Shannon Riley

Shannon Riley is an internationally sought after speaker and bestselling author of The Evolution of Dog Training. She has been a pet lover all of her life and a dog trainer for over 30 years. She started teaching puppy classes in 1999 at Frontier Pet Clinic in Napa, CA and was trained by Ian Dunbar though his Sirius Dog Training Course. In 2010, she opened Ventura Pet Wellness & Dog Training Center in Ventura, CA. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds!

Training Philosophy

Shannon's dog training philosophy revolves around force free, positive reinforcement; however, her ultimate goal is for healthy happy relationships between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment and training all play a significant role in achieving this goal.

Services

Shannon offers a variety of dog training services, including:

• Puppy Kindergarten: A 6-week class for puppies 8 to 18 weeks old. This class covers basic obedience cues, socialization, beginning agility fun, and a chance to have all your puppy questions answered.
• Good Manners 1: A 6-week class for dogs 19 weeks and older. This class focuses on the beginnings of eye contact, sit/down/release, recall, loose leash walking, leave it/mine, and an introductory target behavior.
• Good Manners 2: A 6-week class for intermediate handlers and dogs. This class builds on the behaviors learned in Good Manners 1 and adds in distractions, distance, and duration. It also covers the handling skills of capturing, targeting, and shaping for an introduction to trick training and begins to work on skills for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) class and the Beginning Agility class.
• Good Manners 3/ Canine Good Citizen: A 6-week program that includes 5 weeks of training followed by the CGC Test on the final day of class. This class prepares dogs for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.
• Intermediate Tricks Class: A 6-week class for dogs 1 year or older. This class works towards earning an AKC Intermediate Trick Dog title.
• Beginning Agility: A 6-week class for dogs of all ages. This class introduces dogs to agility equipment, including jumps, tunnels, planks, weave poles, and more.
• Intermediate Agility: A 6-week class for dogs that have taken the Beginning Agility class. This class builds on the skills learned in the Beginning Agility class and introduces dogs to all agility equipment. Dogs may do off leash work in this class, if appropriate.
• Advanced B Agility: A 6-week class for dogs that are learning to run agility courses with instruction. Dogs will do off leash work in this class.
• Advanced A Agility: A 6-week class for dogs that are able to run courses with little or no instruction. This class is for dogs that have successfully completed the Beginning, Intermediate (twice), and Advanced "B" Agility courses and are very comfortable on the equipment. Dogs will work off leash in this class.
• Intro To Scent-work - Part 1: A 6-week class that introduces dogs to the basics of scent work. This class is a great way to get started with scent work and is appropriate for dogs of all ages and breeds.
• Intro To Nose-Work/ Scent-work (Interior) - Part 1: A 6-week class that introduces dogs to the basics of nose work. This class is a great way to get started with nose work and is appropriate for dogs of all ages and breeds.
• Intro To Nose-Work/ Scent-work (Exterior) - Part 2: A 6-week class that builds on the skills learned in the Intro to Nose-Work (Interior) - Part 1 class. This class introduces dogs to exterior searches and vehicle searches.
• Intro to Nose-Work/ Scent-work Class (Odor: Interior, Exterior, Vehicle and Container searches) - Part 3: A 6-week class that introduces dogs to the novel odor of Birch. This class also works dogs on the four elements of Nose Work: Interior, Exterior, Vehicle and Container searches.
• Advanced Nose-Work/ Scent-work Class (Odor: Interior, Exterior, Vehicle and Container searches): A 6-week class that builds on the skills learned in the Intro to Nose-Work (Odor: Interior, Exterior, Vehicle and Container Search) class. This class covers advanced topics such as thresholds and corners, environmental considerations around airflow and weather conditions, aged hides, non-box containers, how to set up and work through distractions, how to evaluate search are challenges/approach, how to effectively search an area, multiple hides, source inaccessible hides, advanced vehicle searches, building search stamina, combo odors, what to expect when trialing, assessing trial readiness, and problem solving individual team skills.
• Private Training Sessions: Shannon offers private training sessions for dogs of all ages and breeds. These sessions are tailored to the individual needs of the dog and owner.
• Board and Train Program: Shannon offers a 30-day Board and Train Program. This program includes a 30-day stay at Shannon's home where she will train your dog each day. The program also includes two follow-up private training sessions with Shannon Riley AFTER Board and Train. Each appointment is 1-hour. These appointments can be scheduled on the day of pick up or two weeks after board and train services.

Certifications

Shannon Riley is a:

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
• Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
• Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP)

Specializations

Shannon specializes in:

• Puppy training
• Basic obedience training
• Agility training
• Scent work
• Nose work
• Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training
• Trick training
• Reactive dog training

Training Methods

Shannon uses force-free, positive reinforcement training methods. She believes in building a strong bond between dogs and their owners through positive reinforcement and clear communication.

Customer Reviews

Margaret P. - Great information and knowledge!
Deena G. - Very helpful! I do a lot of dog sitting so these classes are wonderful to understand and help my doggy pals.
Rachel M. - Shannon has so much experience with animals that she could answer our questions and would tell us personal experiences, which helped me feel confident in her knowledge and skill
Vondie L. - I’m so happy we found Shannon! We spent years trying to curb our dog’s fearful aggression after he got hurt at the vet. But, no matter what we did, he just kept getting worse. Then I attended Shannon’s Reactive Dog Class. She uses dog psychology research and science to explain how dogs react with “fight, flight, or freeze,” when they’re afraid, just like people do. She then helps you identify what’s scaring your dog and how to overcome his fears. My dog is better already and I’m so relieved! My only regret is that we didn’t find Shannon years ago.
Dan C. - Great instruction! Wendy is fantastic!
Gregg P. - Shannon is great! I've taken my Australian Shepherd to private lessons with Shannon and to agility classes. The experience is always outstanding. Both are knowledgeable and caring. My dog and I have both benefited by our involvement with Shannon.
Sarah G. - We just had our first appointment. Shannon was on time and totally prepared. Our fearful dog loved her more than he's liked anyone else since we got him. Her passiveness gained his trust and at the end of the appointment he was eating cream cheese from her hand, and he even whined when she left. She talked to us and helped us formulate a positive plan with small steps forward to help him be less fearful. It's also great to note that she will help you get accessories (we got a Thundershirt and a pheromone collar) at price + shipping, so they were lots cheaper than the pet store. Definitely recommended. We'll be going back.
Lori S. - Thanks to the miraculous work of our expert trainer, Shannon Riley-Coyner, my boxer mix, Noah, and I have figured one another out and have become loyal best friends. Just as I was on the verge in the early days of giving up on my out-of-control and spun-up beasty boy, Shannon taught me how to turn all 70 pounds of him into a giant bundle of joy – all with her fun, upbeat, positive reinforcement approach, tender loving care, technical brilliance and endless encouragement. I would recommend Shannon to anyone!
Jenny K. - I came to Shannon Riley-Coyner with Lena, my high energy, nervous and insecure three year old Lab/ Weimaraner mix. She accessed my dog’s temperament for agility and our training began. Shannon has a passion for working with dogs and their owners. Her motivational force-free training methods and positive reinforcements have transformed my dog. As we advanced through classes my dog gained confidence and her energy is continually harnessed into something positive. Shannon makes training fun for my dog and for me. The skills Shannon demonstrates set us up for success. Shannon Riley-Coyner is an impressive, effective and committed trainer. She encourages and motivates by making the work fun and rewarding and has helped me better enjoy and appreciate my dog.
John and Glenys W. - Shannon has transformed our timid Border Collie puppy of 6 months into a confident and energetic agility dog of 4 years. She understands our dog's delicate psyche and shows patience and love as if Bryn were her own. Shannon seeks only the best for each dog and owner, and we highly recommend her to others.

Social Media Links

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Media Appearances

Shannon has been interviewed on Bloom TV with Gayle Guyardo and Daytime TV with Maggie Rodriguez. She has also spoken at the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) 24th and 25th Annual Conferences, Pet Professional Guilds Geek Week Australia, RescueCon at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, the Ventura College Job and Career Fair, and the Children’s Health and Wellness Expo. She also hosted Truly Force Free Animal Training's first conference, Breaking the Chain; A Force Free Dog Training Conference at Ventura Pet Wellness & Dog Training Center.