Our SERVICES
Comprehensive, Practical, Non-Judgmental Support for You & Your Dog in Indianapolis & Online
Helping You & Your Dog at Any Stage
Every dog and every family has unique needs. Sometimes you need comprehensive support for a behavior challenge. Sometimes you just have a few questions and need help figuring out what to do next. And sometimes your dog is getting older and you need support navigating changes in their behavior, quality of life, or care.
I offer personalized behavior consulting, training, and companion animal doula support to help you and your dog through all of these stages.
Services are available online, with in-person services available in Indianapolis, Indiana, and surrounding counties.
My goal is to give you practical, compassionate support that makes life easier for both you and your dog!
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What our clients say:
Kristen is a WONDERFUL trainer! We and our dog love her. She takes lots of time to gather information and get to know the dog and family, and any issues that are in play. She gave us really helpful and personalized strategies and tips, and emailed summaries after each session (SO helpful!). I also really appreciate Kristen’s background and education – she is the most educated trainer with the most expertise that I could find in our area and it shows in her work! Her fees are very reasonable and she is lovely to work with. We highly recommend her!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a dog behavior consultant the same as a dog trainer?
There is some overlap, but dog behavior consultants typically specialize in helping to address more complex or challenging behavior concerns, such as anxiety, fear, reactivity, and aggression.
Dog trainers often focus on teaching skills and behaviors such as loose-leash walking, recall, or basic cues, while a behavior consultant takes a deeper look at why a behavior is happening and develops an individualized plan to address the factors contributing to it.
As a dog behavior consultant, I combine training, behavior modification, and a whole-dog approach to help you understand your dog’s behavior and create practical strategies that improve life for both of you.
What does the training process look like?
What does the training process look like? The first step is a consultation (60-90 minutes, in-home or online) where we get to know each other. I go over how my training works and how you can get the most out of working with me.
We then go into detail about you, your companion animal, and what you are looking for help with. We come up with an initial management and training plan to get you to your goals.
I send a follow-up summary email with all of my recommendations.
All following sessions are 1 hour and include a detailed follow-up emailed training plan and ongoing support.
Is online training effective?
Yes! In many cases, online consultations can be just as effective as in-person sessions. Because behavior happens in your dog’s everyday environment, working via video call allows me to see and understand your dog’s behavior where it actually happens. It also means we can focus on teaching you the skills and strategies you’ll use between sessions, rather than relying on me to work directly with your dog.
What type of methods do you use?
What types of problems do you help with?
I help clients to navigate a wide range of behavior and quality-of-life concerns, with a particular focus on:
- Fear, anxiety, and aggression: Helping dogs feel safer, build coping skills, and navigate situations that trigger fear, anxiety, reactivity, or aggressive behavior towards people other animals.
- Kids and dogs: Helping families create safe, positive relationships between children and dogs and supporting dogs through the changes that come with having kids in the home.
- Aging and quality of life: Supporting older dogs through changes in behavior, abilities, routines, and enrichment so they can continue to have a fulfilling life as they age.
- End-of-life support: As a certified companion animal pet death doula, I also help families navigate the emotional and practical aspects of end-of-life care, loss, and saying goodbye to a beloved dog.
If you’re dealing with a behavior or life change that isn’t listed here, feel free to reach out. We can talk about what you’re experiencing and determine whether I’m the right person to help.