It's Nice to Meet you

Hi! I'm Jamie

Working with dogs and those who adore them (that's you) is my greatest joy. I have dedicated nearly 20 years to working professionally with pet dogs, from playful puppies to our seasoned canines. My true passion is in supporting people and their dogs on their personal journeys to forging strong, enduring bonds.

As a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant-Knowledge Assessed® and Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed® via the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and as a Licensed Family Dog Mediator®, I'm committed to offering my clients the latest scientific knowledge and techniques.

There are two ends to a leash and that means focusing on both the needs of my human clients AND their canine companions. One of my primary goals when I'm working with someone is to help them understand the WHYs of their dog's behaviors. This deeper understanding of how their dog perceives the world creates the foundation for every behavior plan I design.

Dogs don't inherently understand how to navigate this increasingly confusing, human-centric world they've been born into. It's our job to guide and support them as they're trying to figure it all out!

Because of this, you'll find that I don't prioritize what many other professionals do. Where many focus on "obedience" and teaching a laundry list of behaviors to dogs, my focus is centered around meeting the dog's individual needs, creating predictable routines that are easy to follow (setting everyone up for success), and building a vocabulary through all of this that will both enhance your communication skills with your dog and help provide him with more clarity and better understanding of the world around him.

And sometimes it takes a team to help you reach your goals, so I'd like to introduce you to mine....

Sunny & Lady

Sunny and Lady are my dynamic duo. Sunny, our golden retriever, and Lady, our labrador, are "teacher dogs". They help with dogs who are building social skills, puppies who need positive experiences with other dogs, and even with dogs who are building confidence simply sharing a space near another dog. Lady and Sunny are also my demo-dogs in video lessons, seminars & workshops. They are wonderful with offering extra support to our human clients as well (and a bit of comic relief)! These two lovely girls play a crucial role in many aspects of what we do at The Speaking Dog.

Hank

Sometimes, even before a dog is ready to work with Sunny and Lady, it can be beneficial to work with something a bit less "real". My decoy dog, Hank, is the perfect guy for the job! Hank has been a staple in my behavior plans for the last 10 years and has been an incredible tool for helping people with puppies, shy dogs, and reactive dogs. He's one of a kind (but also available on Amazon if you want one LOL).

Meet Geoff!

From time to time, a second set of hands is really helpful when working on confidence-building or other aspects of a dog's behavior plan (especially if we're working on building comfort with "strangers"). That's where my wonderful husband, Geoff, comes in. Though he doesn't come with me on house calls (yet), he has become a routine contributor to sessions held at our facility and I'm so thankful he's always happy to help!

Our Hens

Students who visit our facility will have the chance to also practice their skills (and their dog's skills) with our 5 chickens: Rita, Janet, Marge, Parmigiano, and Buttercup. These ladies are used to sharing their yard with dogs and provide various levels of challenge and interest for my student dogs. They've become an invaluable addition to The Speaking Dog family.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us, we look forward to getting to know you and your dog

The Philosophy & Methodology behind what we do

My philosophies are founded in a total welfare approach, where the goal is ensuring both my human and canine clients are living "their best life" together. My approaches combine proven, science-based methods, the importance of understanding a dog's individual needs and perspectives, the various ways dogs communicate, and the importance of building solid relationships with our companions into every case.

I strive to design programs and plans that fit your specific needs. My goal is to help you and your dog in a way that lowers yours and your dog's stress levels. Designing activities and supporting you through the process ensures everyone feels confident and empowered during the learning process.

As a Licensed Family Dog Mediator®, I am specifically educated in the science of the internationally recognized L.E.G.S® model and how it relates to the modern pet dog. Through examining your dog's L.E.G.S®, we will get to the heart of why your dog is struggling to navigate situations and help you both live a better life together.

Our offerings exclusively employ force-free methods, ensuring that both you and your dog can learn and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. This approach is the cornerstone of fostering trust, strong relationships, and effective communication.