Holden, MA
Stephanie Duca
Stephanie Duca has over 30 years of experience in dog training. She started working with dogs professionally after years of training her own dogs, including breeds like pugs, boxers, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, English Bulldogs, Doberman Pinschers, Olde English Bulldogs, and even a wolf hybrid. She has also worked with many rescue dogs, helping them find their forever homes. She became an AKC certified tester in 2010 and started teaching classes at The Right Paw in Princeton. She has competed in dog sports with her own dog, Peggy, and earned several titles. She is certified for judging, testing, temperament testing, and certifying dogs for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and all levels of tricks titles. She is a proud member of the APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) and continues to further her education through seminars and clinics.
Training Philosophy
Stephanie Duca believes in being empathetic to her clients and their specific needs. She keeps an open mind to what approach or technique will bring the most success for each individual human/canine team. Her goal is to keep things 'pawsitive'.
Services
Stephanie Duca offers a variety of dog training services, including:
- Puppy Kindergarten: A six-week class for puppies under 18 weeks old that focuses on socialization, confidence building, basic obedience, and potty training.
- Grammar School: A six-week class for dogs older than 16 weeks old that focuses on manners and dog behaviors, including focus, sit, down, come, leave it, and no pulling.
- Junior High: A five-week class for dogs that have graduated from Puppy Kindergarten that focuses on loose leash walking, door manners, sit wait, down wait, come, leave it, and meeting strangers and dogs.
- High School: A six-week class for dogs that have graduated from Grammar School that focuses on heeling, sit stay, down stay, focus, stand stay, direction changes, and learning each other's language.
- Canine Good Citizen (CGC): A six-week class that prepares dogs and their handlers for the AKC CGC test. This class is for students that want to take their dog further.
- Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA): A class to better a dog's manners among people and other dogs. This class is for dogs that have already earned their CGC certificate.
- AKC Urban CGC (CGCU): A five-week class that is totally on the road at different public venues. This class is for dogs that have already earned their CGC certificate.
- Advanced/Intro to Off Leash: A drop-in class that focuses on communicating with dogs without relying on a leash. This class is great for fine-tuning a student's specific 'trouble area'.
- Fido's Field Trip: A drop-in class that takes training from the classroom to the outside world. This class exposes dogs to real-life situations in public places.
- Tricks Training: A group class that teaches handlers how to train their dogs to perform specific tricks. This class can help dogs achieve an AKC Trick Title.
- Rally Obedience: A fun and exciting team sport where canine-human teams navigate courses with numbered cones performing an exercise at each cone.
- Therapy Dog: A six-week course that prepares dogs and their handlers for the Therapy test to become a certified therapy team. This class is for students that want to become a certified therapy team with their dog.
Certifications
Stephanie Duca is an AKC certified tester. She is also certified for judging, testing, temperament testing, and certifying dogs for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and all levels of tricks titles. She is a proud member of the APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers).
Specializations
Stephanie Duca specializes in obedience training, puppy training, tricks training, rally obedience, and therapy dog training.
Training Methods
Stephanie Duca uses positive reinforcement training methods. She believes in being empathetic to her clients and their specific needs and keeps an open mind to what approach or technique will bring the most success for each individual human/canine team.
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.
