Practical Obedience LLC
Maggie Hansen started Practical Obedience LLC in 2013 when she saw a need in the area for a personalized, in-home approach to dog training. Maggie’s goal has always been to offer a customized approach to help clients with the training most important to them, to help their dogs fit into their lives. Although we've moved away from in-home services into our training facility, we strive to keep a home-like feel and apply our years of experience to helping clients transfer skills back into their homes.
Training Philosophy
Maggie believes that true dog training happens within a trusting relationship between a dog and their family. A trusting relationship with a dog cannot occur with the use of force, pain or fear any more than it can within a human relationship. All training methods and philosophy center around positive reinforcement of desired behaviors and improving the communication and understanding between owners and dogs.
Services
Practical Obedience LLC offers a variety of dog training services, including:
- Puppy DaySchool: A program designed to help busy families tackle all the important socialization and training their new puppy needs. There are 4 package options available, with half-day and full-day options. All packages include DaySchool every Tuesday and Thursday for the duration of the 4 or 8 week package.
- Puppy Socials: Weekly playtime & socialization supervised by skilled puppy trainers. Available for new clients and as an add-on service for current puppy training clients.
- Basic Training Programs: Ideal for friendly puppies and adult dogs. Includes Classic Coaching Program, Classic DayTraining Program, and Classic DayTraining PLUS Program.
- Behavior Training Programs: Designed to help tackle tough stuff: problems rooted in fear, anxiety, aggression or reactivity. Includes Stranger Danger Program, Reactive Rover Program, Behavior Coaching Program, and Behavior DayTraining Program.
- Emergency Consultations: Available for anyone who feels they need help now and cannot wait for the first available openings. Includes priority scheduling, a 1.5-2 hour virtual appointment, and placement at the top of the cancellation list for continued training.
Certifications
Maggie Hansen, CTC, CBCC-KA
* Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (Knowledge Assessed)
* Certificate in Training and Counseling
* Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
* Fear Free Certified Professional
Connie Maedke, CVT, CPDT-KA
* Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
* Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
* Elite Fear Free Certified Professional
* CAMadvocate Level 1
Shana Kleckner, CPDT-KA
* Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Kailey Giese, CTC
* Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC)
Specializations
Puppy training, socialization, basic obedience, behavior modification, fear, anxiety, aggression, reactivity, separation anxiety
Training Methods
Positive reinforcement, force-free, Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA)
Customer Reviews
John & Bixby - Perfect!
Riverside Animal Hospital Veterinarians - It is extremely common to discuss behavioral concerns at the veterinary office. However, it is also common to be limited in training, conversations, and options in this setting. We are extremely happy to have an awesome resource in Practical Obedience LLC and refer clients to them often. We cannot stress how important it is to have someone working with pet owners in environments and applications outside the vet clinic for training. Mutual trust and communication between our organizations is vital, and we feel Practical Obedience provides this and more.
Jen - Absolutely recommend!
Drs. Cheryl Skaletski, Tara Johanek, Roberta Riedi, and Margaret Eastman, Bay East Animal Hospital - The behavioral issues that challenge many of our patients are complex and can’t be solved quickly in the exam room. We’re more likely to succeed in managing these beloved dogs when we adopt a team approach. Having a trainer who’s knowledgeable and is eager to collaborate is so valuable, and we’ve built that relationship with Maggie and her colleagues at Practical Obedience. We’re so excited to hear that Practical Obedience will be expanding their services to include Puppy DaySchool. Early socialization is the first step to avoiding behavior issues that impact quality of life for the whole family. Our clients whose adult dogs have needed a little extra help have enjoyed working with Maggie, and now we’re looking forward to recommending Puppy DaySchool to our newest patients.
Silvia & Rogan - One of the best training experiences a puppy can go through! As a professional dog trainer, I know how very important those critical socialization weeks are and Maggie and her team of qualified trainers have put together an amazing Puppy DaySchool program that I recommend to anyone! Puppy DaySchool is worth every penny of the investment made in my puppy’s education. My Rogan entered DaySchool at eight weeks of age and graduated at fourteen weeks not only having so many basic skills in place but also having experienced new places, sights, sounds, smells, people (including rowdy children), and safe interaction with dogs of different sizes and ages (his classmates!). With my schedule there is no way I could have addressed all the necessary aspects of Rogan’s early development and socialization that this program has covered. Although we have years to go, he is a puppy after all, Rogan has the foundations needed to continue to build skills and be the most well rounded socially appropriate boy he can be. It gave me great pleasure to know that when I dropped my baby off for “school” I could trust he was being treated with kindness and respect during all aspects of the training and socialization process. Thank you! My only regret is that the program wasn’t longer.
Mary - I learned so much from doing training with Practical Obedience. My 6 year old now walks with a gentle leader perfectly. Also have a new puppy that I needed to learn so much to train him better. Connie and Kailey were awesome with my boys. Very caring trainers and know how to train me how to train my dogs. Thank you.
Dr. Tracy Kusik, DVM • Trout Creek Veterinary Center - Practical Obedience is our go-to recommendation for all things dog training. We love that we are able to work in conjunction with Maggie and her team to develop plans for our patients and clients. We appreciate that Practical Obedience uses science based, positive reinforcement training and we always feel confident when referring our patients to them for everything from puppy socialization to dogs with aggression or fear issues.
Dr. Daniel Gray, Gentle Vet Animal Hospital - The staff at Practical Obedience are top-notch. They understand animal behavior and have an excellent approach to helping manage and prevent behavioral problems. They are the first people we recommend to the clients of Gentle Vet Animal Hospital
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
