Train with Ash, the Detroit based Certified Behavior Consultant & Dog Trainer, specializing in fear, aggression, anxiety, and reactivity. Harness your superpower & find the realistic strategies that provide relief for you and your dog.
At your wit's end?
Does your unruly dog have you feeling like you are up against a brick wall? Whether you struggle with leash reactivity or you are facing some serious aggression issues, we understand how upsetting it can be.
We understand.
You give and give. You provide them with the best veterinary care and buy them lots of toys and good food. You treat them with unconditional love. Yet they still behave in ways that hurt and upset you. It may be causing you such distress that it is affecting other parts of your life. Living with a challenging dog can make you feel anxious, trapped, scared and overwhelmed. You have done everything you can think of to improve the situation. It’s an extremely difficult place to be in, and we've been there.
Unconditional love is powerful. It's your superpower.
You already have the love and kindness needed to help your dog. Allow us to empower you with the knowledge and skills you need for your specific case. We can help you alleviate the issues that are causing you the most distress, so you can live a happier and more harmonious life with your furry companion.
Our Approach to Training
We whole-heartedly believe in treating all creatures, dogs and humans alike, with compassion and kindness. All learners should be set up for success, taught appropriate skills, and be given positive reinforcement. We seek to create a safe space for everyone involved, to build and repair human-dog relationships through feelings of security and trust.
This approach to training is both ethical and highly effective. Instead of using the traditional punishment to suppress behavior, we modify behavior by addressing the root cause and underlying emotions. Based on current scientific evidence, The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that only reward-based training methods are used for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems. You can feel confident that your individualized training plan utilizes the latest evidence-based techniques.
No dominance theory, no intimidation, no pain, no fear, just good training. It's science!
Read about Ash’s qualifications here.
Driven by a passion for promoting ethical training methods beyond our own physical reach, Ash founded the Humane Training Alliance to help connect dog guardians to behavior professionals who prioritize ethics and welfare.
“...Ash provided a non judgmental, safe space to figure out the root cause of the concerns... Ash’s relaxed but also compassionate and precise approach helped us to easily learn but also allowed our dog to become comfortable with them and slowly rewire his nervous system and unlearn some unsafe behaviors....”
“I cannot express in words, the enormous amount of gratitude we have for Ash! She has made a tremendous impact on our lives and the lives of our two dogs... Ash is highly, highly knowledgeable and her techniques are everything we were looking for. Within a short amount of time, we saw our two reactive dogs transform into calm, well behaved and peaceful dogs... If you are looking for the right trainer who will support you, encourage you and show you the right way to build a bond with your dog, then Ash is your trainer!”
“...Ash is so patient, kind, and highly skilled at providing people with the tools they need to help their relationship with their dog flourish...”
“...They were knowledgeable, patient, and non-judgmental, and really helped us understand our dog better. Working with Ash has taught us so much about what our dog is experiencing and how we can give her a richer, healthier life...”
“...we were in a dire situation after bringing home our baby and our dog was struggling majorly.... Ash listened to us cry, heard our concerns, and took the best care of our dog while she couldn’t be with us. It was truly the hardest thing we ever went through... We now have our dog back with us, thanks to Ash. If you are looking for a trainer, Ash is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and supportive. We are forever grateful for her.”
Piper
“... Ash educated us about how aggression is fear-based and how the best ways to help our pup is to learn to understand his body language so we can best meet his needs and regulate his nervous system. And I must say the results are stellar...
I feel so much more secure and confident with all the knowledge that I learned during our training sessions and my pup’s behavior is noticeably better... my sweet dog is happy, safe and much less anxious and I feel very well equipped to understand his needs and take care of him!”
Gus
“... We couldn’t even take Lucy outside to go to the bathroom without her lunging at a stranger down the street. We couldn’t have people over. We couldn’t even be in the same realm as another dog... Ash was not afraid of Lucy, like our previous trainer, and made it feel like there was hope for Lucy. Ash has taught us so many techniques and tips we can finally have people over again!... she understands dogs and their owners when it comes to reactivity or aggression. She was very understanding of Lucy’s emotions and genuinely wants her to live a happy and stress free life!...”
“Before working with Ash, just walking down from the second floor of our building to take Waffles out to go to the bathroom gave me a huge amount of stress and anxiety. I was constantly terrified of him biting another person or dog. After his first session with her I could already tell he was more happy and he was less stressed than he’d been in months. It felt like I was getting my sweet boy back. After a few weeks of working with her, I no longer felt overwhelmed by the idea of taking him outside and encountering other people and dogs because she has given us both all the tools we need to be successful. It’s SO exciting to see the progress he’s making. I don’t know what we would have done without Ash!”
Waffles
“We could not be more grateful for the vast improvements we’ve seen not only in our dogs’ behavior but their quality of life... Ash focuses not only on training for desirable behaviors, but also on how your dog is feeling in situations and how to understand their boundaries to keep them comfortable and safe. One of our dogs has some genetic behavioral challenges and working with Ash has taken us from her not being able to stay below her threshold when seeing new people to her being able to have people come into our home and yard without any issue. Additionally, she has helped us get access to medical intervention when needed, and has acted as a sounding board in difficult situations we’ve been through. Ash is also highly involved in the rescue community, and is always raising her hand to help dogs and owners in need.”
Thanos and Nebula
“I have a had a great experience getting training, management advice, and moral support to help me and my dog who has dog reactivity, high prey drive, and anxiety. It can be incredibly stressful and isolating realizing a newly adopted pet struggles with behavior issues and Ash was able to assess my dog, give concrete advice for safety and management in the day to day, refer us to vet behaviorists and other resources, and help extensively with training. We have done training session packages as well as some board and train. It is a slow journey and there are no quick or exciting fixes with serious behavior cases, but we have been so grateful to have such an experienced, thoughtful, and compassionate trainer.”
Oliver
“We learned so much from working with Ash, from the first consultation to the final email full of information and further training suggestions. Ash’s knowledge of dogs is so apparent and she gave us insights into our own reactive pup that have helped us immensely. Pickle is a work in progress but after weeks of training with Ash we feel we have the tools and insight to keep our training journey going and to understand her better than we ever have before. Ash was very thorough, helping us examine all aspects of Pickle’s daily experience to help us give her the best possible training outcome. She also helped us find a Vet that was better suited to Pickle’s disposition and would discuss behavioral medication with us. I’m so grateful to have met Ash, for the progress we’ve made and for her dedication to these sweet rescue animals.”
“... Once we brought him home, Reuben started exhibiting a number of fear-based aggressive behaviors that we were not aware of when we adopted him. Ash helped us immediately identify what triggered his behavior and how we could start to train those behaviors out with positive reinforcement, along with general tips on how to help him destress and settle down... We’ve seen such a huge difference in Reuben since training with Ash and are excited to see him continue to improve and trust us!”
My case type capacity includes aggression, fear, anxiety, reactivity, phobias, hyperactivity. I am also more than happy to take puppy training and basic training.
I refer separation anxiety cases to Good Wolff
I hold a CBCC-KA (Certified Behavior Consultant, Canine - Knowledge Assessed) and CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed).
If you are further away, there are a couple options for training with me. We can do virtual training on Zoom, have you come to Detroit for training, or pay a travel fee for me to come to you. We can do a combination of all or some of those options throughout your training program. For dogs who can be fearful, reactive, and/or aggressive to new people, we would be doing the consultation virtually or in my Detroit yard, regardless of where you live. The travel fee is $2 per minute of drive time over 20 minutes, excluding unexpected additional time due to accidents on the road.
If you rescued your dog and your economic circumstances are preventing you from accessing dog training and behavior services, you may be eligible for our sliding scale payment option.
In our two hour consultation, we will begin by gathering the information needed to give you an honest assessment your dog’s behavior. We will then give you the in-depth explanations you need to understand what is driving the dog’s behavior. This often includes information on subtle dog communication and the functions of the behavior. Next we will collaborate on a plan of how to manage your dog’s behavior to give you the relief you need, while keeping everyone safe and helping your dog feel more relaxed and content. You will gain a clear picture of what’s going on, an outline of our behavior modification plan, and often some skills training to get started with. After the consultation you will also receive emailed notes.
The consultation may take place virtually or in person, depending on your dog’s needs.
Cost: $264
Cost with rescue discount: $220
At your home, in our training yard, or another location
Self- schedule as often as desired
Each session is 1 hour long
Pay for one session at a time, or get another session after completing a package.
Cost: $132/session
Cost with rescue discount: $105/session
If this is not something you can afford, please take a look at our Sliding Scale and Work Trade options.
In this introductory program, we can begin to address any behavioral issues. We will teach skills based on your needs and whatever will be most useful to you.
Cost: $500 ($125/session)
Cost with rescue discount: $400 ($100/session)
In this program, we work to eliminate household conflicts and problem behaviors, and teach you and your dog the skills you need in order to make life more harmonious. In this program we can address many reactivity and aggression issues, as well as any other behavior issues you may have. It’s a good program for dogs without severe behavior issues.
Cost: $720 ($120/session)
Cost with rescue discount: $576 ($96/session)
This is our most frequently chosen program. It is recommended for solving more serious issues that will require more time to work though. This may be barking and lunging on leash, aggression over food or other resources, fearful behavior, and aggressive behavior to people and dogs. It is also recommended for people with two or more dogs.
Cost: $1,150 ($115/session)
Cost with rescue discount: $920 ($92/session)
This program is designed for more severe behavior cases. This includes anxiety, fear, phobia, aggression, and reactivity towards people and dogs. This program is highly recommended for dogs who have bitten people or other dogs. We can address more complicated cases which have many compounding factors. It is also recommended for people who have multiple dogs with issues. It can be a good choice to buy a large training package because it offers the lowest cost per session.
Cost: $1,760 ($110/session)
Cost with rescue discount: $1,408 ($88/session)
Expeditiously reach your training goals of building a solid foundation of life skills and behavior modification by staying in our professional trainer's home. Wonderful for those overwhelmed with issues such as reactivity or aggression. It is a really smart alternative to regular boarding during vacation times. The program is custom-tailored to meet your needs. It’s better than boot camp! Founded upon the latest science in animal learning theory and ethics, My Sidekick Training provides one of the only force-free Board and Train programs available in the Detroit area - others use shock, prong, and choke collars. You will need to complete a Consultation prior to a Board and Train Program. It is recommended to pair this program with a private training program. Availability is limited. Board and Train is not the best option for all dogs. Dogs need to be comfortable staying in a crate or 10 x 10 kennel room to qualify for Board and Train. We cannot take dogs with separation anxiety or confinement anxiety. Dogs need to be at least somewhat comfortable with our trainer prior to their stay. Contact-free/Hands-free boarding may be an option for urgent situations with aggressive dogs. See more about our boarding accommodations here.
-Training sessions three to four times per day
-Opportunity for you to participate in dog’s training during program
-Daily video clips of training sessions
-Includes transfer training session at end of program
Estimated cost for puppy: $6,300 per month / $1,575 per week
Estimated cost for adult dog: $5,600 per month / $1,400 per week
Estimated cost for puppy with 20% rescue discount: $5,040 per month / $1,260 per week
Estimated cost for adult dog with 20% rescue discount: $4,480 per month / $1,120 per week
Exact cost is based on daily training time, which changes based on the individual’s needs. Dogs often need several days to decompress in the new environment before beginning training, which would be charged at the regular boarding rate.
