Embracing Dogness, Empowering Choice
Our Mission is to positively support the human-dog relationship by teaching dog parents how to speak canine thereby empowering them to get the best out of their best friend!
Our teaching style is safe, supportive, non-judgmental and non-forceful for all human and dog learners.
What You Get
What We Specialize In
- • One-on-one coaching from a Certified Professional Dog Trainer
- • Personalized, actionable behavior modification training plans
- • Supplemental resources to support your education, in various formats to suit your personal learning style.
- • Ongoing support between sessions.
- • A trainer who cares as much about you as they do your dog.
- • Private coaching sessions held in our indoor training facility ‘Studio Dog’ plus field trips in and around Wailuku.
- Also offering virtual sessions. In-home sessions are available on a case-by-case basis.
What We Specialize In
Fearful & Reactive Behaviors
- • Anxious around people, pets, or places
- • Cowering
- • Scared
- • Skittish or flighty
- • Barking at certain things (or everything)
- • Growling
- • Lunging
- •Over-reactive (barking/lunging/ trying to escape) behaviors on leash around people or animals
Nuisance Behaviors
- • Not Listening
- • Jumping on and or mouthing people
- • Barking out the window or at the door
- • Pulling on leash
- • Chewing furniture
- • Unable to settle- bouncing off the walls!
- • Having accidents in the home
- • Counter surfing
- • Digging
Basic Initial Consultation Package
- * 75-minute initial consultation
- * Actionable, personalized training plan
- * Additional resources
- * Follow-ups available for purchase separately
- Note: Most people need 3-6+ sessions to meet their goals.
- Non-package sessions are $125 per hour.
Standard Initial Consultation Package
- * 75-minute initial consultation
- * Actionable, personalized training plans
- *Additional resources
- *3 follow-up sessions
- * Supplemental check-in support via email, text, and zoom
- Note: For best results aim to complete all sessions within 60 days of your initial consultation.
- You may need additional sessions beyond your package.
- $125/hour for follow-up sessions beyond your package
Advanced Initial Consultation Package
- *75-minute initial consultation
- *Actionable, personalized training plans
- *Additional resources
- *5 follow-up sessions
- *Supplemental check-in support via email, text, and zoom
- Note: For best results aim to complete all sessions within 90 days of your initial consultation.
- You may need additional sessions beyond your package
- $125/hour for follow-up sessions beyond your package
Choice Matters
Why is choice so important in our dogs’ lives?
Well, it’s fundamental in our human lives, and we don’t give it a second thought until it’s taken away from us, right?
Just think how many choices you make in a day…when to sleep, what to eat, what clothes to wear, where you’d like to work, who you want to socialize with and on and on… Many dogs live in a world where they don’t even have choices. And sadly, research demonstrates that a lack of choice leads to stress, anxiety, physical symptoms such as ulcers and high-blood pressure, and a condition called “learned helplessness” in which the animal essentially gives up and stops trying to express itself.
On the other hand, being given meaningful choice opportunities increases joy and reduces stress, even in potentially stressful situations. But don’t fret. Giving your dog choices isn’t as daunting as it sounds! My goal is to teach my clients how to create a choice-rich environment for their dogs with easy to implement steps that can be used at home, when training on walks or during playtime.
And when you give your dog more choice, his overall behavior will improve. That’s because most misbehavior is related to stress. When we increase choice, we decrease stress, and that leads to better behavior! Choice Matters.
My mission is to help you create an environment where your dog has many good options, and almost always makes the right choice!
Happier dogs make happier, less stressed pet parents, bringing joy and harmony to your home.
Positive Reinforcement
Dog’s Choice believes in the power of relationships that are based on trust and support. This belief applies to our dog-human and human-human relationships.
Positive Reinforcement – What is it and why does it matter?
Positive Reinforcement uses science-based, force-free techniques aimed at building trust and confidence with your dog. This empowers him or her to offer new behaviors and make better choices. Positive Reinforcement also takes into account the individual learner by developing their skills based on how they learn and what motivates them.
If you reward your dog with praise, play, food, toys, etc. when he responds to you or demonstrates a behavior you like, then that behavior will likely be repeated.
Positive Reinforcement rewards positive behavior that’s incompatible with negative behavior thereby lessening your dog’s frustration, anxiety and stress, while also enabling the dog to feel emotionally stable.
Emotionally stable dogs are less likely to display anxiety-based behaviors which are at the root of many common dog behavior issues.
Get to Know Us
Hi there! I’m Rachael, owner and trainer of Dog’s Choice and I’m so glad you’re here as it means you’re looking for a safe and supportive training experience for you and your dog!
You made the right choice! And I can’t wait to help you achieve your goals for your dog, while embracing their dogness!
Your dog is an individual, as are you, and we will treat you both with the utmost respect and compassion as we tailor your sessions to suit your needs.
Fun Tip!
Did you know many common behavior issues stem from lack of enrichment AKA doing doggy stuff that fulfills a specific need? This could be social interactions, sensory, physical, occupational or nutritional enrichment.
A quick and easy way to add mental stimulation, build confidence and fulfill our dog’s need to forage is by offering some of their meals in puzzle toys. You can check out my favorite feeding puzzles here.
Tip for walks: If you walk your dog after they have engaged in some form of mental activity (training session, puzzle toys, hide n seek) they will be mentally fatigued and have less energy to put into pulling when on their walk.
For more info on me and my training methods and philosophy check out my About Page.
[Already made the choice to start working on a stronger relationship that fulfills your needs as well as meeting your dogs? Then let’s get started!]
Get to Know Us
Hi there! I’m Rachael, owner and trainer of Dog’s Choice and I’m so glad you’re here as it means you’re looking for a safe and supportive training experience for you and your dog!
You made the right choice! And I can’t wait to help you achieve your goals for your dog, while embracing their dogness!
Your dog is an individual, as are you, and we will treat you both with the utmost respect and compassion as we tailor your sessions to suit your needs.
Fun Tip!
Did you know many common behavior issues stem from lack of enrichment AKA doing doggy stuff that fulfills a specific need? This could be social interactions, sensory, physical, occupational or nutritional enrichment.
A quick and easy way to add mental stimulation, build confidence and fulfill our dog’s need to forage is by offering some of their meals in puzzle toys. You can check out my favorite feeding puzzles here.
Tip for walks: If you walk your dog after they have engaged in some form of mental activity (training session, puzzle toys, hide n seek) they will be mentally fatigued and have less energy to put into pulling when on their walk.
For more info on me and my training methods and philosophy check out my About Page.
[Already made the choice to start working on a stronger relationship that fulfills your needs as well as meeting your dogs? Then let’s get started!]
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