Business Details
5 Years
experience
Expert Dog Training Services in Pueblo West, CO
K-9 Psychologist, founded in 2021, is a dog training and behavioral consulting service led by Certified Master Trainer Val DeSantis. With nearly 30 years of experience, Val specializes in personalized in-home training programs tailored to dogs and their owners' unique needs. The business offers puppy programs, behavioral modification, socialization, and special needs training for physically challenged owners. Val holds certifications from the American Kennel Club as a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, canine first aid from the American Red Cross, and is a member of Schutzhund USA. The service emphasizes operant conditioning techniques, including clicker/marker training, to foster effective communication between dogs and their people.Client testimonials highlight dramatic improvements in puppy behavior, confidence-building for first-time owners, and customized approaches for breeds like Leonbergers and Labradoodles. The team prioritizes patience, education, and long-term relationship-building to ensure sustainable results. All training focuses on empowering owners through practical skills and deepening their understanding of canine body language and behavior. The business operates from Pueblo West, Colorado, serving local clients and maintaining a strong reputation for professionalism and dedication to animal welfare.
Services
Puppy Training
Behavioral Modification
Socialization Programs
Special Needs Training
Poison Proofing
Basic Commands
Separation Anxiety Solutions
Details
- Year established: 2021
Highlights and features
- We offer 30 years of proven experience in dog training and behavioral consulting.
- Our team includes Certified Master Trainers with specialized AKC credentials.
- We use science-based operant conditioning techniques for effective communication.
- We provide personalized in-home training tailored to each dog-owner relationship.
- We emphasize long-term education over temporary solutions for sustainable results.
Associations and certifications
- American Kennel Club (Canine Good Citizen Evaluator)
- American Red Cross (Canine First Aid)
- Schutzhund USA
What people say
Highly recommend
Dramatic improvements
Geniune love of dogs
Vast knowledge
Best trainer I have ever known
Services
Puppy Training Programs
Structured programs for puppies aged 12-16 weeks focus on foundational skills and early socialization. Our trainers teach essential commands while addressing common behavioral challenges during critical development stages. Services include housebreaking, bite inhibition, and basic obedience to establish lifelong good habits for young dogs and their owners.
Behavioral Modification
Specialized interventions address anxiety, aggression, fear, and destructive behaviors through customized training plans. Our certified professionals identify root causes of problematic behaviors and implement science-based techniques to create positive, lasting changes in dogs' responses and interactions within their environments.
Socialization Training
Programs develop dogs' ability to interact confidently with other animals and people through controlled exposure experiences. Training focuses on reading body language cues, appropriate play behavior, and building comfort in various environments to prevent future behavioral issues and promote well-adjusted pets.
Special Needs Training
Tailored programs accommodate physically challenged owners and dogs with unique requirements through modified training approaches. Our specialists adapt techniques to address mobility limitations, sensory impairments, and other special circumstances while maintaining effective communication and training outcomes.
Poison Proofing
Preventative education teaches dogs to avoid hazardous substances and dangerous behaviors in home environments. Our trainers implement aversion techniques and positive reinforcement to establish safety awareness, protecting pets from common household toxins and potentially life-threatening situations.
People
Val DeSantis
Certified Master Trainer
With nearly 30 years of experience, Val is a Certified Master Trainer and AKC-certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. He graduated from Anthony Jerone's School of Dog Training and specializes in behavioral modification using science-based methods for dogs and owner education.
Questions
What dog training services do you offer?
We provide puppy programs, behavioral modification, socialization training, special needs training, and poison proofing for dogs of all ages.
What makes your training approach unique?
Our science-based methods focus on owner education and operant conditioning techniques like clicker training to create lasting behavioral changes through improved communication.
Do you work with specific dog breeds?
We train all breeds and mixes, with particular experience in large breeds like Leonbergers and working dogs through Schutzhund USA methodologies.
Are your trainers certified professionals?
Yes, our lead trainer holds certifications from the American Kennel Club, American Red Cross, and Schutzhund USA with 30 years of practical experience.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Pueblo West, Colorado, with in-home training sessions tailored to local clients' needs and schedules.
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