About Nikki

Dog Trainer in Baltimore & Serving Clients Worldwide

Hi! I’m Nikki, a positive dog trainer who prioritizes each dog’s overall wellbeing.

The camera appears to be capturing a selfie of a white woman with tattoos and brown hair pulled back with a tan American Bully in her lap licking her face.

I’ve been training dogs since 2012, and my philosophy about dog training and behavior, as well as my knowledge of the science behind it, has evolved quite a bit over the years. Science and research discover more about dogs every day, so I believe that any trainer worth their salt should be continually learning! More about my learning journey and background is detailed immediately below.

Also, please keep scrolling beyond that to read about my dog training philosophy and what informs it. This will give you the best idea of what to expect from me, and help you determine if we’re the right fit to work together.

A dog stands in the center of the image, partially obscured by tall brown grass. The top half of the image is a vivid blue sky, while the bottom half is tall, brown grass.

Background & Continuing Education

Coming in 2026: Enroll with BHARCS to pursue their Applied Canine Biosociopsychology & Ethology Diploma.

Summer 2024: Accepted into the Pet Professional Guild as a Canine Training Professional.

Spring 2024: Completed the Fear Free Shelters training.

Winter 2024: Canine Behavior Mentorship with Mattison Simpson of Freed By Training. (positive training)

Fall 2023: Apprenticeship with Sailor Jerri of Tulsa Pack to learn the Daily Method and virtual dog training. (positive training)

Summer 2023: Enrolled in CATCH! Dog Trainers Academy for continuing education in positive training.

2019 - 2023: Worked for two different board & train dog training companies in Colorado and Virginia.

2012 - 2019: Owned and operated my own dog training businesses in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas (I moved a lot!).

Fall 2012: Completed a Professional Dog Training program & extended mentorship on the east coast.

Spring 2012: Completed a one-month mentorship with a dog trainer who claimed to know “dog psychology” (not something I support now).

We’re all on our own journey, and I have the deepest respect for yours. I’m not here to guide you in my direction, but to meet you where you are and walk alongside you for a while.

My goal is for you to feel safe and welcome. I aim to treat all beings—canine and human—with empathy, kindness, and respect.

Let's work together

What to expect if you decide to work with me…

For me, training isn’t just about developing “good” behaviors to take the place of "bad" behaviors; it's about understanding your dog's behavior in the context of their relationships, environment, emotions, and needs. This allows us to develop a training plan that meets our dog’s needs as well as ours. When our training approach only considers what the humans want to see from the dog, we end up training at our dog’s expense (whether we realize it or not).

Obedience was the standard in dog training for decades, but the days of strict obedience and harsh methods are behind us. We now realize that the expectation of obedience from any sentient being, dogs included, results in an authoritarian relationship—and that’s not healthy. A better alternative is to develop a cooperate relationship between you and your dog. Your dog can still learn to respond to you when it matters most, but the reason why they respond will be much healthier! This is what I help my clients and their beloved dogs develop.

Lastly, research across multiple disciplines tells us that modern dogs are complex emotional beings with a socio-cognitive capacity of a 2-3 year old human. Therefore, it’s safe to say that the way we train our dogs has a significant impact on them. It’s in your dog’s best interest to avoid negative and traumatic training experiences, particularly those involving aversive methods. The best kind of training will add positive experiences to your dog’s life. Research even suggests that positive training experiences can give your dog a more optimistic view of the world. My style of positive, force-free, ethical training strives to do exactly that.

I hope my training philosophy resonates with you. If it does, I’d love to work together! Click the button below to get started.

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A white woman hugs a large fawn-colored dog who appears to be sitting on her lap. Her eyes are closed and she is smiling. The dog appears to be smiling too.

My beloved boy Linc was with me at the very beginning of my training journey. (2012)

A gray and white pit bull with his tongue hanging out looking crazy stands on a ledge with a white woman with short reddish brown hair and who appears to be laughing.

In 2018, I pulled this incredible dog from the e-list to foster and train. This was his freedom photo!

A black pit bull with a gray snout wearing a red and blue sweater looks at the camera with her ears perked. Next to her is a white woman in a black beanie and a green hoodie. They're in the woods.

Hiking with my beloved dog Kari in 2024. She has seen almost every phase of my training evolution.