About Dognitive Behavior and Training

The premise

Dognitive Behavior and Training builds its name from dog plus cognitive, and the site explains the idea directly: understanding the dogs we live and learn with is what the practice is about. The stated aim is behavior change driven by what the site calls dog-ness, through communication, collaboration and connection.

What they take on

The site's own examples of who it is for are specific: households where the dogs are not seeing eye to eye, a herding dog channeling its ancestors in the worst ways, and a hiking companion whose reactivity keeps the pair from going out. "Helping dogs with big feelings is what I do." That is how the trainer sums it up.

Formats

Two services are live. In-person coaching is one-on-one work with dogs with behavior concerns and their humans, offered in Richmond and surrounding areas. Virtual coaching is the same work from the client's own home, offered anywhere in the world. A third offering, Trail School, is described as decompression in nature for behavioral wellbeing and is listed as coming soon.

Who trains

The consultant is Sam Pierce, who writes that she has been working with dogs professionally for over a decade and training professionally for five years, and that she got her start in the shelter world.

Practice notes

The business describes itself as LGBTQIA+ owned and is based in Richmond.