Private Coaching, Personalized Training
Empowering Choice
Our Mission is to positively support the human-dog relationship by teaching dog parents how to speak canine, 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 fearful, anxious & reactive behaviors can look like...
- Skittish or flighty
- Freezing on walks, gets stuck in one spot
- Shies away from people, other animal, objects
- Obsessively licking
- Loss of appetite
- Anxious at certain times or all the time
- Withdrawal from family
- Whining/vocalizing
- Nose licking
- Yawning when not tired
- Cowering or hiding
- Destructive behavior
- Barks at certain things inside and/or outside of home
- Growling
- Barking/lunging on leash at people or animals
- Barking or lunging at people or animals behind fences
Remote services offered worldwide. Book a consult online.
Our Services
- Pre- and post-adoption counselling.
- Solutions to common behavior issues.
- Counter surfing, jumping up, barking, and other common “nuisance” behaviors.
- Foundation skills for loose leash walking.
- Foundation skills for leash reactivity.
- Behavior modification, in conjunction with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist when recommended.
- Fear, anxiety and some aggression concerns; online training can be an especially helpful way to start when your dog is worried about visitors to the home.
- Separation Anxiety: We do not currently take cases where the primary or only concern is moderate to severe separation anxiety.
For help with separation anxiety, we recommend working with a veterinary behaviorist and/or a certified separation anxiety trainer. - Group Classes.
- Daycare and boarding.
- Level 4+ bites - see bite scale.
- Private coaching sessions with a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).
- Personalized training and behavior modifications plans built using science-based/ positive reinforcement/ force-free/ fear-free practices.
- A voice in your learning journey. Rachael is passionate about meeting the needs of her clients and their dogs while working to reach their goals. She will work with you to build a plan that you can achieve no matter your starting point.
- In addition to your weekly worksheet, you'll be given access to supplemental resources to support your learning journey in formats that suit your personal learning style.
- Ongoing support between sessions.
- Private coaching sessions are held remotely or in our training facility in Wailuku. We also incorporate field trips when building on leash skills. The choice of location can vary depending on the behavior issues and skills we are working on.
Initial Consultation
90-minute initial consultation.
Personalized training plan.
Additional resources tailored to your specific needs.
Follow-ups are available for purchase separately.
Start here if you’re unsure you're ready for the full training process.
Note: Most people need 3-6+ sessions to meet their goals. Non-package sessions are $175 per hour.
Fear Free Foundations
90-minute initial consultation.
Personalized training plans.
Additional resources tailored to your specific needs.
3 follow-up sessions.
Supplemental support via email, text, and zoom.
*4 Sessions in 3 Months.
Choose this package if your dog has 1 or 2 different issues to work through.
Note: For best results aim to complete all sessions within 90 days of your initial consultation. You may need additional sessions beyond your package. Follow-up sessions beyond your package are $175 per hour.
Calm and Confident
90-minute initial consultation.
Personalized training plans.
Additional resources tailored to your specific needs.
7 follow-up sessions.
Supplemental support via email, text, and zoom.
*8 sessions in 4 months. Choose this package if your dog has many different behavior issues.
Note: For best results aim to complete all sessions within 90 days of your initial consultation. You may need additional sessions beyond your package. Follow-up sessions beyond your package are $175 per hour.
Get Your 5-Step Guide to Reducing Your Dog's Reactivity
A Beginner's Guide to Understanding and Supporting Your Dog's Emotional Well-Being.
Why choose remote dog training?
Life is busy, and juggling responsibilities while trying to train your dog can feel impossible. That’s why we bring expert training directly to you—wherever you are. No traffic, no stress, no added overwhelm.
With remote training, you’ll enjoy:
- Personalized Plans: Every dog is unique, and so is your training plan. We tailor every session to meet your needs and goals.
- Expert Guidance Anywhere: Whether you're at home, at a park, or on vacation, you’ll have access to professional advice when you need it.
- Confidence from the Start: You’ll gain practical skills to tackle challenges while strengthening trust and connection with your dog.
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 dog 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, (or whatever they find rewarding), when he responds to you or demonstrates a behavior you like, that behavior will likely be repeated.
Positive reinforcement encourages behaviors that align with your goals and naturally replace unwanted habits. This approach reduces your dog’s frustration, anxiety, and stress while promoting emotional stability.
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 a 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 scatter feeding (see my Enrichment E-Book for more info). You can also offer foraging by feeding one or part of your dog's daily meals in a snuffle mat.
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.
By coming here, you have already made the choice to start working on a stronger relationship that fulfills your needs as well as meeting your dogs.
