Positive dog training for everyone’s Pal

Force-free. Shock-free. Science-based.

Nice to meet you!

I'm Dagny! I've been a scientist from day one, and graduated from MSU with a BS in Genetics. Along the way, I met my mentor and discovered that dog training is a perfect blend of my two passions: dogs and science. Thus began my dog training career. I've learned from and practiced with experts in the field, and I've studied the science behind canine behavior, evolution, and learning. I created Pals Academy (named after my childhood dog, Pal) in an effort to improve the lives of people and their dogs.

Methods

My methods are based on scientific evidence of how dogs perceive their worlds and learn new things. Bottom line, my methods involve a lot of positive reinforcement. If it’s possible to train dangerous animals like killer whales and lions without the use of force (and yes, it is!) we can certainly train your dog not to knock over your guests.

Services

Whether you’ve got a “problem child” or a new family member you want to learn to train, I will help you develop a training plan that fits your lifestyle, strengthens your relationship with your dog, and molds your dog into the canine companion you want them to be.

Here’s what people are saying:

“Love, love, love Dagny! She is outstanding when training dogs. We had her for our puppy’s first class and now as a private trainer. She understands how to get through very stubborn beagles! She has helped tremendously with the training of our now 7 month old beagle! We would highly recommend Dagny!” -Cheryl H.

“Dagny revolutionized how I viewed dog training. She went above and beyond to provide any help that I needed. I would 100% recommend her to anyone and everyone with a furry friend.” -Bethany W.

“I really appreciate Dagny's hands-on and straightforward approach to dog training. She provided our class with practical activities that helped us make the most of our time in class. She is kind and respectful to dogs and handlers alike. We look forward to taking additional classes with her in the future.” Betsie B.

“Dagny is a fantastic trainer. We took her puppy class and it helped us out so much! She helped to not only train our dog, but gave us the skills to continue training and communicating with our dog. I would highly recommend her classes!” -Jenny W.

“Dagny is absolutely amazing with my dog, Louie! We took her puppy class first and had such positive results that we took her agility course as well. She is always very patient with the dogs and great at reading their body language. I also love that she explains what she is doing as she works with them. As a first-time dog owner, I think I have learned almost as much as Louie. I can’t say enough positive things about Dagny and recommend her to anyone looking to work with their dog!” Abbie

“Dagny is an extremely effective trainer with a gift for communicating with animals. After only two days of short training sessions with her, my pit bull showed more self control and willingness to learn than ever. My dog struggles with persistent anxiety, and it usually takes her a long time to work with someone other than myself—with Dagny, it took minutes. I am also successfully using the techniques Dagny showed me to continue acclimating my dog to stress triggers. I couldn’t recommend her more strongly! Five stars!” -Hannah B.