VERONICA'S DOG TRAINING
PLAY AND RELATIONSHIP-BASED DOG TRAINING
BRIDGTON, MAINE
Dogs are complex creatures with instincts, desires, and biological needs. They are highly intelligent and emotional beings with whom we have developed a deeply symbiotic relationship over millennia.
Good training is built on this foundation.
I aim to teach people how to develop a harmonious relationship with their dogs in our man-made world.
What We Offer
Everyone's training journey starts with a free phone evaluation so you can tell me about your dog and we can discuss your training wants and needs. After that, we will schedule an in-person evaluation so I can formulate a training plan tailored to you and your dog.
After our first in-person evaluation, I will recommend a training plan that suits you and your dog's needs. Some examples of things that we can work on in training are puppy raising, basic obedience (sit, come, down, stay, place, heel, etc.), leash walking, off-leash reliability, handling and grooming cooperation, and things like reactivity, resource guarding, aggression, fear, and separation anxiety.
I aim for success with each and every person and dog I work with. The training I do is not only fun and enjoyable for all involved, but it is effective and has lasting, sustainable results.
Private Lessons
Private lessons take place either in your home or in public. Each lesson includes a detailed write-up so you can continue the work we do together. Lesson packages include lifelong follow-up support, as well as priority sign-up for group classes, events, and boarding. Virtual lessons are available for those not local to Maine.
In-Person Evaluation: $120 | 3 Lesson Package: $330 | 6 Lesson Package: $595 | 12 Lesson Package: $960
Day Boarding and Overnight Boarding
I offer in-my-home boarding for eligible dogs. Dogs stay in my home with my family, participate in outings, and have access to a private 70-acre wooded property. Walks, hikes, and all daily care are included in prices. Training clients are given priority scheduling for boarding. Boarding books out far in advance.
Overnight Boarding: $75 per weeknight|$85 per weekend night | Puppies under 6 months of age: $100 | Holidays: +$10
Day Boarding: $35 per weekday | $45 per weekend day
Board-and-Train Program
I offer a limited board-and-train program in my home. This comprehensive program includes daily training and detailed updates, training field trips, outings, play, hikes, and whatever care your dog needs. Go-home lessons and write-ups are included to ensure success. Required training tools are included in the cost of the program.
$1000/week, 3-week minimum required for basic obedience plans, 4-week minimum for behavior modification
Pay-What-You-Can Private Lessons
I offer sliding scale pricing for private lessons for anyone facing a financial barrier to training. I do not require proof of income - I use the honor system and trust people to self-report honestly. I do not offer sliding scale payment for boarding or board-and-train programs.
Sliding Scale $5-50
About Me & Lewey
The Dog Who Started It All
I'm Veronica. Some years ago, I got a crazy coonhound puppy I named Lewey off Craigslist. The first thing out of the vet's mouth at our first visit was, "you can NEVER let this dog off leash". After the initial heartbreak of being told the creature I got to accompany me on my adventures in life would always be confined to a leash, I decided that I didn't accept this assessment. I did my research, and dispensed with many styles of training that I thought would limit our potential as a team. I looked for a training philosophy that would let me have my cake and eat it too. I understood that a dog's natural instincts were both enduring and vital, and though the dog in front of me was hard-wired to run miles away into the woods following his nose, I began to get a sense of how to harness my dog's natural inclinations instead of fighting them. After some trial and error and blundering about, Lewey and I found harmony in our life together. The majority of his life is spent off-leash. I got on my first mountain bike to keep up with him, and for that I'll always be indebted to him. We've traveled all over the country to hike, mountain bike, and backpack. We're working on completing the 48 4000 footers in New Hampshire. Together we've done nose work, AKC Rally, bird hunting, barn hunt, Canine Good Citizen, bikejoring, canicross, and many, many trail miles.
Lewey started me on this dog training journey and has taught me more than many people I've met. My professional career began when I started leading off-leash pack-hikes, after which I transitioned to training client dogs in their homes. I haven't looked back since.
My Philosophy
I believe in the power of willful cooperation for both humans and dogs. I work to make training fun and inherently motivating; I use play whenever possible, and I tailor each training plan to each dog (and human) so that we can use the intrinsic motivators dogs are born with. Quite often, training will not involve stopping behaviors, but simply channeling them in a way that can be more easily integrated into one's lifestyle. My training does not adhere to any one style or school of thought, but is dialectical in nature, meaning that all methods, tools, and techniques are assessed so that our approach is ethical, humane, and based on observation of concrete circumstances. Training is holistic in that I consider all aspects of a dog and human's life when problem solving. Diet, life stage, breed, health, and environmental factors are all taken into consideration in my work. My approach has been developed over the years through mentorships, apprenticeships, workshops, seminars, and the sage advice of my the dog trainers I'm lucky to call my friends.
I am a Certified Training Without Conflict Professional Dog Trainer.
