Achieving Your Training Goals is Not Impossible!
Dogs Can All Learn the
Same Way!
Say Goodbye to Leash Tugs and Over-the-Top Greetings: Unleash Tail-Wagging Bliss with It’s Not Magic’s Pawsitively Fun Training!
Train your dog faster and easier than you ever thought possible using methods that are a blast for both you and your dog.
Hey there, I’m Fiona, CPDT-KA Certified Trainer, and I can’t wait to meet your dog!
I’ve been fascinated by animals and their behavior ever since I was a 16-year-old volunteer at the East Bay SPCA. A rambunctious shelter pup’s responsiveness to me and the treats in my pouch showed me that the study of canine behavior and training was the path for me. I received my B.A. in Anthrozoology (the study of the human animal bond) in May 2020. My certification and educational background means you get a trainer that uses the most up-to-date, positive methods to help your dog. I’m excited to bring this wealth of knowledge to It’s Not Magic clients and prove that training a dog is not about waving a magic wand. It’s about encouraging your dog to make better decisions and redirecting behaviors that don’t benefit either of you.
What are Positive Training Methods?
It’s teaching based in positive reinforcement, giving your dog access to more choice, and what we dog-trainer-nerds refer to as behavior replacement. That means replacing a behavior (jumping on you when you get home) with a more desirable one (a calm, friendly greeting.)
Positive Training Methods have been shown in study after study to be more effective in creating long-lasting behavior change in your dog.
To put it a different way, telling your dog “No!” doesn’t really work, does it?
(If it did, I’ll bet you wouldn’t have read this far.) That’s because they don’t know what you’re specifically asking for.
“No” is not a behavior.
Dogs need to understand what you’d like them to do and how incredible that thing is!
I can help you do that, and make the whole process playful and easy for both of you.
You love your dog more than anything. Maybe even more than some of the people in your life. They’re the most wonderful dog ever, right? The cutest and most best-est!
But when you get home after a long day and know you’re about to get jumped on… Or you hear the doorbell ring and freeze knowing your guest, (and the entire neighborhood), is about to hear a Metallica volume of barking…or your arm is getting yanked from its socket on a walk…well…it’s kind of tough to love them like you know you should right then.
That’s normal.
But training your dog to be even better than the most best-est (which they already are) can be done faster than you may think.
Once you learn what your dog is saying, you’ll know how to handle different situations more effectively.
You’ll know how to be positive in scenarios where it may be difficult, which makes this all so much more enjoyable and effective.
The key is developing a deeper understanding of what your furry friend wants and needs, and that’s how to foster the deeper connection you both want.
You’ll learn how to teach your dog better behaviors, and that means getting home after a busy day, opening the front door, and seeing your best buddy sitting there with their tail wagging like a flag on a windy day, looking at you like their hero.
You can do this.
“Sounds great… How does this work?”
It’s all about having fun with your dog and learning how to teach them more beneficial behaviors that help you live more harmoniously.
I’ll come to your house, your dog’s comfort zone. That’s usually where it’s best to directly address your training goals, and since you don’t have to go anywhere, it’ll be easy to fit into your schedule.
How long does the training take?
You may think it’ll take hours, but with positive training methods, the training can mostly take place during a commercial break. 5 or 10 minutes here or there each day. It’s not difficult, and the best part? It’s FUN! Those breakthrough moments when your dog “gets it” and you feel deep in your heart that what you’re doing is bringing them as much joy as it’s bringing you? It’s like nothing else.
No more stress when your dog figures out what’s rewarding!
How do we get started?
Fill out this short Info Form
Schedule your free phone inquiry where we’ll talk about what’s going on with your dog so we can be sure I’m a good fit.
If we agree that I am, we’ll set up an initial consultation so I can meet you and your dog, getting to know you both.
If we keep working together, after each session you’ll receive a full write-up of everything we worked on, including:
Written instructions on every new exercise so you’ll be able to do them flawlessly
The philosophy and reason behind them so you’ll know what you’re looking for and why
Videos demonstrating everything so you can see it in action for easier application
That’s it! You’ll find this an easy process
You’ll also be able to text or email me with any questions or updates. I love talking about this stuff!
There’s no such thing as a “bad” dog and that includes yours!
It’s just that some dogs may have learned behaviors that don’t do either of us any favors. We may not be able to understand it, but leash pulling, over-the-top excitement when they hear a doorbell, or intense reactions to other dogs or people are behaviors that may have worked for our dogs to some extent in the past. Now you get to show them more desirable ones!
Every dog is capable of that, and you can do it while having a great time and not take up hours of your day.
Imagine the change you’ll see after a week of daily 5-10 minute practice between our sessions…
You won’t believe how good it feels to look at your dog, as happy and in love with you as any dog could ever be.
