About North Star Canines

North Star Canines is a one-trainer business with an unusually long record, and it leads with its specialty in capitals: "PUPPIES — OUR SPECIALTY!!"

The services

Four are published: "PUPPY TRAINING / private lessons", "DOG TRAINING / private lessons and BEHAVIOR CONSULTATIONS", "LIVE VIDEO CONSULTATIONS" and "BOARDING ~ BOARD & TRAIN". Puppy work is published as "In-Home, Private Lessons" and covers "House training", "Nipping at people and their clothing", "Destructive chewing", "Accepting crating and alone time" and "Implementing a great socialization plan".

Where she works

The travel area is named town by town rather than left vague: "Arvonia, Bremo Bluff, Buckingham, Charlottseville, Dillwyn, Earlysville, Esmont, Faber, Fork Union, Howardsville, Keene, New Canton, North Garden, Palmyra, Schuyler, Scottsville, Wingina", with the sensible footnote to "ask if your town isn't mentioned above". Video sessions are available anywhere in the country, and she suggests them on cost grounds: "Most puppy training and behavior advice can be easily and economically addressed via live video conferencing".

What you get between sessions

"Each session is followed with a detailed email recap (often including training handouts, product recommendations, and video links)", with phone and email support between lessons.

Background

The business was established in 1991 and has run in Virginia, New York and Connecticut. The trainer publishes a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner designation and a Level 2 TAGteach certification, and has written curriculum for two trainer academies and taught at Karen Pryor's ClickerExpos. She also lists work "Trainer for Service Dogs of Virginia as they begin their first prison-based training program", which is professional history rather than a service-dog product a visitor can book.