Amanda is a co-founder and working board member of the Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers (HART)
They graduated from the Academy of Dog Trainers with honors, and are a SAPro and Fear-Free Certified Trainer.
The journey into dog training started for Amanda at the Seattle Humane Society, where they volunteered as part of the Dog Behavior and Socialization team, and were promoted to a Behavior Program Assistant, a small team of volunteers who work solely with the challenging behavior cases.
When the Seattle Humane Society shut down volunteer operations due to COVID in 2020, Amanda teamed up with the other founders to help create HART, a non-profit that matches professional trainers with shelters and rescues to provide behavior support at no cost. Amanda's main role in HART is leading the screening team that vets prospective trainers, and designing graphics for social media and handouts.
Amanda is the owner-operator of Westward Hound, which provides private training and behavior consultation both in-person and virtually.
When they are not obsessing about dogs, Amanda is highly skilled at cluttering up their desk, and spending as much time on the beach as possible, often returning home with pockets filled with pretty rocks to further clutter the house with.
Amanda lives in Kingston WA with their partner Charles, and one of the most fearful dogs in the world, Fig, who is loved dearly.
Certifications:
CTC, SAPro, FFCP-Trainer
Dog training services include
- Aggressive dog training
- Reactive dog training
- In home training
- Puppy training
More info about Amanda Dwyer's dog training:
I offer private sessions and day training for manners, puppies, and most behavior issues: shy and fearful dogs, resource guarding, leash reactivity, excessive barking, fear of the vet or grooming.
Remote sessions are offered for separation anxiety cases, as well as behavior cases outside of my service area.
Behavioral issue focus:
Because there are very few positive reinforcement trainers in local my area, I try to meet the needs of my community and work with a wide variety of behavior issues. I have an enormous soft spot for shy puppies and shy dogs, as wells as frustrated and reactive dogs.
Dog training methods:
My training and behavior modification methods are rewards based, science backed, and ethical. For separation anxiety cases, I use gradual exposure therapy, and desensitization to help the dog learn to tolerate being left alone.
I use positive reinforcement methods for all my learners, both animal and human! My goal is that everyone leaves my sessions feeling better about their relationship with their animals, and confident that they can overcome their behavioral issues.
I always use training plans and utilize the Push/Drop/Stick method to ensure I am moving at the learners pace. My clients receive easy to understand and follow plans to continue their progress.
Continuing education is very important to me, and I regularly attend lectures and seek certifications in my field to stay informed about the latest best practices.
Why I became a dog trainer:
I adopted a cattle dog. Anyone who has one knows what I am talking about.
My favorite part of being a dog trainer:
When you see both your dog and human clients smiling and having a great time together. When my separation anxiety clients can get their freedom back.
My #1 dog training tip:
Don't think of it as "training" which is a word that has such boring connotations. Think of it as an educational game you and your dog get to do together, both to have fun, and achieve a goal.
See The Best Dog Trainers In Washington
See The Best Dog Trainers In Other Cities Near Washington
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Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you
David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development.
David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners.
Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature.
David is based in Salem, MA.
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