Waukesha, WI
Emily Ruiz
Emily graduated from Lawrence University with a degree in Psychology. While she had every intention of focusing on human psychology, her professional path led her to consider animal psychology and learning theory instead! Her senior capstone examined the impact of animal-assisted therapy on teaching children with Down Syndrome to read. Ever since, she knew animals would play a role in her life.
Emily has over ten years experience in animal care, six of which include animal welfare in shelter settings. She wore many hats through shelter work. Just a few of her duties over the years included arranging transports, conducting behavior assessments, providing basic care, medicating, training volunteers to socialize animals, providing emergency wildlife aide, and more.
Her time working with humane societies was instrumental in shaping her as an animal advocate, trainer, and behavior consultant. She has interacted with thousands of cats, dogs, and small animals of all breeds, ages, sizes, and temperaments.
Emily finds interest in all species, though she specializes in socializing fractious cats and mill dogs. Her experience includes basic animal care and exercise, dog-dog reactivity, dog-human reactivity, multicat issues, litter box issues, aggression, and more. Her ultimate goal is to promote the human-animal bond by helping people and their pets coexist peacefully.
Training Philosophy
Emily uses science-based positive reinforcement techniques. She focuses on maintaining a good relationship between you and your pet and encouraging good behaviors. This is not to say that undesirable behaviors continue unaddressed. Quite the opposite! The more one focuses on instilling good behaviors, the more likely undesirable behaviors are to dissipate.
Due to the nature of this training style, Emily does not use aversive methods such as choke/prong/shock collars or squirt bottles.
Services
Emily offers a variety of services, including dog walking, pet sitting, training, and behavior consultations. Prior to any of her services, she discusses goals with the pet guardian and reports activities and progress afterwards.
Your pet's physical and mental wellness is Emily's #1 priority, and your happiness and relationship with your pet plays a crucial part in that. Whether your pet needs a physical outlet or you need help understanding your pet's problem behavior, Emily's goal is to create a place of harmony in your household and to increase the human-animal bond.
Dog Services
- Private Behavior Consultation: $100/hr
- Phone Q&A: $25 (30-minute limit)
- Private Training Session: $90/hr
- Private Training Package (Five 30-minute sessions): $200
- Custom Training Package
- Walk-and-Train Package
- Puppy Headstart Program
- Individual Sessions: $75/hr
- Headstart Program Package: $175
- Dog Walking
Cat Services
- Private Behavior Consultation: $100/hr
- Phone Q&A: $25 (30-minute limit)
- Pre-recorded Class: $50
- Live Class with Q&A: $150
Pet Sitting
- Drop-in pet sitting visits: $35-$50/day depending on the number of animals and any special needs, such as medication.
Group Classes
- Puppy Essentials: 6 session package: $175
- Basic Manners Proofing: 6 Session Package: $175
- Puppy Play & Learn: Half-Hour Sessions: $10
- Alumni Sessions: $5
Any in-person services provided outside a 30-mile radius from Waukesha includes a $0.50/miles roundtrip travel charge.
Customer Reviews
“Emily is helping me with my anxious rat terrier/beagle mix, Harriet. She has a wealth of knowledge but takes care to make sure that she does not overwhelm you. She breaks everything down step by step and tailors the training based on you and your dog’s needs. You can easily see how much she cares for the animals she works with and how much she loves training.”
Sam K. - Harriet’s Human
“We have two big dogs, a cat, and a guinea pig. We have had Emily pet sit for us several times. Emily communicates well throughout your absence, follows instructions, is conscientious about the house. Most of all, she really enjoys spending time with the animals. “
Jennifer T. - Has Multiple Furkids
“We have seen significant changes with our Vizsla since Emily started working with her. We started with dog walking where Harper would attempt to pull your arm off wearing a harness and progressed to loose leash walking entirely. Emily has taught Harper SO MANY good habits! Emily has also been helping Harper overcome her dog reactivity and it has been amazing to see Harper’s progress with each session. Harper’s tail won’t stop wagging when she sees Emily pull in the driveway. We can’t thank Emily enough for helping Harper to be much less anxious all around! Emily truly cares about Harper’s well-being and has been such a pleasure to work with these past two years.”
Lyn A. - Harper’s Human
“I use Emily’s services for our puppies. We have a 10-month old Goldendoodle, a Golden Retriever, and a Caveachon. Emily has been letting the dogs out and feeding them for us when we have outings over the past two years. She is very dependable and makes me feel secure so I can enjoy my events. The dogs love her and certainly with puppies they are a challenge. We had sick dogs as well and she handled medication just fine! Please consider her for your needs. I will also use her for help with training the puppies when she is available.”
Pamela B. - Human to 3 Playful Pups
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Our trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All our trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
