This is a list of the top dog trainers in Colorado Springs, CO, based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public.
CPDT-KA
Aggressive dog training, Deaf dog training, Reactive dog training, Board and train, In home training, Puppy training
Denver Metro Area, Boulder, and surrounding CO areas
Lydia Rakov:Certified Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant CPDT-KALydia Rakov started her animal journey working in the Animal Welfare field. Over eleven years, she worked with dogs in shelters around the US, including New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, in an array of situations, such as emergency evacuations, hoarding conditions, and cases of neglect and dog fighting rings. She has a...
Board and train
When we rescue a dog, we commit for life. We treat our rescues like our own dogs, getting to know them, helping them heal, and preparing them for happy, fulfilling lives.
Because we love and believe in all our rescues, we work hard to ensure their long-term success. Before you adopt, we use an extremely thorough process to make sure you and your canine companion are a perfect fit. That...
Canine Behavior Science Technologist (CBST) certification in 2011 from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Hi my name is Stevie Fields! I'm a Colorado Native and grew up in Falcon, Colorado, back when there was only a volunteer fire station and one gas station. I grew up surrounded by animals and had a neighbor with several horses that sparked my interest in the animals. I have always had a dog in my life but they always stayed outside and were not perceived as family members. Now I have three dogs ...
Puppy training, In home training
Kerry Bramwell came to Canine Coach with the desire to work with students and professional trainers who are committed to their dogs. In all of her classes, her main goal is to give people the tools to communicate effectively and humanely with their dogs.Kerry has been training her own dogs since 1991, and worked for Guide Dogs for the Blind from 1996 to 2002. From there, she has taught puppy cl...
Puppy training, In home training
Linda Brennen, CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed), has been a dog trainer for over 30 years. She earned her Associate Degree in Animal Health and worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician for over 10 years. She also has a Bachelor's Degree in Zoology from the University of California at Berkeley.After college, Linda had the good fortune to attend a seminar on Pupp...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Hi, I'm Emory. I grew up on a farm in Texas with my Grandmother, and it was there I learned to love and care for animals. As an only child, the dogs were my best friends and play mates. There I learned that a well trained dog is a proud member of the family. At 10 years old I received Shiloh the Golden Retriever. She showed me just how powerful and influential a dog's companionship can be. I cr...
Puppy training, In home training
Likes Dogs. Doesn't like writing. First came to All Breed for puppy class. Never left. Now a dog trainer with an awesome pitbull, Prim, plus Ponder, a pit mix, Keico, a GSD, Wink, a pit, and Pan, the baby Malonois.
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
I am Stephanie Dowdell; opening the Door to Dogs' Intelligence captured my interest in joining Angie Neal's Lucky Dog University Apprenticeship Program in March 2014. I received my Trainer's Assistant Certification in September 2014. During the six-month course, I logged over two hundred and eighty hours walking, training rescue dogs with various issues for their placement in loving homes, and ...
Aggressive dog training, Puppy training, Herding training, Deaf dog training, In home training
I'm a Colorado Native and grew up in Falcon, Colorado, back when there was only a volunteer fire station and one gas station. I grew up surrounded by animals and had a neighbor with several horses that sparked my interest in the animals.
I have always had a dog in my life but they always stayed outside and were not perceived as family members. Now I have three dogs and they are my family!
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training, Herding training, Deaf dog training
Hi, i'm Jordan Fox! I haven't always known I wanted to be a dog trainer, but I have always known I was going to work with animals in some capacity. I started by wanting to be a veterinarian, then I wanted to rehabilitate wild animals, like foxes, bears, and wolves. Those were my thoughts when I was young. I grew up, and decided I wanted to be a dog trainer, but before I finally got to this I wo...
In home training
Lauren has been the Executive Director of All Breed Rescue & Training in Colorado Springs since 1998. On the training side of the organization, she teaches group classes, and provides private consultations, evaluations, and counseling. On the other end, Lauren rescues and rehomes more than 100 dogs a year, and has personally fostered over 100 dogs. She presents training demonstrations and semin...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
I wasn't always a dog trainer. I entered the field of Medical Assisting in 1999, specializing in Orthopedics, Trauma, and Pediatrics. Reading human body language and empathy became a crucial part of helping my patients that I easily transferred to dog training later. In 2010, my husband and I adopted our first puppy, an 8 week old female border collie, named Sadie. I started taking Sadie to tra...
Puppy training
Jenna began with All Breed Rescue & Training in 2011 to follow her passion to help dogs and owners blossom. She is, currently, the Director of Behavior and Canine Behavior Specialist to further this passion. When not working, she enjoys hiking, camping, being outdoors, and live music. She enjoys spending time with Cassidy (her first foster whom she adopted) who is a 13 year old Carolina Dog an...
In home training
Karen has been with All Breed Rescue & Training since 2008 when she won a free Foundation Course class at a dog show and brought her pug to the class. Karen enjoyed her class so much that she decided to join the student program. She now teaches Puppy Raising 101 along with helping us keep all the pennies in the right place. She fell in love with her first foster dog, Pharaoh. She learned that t...
Puppy training, In home training
Julie has been involved with All Breed Rescue & Training since 2001 when she started as a client. Julie currently teaches: Puppy Raising 101 (Socialization) and Canine Nosework (Scent Detection). She is currently an Adoption Champion (her current five dogs are all adopted from All Breed and she holds the All Breed record for her number of "foster failures") but is working hard to become a Foste...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Hi I am Laura!
I moved to Colorado Springs from Omaha, NE in 2018 and was hired as a kennel tech at House of Dog in September 2020.
I graduated with my Associates Degree in Zoo keeping Technology in May 2021.
I absolutely loved all of my training and behavior course that I took during my time in school and decided to pursue a dog training career along side my zoo car...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
As a positive reinforcement trainer, Brian has been using ancient Tai Chi principles in his training of dogs and puppies. With over 20 years of experience in the healing and martial arts principles of Tai Chi, Brian is able to connect with animals on a deeper level, and to better communicate with them through body language. Using safe and easy to follow techniques, he is able to develop a more ...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Angie has over 27 years of experience as a trainer and behavioral consultant. Her long career began as an apprentice under Joan Guertin, founder of Common Sense Dog Training in Sacramento California.After her apprenticeship she opened her own business, Manners by McGuire, and was certified as an instructor for Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael California. After returning to Common Sense Do...
In home training, Agility training
Mara started working with dogs in 2014 as a Pet Nutrition Specialist for different brands of dog and cat food. She would visit Petco and PetSmart stores throughout upstate New York. In 2016, Mara moved to Colorado Springs and worked for Petco. They sent her to do their 'Petco Positive Dog Training Instructor Program'. A year later she was promoted to the store's full time Dog Trainer position. ...
Puppy training, Board and train
LeNore Ralston has over 15 years participating in dog agility, LeNore has participated in scent work for over 10 years with 5 dogs, 4 of whom have achieved multiple titles. From her first nose work class in 2011, she became fascinated with how dogs sniff out odors - whether it is the essential oils used in competitive scent work, drugs, bombs, or humans. LeNore enjoys the science of how odors b...
In home training, Agility training
Trudi's start began in Chicago with training her dog Wrigely in 2006. Her fascination of training him pushed her to look into further education of dog obedience and behavior. In 2007 she attended the Animal Behavior College. Along with this education, mentorships and many seminars throughout the years Trudi has enjoyed the incredible journey of learning how our best friends think, feel and lear...
Puppy training, In home training, Service dog training, Deaf dog training
Aedan Sprung is a highly experienced and knowledgeable Canine Communications Specialist/Dog Trainer with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. He is a lifelong educator who takes great pleasure in witnessing the deep bond between dogs and their human counterparts strengthen as they learn to become each other's closest allies.Credentials:2004, BA Philosophy Minor Psychology, Sociolog...
Puppy training, Board and train
Julie's passion for training came after her first foster dog turned into a foster fail with a fear of anything that moved. Working through the highs and lows of being a dog owner drove her continue her education and help share that knowledge with others. Julie graduated from Victoria Stillwell's Academy, focused on positive training, and has her CPDT. She loves helping owners to bond with their...
Aggressive dog training, In home training, Reactive dog training, Service dog training, Puppy training
Famous Austrian animal behaviorist Konrad Lorenz inspired me to want to understand animals better and to constantly search for ways to help animals and their owners. My winding road started in 2001 and leads from volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah numerous times, to attending a 5 day long intensive workshop there on "How to start your Own Animal Sanctuary. This experience wou...
Welcome to Colorado Springs’s list of top dog trainers. The Colorado Springs, Colorado list is based on 132 votes from the Colorado Sniffspot community. Only the Colorado Springs dog trainers with the top number of votes made this list. Trainers are ordered by number of votes, with Lydia Rakov at the top of this list with 122 votes. We also counted 1296 votes for Colorado, with the remaining trainers listed outside of Colorado Springs.
Our rankings include trainers certified by CPDT-KA and Canine Behavior Science Technologist (CBST) certification in 2011 from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute. They also specialize in Puppy training, In home training amongst other training programs.
Colorado Springs dog trainer services include:
Behind every successful Colorado Springs training session lies a passionate professional. Lydia Rakov shares why they chose this path: I started working with dogs in a time in my life where everything seemed very dark, and dogs were the only thing that brought in the light and seemed to make sense. I started off volunteering in my local animal shelters and was there so often that I was offered a job. I started off as a dog walker, but quickly grew to love learning about dog behavior and training. After a few years, and working with several different shelters, I became a member of the Behavior Team, and started working with the difficult dog cases that came through. Behavior consulting and training quickly followed, and I moved into the private training sector to work with households and individuals. I have been teaching training classes for four years, and I find great joy in watching dogs and humans find more effective ways to communicate with one another!. All 25 trainers on this Colorado Springs list are committed to positive reinforcement. Trusted Colorado Springs trainer, Bex Smith, uses the following methods: .
Explore the top dog trainers in Colorado Springs as voted by our community:
Ordered alphabetically, only included cities where there is enough data to compile a list
I started working with dogs in a time in my life where everything seemed very dark, and dogs were the only thing that brought in the light and seemed to make sense. I started off volunteering in my local animal shelters and was there so often that I was offered a job. I started off as a dog walker, but quickly grew to love learning about dog behavior and training. After a few years, and working with several different shelters, I became a member of the Behavior Team, and started working with the difficult dog cases that came through. Behavior consulting and training quickly followed, and I moved into the private training sector to work with households and individuals. I have been teaching training classes for four years, and I find great joy in watching dogs and humans find more effective ways to communicate with one another!.
Dog training should be fun! If you are not having fun, neither is your dog! It should be enjoyable for both parties.. This advice is particularly relevant for dog owners in Colorado Springs looking to improve their dog’s behavior.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
So: Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (cars, bikes, skateboards, and other fast-moving objects are also common triggers) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling not only feels embarrassing for you — it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.