About Sterling Animal Services

About Sterling Animal Services

Sterling Animal Services, LLC is a dog training and behavior practice run by Laika Sterling, who

publishes the pronouns "(they/them)" alongside their name. The site sums the work up as "Behavior

Solutions for Dogs of all Shapes and Sizes." and gives a Belleville, MI address with

SterlingAnimalServices@gmail.com as the contact.

Approach

The stated philosophy is explicit: "We utilize kind, evidence-based methods that prioritize

emotional wellness (for animals and humans alike). Backed by science , our approach strengthens the

bond between you and your pet." The FAQ answers the tools question directly — asked whether a

shock, prong or choke collar would be used, the answer is "Nope! We are dedicated to using

force-free methods that don't rely on pain, intimidation, or pressure to obtain desired behaviors."

Background

Laika "began their career working with animals in veterinary medicine" and "quickly developed an

interest for working with fearful, 'hard-to-handle' animals", later assisting a veterinarian with

behavior consultations and training, and graduating from the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal

Training & Behavior.

Who they take

Breed is not a filter — "Yes! We will work with any dog, regardless of breed makeup." Bite history

is not an automatic no either: "Absolutely! We acknowledge that dogs are animals, and sometimes

bites happen. This just means we'll take some added safety precautions to keep everyone safe."