Hi everyone! I’m Amy Jo (AJ)--Certified Dog Trainer since 2022 - but dogs and their well-being have been my passion for as long as I can remember.

In 2003, I met my "spirit dog", Gordon--a black lab puppy who forever changed my life. He is literally the reason we're here today!  Bailey and Munch followed in his footsteps, teaching me more than any textbook ever could.

I started out deep in force-free obedience training. 
It works.  It’s fun.  It saves lives.

But then my current dog Dancy (a stray Staffordshire mix), landed on my doorstep to show me obedience isn’t always the answer.

Some dogs need something more.

That’s what sent me back to school. I got certified through Animal Behavior College (ABCDT), then apprenticed under Brett Bailey of Who's A Good Boy Industries, a Canine Behavior Specialist in NYC. The biggest thing he taught me: If you only focus on obedience, you will achieve compliance--
but you will end up ignoring the dog underneath it.

He taught me the importance of seeing the whole picture--the dog, the home, the history--before we decide what’s going on. 

Obedience goals? We do that.

Behavioral challenges? We tackle them.

Puppies? Any breed, any chaos - We got you.

No cookie-cutter plans here.

I don’t have some polished answer for what makes me different. I’m always learning and evolving my methods based on new knowledge, and I’m proud to say that.

Many trainers do a fantastic job of teaching obedience so you have complete control over your dog.  With my approach, you don't need it--because the dog can control themselves.

Simply put, I care about helping people understand their dogs so both can live happy lives together.

Because training is never just for the dog.

It’s about building a happier, more connected life---                                        together.