Giora Liran, also known as Gil, is a dog trainer with a background in engineering. He has used his expertise to invent several pet products and has consulted for pet product manufacturers. He has also served as Director of the Board of the Lagotto Club of America and has past affiliations with the IDF-K9 Unit (Israeli Defense Force).

Gil believes in building a strong bond and relationship with canine companions through positive reinforcement training.

Wet Nose Academy offers a variety of dog training services, including:

• Puppy Basics: This class covers socialization, husbandry, house breaking, mouthing, and basic behaviors such as SIT, DOWN, STAY, COME, POLITE LEASH WALKING, and more.
• Basic Manners – Level 1: This class trains the basic behaviors for a well-mannered family dog, including COME, SIT, DOWN, STAY, LEAVE IT, POLITE LEASH WALKING, SETTLE, and more.
• Basic Manners – Level 2: This class builds on the behaviors trained in Level 1, working on increasing duration, distance, and distractions. The goal is to have a well-behaved dog not only in the home but in public places and in the presence of other dogs.
• Canine Good Citizen® Prep Classes: This class focuses on training and improving the 10 items dogs are required to pass to earn their AKC CGC® Certification.
• K9 Training Clinics: These clinics are designed to train a specific behavior, such as walking on leash without pulling, training a reliable recall (COME), walking past distractions, and more.
• Private Dog Training Consultations: Wet Nose Academy offers customized in-your-home basic training and behavior modification programs.
• Group Dog Training Classes: These classes are no more than 6 handler-dog teams with two certified professional trainers leading the group. The classes are designed for more individualized attention and for training the family dog. Children ages 10 and over can participate in the training.
• Consultations on nutrition and advice on adopting the right breed for your lifestyle and family.

Gil is an IAABC Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and CCPDT Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed®. He is a Professional Member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainer).

Gil specializes in working with the family dog and offers training programs for puppies, basic manners, and behavior modification for undesirable behaviors such as fear, anxiety, and aggression.

Wet Nose Academy uses positive reinforcement training methods, including:

• Clicker training: The Clicker is a small device that makes a clicking sound. It is a tool used in positive reinforcement training. The “click” sound is an event marker that precisely marks the behavior so that there is no confusion to the dog as to which behavior earned the reward.
• Verbal Marker training: A verbal marker can be used instead of a Clicker to mark behavior and bridge the time between the behavior and delivery of the reward. The word that is commonly used is “YES”.
• Lure-Reward Training: The trainer uses a handheld food treat place closed to, but not touching, the dog’s nose, and entices the dog into the desired position.

Customer Reviews
Sonia, Walter, and Cassidy Ballard (and Siri, too!) - April 20, 2014
We feel very fortunate to have met Gil and Susie, and we are grateful for the wonderful relationship that developed during our training. The timing of meeting them couldn’t have been any better, as we were preparing for the arrival of our new 9 week old Cavachon puppy, Siri. The transitions and training for us, our puppy, and our 3 cats, went smoothly due to the knowledge, advice, kindness, and patience of Susie and Gil. We couldn’t be happier with our experience, and Siri loves them. He was always so happy to see them and was eager to train, for he viewed their visit as a fun time with friends. Both Gil and Susie have a wonderful approach that encourages appropriate behavior through positive reinforcement.