About COACHING CANINE COMPANIONS

Nervous-system-first training in North Kingstown

Coaching Canine Companions is a dog training business at 19 Lawnwood Road in North Kingstown, working with families locally and online. Founder and lead trainer Lorrie Harris specializes in what she calls nervous-system-first training for reactive, anxious, sensitive, easily overwhelmed and high-arousal dogs. The work starts with the dog's nervous system, the handler's state, the leash conversation, recovery time and threshold awareness, and it draws on polyvagal theory, attachment science, somatic experiencing and positive reinforcement. It is described as especially useful when commands work at home but fall apart outside.

Programs

The flagship program is done-for-you day training and coaching. Puppy foundations, adult and senior programs teach owners to apply the training themselves, and behavior and reactivity support is delivered as one-on-one co-training sessions. Online courses, training videos and interactive Zoom coaching serve owners anywhere, and a free meet and greet is the first step. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 8AM to 6PM.

The trainer

Lorrie Harris is a U.S. Navy veteran who began working with dogs in 1990 and earned a Master Dog Training Certification from the National K-9 Learning Center in 2019. She is an AKC approved CGC Evaluator, AKC Fit Dog certified, an IACP member and a former IPWDA bomb detection dog specialist.

What to ask

Ask about program pricing and the length of the day training program.