History
Erica knew she wanted to train animals since her first Sea World show at 7 years old. After training various species while interning at three zoos, a dog kennel, and a dolphin training facility, she knew her path was meant to be with dogs. Her first dog training job was working for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, where she spent three years creating the foundation of what she knows now. There, she worked with roughly 20 trainers, seeing many different handling styles and learning techniques from each one of them. Freedom Service Dogs brought her to Colorado. She learned to quickly evaluate dogs as they would pull them from shelters to train them to be service dogs for people with various special needs. Most recently, she worked at a vet hospital, daycare, boarding, training, and grooming facility for 7 years. As the Dog Training Manager, she assisted other trainers with their more challenging cases as well as trained roughly 35 of her own dogs each week. Due to the nature of the facility and her position, she was most often working with dogs with aggression towards other dogs, humans, veterinarians, and groomers.
Training Philosophy
Erica believes that our dogs are our best friends and our family. She will never use the word dominant or alpha as she wouldn’t want to have a relationship with any dog where they feared her, but she does demand a relationship where they respect her. She wants the same for you. As your trainer, she will teach you how to create clear boundaries for your dog and have them see you as a source of confidence and protection. They will be focusing on teaching your dog what you want them to do, rather than what you don’t want them to do. They will teach them alternative behaviors for the naughty things they are doing now. She is positively reinforcement based, using a ton of food, praise, and pets to create obedient but happy dogs. She follows the LIMA philosophy, standing for least invasive and minimally intrusive. Meaning, if a correction needs to be introduced, it will be the least aversive one that is appropriate for your dog. Not all dogs are the same and not all dogs should be trained the same way. She promises to train your dog in a way that fits their particular temperament. Her goal is to always build them up.
Services
Erica offers both in-person and virtual private lessons. In-person private lessons are a great way to get individualized attention to cover the specific topics that are important to you and your family. In person private lessons are fantastic for-
- Leash reactivity
- Aggression of all kinds- Dog, human, intra household, veterinary, or grooming
- Resource guarding
- Basic and advanced obedience
- Puppy training
- Heeling
- Recall
- Service dog training
- Therapy dog training
- Manners in public
- Impulse control
- Separation anxiety
- Countersurfing
- Jumping
- Nipping
- Teacher’s Time and Study Abroads
Don’t feel like doing the treat and repeat over and over (and over)? Erica would love to do it for you. Teacher’s Time is one on one time where your trainer will work with your dog in your home to practice the repetitions. Study Abroads are also one on one time with the trainer but geared at practicing the training that was learned in previous sessions but in parks or dog friendly stores.
These types of training sessions are great for-
- Puppy socialization and exposure
- Name recognition
- Basic and advanced obedience
- Recall
- Countersurfing
- Waiting at doors
- Car behavior
- Therapy dog training
- Service dog training
- and manners in public
Virtual lessons are a great option for owners that plan on doing the majority of the work on their own but need some direction or coaching. They are also a wonderful option if you’d like to work with Erica but are outside of her area.
Some topics that are well suited for virtual lessons include, but are not limited to-
- Potty training
- Name recognition
- Crate training
- Basic obedience
- Advanced obedience
- Trick training
- Destruction
- Marking in the house
- and Muzzle training
Certifications
Specializations
Leash reactivity, aggression, resource guarding, basic and advanced obedience, puppy training, heeling, recall, service dog training, therapy dog training, manners in public, impulse control, separation anxiety, countersurfing, jumping, nipping, puppy socialization and exposure, name recognition, basic and advanced obedience, recall, countersurfing, waiting at doors, car behavior, therapy dog training, service dog training, manners in public, potty training, name recognition, crate training, basic obedience, advanced obedience, trick training, destruction, marking in the house, and muzzle training
Training Methods
Positive reinforcement based, using a ton of food, praise, and pets to create obedient but happy dogs. She follows the LIMA philosophy, standing for least invasive and minimally intrusive.
Customer Reviews
Norma Schneider: I wish I found her much sooner! My experience was very personalized, she really understood and catered to the way my sensitive, anxious, dog learned and processed his environment. She set him up for success in every session and took things at his pace, always using positive reinforcement. I don’t have a single complaint about our time working with Erica; Tash and I both learned so much.
Pamela Goodland: Could not recommend Erica enough for dog training. She does a great job of setting expectations from the very beginning so you know exactly what you’re signing up for when you train with her. Her training is affordable and we’ve seen a ton of improvement with our dog when it comes to her reactivity on the leash as well as socializing with other dogs so she can go to day care. Erica also does a great job of transferring knowledge to us so we can practice at home!
Stephanie Howell: Simply put, Erica is phenomenal. She is a miracle worker. Our dog was so loving with the family but was very challenging outside of the house. We went to multiple trainers and went through multiple medications before meeting Erica. She understood him from the first second she met him. She basically became family and helped us with a plan for him that worked. When I say she went above and beyond, it’s putting it lightly. She has such a passion for dogs and their families and every dog we have from here on out will meet with Erica. Come for the training, stay for the fun and love of dogs. You won’t regret it.
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