Dr. Caryn LLC specializes in the art and science of animal behavior and training. She has been assisting dogs and their owners since 2010, offering a range of services including private in-home sessions, day training, puppy socialization, behavior modification, consulting, workshops, and seminars.
Dr. Caryn employs aversive-free, positive reinforcement methods such as Clicker Training and TAGteach. Her certifications and designations include Ph.D., KPA CTP, AKC-CGC, OSCT, TAGteach, and K9 to 5. As a Certified Trainer and Behaviorist, Dr. Caryn uses various training equipment including event markers, food treats, toys, and other high-value reinforcers. Management tools encompass nylon leashes, flat buckle or martingale collars, harnesses, the Baskerville Ultimate Muzzle, and physical barriers.
Her training philosophy is force-free, focusing on positive reinforcement and proactive management. All techniques are aversive-free and rooted in animal behavior science. Dr. Caryn serves various locations including private homes and dog-friendly public spaces within a 30-mile radius of Fredericksburg, Colonial Beach, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, Caroline, King George, and Westmoreland Counties in Virginia, as well as Charles County in Maryland.
She emphasizes that training should be enjoyable and aims to help pet owners communicate effectively with their dogs to instill good manners, desirable behaviors, and engaging games. Dr. Caryn also focuses on eliminating bad manners, undesirable behaviors, and altering a dog’s emotional response to triggers, all while ensuring that the process remains enjoyable.
In her training approach, Dr. Caryn teaches pet owners to mark and reward desired behaviors, subsequently putting each behavior on cue. She also educates them on extinguishing undesired behaviors using force-free, hands-free methods and proactive management. Dr. Caryn advocates the use of the Karen Pryor ‘Clicker Training’ method, based on animal behavior science, which can be applied to train a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, rabbits, and some reptiles.
Modified methods such as TAGteach are also employed to enhance desired behaviors in children and spouses. She explains the process of capturing and marking a pet’s desirable behavior, followed by rewarding and eventually adding a cue. This technique can also be used to extinguish unwanted behaviors and train new behaviors, while maintaining an enjoyable experience for both the pet and owner.
