The unique approach I take with clients is not only to teach dogs life skills and/or help change their emotional state, but also to motivate dog parents to practice new healthy habits that strengthen the human-canine bond. I am committed to helping you develop the best possible relationship with your dog and for you and your inquisitive canine to be prepared to take on life’s challenges as a team. 

Coaching is a collaborative and systematic process where I, as your coach, partner with you through targeted questioning techniques and active listening. Together we work towards identifying training goals, overcoming obstacles, and developing actionable training and behavior modification plans.

Coaching is goal-forward thinking: Where are you now? Where do you want to be? How do we get you there?

Training is learning the skills we are working on now. Coaching is how you’ll apply them. Coaching is more for behavior change, rather than basic cues.

Coaching can support you every step of the way! Collaborating with a coach can:

• Inspire positive change to help your dog thrive.
• Foster continuous improvement towards a more harmonious relationship.
• Cultivate self-awareness and build resilience for both people and pets.
• Help pave the way for lasting training success.
• Get your multi-species household from where you are to where you want to be.
• Support you if you feel “stuck” in your training or behavior modification plan.  An accountability partner can go a long way in your overall success.

Rates vary depending on the number and frequency of sessions, as well as the session location. (Travel fees apply for sessions held away from Inquisitive Canine headquarters.)

Training packages are customized to fit the specific needs and goals of both you and your inquisitive canine, as well as your budget. The more sessions you book, the more you save! You can also choose from in-person, online, or hybrid sessions—whatever works best for you.

If you’re just looking for a one-time session, a stand-alone option is available at an hourly rate of $225.

I’d be happy to learn more about what you’re looking for and provide package options tailored just for you! Feel free to take our readiness quiz or contact me directly to discuss.

Let’s collaborate and connect to unleash adventure and harness fun! I invite you to get started by completing the training readiness evaluation. Once you have your own answer, you can then decide next steps you want to take. 

During the complementary intake call – we get to know each other to make sure we’re a good fit for one another. Once you tell me about your needs and goals, I can share with you if I can offer what you’re looking for. When you sign on, it’s a relationship. Reaching your training goals depends on your involvement, your accountability, and your commitment because behavior change takes time.

I know when we’re under stress we want to be told what to do, but people are more likely to achieve sustainable success by learning the skills themselves. That’s why my methodology involves combining the processes of training, coaching, and consulting.

During our consultation, I can certainly offer my professional opinion and teach your dog skills through training. However, learning is not gained through advice. It comes down to you determining what your goals are, for both you and your inquisitive canine, and then taking steps to address life’s challenges as a team. 

I’m happy to be there to guide you by asking questions (such as, “How important is this behavior to you?” and “What are your options for an alternate behavior?”) but I want you to be able to participate so that when I’m not around, you can problem solve on your own in positive and nurturing ways.

Are you ready to dive in, connect, and strengthen your human-canine bond today? I invite you to evaluate your readiness to determine if now is the right time for you to move forward with customized plans to help you reach your training, behavior, and canine-human relationship goals.

You may also contact me directly to schedule a complimentary discovery call to get to know one another before embarking on this training and coaching journey together.

I prefer to work together, as there’s more continuity when the humans participate in training, can ask questions, and we can problem solve together. 

The specific training techniques I employ are all rooted in the scientific methods of animal learning. This approach is not new by any means. Positive reinforcement, reward-based training methods have been around for decades, used successfully throughout the world in a variety of contexts.

Unlike using an aversive approach, which increases the risk of potential harmful effects including injury to your dog, self, or other animals and people, decreased learning (due to stressful situation), and increased fear-related and aggressive behaviors, we’ve found the humane, force-free approach is both effective and easy to employ once you and your inquisitive canine are properly trained.

Using an aversive approach can increase the risk of potential harmful effects including injury to your dog, self, or other animals and people, decreased learning (due to the stressful situation), and increased fear-related and aggressive behaviors. Why take those risks? I have found a humane, force-free approach is both effective and easy to employ once you and your inquisitive canine are properly coached and trained.

Do we ever! Our Inquisitive Canine blog offers tips and solutions galore for anyone seeking answers to common questions such as leash-pulling, counter-surfing and crate training. In addition, you’ll find specialty topics such as fun ways to approach holidays with your canine friend as well as scenarios like making sure your dog gets invited to parties.

That is a very good question! Please read our blog post that helps answer this commonly asked question.

Although Joan holds many specialized dog training and behavior certifications, she is not a “dog behaviorist.” Actually, this self-titled term is not a recognized certified or credentialed professional designation. This title, along with similar designations, are misleading to the public and do not tell a prospective client anything about their professional affiliation, education or certification. To read more about this topic, check out our special post on the Edhat news site. 

At this time we are focusing on private coaching, training, and our unique, original, pet product line. But, our schedule is dynamic and constantly changing, depending on the needs of our clientele. We highly encourage you to sign up for our newsletter where we send updated information on classes, events, and more! 

Because learning is a lifelong process for everyone — both people and dogs! Well-trained dogs benefit greatly from the mental stimulation of new training. Training your dog is a fun way to strengthen your bond through collaborative understanding, and it challenges you both to try some new tricks by taking your abilities to the next level. Plus, it just makes for enjoyable togetherness-time for you and your dog!

Yes! Your dog can benefit greatly from continuing education, which provides a channel for much-needed mental stimulation that can excite and motivate dogs of any age in ways similar to physical activity. Plus, the mental workout that training provides can be extremely beneficial for dogs with physical limitations. Learning and training with your dog also helps enhance your relationship by strengthening the bond you share.

Wherever you and your dog want to go! Our private training sessions can help you achieve desired goals, whether it’s learning fun new tricks or advancing skills. We understand that terms like beginner, intermediate, and advanced can mean different things to different people — that’s why we tailor your personal curriculum to allow you to work with your dog at your own pace, according to your own level of comfort and expertise. With our guidance, every session can be modified to increase (or decrease) the level of difficulty, and we encourage you to focus on your own individual goals, no matter what level of training you may have previously completed.

We offer private dog training options so you can enjoy all the benefits of our classes at a time and place that is convenient for you. Whether in-person, online, or a combination of both, private training is an effective, convenient, fun and productive way for you, your dog and your family to engage in a lifelong education together. With private training, you’ll enjoy strengthening your bond with your dog through a highly customized training plan developed to fit your lifestyle and meet your individual needs and goals.

The Inquisitive Canine is a force-free zone. Our methodology and philosophy focuses on educating you on canine parenting to get the behaviors you want. Through our approach, you’ll learn positive and nurturing ways to reinforce the behaviors you want, while limiting and preventing inappropriate ones — without having your dog wear uncomfortable devices. Choke, prong, shock and Citronella collars are considered “correction-based” devices that place emphasis on the behaviors you don’t want. They can also result in injury, pain, and fear-related behavioral side-effects.

It’s important to note that your dog’s behavior at home and in public is determined by dynamic factors that are often overlooked in traditional obedience training. Our methods focus on understanding canine behavior so that you can successfully teach your dog good manners through techniques that reward and motivate. When dogs are rewarded for behaviors we want, they are more likely to perform those behaviors, while less likely to perform the unwanted ones.

For Online Training, you can participate in ways that work best for you. We utilize phone, computer (with or without screen-sharing), tablets, webcams, email, and text.

My emphasis is on coaching clients who take their dog training needs seriously.  I’m committed and customize your 100% force-free curriculum to ensure that your dog training and coaching journey is enjoyable, doable and motivating, so you reach your goals.