We started TOC because we believe in the power of bringing people and dogs together. With the help of some amazing trainers who so generously created these fun videos, we hope to bring some joy and connection to your day.
Virtual Training Party Videos
Do you dream about getting your dog to pay better attention to you? Juliana will show you how to use distractions to your advantage!
How reliable is your recall? Amber will show you several games you can play from your own home that will help!
When you throw a frisbee, does your dog bring it back? Ben will show you how to shape a retrieve to up your game of fetch.
Looking to build some confidence? Logan will show you how to shape paws up while minimizing frustration!
Has your dog ever been afraid of an inanimate object? Don will show you how you can help your dog overcome that fear!
Looking for a cute trick that also happens to be super useful? Brie will show you how to teach your dog to walk between your legs when cued.
Ready for some fun? Rachel will show you how to teach your dog to spin!
Curious about shaping? Jenny will show you how to shape simple behaviors using a box (or whatever object you feel is clean!).
Interested in some dog fitness? Charlotte will show how to improve your dog’s body awareness by teaching him to pivot.
Want to cue the cutest side hugs in the world? Christie will show you how to teach your dog to wrap his arm around things!
Looking for a fun way to use what you already have at home? Gwen will show you how to create an agility course!
Trainers
When we had the idea in mid-March to put this virtual training party together, we were blown away that these amazing trainers dove right in to give back to the dog community during such a tough time. We want to do our best to support them too, so we have provided their bios and additional ways to connect with our amazing training party "hosts."
Juliana Willems
Juliana Willems is a certified trainer and behavior consultant based in the DC area who aims to improve the human-canine bond by helping dog owners with issues ranging from basic manners to reactivity and aggression.
https://www.julianawillems.com | IG: @juliana.willems
Hot Tip: Juliana has a lot of experience and really enjoys public speaking/seminars/training large groups of people. Reach out to her if you might need her help!
Amber Aquart
Hi there! I’m Amber Aquart and if you get anything from my content it’s this ... My goal is to inspire a more engaging, enriching, and enjoyable lifestyle with your pets. I’ve been a professional dog trainer for ten years and actually started my career with animals by training exotic animals. Nothing brings me more joy than helping people learn how to have better communication and more fun with their pets.
https://www.amberaquart.com | IG: @amberaquart | FB: @amberaquart | YT: pawsitivedevelopment
Hot Tip: Amber has regular training challenges on her Facebook and Instagram accounts and a Facebook page full of encouragement and inspiration.
Ben Rimbey & Anna Privette
The experience we’ve learned first hand through our fairly odd dogs is what makes us who we are today. Just because you have a high drive dog now, doesn’t mean the next one will be the same. Or vice versa. So being creative, positive and patient are things we preach! Almost any dog can learn anything if we’re creative, positive and patient. We were brought together through our dogs! We compete in several sports, and our dog Mavis was the state champion disc dog in 2019 before she was even two years old!
http://www.luckymuttdogtraining.com | IG: @fairlyodddogs | FB: @fairlyodddogs | TikTok: @fairlyodddogs
Hot Tip: They are constantly creating new online courses to help people learn to play sports with their dogs - disc, agility, focus, drive, and tricks!
Jenny Efimova
Jenny Efimova is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and a Fear Free Certified Training Professional. She's the founder and owner of Dogminded in Boston, Mass. Jenny believes that training should be informed by science, rooted in compassion, and centered on choice. In this spirit, she's committed to helping people use modern, positive reinforcement techniques to effectively and humanely work with their dogs and empower them to be willing participants in their own care.
https://www.dogmindedboston.com | IG: @dogminded | FB: @dogmindedboston
Rachel Laurie Harris
Rachel Laurie Harris is a certified professional dog trainer and dog mom to Tiva and Waylon.
https://agfdogtraining.com/wp/ | IG: @agoodfeeling_inco | FB: @agoodfeelingdogtraining
Hot Tip: Rachel is launching a course for reactive dog owners!
Don Hutton
Don Hutton has been training dogs professionally for four years now in Toronto. Primarily focused on private, in-home behavior modification solutions, he’s always happy to coach new dog guardians, puppy guardians, and those simply wishing to enrich and develop their dog's lives. When he's not working he's hiking and canoe tripping with his canine soul mate Tenasi.
IG: @runningdogsto | FB: @runningdogsto
Gwen Podulka
Gwen is a certified professional dog trainer with over 20 years experience and proud owner of dogTRAINED. Her journey began with the adoption of a deaf Dalmatian, which launched her into the world of agility and teaching at the Humane Society in Columbus, Ohio while managing bookstores across the Greater Lakes area. Her love of the dogs and people took her cross country to train service dogs with Canine Companions for Independence for people with disabilities. Gwen has continued her education throughout the years finding a passion teaching classes, a love of DC’s incredi-bullies, and an ability to read and help people work with their reactive dogs through a multitude of issues using positive training methods. Gwen believes training should be a treat and should be grounded in positive reinforcement, play and solid dog psychology.
http://www.dogtrained.com | IG: @dogtrained | FB: @dcdogtrained
Hot Tip: Gwen will be offering a number of new online courses over the coming weeks through her website (linked above)!
Logan Buie
Logan Buie is an assistant dog trainer from Raleigh, N.C. She became involved in dog training after foster-failing JJ, who struggles with reactivity and separation anxiety. Logan and JJ have loved strengthening their relationship through positive reinforcement-based training and JJ's favorite activity is doggy parkour. She is a stellar jumper and will do anything for a treat. Logan is especially passionate about separation anxiety education and increasing dogs' confidence through training games.
IG: @themisbehavingmutt
Brie Kuna
Brie Kuna has always had a passion for animals! She currently works at an animal shelter where she provides training and enrichment to dogs as well as teaching staff and volunteers about safe dog handling and training. She also runs group classes and private lessons for the public through the shelter's education center. She has a bachelor's degree in animal behavior and physiology and recently earned her CPDT-KA.
She and her husband adopted their dog, Remmy, almost six years ago from a shelter. He is missing a leg, but it hasn't slowed him down at all. He's been such an inspiration to them and thousands of others!
IG: @remdawg.the.tripawd
Charlotte Hoberg
Charlotte Hoberg was born with a passion for dogs and training. When training her family dogs, a German Shepherd mix, an Australian Shepherd, and a Jack Russell Terrier, wasn’t enough, she helped friends and neighbors with their own pets and horses. Charlotte started her formal career as an animal professional, by working at horse farms, children’s pony camps, and then ultimately moved onto large training barns that specialized in hunter jumpers. Charlotte’s passion for dog training was reignited when she rescued her own dog Pax. His severe aggression issues started Charlotte on her journey to understand behavior modification as well. While using positive reinforcement training methods, she has completed a CGC on Pax, competed at Rally and Competition Obedience and is preparing for competition in Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung (IPO) a protection/bite sport, formerly known as Schutzhund with her newest addition, German Shepherd pup, Beo. Charlotte is dedicated to continuing education and skill building and is currently studying to take the CPDT-KA certification test.
http://www.sitnstaytraining.com | IG: @paxandbeo | IG: @sitnstaytraining
Christie Catan
Christie Catan is the co-founder of Tails of Connection. She is passionate about helping people and dogs connect through training. Her two dogs have taught her so much - including how to be present and enjoy the simple things. She is thrilled to be learning from some amazing DC trainers as she assists with a selection of their group classes (and is eager for those to resume again). Her favorite thing in the world is to crank up the music and have a dance party with her dogs!
https://www.tailsofconnection.com | IG: @otis_unleashed | FB: @otis_unleashed