Angie Madden, CCUI

Positive Training for a Positive Outcome

My Goal is For You and Your Dog to Thrive Together!

Woman kneeling next to her dog. Both are on a grassy area next to running water.

Compassionate

I believe both ends of the leash deserve compassionate coaching. Living with your canine companion can be challenging at times--especially those adolescents! I'm here to provide support through-out the journey.

Woman walking her dog on a harness and leash. The dog is a cream colored doodle and is looking toward the woman.

Effective

Understanding your pup's signals is the first step to effective training. Each wag and ear twitch carries a message, and by learning to interpret these signals, you build a partnership that thrives on clear communication and delivers results.

Woman smiling and walking her black and white dog on a harness and leash. The dog appears to be smiling with mouth open, ears up, and they are looking toward the camera.

Fun

Training should be enjoyable for everyone! That's why I incorporate fun and engaging training games to help you and your dog develop practical skills, enabling you to tackle real-life challenges with self-assurance.

DogSpeak is a safe space for everyone. No matter your age, race, gender, orientation, neuro-status, or abilities, you are welcome here.

You want the best for your pup, and so do I

Dog Training Then...

When my husband and I adopted our first dog, she was very reactive to other dogs. Our trainer gave us a leather leash with a choker collar, and told us to yank the leash to stop the unwanted behavior of lunging and barking. Instead of helping our dog, poor Molly became even more reactive. Thankfully, dog training has come a long way in the last twenty-five years!

Young woman crouching next to her dog. Both are on a boulder next to running water..

Hiking the Billy Goat Trail with Molly at Great Falls, MD

Piper resting her chin on my leg

Dog Training Now...

The science is clear! The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states that "current literature on dog training methods shows a clear advantage of reward-based methods over aversive-based methods with respect to immediate and long-term welfare, training effectiveness, and the dog-human relationship." I use fear-free, evidence-based training techniques that capitalize on a dog's natural learning ability. In other words, I will teach you how to encourage and reinforce desired behavior rather than punish unwanted behavior. And the best part? It makes training fun for you and your dog!

Piper resting her chin on my leg

For more information, check out the AVSAB's Position Statement on Humane Training.

I want to have fun training my dog!

What Pet Parents Say

Black dog with grey fur around muzzle, chest, & eyebrows standing on the street. Dog is facing the camera and appears to be smiling with mouth open and eyes closed,

Roux on a walk

"Angie is...everything you would want in a trainer!"

"Angie is...everything you would
want in a trainer!"

"Angie is kind, thoughtful, and everything you would want in a trainer! She is wonderful with human clients and great at breaking down the training into easy-to-understand steps. In my experience, she was also great at observing my dog's behavior and figuring out what we could do to help her be successful. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a fun and effective trainer who gets great results!"