About Instinctive Canine

In-home training around Chaska

Instinctive Canine is a Chaska in-home training business run by Jon Tuma. He writes that his journey began in 2009 training and competing with Labrador Retrievers, and that he has spent "over 12 years" helping families learn how dogs think, communicate and learn. His core idea is that you cannot change behavior until you understand what is creating it, so sessions focus on uncovering why a behavior happens and then communicating in a way the dog understands.

Programs

Training happens in the family's own home, around the real distractions they live with, and is designed to teach both owner and dog. Common problems named include puppy biting, crate issues, counter surfing, pulling on leash, not listening, potty accidents, jumping up, barking and chewing. Programs are built for new 8-week-old puppies as well as older puppies already showing challenges. The service area covers Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, Cologne, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Jordan, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Prior Lake, Shorewood, Shakopee, Waconia and Victoria.

What owners say

Clients Angie and Kyle wrote that Jon "is knowledgeable, patient, caring and fun to work with," and another family said his approach "was honestly more training the humans than the dogs."