About Meadow & Mates Dog Training LLC

Who they are

Meadow & Mates Dog Training LLC was founded by Cassandra, who "started off as a dog walker and pet sitter in Los Angeles in 2014. After adopting a very timid rescue pup she named Meadow, she fell in love with the training process as well as canine behavior." She graduated with distinction from CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and is "a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Pet Professional Guild, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a Certified Canine Enrichment Technician and a LEGS Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediator." She has also worked in shelters as a transporter, volunteer and foster parent, and in a doggy daycare facility. Her stated commitment is to "force free, positive reinforcement training."

The enrichment program

The signature offering is a canine enrichment program, and the site defines what it means: "Canine enrichment is about meeting your dog's natural needs in thoughtful, practical ways. It goes beyond basic exercise and focuses on giving your dog appropriate outlets for sniffing, foraging, problem-solving, chewing, shredding, exploring, and moving their body in ways that feel instinctually satisfying." The rationale is behavioral: "Enrichment reduces frustration, stress and 'problem' behaviors by addressing the root cause, unmet needs, rather than simply managing the symptoms. Enrichment isn't about doing more. It's about doing what actually matters to your dog."

How the program works

It is described as "a customized, welfare-based approach… Instead of relying only on walks, daycare, or obedience, we build a lifestyle that supports your dog's natural instincts and individual personality. Each plan is thoughtfully designed around your dog's energy level, breed traits, age, behavior patterns, and home environment." Owners learn "How to meet your dog's instinctual needs in realistic ways, How to reduce stress, reactivity, and restlessness, How to create calm inside the home, How to build connection and trust through shared activities." The program is flagged as especially supportive for dogs who "Struggle on walks, Don't thrive in daycare environments, Are seniors needing gentle outlets, Are puppies learning how to exist in the world, Have high drive or big feelings." The stated goal is explicitly not exhaustion: "The goal isn't to 'wear your dog out.' The goal is fulfillment, clarity, and a relationship built on understanding."