The DogSmith of Estepona offers group classes for puppies, tricks, fun scent games, and manners, as well as private classes and behavior consultations. They also provide walk and train sessions, pet dog ambassador assessments, seminars, video/Skype consultations, and pet care services.
The Job Title for their professional canine trainer and behavior consultant is accredited. Their training equipment includes a treat bag, a clicker, a favorite toy, and the client’s dog. The training philosophy is based on positive reinforcement.
The organization is located in Estepona, Malaga, and aims to help clients solve behavioral problems, teach basic manners and fun tricks, and enhance their relationship with their dogs. The DogSmith of Estepona believes in using force-free methods and science-based, rewards-based, force-free techniques to train dogs. They do not use aversive tools or force dogs into specific behaviors.
Louise Stapleton-Frappell, an accredited professional canine trainer and behavior consultant, holds various positions and accreditations within the pet industry. She is a membership manager at The Pet Professional Guild British Isles, a regional coordinator at Doggone Safe in Spain, the owner of the DogSmith of Estepona, a co-host of BARKS Podcasts, a PPG board member, and a partner and faculty member at DogNostics Career Center. She is also a co-author of two books related to dog training knowledge concepts for pet owners and practical terms for pet trainers and behavior consultants.
Her accreditations include a B.A. Joint Honors Degree from the University of Leeds, PCBC-A Professional Canine Behavior Consultant-Accredited, PCT-A Professional Canine Trainer-Accredited, CAP 3 Distinction from the Clicker Competency Assessment Programme, CTDI certification as a Certified Trick Dog Instructor, DN-FSG certification as a Fun Scent Games Instructor, CWRI certification as a Certified Whistle Recall Instructor, Force-free Instructor Certification from The Doghouse Dog Training Centre, K9 First Aid Certification from In The Doghouse, Pet First Aid certification from The Pet Professional Guild, CPCT2 certification as a Certified Pet Care Technician from DogNostics, Animal Behavior and Welfare certification from Edinburgh University, and Dog Emotion & Cognition certification from Duke University.
