Madison, WI
Mackenzie Lee Holmes
Mackenzie's first professional training experience was in 2001 with Tooey, a lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo. That was her introduction to clicker training and shaping behaviors, and thus to training as a cooperative task shared by learner and teacher. When she began training dogs professionally in 2011, Mackenzie found that cooperation just as compelling. Facilitating partnerships between dogs and humans and seeing teams become extensions of one another made her love the work.
Training Philosophy
Mackenzie describes her goal as simple: to create joy. Training should be a joyful experience for both the human and the dog. She believes that great things are possible when everyone is having fun, and when training is consensual.
Services
Busy Dog offers a variety of training services, including:
- Puppy Classes: Social & Confident Puppy, Puppy Skills, Dream Teen, AKC Star Puppy
- Good Dog Classes: Good Dog Basics, Really Good Dog (Intermediate), Good Dog Outdoors
- Canine Good Citizen: CGC, CGCU, CGCA
- Drink With Your Dog: Brewery Manners, Coffee Shop Manners
- Kids Classes: Busy Kid, Busy Dog, Junior Handler Agility, Fun and Games Workshop
- Scent Work: Intro to Nose Games, Nose Games - Birch, Please, Intro to Shed Antler Retrieves
- Parkour: Intro to Parkour, Intermediate Parkour, Fit Dog Parkour Walk, Online Parkour- Getting Started
- Agility: Intro to Agility, Agility Fundamentals, Advanced Fundamentals
- Tricks: Tricks for Titles - Novice, Tricks for Titles - Intermediate, Tricks for Titles - Advanced
- Freestyle: Freestyle Foundations, More Freestyle Fun!
- Private Lessons: In-home and outside of home
- Online Classes: Getting Started in Dog Parkour, Beginning Mat Work
- Scholarships: Financial assistance for those who need it
- Gift Certificates: Available in various denominations
- Fit Dog Club: Free monthly Fit Dog Train Hike
- Parkour Meetups: Free bi-monthly parkour outings
Certifications
Mackenzie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), receiving her accreditation through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). She is also an IDPKA-certified dog parkour instructor and evaluator, an AKC CGC and Trick Dog Evaluator, and a certified Drink With Your Dog Instructor and Evaluator.
Specializations
Mackenzie specializes in dog parkour, agility, tricks, and freestyle. She is also experienced in puppy training, obedience, and Canine Good Citizen.
Training Methods
Mackenzie uses positive reinforcement, rewards-based training methods. She is a force-free trainer and believes in building a strong partnership between dogs and their humans.
Customer Reviews
- "Inara was largely unsocialized and inexperienced in her first year. She was still mastering walks, stairs, and eating out of bowls a year ago. I'm beyond grateful Busy Dog has provided so many safe and novel encounters for her. Thank you for creating such a wonderful training environment!" -Katie Martz
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.
