Who we are

We have a deep love for this community and have been living and training in it for well over a decade. Our methods are informed and shaped by canine ethology (the study of behavior in domesticated dogs) and we are committed to implementing positive reinforcement, fear-free methods in our training. Professional & personal growth are important to us & we are constantly pursuing opportunities to attend workshops & seminars to widen our education on dog training & people coaching.

Focusing on meeting your dog’s individual needs as a species comes before what many people think of when they think of “training”. In reality, your dog is constantly learning from you and their environment and is adjusting their behavior accordingly. It’s certain there are habits of your own you will need to change in order to see changes in your dog.

Why are we largely “facility free”? From puppies to parkour, from reactivity to manners, from nosework to cooperative care, both of us (Bridget & Lisa) are seasoned instructors of group training classes. Over the years, we consistently saw students experiencing a disconnect when they tried to replicate class exercises at home. So, since inception, Valley Wags has been holding most group classes in the real world rather than in a controlled facility. Utilizing local parks and other dog friendly locations has allowed for real-time application and adjustment of training exercises and a huge increase in client comprehension. We do reserve indoor classes for very young puppies, Foundations- Level 1 classes, and Fitness/Cooperative Care practice sessions. West Hills Healing Center generously donates the use of their facility on Sunday evenings for this.

We have a tremendous amount of fun together and value creating lasting relationships with our clients and their four-legged companions. We are excited to work with you!