Western Mass Dog Training
Private Lessons
Private lessons are tailored to you, your dog, and the challenges you’re working through together. Whether you’re helping a worried dog feel safer, building calmer household routines, improving leash walking, or developing reliable everyday skills, we’ll focus on practical strategies that fit your life together.
​
My approach emphasizes understanding behavior, thoughtful management, emotional regulation, and building skills and cooperation that make everyday life easier. We’ll work at a pace that makes sense for your dog, with guidance you can put into practice between lessons.
​
Training begins with an initial assessment appointment lasting 1–2 hours, during which we’ll discuss your concerns, explore your dog’s behavior and needs, and develop a plan. Follow-up private lessons are typically one hour and take place in your home or at my office locations in Amherst or Shelburne Falls.​
Areas of Focus
My private training services cover a range of behavioral challenges and everyday skills. Explore the areas below to find a starting point that fits you and your dog.
Because behavior, relationships, and everyday skills are closely connected, training often draws on more than one area to address your dog's individual needs and your goals.
Off-Leash Freedom and Advanced Recall Training
Does your dog enjoy exploring but struggle to come back when wildlife, interesting scents, or other distractions capture their attention?
Build on your dog's existing recall skills to improve responsiveness at a distance and work toward greater freedom on hikes and outdoor adventures.
This training is best suited to well-adjusted dogs with a foundation in recall; other behavioral needs may need to be addressed first.
Everyday Skills and Good Manners
Does your dog know some basic cues but need a little fine-tuning?
Whether you're working on obedience skills like sit, stay, and come when called, improving greetings, or helping your dog respond more consistently in everyday situations, we'll build practical skills and cooperation that make life together easier.
Not sure which type of training is right for your dog? Book a free 20-minute intro call to tell me what’s going on and explore the best next step.