Ashlee is a wife, mom, wine lover, hiker, and dog trainer in Rochester, MN. She has loved dogs since she was a little girl and discovered her passion for dog behavior and psychology with her first dog, Adam, 6 years ago. With a background in engineering, she understands the delicate balance of work and family life, especially with dogs and young children in the mix. Transitioning to full-time dog training was a natural choice for her. She is dedicated to helping families achieve harmony and regain control of their homes with the perfect canine companion.
Training Philosophy
Ashlee believes that dogs are part of the family and that training should be fun and rewarding for both the dog and the owner. She uses positive reinforcement methods to help dogs learn and build a strong bond with their families.
Services
Fetching PETential offers a variety of dog training programs, including:
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Fundamental Fido:
For dogs who need help with the basics.
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Polite Pup:
For dogs who need help with manners around people and other dogs.
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Delightful Doggo:
For dogs who have more serious behavior problems.
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Dogs and Baby Class:
An online course to help families prepare for the arrival of a new baby.
Certifications
Ashlee holds the following certifications:
- VSA-CDT – Victoria Stilwell Certified Dog Trainer (2019)
- CPDT-KA – Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed (2021)
- FDM – Family Dog Mediator (2022)
- Dial Method Guide (2024)
Specializations
Ashlee specializes in training family dogs, particularly those with children. She also has experience working with dogs who have behavior problems such as reactivity, resource guarding, and fear of strangers.
Training Methods
Ashlee uses positive reinforcement methods to train dogs. She believes that dogs learn best when they are rewarded for good behavior. She also uses a variety of other techniques, such as shaping, clicker training, and desensitization.
Customer Reviews
“I came to Ashlee with an immediate need:
get Milo to stop biting me and my sister as we walked around the apartment. It was so bad that I was concerned I might have to return him to the rescue. We did a few private sessions with Ashlee that were super helpful in understanding how to offer rewards and corrections to Milo for basic commands and I’m happy to say that Milo is nip-free now! Working with Ashlee opened a lot of doors for me and Milo – Milo and I both feel more comfortable in spaces that previously caused anxiety. Working with Ashlee didn’t just set Milo up for success, it also set me up for long-term success on the dog training journey!”
“Ashlee went above and beyond to help us get prepared in advance, find ways to introduce our dog to the strange behaviors of kids, and how to keep both her and us calm when things are stressful. Now, a bit over a month in, baby and dog are happy partners in crime, and the adjustment has gone more smoothly than we could have hoped.
We can’t thank Ashlee enough for her help in preparing us and our hound for the adventures ahead. We are so grateful that she took the time to understand our dog’s specific needs and to provide insightful ways for us to be prepared not only at the outset, but also for as our baby grows and our dog has to continue to adapt. We would strongly recommend Ashlee to anyone with a baby on the way, or any other dog training needs.
She is a natural with dogs, and equally important, is a natural at training we humans as well.”
John and Kristen
