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Hi, there! I am a CPDT-KA credentialed, Fear-Free Certified dog trainer living and practicing out of San Francisco. I have an extensive background in the shelter and rescue world, and am also very passionate about purebred dogs, breed-specific behavioral traits, and helping urban dogs find activities that ignite their genetic strengths and talents. I am proud to use only rewards-based, motivational training methods. I train in a way that is fluid, exciting, and highly engaging, ensuring that every dog I work with WANTS to learn. My special areas of interest include puppy development, leash skills, reactivity, fears and sensitivities, cooperative care, scentwork, and general household skills.

Julia is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP), having graduated with distinction. She specializes in helping anxious, fearful, or reactive dogs feel safer and more confident through gentle, science-backed, in-home behavior support. Instead of obedience drills, I focus on understanding emotions, building trust, and creating real-life behavior change that lasts. Her approach blends empathy, practicality, and fun, providing quick wins and effective strategies to help families and dogs thrive. Families in Durham, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough choose Dog Speak for a kinder, more personalized approach that meets dogs exactly where they are — right at home.

I specialize in using reward-based techniques to help families with dogs that are considered difficult, whether it is dog-dog aggression, resource guarding, aggression towards humans, reactivity to objects, noises, fearful/shutdown dogs. I also work with dogs that have had a bite history. In addition, I have a SmartPuppy Program that helps you grow puppies into smart, confident dogs and prevent many issues rather than fix them later. I use games, toys and food to train with fun and kindness.

Started in 2018 we evolved from the Coachella Valley Dog Club (which started in 2008) into an even bigger concept to serve the needs of the Coachella Valley. All it took was two dog-obsessed best friends and a shared dream for all dogs to be treated equally. One a trainer and behavior consultant and one a medical practitioner. Both with a love of their big dogs, their families, and tenacity to make their dreams happen. We have one of only two local Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed and Associate Credentialed Dog Behavior Consultants as a part of our driving team. They are also a certified trick dog instructor and fear-free certified.

Are you struggling with your dog's fear, anxiety, or aggression? As a certified dog behavior consultant with over two decades of experience, I'm here to help. Using modern, evidence-based training techniques and a deep understanding of canine behavior, I provide personalized solutions to help you and your dog overcome challenges. Through my extensive education and dedication to the art and science of dog training, I've helped countless Bay Area dogs and their owners achieve lasting results with aggression, reactivity, separation anxiety and more. Don’t let behavior issues hold you and your dog back any longer. Click through to learn more about how I can help you and your dog thrive. 🐾

Learning is FUN! I am a certified dog behavior consultant and certified dog trainer in obedeince, nosework and tricks. I am also a Service Dog Coach. I believe in science-based and positive reward-based training methods that create a fun learning environment for both humans and dogs. When you are having fun, whatever you do becomes rewarding and makes you want to do more of it. Through fun learning experiences, desirable behaviors are retained and repeated. My specialty is in working with anxious, fear-aggressive dogs and dogs with reactivity issuees. K9 Learning is based in Novato, CA and currently offers both in-person (in Marin) and virtual training (outside of Marin) sessions.

Joyful Dog works one-on-one and in group classes with people and their dogs, teaching fun ways to live together with force-free tools and techniques for creative communication. We provide training in basic manners, behavioral problem-solving, puppy socialization, and a variety of special interests. Our positive approach includes Connection, Cooperation, and Control™, a curriculum founded on Suzanne Clothier’s Relationship Centered Training techniques, and Tellington TTouch® methods of body work and movement, to help dogs achieve physical and behavioral balance. We serve an online clientele, as well as in-person in Leesburg, Loudoun and western Fairfax counties in Virginia.

I always use Positive Reinforcement and Rewards-Based methods in all my training. Behavior Modification is always done using scientifically proven methods to modify, reshape or extinguish the unwanted behavior. I believe in being patient, compassionate, helping the dog to reshape its behavior at a comfortable pace for the dog, and doing it with confidence. That is where training you - the person - to train your dog, comes into my training philosophy.

I am passionate about helping people bring out the best in their dogs, and build better relationships through positive reinforcement training.