Penny Bolton has a long history with dogs, starting with a cockapoo as a child and then an Australian Cattle Dog as a young adult. She later adopted a herd dog mix and took her first training classes, which were old-school and focused on punishment. She then adopted a herd dog mix named Ranger, who had some major phobias, and realized that many of his ‘problem’ behaviors were related to fear. She started classes at a positive reinforcement training studio and was hooked on dog behavior. She earned her certificate in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington in 2016 and her Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Professional designation in 2017. She has since dived deep into all kinds of behavior studying Applied Behavior Analysis with Dr. Susan Friedman and participating in various conferences. She volunteered at the Seattle Animal Shelter, starting as a dog walker then as an instructor for dog walkers and as a member of the Dog Behavior Team. She fostered two young challenging Border Collies.
Training Philosophy
Penny Bolton’s training philosophy is based on positive reinforcement and kindness. She believes in teaching dogs with empathy and helping people and their animals set themselves up for success. She focuses on building good behaviors rather than stopping bad ones and believes that it is more enjoyable to reward good behavior than to punish bad behavior.
Services
Penny Bolton offers a variety of services, including:
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Initial In Person or Zoom Assessment and Plan:
A 60-90 minute initial session at your home or online. Penny will listen to your concerns and observe your pup. You will discuss current evidence-based dog training techniques and how to use them to help you and your dog. Penny will demo and have you practice some basic skills. Includes an emailed written report with videos and written resources and initial training plan plus a 15 minute follow up zoom or call after the session. Schedule in person session or Schedule Zoom session $195. This assessment is a pre-requisite to booking follow up sessions in person or zoom.
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In Person Training Sessions:
After your initial assessment session, you will plan subsequent training sessions. Leash skills, dog and people reactivity, stranger greetings and socialization practice are good skills to practice in person session before using online zoom sessions to progress. In person sessions are one hour $125 plus travel time if it is over 20 minutes from central Seattle.
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Zoom Training Sessions:
Imagine learning to train your dog in your jammies? So convenient. Easy to schedule and a great way to get questions answered quickly. Many dogs are stressed by going somewhere for lessons or even by meeting new people. This way your dog is at home and comfortable while you learn some skills. Penny can demo for you, you will discuss, then you will practice on screen and ask questions. You can also record videos between lessons to share how it is going. You record your Zoom lesson so that you can review anytime. Available in 30 minute or 60 minute sessions. $50 or $100.
Certifications
Penny Bolton holds the following certifications:
- Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior UW 2016
- KPA-CTP Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Professional with Terry Ryan 2017
Specializations
Penny Bolton specializes in:
- Positive reinforcement training
- Fear and anxiety in dogs
- Reactivity
- Loose leash walking
- Recall training
Training Methods
Penny Bolton uses positive reinforcement training methods, which focus on rewarding desired behaviors. She uses a clicker to mark desired behaviors and then rewards the dog with treats or praise. She also uses shaping, which involves rewarding small steps towards the desired behavior.
