Capricorn Dog Training and Behavior

Since the mid-1990s, I have fostered and worked with dogs from various local rescues and shelters, including Chicagoland Shepherd Rescue, Simply Shepherds Rescue, Chicago Canine Rescue, Illinois Doberman Rescue, and the Anti-Cruelty Society.   I taught as a senior instructor for the Anti-cruelty Society's school of dog training for ten years. I received approval from the Illinois Department of Agriculture to be a Humane Investigator in 2016 and 2017. In 2020, I graduated from the Explosive Detection Canine Handler School at JBSA Lackland. I currently work full-time as an EDC handler. 

My preference is to use reinforcement vs. punishment. Life is not always positive, but I try my best to teach my animals using primarily positive reinforcement. I regularly attend workshops and seminars from experts in dog training and behavior to stay current on the most humane and effective strategies. I love the art, science, and magic of good animal training. It has become a lifetime practice. My animal family consists of a German Shepherd Dog, a Belgian Malinois, an American Eskimo Dog, a Siberian Husky, a German Shorthair pointer, two Quarterhorses, and an off-the-track Thoroughbred.

Jennifer and I started Capricorn Dog training  in 2012 which was my twelfth year in the dog industry. I was fortunate enough to get involved in the dog training world when punishment based training was crossing over into positive reinforcement. This means that not only was I exposed to harsh training methods first hand but I also got to see the radical difference that thoughtful kind training makes in terms of results AND not stressing out dogs. I became a behavior nut and worked my way through 2 apprenticeships with Chicago dog training schools, a decade assessing and training dogs at the anti cruelty society, 10 more years working with other Chicago rescue groups and 20 years of working with families and their dogs.

My practical and straight forward training plans take into account the needs of the dog and the human. We are all unique. We learn best when our needs are supported

My specialties are socially sensitive dogs, reactivity and aggression and separation distress.

I currently teach puppy and basic classes and offer 1:1 sessions in person in St Louis. I offer 1:1 virtual sessions everywhere.