Sara Miles

Sara Miles grew up around animals and has been working in animal training and sheltering for almost 15 years. She has worked at a prominent animal shelter in San Diego and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2016.

Training Philosophy

Sara Miles is committed to using the safest and most scientifically optimized training methods. She follows the behavior change framework Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE) and prioritizes safe and humane techniques based in positive reinforcement.

Services

Sara Miles offers a variety of services, including:

• Private Coaching and Training: This program includes in-person sessions for clients in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, access to a virtual resource library, text/email/phone support during the program, alumni membership, and an essentials training kit. The investment is $1395 (or 2 monthly payments of $725).
• VIP Concierge Program: This program is for pet parents that have limited time to train their dogs, need hands-on help implementing their recommended program, and are ready to commit to an all-inclusive experience. It includes a customized training starter kit, private in-home day training sessions, private in-home coaching sessions, enrichment prep and implementation sessions, unlimited phone and email support, and one year of Smiles Dog Training Alumni membership benefits. The investment starts at $6000.
• Behavior Consultation: This consultation is for pet parents that are in immediate danger due to the behavior of at least one animal in the home. Applications are given priority review and scheduled as soon as possible. The investment is $250.
• Training & Wellness Audit: This audit is perfect for pet parents who have been working with their dog on training or behavior modification but are struggling to make progress. The investment is $250.

Certifications

Sara Miles is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).

Specializations

Sara Miles specializes in:

• Dogs that pull, lunge, or bark on leash
• Growing families with dogs and children
• Multi-dog household conflict
• Shy, fearful, and aggressive behavior
• Dogs recently adopted from shelters

Training Methods

Sara Miles uses positive reinforcement methods, including:

• Management & Enrichment: Arranging the environment so that the dog can and will choose the behaviors the owner likes and will also be prevented from practicing (and being rewarded for) behaviors the owner wants to avoid.
• Giving Rewards (aka Positive Reinforcement): The dog gets good things (food, toys, praise, opportunities) based on behaviors the owner wants to see. This leads to an increase in those wanted behaviors!
• Classical Conditioning and Desensitization: When working with fearful or aggressive behaviors in pets it is very important to explore the underlying emotions that motivate those behaviors such as fear, stress, anxiety, and/or discomfort. Through systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques, the trainer can change the dog's underlying emotional response to the scary thing (aka what triggers the behavior). The trainer shows the dog that the scary thing predicts rewards while reinforcing appropriate behaviors. This process helps the dog change their emotional response from fearful or aggressive behaviors to a neutral or pleasant response to the scary thing.

Customer Reviews

Miranda: We hired Sara to help with our three older dogs who were having behavioral issues. We're about halfway through our 6-month training program and seeing great results so far! Admittedly, a lot of dog training is human training, so the learning burden is really on the dog parents, but I do believe my pups have gained quite a few skills over the past few months! Sara is patient, kind, talented, and incredibly knowledgable.
Erin: Sara equipped me with the skillset to safely manage my newly adopted reactive dog and helped me implement a routine that allowed my dog to better predict and adjust to her new home environment. All these things caused a dramatic improvement in my dog's demeanor, and subsequently, our household's quality of life. In addition to addressing my dog's immediate behavior needs, Sara's fear-free training techniques helped me facilitate an incredibly strong and fun relationship with my dog. Outside of dog behavior, Sara has been a wealth of knowledge for so many other things.
Katie: Sara has helped us tremendously with our shy/fearful dog, Buster. He was the first dog I had ever adopted, and when he started showing signs of being fearful, I knew we needed to contact an expert for advice. Thankfully, Sara was there to train us (and Buster!) so that we could help him feel safe and comfortable and start building his confidence. Sara gave us great tips on how to introduce new people to Buster, and we are still using her techniques four years later. She also gave us helpful tips/tricks for grooming and brain enrichment games we can do at home. Sara has great recommendations for veterinarians too! Finding a fear-free certified vet was imperative for Buster, as the vet was an especially scary place for him. Her vet recommendation has been priceless for us. Her love for animals and overall knowledge of animal behavior is immediately apparent when you meet her. We truly are so grateful for Sara's help with Buster
Suzanne: Sara is the best dog trainer we have ever had. Our Annie is wonderful & it is because Sara started training her when she was 8 weeks old.
Lori & Angela: Our family LOVES Sara. She is the most kind, compassionate, and intelligent person and she has helped us tremendously with our two dogs. We initially sought her guidance when bringing a second dog into our home. We were unsure about the proper way to do so, as the new dog was not a puppy and had numerous challenges to overcome. Sara patiently guided us through the process and we literally had her on speed dial for the first few months! She is not only an excellent dog trainer, practicing fear-free techniques that give the dog the utmost respect and choice, but is also a gifted listener. We even joke that she is our personal counselor! Thanks to Sara, both of our dogs are well adjusted now. We continue to work with her when issues arise, and always look forward to “picking her brain” for new, innovative ways to problem-solve (she came up with a brilliant way to do our dogs nails). We cannot recommend her highly enough and happily sing her praises.
Bradley: Sara has been so fantastic with all of our pups! We were introduced when we adopted our 2nd dog to help with our first dog. Sara goes above and beyond and the extra mile to make sure you understand your dog and helps you to succeed to create a happy and healthy puppy home. We look forward to working w/ Sara again with our new rescue and current rescue!