Paws Abilities Dog Training

Paws Abilities Dog Training was founded in 1999 and was the first training company to bring clicker training techniques to the southeast Minnesota area. They believe in helping people enjoy their dogs through training and behavior modification, with an emphasis on scientifically valid and proven techniques.

Training Philosophy

Paws Abilities Dog Training subscribes to a LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) approach for all of our learners, of all species. This means that they will always choose the easiest, kindest, most effective and efficient teaching possible for any given situation.

Services

Paws Abilities Dog Training offers a wide range of services, including:

• Group Classes: They offer a variety of group classes for dogs of all ages and breeds, including puppy classes, basic obedience, agility, tricks, rally obedience, scent work, and reactive dog rehabilitation. They also offer specialized classes such as "Focus & Control" and "Outdoor Adventures."
• Private Lessons: They offer private lessons in-person or virtually, tailored to meet the individual needs of each dog and owner. They also offer specialized programs for separation anxiety and dog selection concierge services.
• Puppy Camp: This is a unique program where puppies under six months old attend one day a week for socialization and training. They offer three different programs: Puppy Genius (4 weeks), Puppy PhD (8 weeks), and Puppy Prodigy (12+ weeks).
• Canine to Five: This program offers in-home training for dogs of all ages. A professional trainer comes to your home to work with your dog 1:1, and includes weekly transfer sessions to teach you how to work with your dog.
• Professional Walks: They offer regular walks and activity visits for dogs of all ages and breeds, including reactive dogs. They also offer overnight pet sitting in your home.
• Family Dog Mediation: This service is designed to help bridge the gap between people and dogs, and to address more complicated issues such as fear, aggression, or anxiety. They offer private training sessions and behavior consultations.

Certifications

Many of the trainers at Paws Abilities Dog Training are certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA). Some trainers are also certified veterinary technicians (CVT).

Specializations

Paws Abilities Dog Training specializes in a variety of areas, including:

• Puppy Training: They offer a variety of puppy classes and programs, including Puppy Camp, Puppy Head Start, and Puppy Junior High.
• Obedience Training: They offer a variety of obedience classes, including Beginning Obedience, Intermediate Obedience, and Canine Good Citizen.
• Agility Training: They offer a variety of agility classes, including Intro to Agility, Dog Sport Foundations, and A Taste of Agility.
• Reactive Dog Rehabilitation: They offer a variety of classes and programs for reactive dogs, including Beginning Reactive Dog Rehab, Advanced Reactive Dog Rehab, and Social Studies.
• Scent Work: They offer a variety of scent work classes, including K9 Nose Work, Introduction to Odor, and Traveling Scent Work.
• Family Dog Mediation: They offer private training sessions and behavior consultations to address more complicated issues such as fear, aggression, or anxiety.

Training Methods

Paws Abilities Dog Training uses positive reinforcement methods, which means that they reward desired behaviors and ignore or redirect unwanted behaviors. They do not use aversive methods such as choke chains, prong collars, electronic collars, leash corrections, or other aversive techniques.

Customer Reviews

The website includes many customer reviews and testimonials. Here are a few examples:

• Linda B.: “What a great introduction class to Nose Work. Sues love of the sport and enthusiasm got me hooked. Gus is in love with Nose Work. I really appreciated the follow up notes and videos on what we did in class, as well as her responding to my individual emails with concerns about how I was doing a specific search. Great class for reactive dogs. Crating and privacy panels work very well.”
• Kelsey R.: “Stevie gave us a lot of resources to help our dog with relaxation, redirection, and impulse control. We saw a lot of improvement during the sessions and the homework material was clear enough that we are able to continue to practice on our own. We are very satisfied with Paws Abilities. We are now to the point where our dog can attend group classes because of the improvements she made in private lessons.”
• Patricia B.: “Carrie and Terry are amazing! They are incredibly knowledgeable and it often blows my mind what they’re able to get our dogs to do. They are beyond helpful during class, but more importantly, after class has ended as well. I had an issue with my dog’s behavior with young male dogs, and I reached out to Carrie for advice. She not only promptly responded, but gave very thoughtful comments and suggestions that made us feel very cared for. She’s a rock star and we’ll be signing up for future classes with her!”

Media Appearances

Sara Reusche has contributed to the APDT Chronicle of the Dog and was the 2008 John Fisher Scholarship award winner for her article “Lessons from Layla.”