Suzanne Dubnicka is a self-proclaimed dog nerd. She started her career in professional dog training later in life, disproving the old adage that you can indeed teach old dogs (or humans!) new tricks. She holds a doctoral degree in statistics from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to becoming a dog trainer and behavior consultant, Suzanne taught undergraduate and graduate statistics for 20 years.
Training Philosophy
Suzanne is passionate about applying science-based behavior change methods that are both effective and ethical. She strives to provide the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) approach that provides a solution that is acceptable to both the dog and the handler. This means ensuring the dog’s needs are being met first through a thorough assessment their lifestyle.
Services
Suzanne offers a variety of services, including:
- One-to-One All Fired Up Coaching
- Additional One-to-One Coaching Options
- Puppy Adventures
- Online Learning
- Blog and Social Media
Certifications
Suzanne holds the following certifications:
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CCPDT-KA)
- Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior (UW-AAB)
- Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer (CPCFT)
- Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI)
- Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach (CCFC)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Statistics
Specializations
Suzanne specializes in dogs with big feelings. Specifically, she focuses on solutions for dogs who bark, lunge, growl, or scream first and as questions later. Her All Fired Up 1-1 program addresses the feelings and needs underlying this rather frustrating behavior while providing you with the support system you need.
Training Methods
Suzanne uses positive reinforcement training methods. She is committed to using humane and ethical methods that are least intrusive and minimally aversive (LIMA).
Customer Reviews
Kate C.
In short, Suzanne gave me my dog back!
Cheryl C.-B.
Suzanne was one of the trainers in the class we started when Cinder was 10 weeks old. She was very patient with Cinder and us. Over several months we worked through lots of challenges and ended up with a wonderful lab that is frequently complimented on her behavior. We miss her and River since they moved.
