Bring Out the Best in Your Dog with Force-Free Training
Nonviolent, positive reinforcement-based dog training based in Berwyn Heights, Maryland,
guiding puppies, adolescent dogs and adult dogs to learn skills, improve manners, and thrive through private sessions and group classes.
What I Do
I provide force-free, nonviolent dog training that builds real-life skills without fear, pain, or intimidation.
My approach combines proven positive reinforcement methods with mindfulness techniques that help both dogs and people stay calm and engaged while learning.
At all times, I strive to honor the relationship you wish to build with your dog, to respect you as an individual, and to help you reach goals that meet the needs of both you and your dog.
Puppy and Adolescent Dog Training: Develop confidence, good manners, and strong social skills during your dog’s most important learning stages.
Rescue Dog Support: Help adopted dogs adjust to new homes, gain trust, and replace unwanted habits with better ones.
Everyday Life Skills: Teach dogs practical behaviors like polite greetings, walking nicely on leash, coming when called, waiting calmly, and settling around distractions.
Owner Trained Service Dogs: Coach clients with a disability to select and train reliable, stable dogs, improving their independence and quality of life. For veterans and non-veterans.
Dog Training Formats:
Private sessions, group classes and workshops are available, each tailored to your and your dog’s needs and learning style.
How I Do It
What is “Force-Free”?
Force-free, or nonviolent, dog training honors your dog’s choice to participate and builds learning experiences based on trust, respect, and connection. Using positive reinforcement and a deep understanding of how dogs learn, this approach transforms everyday interactions into opportunities for growth, confidence, and joy for you both.
When unwanted behaviors arise, force-free training does not punish or intimidate. Instead, your dog is taught better choices through management and customized nonviolent training techniques. By teaching alternatives, setting dogs up for success, and reinforcing improvements, every small step leads to lasting, reliable behaviors.
What is “Mindfulness”?
Just like people, dogs can go through life on autopilot, reacting automatically to sights, sounds, and situations. Mindfulness for dogs helps them slow down, notice their surroundings, and make conscious choices rather than reacting out of habit or stress.
Techniques like deep breathing, intentional pauses, and guided Mindfulness Walks help overstimulated dogs reduce pulling, ease leash reactivity, and manage anxiety. Fearful dogs gain confidence, and energetic dogs develop self-control. With consistent practice, dogs learn to settle calmly, focus on their owners, and navigate daily life with less stress.
Reserve your free, 15 minute phone or video consultation
We are located in the
College Park, MD area & serve nearby parts of Maryland & Washington, DC
No painful shock collars
No prong or choke collars
No forceful techniques
Kindness and compassion
Happy Dogs and Their Humans!
Kristin Cole & Finn
“We went into Joanne's Loose Leash workshop hoping to gain some tools to better walk our dog, Finn, on a leash in a busy city (coming from a rural area). After our four sessions together, we came out with much more than we could have wished for, and even a perspective shift about relating to our dog and his own needs. Joanne uses a very gentle and kind approach with your pup, prioritizing the animal and its ability to thrive.”
Tina Shrader
“Joanne has given us so many good tools and techniques to deal with Peanut’s high energy and prey drive around the cats and has also helped us work on his alert barking and greetings with new people. He’s made so much progress over the course of our four sessions with Joanne and I couldn’t be more pleased….I highly recommend Joanne as a kind, thoughtful, creative trainer who will meet you and your dog where you are and find good solutions for behavior problems.”
Lisa Lewis
“Our 2-year-old Golden Retriever is a bundle of love. An overwhelming, barking, pulling bundle of love, who wants to greet everyone in the neighborhood. Nothing we tried seemed to impact his behavior, and a relative who trains dogs told us we needed to get a prong collar and start "teaching him who is in charge". In search of a trainer who uses positive reinforcement, we found Joanne and we are so happy that we did! She is kind, compassionate, non-judgmental and has seemingly endless ideas for techniques to use with our dog to improve his behavior.”
