our Goals as Your Personal Dog Trainers
Learning to train your dog will be one of your most rewarding experiences as a pet owner. Our mission at River Valley D.O.G.S. is to deliver an exceptional level of quality services that can’t be matched by any corporate or group training environment.
Teaching you to speak the Language of Dogs is the core principle behind our unique dog training program. Our core values include:
- Understanding and meeting the needs of each customer; 2-legged and 4-legged alike!
- Making sure each owner has a better understanding of how to teach new behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors.
- Ensuring that you are matched with the right trainer for you. We’ll refer you to a specialist for any behaviors that we’re not properly equipped to handle.
Sally May and Me
Gracie b. and Me
Nala and Erica
Jake's Story — The ruff life of a rock-hound
I was born and raised in the MN River Valley, where my dogs were always by my side. That inseparable companionship led me to a job at a local pet food shop where my passion for dogs began to take shape.
There was a regular customer who would come into the shop every week, and his dog was always perfect. After getting to know the guy over the next 2 years, I found out he was a professional dog trainer. I asked him how a guy goes about getting a job like that.
“It just sort of happens if you try, I guess.”
After years of working in a variety of different professional fields, I never forgot those words. I got a job as a Dog Care Specialist and that allowed me to start developing my skills as a trainer.
I’ve been employed in award-winning pet care facilities and have worked with hundreds of dogs and their owners over the years. Teaching others has always been a passion of mine and dogs are what I know best. I received my CCTBS (Certified Canine Trainer and Behavior Specialist) from The Animal Behavior Institute in 2021.
My background in the pet care industry has taught me that every dog owner is different, and every dog has different needs. Being able to tailor my program to fit those needs is the advantage I offer over the corporate training model, and I am committed to the pursuit of further education. Never Stop Learning!
I’m also what’s known as a “rock-hound” (an amateur rock and mineral collector) and I’ve always been fascinated with nature. I’ve spent summers on the road traveling the country, “hounding” for gemstones, and photographing landscapes and any dogs I meet along the way.
Eventually, I wound up as the Mine Manager at a world-class Fire Opal mine in Nevada for a season. It was the experience of a lifetime! Digging for gemstones is my true obsession, and dogs are my true passion. It’s “the ruff life”… 2x’s punny… cause its dogs and rocks… get it?
Erica's Story - From people to puppies
The bond between a dog and their owner is unlike any other. It is one of the purest and most rewarding relationships life has to offer. With a lifetime of dog ownership and years of professional experience in dog boarding, fostering and walking, I have experienced these joys first hand. I also know the pain and stress that can build when problem behaviors emerge. Maybe your wonderful pooch becomes a menace when visitors come over, leaving you embarrassed or frustrated. Or Spot gets overly excited outdoors and you have to limit your walks to only nighttime or to paths with no other people in sight. Issues like these, not to mention jumping, biting, pulling, and destructiveness, cause anxiety, stress and disturbances that impact your quality of life- and the companionship you share with your pup.
We welcome dogs into our homes to make our lives better and more fulfilling, so when it begins to feel more frustrating than full of joy it is disheartening- and sometimes unmanageable. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way! You can correct these situations so the life you envisioned becomes your reality. I love teaching and empowering dog owners how to be the leader and friend they want to be (and that their dog needs them to be!) through effective communication and training.
Before I began working with canines professionally I made a career in relational psychology, coaching and mentoring people to make positive changes in their lives. The patience and curiosity I brought to this line of work stood out to my clients and left lasting impacts. The approach I took to understand each person’s individual needs is the same I apply in my style of dog-training.
I recognize that each dog and owner is unique, and I take the time to listen and understand. As a trainer, I coach humans on how to build a rewarding relationship with their dogs. By developing communication methods that allow you and your dog to understand each other like you never have before, and by using applied psychology that works, you can feel confident as your dog’s leader. I am beyond thrilled to be able to put my expertise into practice- now with our furrier family members. With River Valley D.O.G.S. I am finally home- and I can’t wait to meet you and your pooch!
Finding Your Gem
Jake’s experiences as a Mine Manager and Tour Guide has helped him refine his passion for teaching others about the wonders of the natural world.
Training dogs is a lot like mining for opals. You will have to commit completely to achieving your goals and expect a rainy day or two in the process. No dog is perfect, no dog owner is perfect, but if you keep digging, you will find your gem.
