revere
* Thursdays evenings at K9 Sublime in Belmont
Vera offers in-your-home private training and dog behavior consultations. Clients can also travel to work with Vera at various times and by appointment only in Brookline and Belmont.
For Vera has helped thousands of people to develop better relationships with their dogs. Working with dogs is not just Vera's full-time work but her life's work. Central to her work, on behalf of dogs, is a commitment to education.
Vera does not subscribe to the idea of domination or the use of force in teaching dogs how to live with people. In her classes, consultations and seminars, dog owners learn to accurately interpret their dog's body language and respond accordingly. Clear communication between dogs and people allows for cooperation rather than conflict.
Vera holds many certifications including the following:
* Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC)
* Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
* Licensed Dogs and Storks Presenter
* Licensed Dog and Baby Connection Presenter
Vera has received the following awards:
* 2011 Boston Magazine Best of Boston Dog Trainer
* 2011 Boston A-List 2nd Place Best of Boston Dog Training
* 2010 Boston A-List 2nd Place Best of Boston Dog Training
* 2009 IAABC Division Member of the Year Award
She has been a longtime professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and has served in many capacities for several years for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC):
* Dog Division Chair
* Application Review Panel Committee Co-Chair
* Application Review Committee
* Education Committee
* Strategic Task Force Committee
Vera is an occasional, in-studio guest on The Dan Rea Show on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 AM. She offers free dog training and dog and cat behavior advice to callers.
Vera filmed an episode in 2007 on the Fetch With Ruff Ruffman kids' TV show on PBS TV.
Question and answer
Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. Far more people seek my help to resolve dog reactivity and dog-dog aggression issues than any other behavior problem. My Rowdy Rovers class provides people with a safe environment to improve their handling skills and to allow their dogs to work on issues that are the result of insufficient socialization and life at the end of a leash.
Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A. You will likely have a long term relationship with this person so please take the time to speak with several dog trainers before making a decision. Regardless of whether your dog is a puppy/adolescent dog in need of basic training or a dog with a long standing behavior problem or two, ask for references from current and past clients as well as veterinarians.
Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?
A. The industry of dog training & dog behavior consulting is unregulated and thus, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or dog behavior consultant. The methods used to train dogs vary tremendously and matter immensely. Neither fear/intimidation nor harsh physical handling should ever come into play.
Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?
A. There are literally dozens of really good questions to ask! You need to know their philosophy and the tools & methods they employ; how they learned the trade; how many dogs they have worked with; how many dogs they have trained/owned/lived with; professional affiliations; certifications; references and so on.
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. I have multiple professional certifications and more than a decade and a half experience working full-time with people and a wide variety of dogs. I have handled several thousand dogs and, in doing so, have dealt with numerous and severe behavioral problems. I also have classes, workshops and seminars to help my clients work through behavior problems. Dog business owners regularly seek my advice in helping them to meet the needs of their clients.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. I love teaching people how to train dogs. I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing people connect with their dogs on a deeper level, one that is only possible when we consider life from a dog's point of view. To do so is to let go of pop culture's views on dogs -- 'alpha this & dominant that' -- and to get on with teaching dogs how to live with people with kindness and respect.
Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
A. I belong to professional organizations that are committed to education and working toward developing professional standards for the industry of dog training and dog behavior consulting. As a certified dog behavior consultant and certified professional dog trainer, I am obligated to continue my education and re-certify every three years. I enjoy networking with others in the field and know dozens of really talented people across North America and around the world.
Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.
A. My most recent projects include the addition of the following ongoing educational seminars and workshops held at No Bones About It in Brookline, MA:
3-4pm the FIRST Sunday of each month--
The Kids & Dogs Project ~ a dog behavior education seminar for children ages 6-14.
730-845pm the FIRST Tuesday of each month--
The Missing Links Monthly Dog Training & Dog Behavior Workshop ~ Some with dogs, some without...dog owners get help on specific topic training and behavior issues.
730-845pm th SECOND Tuesday of each month
Puppy Head-Start ~ a 75 minute session to help puppy owners get off to a great start. Perfect for those waiting to join a puppy class once all vaccination requirements have been met.
3-4pm the THIRD Sunday of each month--
Ask Vera - dog & cat owners get free advice at this informal session at Cause To Paws in Brookline.
Dog Training Tune-Ups ~ 21 day programs include reliable recalls, bombproof stays & leash-walking 101.
