Baltimore Dog Training
Ethical | Force-free | Wellbeing-focused | Supportive
Let’s take this journey together.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I’m not your average dog trainer.
My training approach is so much more than getting dogs to do things for treats.
It's about getting to know each individual dog—their needs, sensitivities, body language, motivation and more—and considering their emotional experience and perspective. From there, I build a holistic training plan that is designed not only to change behavior, but to improve each dog's wellbeing and their connection with their people in the process.
If you’re in Baltimore County or Baltimore City, we can do one-on-one private lessons in your home. If you’re in Maryland but outside of that area, please inquire and we’ll see if we can work it out!
Dog behaviors I often help with
This is not a complete list, just some of the more common behaviors/goals I often help with. If your dog is experiencing something that’s beyond my skill set, I’ll let you know and I’ll refer you to someone who can help.
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Including pulling, lunging, barking, refusing to walk, scavenging food on the street, etc.
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Including all the issues that can arise in that context, such as conflict between animals, introducing animals to each other, etc.
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Including stranger danger, issues with guests coming into the home, irrational fears, nervousness about certain environments, general nervous/anxious behavior, etc.
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Including mild separation anxiety or separation distress, help with crate training, etc.
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Including building a solid positive recall, preparing for off leash time, learning how to use a long line safely, coming in from the backyard, etc.
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Including transitioning off of tools like the prong collar, e-collar, transitional lead, etc. and transitioning away from outdated training philosophies.
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Including bonding with a newly adopted dog, learning how to communicate and cooperate with each other, developing good habits, etc.
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Including polite greetings, good behavior around the house, etc.
My ethical training approach is a result of years of learning and experimenting with different training styles, methods and formats. It’s the best I’ve ever offered, and I’m really proud of what it is today.
Private Lesson Packages
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This is the starting point for most dogs. Most challenges, including reactivity, building good leash manners, stranger danger, jumpy/mouthy behavior, etc. need at least 6 lessons. We will add on if needed.
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There are some cases that may not need 6 lessons, and in that case I’ll recommend starting with the 3-lesson package. I’d rather add on than have lessons leftover!
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I’ll let you know! Before you purchase any training package, we’ll talk about timelines, estimated number of lessons, potential outcomes, and contributing factors.
Fill out the form on my contact page or schedule a free chat with me to get that ball rolling.
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I’m really passionate about making sure quality dog training is accessible to everyone, not just the financially fortunate.
If you decide to sign up for training, you will select one of the following prices:
6-lesson package:
Pay-it-forward price - $870
Regular price - $720
Need-based price - $570
3-lesson package:
Pay-it-forward price - $470
Regular price - $390
Need-based price - $310
Most folks select the “regular” price, which is a fair and reasonable price for the services offered. Dog training is always an investment, but I keep my “regular” prices as low as I can in the hopes that most folks can make it work.
Need-based pricing is for anyone who cannot possibly make the regular price work. I trust you to determine this honestly and fairly. I won’t ask for documentation or details; it’s none of my business. If you’re in this category, please use it! It’s here for you.
Pay-it-forward pricing is for folks who are financially stable. When you pay a bit extra, you’re directly supporting my ability to offer need-based pricing to the folks who need it! You’re helping keep dogs with their people and out of shelters, which ultimately keeps them alive. Please pay it forward if you can! On behalf of the dogs and the dog-loving community, we’re deeply grateful for your support.
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It’s not that I don’t need the money—I very much do! It is very challenging to make a living as an ethical dog trainer.
My motivation for offering need-based pricing is to be part of the solution. The inequities in our society trickle down to the animals in our care, resulting in a lot of lives ending far sooner than they should. By offering need-based pricing, I hope that more folks can access the training help they need to keep their beloved dog.
Lastly, I am a firm believer that everyone who deeply loves their dog should be able to keep them. Dogs play such an important role in our lives as companions and bringers of joy. I know I wouldn’t be here without them, and that’s true for many folks.
If you’re reading this, I hope it’s because we share the same values and commitment to the animals and people of our community. Join me in doing all we can to keep dogs with their people!
All private lesson packages include the following:
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Free initial chat
We can schedule a phone call or communicate by email—your choice! This gives you an opportunity to ask questions and learn more before signing up. Importantly, it gives us both a chance to make sure we’re the right fit to work together.
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Lessons in your home
Lessons are designed to coach you through the process of teaching and practicing relevant skills with your dog. I’ll also guide you through a customized management plan to make sure we’re not working against our own efforts. You’ll know exactly what to do and why you’re doing it.
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Daily Support
All clients are encouraged to stay in touch between lessons, that way I can help you troubleshoot and advance your dog’s training between lessons. This is how you get the most out of our time together! I don’t want you to hold questions for our next lesson—let’s keep the progress going!
Feedback from In-Person Training Clients
In-Person Client Testimonial
What you can expect from me:
Empathy, kindness and collaboration. No gurus here.
Training and advice tailored to your specific dog in your specific situation.
A commitment to creative solutions that meet your dog’s unique needs (no cookie cutter approaches).
An approach to training that’s rooted in compassion and understanding, and free of problematic methods such as force, dominance, and punishment.
FAQs
What kind of training is this? (Methods/techniques)
I am firmly committed to using ethical, force-free, effective dog training methods based on the latest research and scientific consensus. Force-free training is the way of the future. There is tons of research across multiple disciplines to support the use of these humane, compassionate methods, as well as plenty of evidence to discourage the use of punishment.
I also prioritize each dog’s overall wellbeing. I aim to design programs that are realistic for the humans but also consider the dog’s physical, emotional, and behavioral needs. Click here to read more about my dog training philosophy.
How often do we do lessons?
This depends on your goals, your dog, and your ability to work with your dog between lessons. It will also change as training progresses. In the beginning we typically do 7-10 days between lessons to keep our momentum rolling, but in the later stages of training, it can often be more practical to allow 2-4 weeks between lessons.
ALSO: Don’t forget that ALL packages come with between-lesson support. We’ll have a private chat where you can ask questions, send me videos, etc. You’re never “on your own” between lessons. This kind of support keeps your dog’s training moving forward between lessons.
What if I have multiple dogs? Is it more expensive?
The price won’t change regardless of the number of dogs in your household; however, you will need more lessons, so in that sense yes, it is more expensive. If we can get away with training just one dog, we can certainly do that to keep the cost down.
What if my dog won’t take food?
Then we’ll start there! In some cases we can substitute play or other reinforcers, but a reluctance to take food often indicates an underlying issue that we need to address. There are also dogs who just need to learn the behavior of eating food (yes, that is a teachable behavior!).
Are all lessons in-person?
Usually, yes. If your dog has stranger danger and/or anxiety about guests in the home, it’s often more advantageous to do our first lesson virtually. This helps you get started on the skills you’ll need to help your dog through my arrival for our subsequent lessons.
You’re in the right place!
My clients love their dogs deeply and want to learn how to work together with their dog to change their behavior. If that sounds like you, then lets chat.