Andria Young

Andria was actively involved in the raising and training of Silver through to the final stages of her work as a Seizure Alert Dog and Mobility Assistance Dog. Allowing Andria to participate in Silver’s training profoundly benefited Andria’s recovery as she gained a sense of accomplishment, and dignity as she realized that despite her limitations she and Silver were capable of accomplishing phenomenal work.

Training Philosophy

Andria enthusiastically complies with these requirements and supports the movement to create national licensing of dog trainers and behavior consultants to protect the very dogs and owners this industry seeks to serve. Force, intimidation, and pain are strongly opposed by leading organizations such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and the Pet Professionals Guild backed by years of science proving the efficacy of positive reinforcement based training. Be assured that leash corrections, choke, prong and electronic collars (otherwise called shock, remote or rumble collars), and other aversive methods will never be used in our training or behavior modification programs.

Services

Our specialty services directly provide for the animals at our sanctuary, and the individuals with disabilities who benefit from the animal assisted activities offered at the farm. All of our services are focused on helping you help your dog enjoy a life free of pain, stress and fear.

Dog Training

• Private Instruction - Individualized lessons are available at the farm to help you with your dog’s specific challenges. Whether it be dog-to-dog reactivity, fearful or disruptive behaviors, displays of aggression, or help training your dog for a particular task, private lessons allow for one on one instruction focused on your dogs specific training needs. We do not use e-collars (also referred to as remote or shock collars), prong collars or choke collars. All behavior modification training is done with positive reinforcement and operant conditioning with the use of clickers when helpful. Note a canine behavior consult is required prior to private lessons for dogs with anxiety, reactivity or aggression.
• Puppy Class - Our AKC STAR Puppy® classes help you and your pup form a life long bond through positive and enjoyable training techniques. One of the single most important investments you will make in the life of your puppy is in their education. Teaching your puppy how to be the dog you want them to be will help ensure a life time of harmony together. At Unmistaken Stars Dog Training we will help you channel your pups eagerness to learn into short fun training and socialization sessions that help prepare your pup for the expectations you will have of him/her as an adult. Your puppy is never too young to learn!
• Beginner Obedience - Our beginner obedience class is for dogs over 5 months of age who have not had formal training in the basic commands: sit, down, stay, come, and let’s go for leash walking. This foundation class introduces your dog to cues that will help him/her become a well mannered and well adjusted member of your family. Our beginner obedience class will help your dog learn through positive reward based methods to focus on you in the presence of distractions, sit and down on cue, display the self-control needed to stay, walk politely on leash, leave items that are off limits and come eagerly when called. This class is excellent for newly adopted dogs and dogs/owners with limited formal training instruction.
• Advanced Beginner Obedience - Our Advanced Beginner Class is for well socialized dogs with a foundation of basic obedience. In this class, your dog learns to maintain previously learned behaviors for longer periods of time, when faced with distractions, and at a distance from you. We will begin off leash training and hand signals. This class is an excellent preparatory course if you wish to pursue AKC Canine Good Citizen® testing with your dog.
• AKC Canine Good Citizen® Prep Class - The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen® designation demonstrates that you and your dog have achieved a level of training reflecting a dog that is a well adjusted and well mannered member of society. This class is for dogs and owners who have already completed an advanced beginner obedience class. All dogs must be well socialized, and dog/people friendly. In this class we will focus on the 10 testing components of the AKC Canine Good Citizen® test to help prepare you and your dog for successful completion of the CGC evaluation.
• Therapy Dog Training - Our therapy dog training class prepares you and your dog to take the Therapy Dog International (TDI) evaluation for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, home bound elders, individuals in crisis, etc. This class is for dogs who have completed advanced beginner obedience, and demonstrate the aptitude and desire to be touched by and interact with people. Exposure to wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other adaptive equipment will be provided.
• Agility - Introduction to Agility - In this beginner class dogs and owners will learn how to safely navigate agility obstacles and negotiate the course as a team. Warm up techniques will be taught to help ensure your dog is properly prepared for the physical activity of agility. This class is for dogs who are dog/people friendly and have completed beginner obedience or beyond.
• Agility - Advanced Agility - Whether your goal is for recreation or competition, our advanced agility classes progress your dog’s competency on all of the contact equipment as well as fluency with weave poles and jumps. Advanced agility classes introduce course handling skills and progress sequencing of obstacles to the excellent level.

Canine Behavior Consulting

• Behavior Consult - $175

Holistic Care

• Massage Therapy
• Reiki

Service Dog Training

• Service/Assistance Dogs - Unlike many organizations that provide a person with a trained Service Dog, we work with an individual to train his/her own dog (after extensive temperament testing) for service tasks.

Certifications

Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CCPDT and IAABC), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), AKC Canine Good Citizen® Evaluator

Specializations

Puppy training, beginner obedience, advanced beginner obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen® training, therapy dog training, agility training, canine behavior consulting, service dog training

Training Methods

Positive reinforcement, operant conditioning, clicker training