Strengthening bonds

between pups
and their people

Freeing the good dog within

It’s behavior support that’s positive and practical. Reinforcement-based and relationship based. And 100% without judgment.

There are no “bad” dogs

We don’t consider what we do to be “obedience training,” because no dog wants to be disobedient; they’re naturally eager to learn and explore. Instead, we offer behavior support; working to understand which behaviors are within your pet’s control, reinforcing the best of what they can change, and developing coping strategies for what they can’t. We think of it as “raising” your pup — just as you would a child — rather than “training” them. In other words, allowing your dog’s true nature to lead.

There are no “bad” owners

If you’re seeking help, you’re already helping your pup. If you come to us, we’ll not only coach, we’ll empower you to see your dog for who it truly is, not a cookie-cutter image of how a dog is supposed to behave. This involves setting realistic expectations while instilling hope. Supporting your journey throughout your dog’s life, while allowing your pup to be its best self.

We’re in this together

We can’t just tell you how to have the best life with your dog (and we don’t think anyone should). Like raising children, it takes time, attention, education, and a village. Because you are your dog’s most keen observer, we collaborate with you — along with your family and friends, vet, sitter, other furry friends, and any other influences in your dog’s life — to find the sweet spot — a happy, loving, balanced pet-parent relationship.

The science is behind us

The current wisdom on behavior support has shifted away from “pack leader” and other dominance theories that assume too much intent on your dog’s part and often lead to negative reinforcement.*

Our positive, reward-based methods and force-free training align with the Hierarchy of Dog Needs^®Standards and the following (excluding the use of aversive methods):

“Least-Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” (LIMA) philosophy of behavior modification promoted by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
“Hierarchy of Behavior-Change Procedures” identified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
Published positions of the Pet Professional Guild, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and more.

Flexible options to fit your life, and your pup’s

Private sessions

Free phone consultation
60-90-minute sessions

One-on-one, targeted support at your home, ours, or a public space suited to the kind of work we’ll be doing. Start with a free phone consultation to ensure we are the right fit. Next, complete our detailed questionnaire, which helps us understand your specific needs. This information, along with what we discussed in our consultation, will get you and your pet started out on the right paw for a happy and healthy lifetime together.

Group classes

60-minute sessions

Small, indoor, or outdoor classes led by a certified trainer. Puppy classes focus on socialization, foundation behaviors and cooperative care through a relationship-based lens. For pups older than 5 months, classes address advanced topics such as leash walking, jumping, enrichment activities, mat training and more.

Classes resume in Spring 2025:
WALK & TRAIN
5-week class

BASIC MANNERS
6-week class starting April 2
Learn more

Day sessions

Free phone consultation
60-minute sessions

Engaging with your pup during the day —including a walk-and-train component — allows us to work on a number of positive behaviors in each session, including leash manners, confidence building, recall, and impulse control, as well as situation-specific needs like greeting guests, reactivity, house manners, etc. Each package includes a transfer session(s) with you.

Virtual sessions

30-60 minute sessions

Virtual consultations are ideal for ongoing support of your dog’s behavior program, whether as follow-up to an in-person session, or as an entire program in itself. As much for owners as their pups, it allows you to raise questions and track progress right from home.

We’re here for more than “sit” or “fetch”

Relationship-building is always hard work. Because your pup has its own distinct personality, the challenges in adapting (for both of you) can vary. Love living in the city, but your dog fears loud noise? Expecting a baby but have a possessive pup? Have a sweet, social pet who jumps on everyone, strangers included?

As pros with a lot of patience, we’ll identify what’s standing in the way of your relationship, and work to develop better habits for you both — and in the rare cases we can’t, we’ll say so, and refer you to someone who can. What’s most important is that you both get the support you need.

Up for a challenge

Working with rescue dogs who haven’t adapted to their new environment
Training for first-time dog owners (including preparation for their arrival)
New puppy socialization and manners
Behavior support for adolescent dogs
Keeping your dog engaged in small living quarters
Dog-child safety, including fostering a good relationship between your dog and new baby
Behavioral therapy for reactivity, fear, anxiety, etc. (always a team approach)
And more

Praise for the Liberated Pup

Ellie is my first dog and I wanted to be sure I was setting her up for success in the future. Through the Liberated Pup, I learned how to motivate her in a positive way instead of yelling or disciplining. Once I could effectively and confidently communicate with her, she was less frustrated, more focused, and learned quicker.

It was an amazing experience for us both! Tara’s wealth of knowledge, personality, calm demeanor and positive outlook show how much she truly cares for you and your pup!

Tara is a consummate professional who is brilliant at adapting to unexpected situations and customizing lesson plans on the fly based on class dynamics and progress. I’ve seen her calm many clients who were embarrassed or frustrated by their dog’s fractious behavior. I’m hopeful that more people with her dog- and people skills, attitude, and approach join our ranks.

I had unruly beasts! LOL. But Tara didn’t shame me for not having the perfect dog. I like my dogs to be well-mannered enough to listen and stay safe, but I also give them the freedom to just be dogs. And Tara totally respects that.

Tara is a pleasure to work with. Our dog Bella would often jump on people coming into our house and pull while walking on the leash. Tara was a calm presence when teaching our family how to resolve that behavior; she is at ease with all animals and really knows her stuff.

I needed help training my foster dogs; every one has different issues and needs. Tara has been a great resource, teaching my dogs and myself, and the more training she gives them, the easier it is to get them adopted.

I wanted my puppy to be able to volunteer at a hospital eventually, and we saw immediate results. Tara is extremely flexible in her techniques…she individualizes the training based on my puppy’s needs and even my puppy’s temperament on a specific day. The experience was priceless.