Hi, so happy to have you here! I'm Sonia, a CPDT-KA Professional Dog Trainer with years of experience helping pets and pet parents create a strong, happy relationship and a peaceful home life together.

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My Story & Why I Do This

Ever since I was a young girl, I'd love to spend time with all sorts of animals. Random cats would walk into our patio and I would spend all my time with them, play with them, try to understand their feelings. It was when I was most happy. My favorite show was the Wild Thornberrys, where the main character could speak to animals. It was always my dream and goal to be able to communicate with animals like Eliza.

My parents immigrated from India and loved sharing their homeland with my brother and me through frequent visits. My first trip to India, when I was 10 years old, opened my eyes even more. I would play and train the village dogs in my neighborhood, and spend time with monkeys, goats, and cows. All these childhood experiences led me and my parents to know that I needed to have animals surrounding me for the rest of my life.

What also stayed with me from those trips was seeing the countless stray dogs on the streets - intelligent animals struggling without homes or the love of people. This experience planted a seed that would later inspire my career path. I realized that many dogs end up in shelters or on the streets not because they're bad dogs, but because families struggle with behavioral challenges that feel overwhelming. By helping families build strong, positive relationships with their pets through training, I'm working to ensure more dogs get to stay in loving homes where they belong. This natural connection and curiosity with all types of animals has been with me since childhood, and combined with this deeper purpose, it's what sets me apart in the dog and cat training community today.​

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Real Results From My Own Journey

My parents weren't thrilled when I brought home a terrier-mix puppy unannounced in high school (a friend could no longer take care of him, so I stepped in to help). This was especially challenging for my mom, who was terrified of dogs after being barked at and chased by them in India. But luckily, they kept an open mind for me, and let me keep him. Training him on my own taught me so much about patience, dog psychology, and building bonds. Though he has passed away, I'm forever grateful for what he taught me and my family, including helping my mom overcome her fear of dogs.

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Currently, I have an orange cat named Oliver and a border collie named Luna - both shelter rescues. Adopting them were the best decisions of my life. I taught Oliver to go potty in the toilet (no litter box here!), wave hi and goodbye to visitors, sit, walk with a leash and harness, and so much more. My dog Luna came to me with overwhelming anxiety around people and dogs, and was very reactive. Through counter-conditioning behavioral training and obedience work from basics to advanced, she's now the confident, happy dog she is today.

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Whether you have a rescue or a purebred pet, the training approach is exactly the same- every dog learns through positive reinforcement and consistency. Knowing I saved my pets from the streets and gave them better lives is something I'll cherish forever. As a small thank you to fellow pet parents who choose to rescue, I'm happy to offer discounts for rescued pets, though I absolutely love working with all pets regardless of their background and where they originate from.

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If I can achieve these transformations with my own challenging pets (don't tell them I said that), imagine what we can accomplish together with yours.

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From Corporate Training to Canine Training

After college, where I studied business management and human resources, I became a director of HR for a small restaurant chain. While I loved training people and helping them grow, I realized something was missing. One day, I sat down and thought about doing something truly worthwhile with my life - and it hit me: I could combine my training expertise with my lifelong passion for animals.

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I started learning about professional dog training, worked at a private dog company training their dogs, and volunteered at shelters. When the 2020 pandemic hit, I took the leap and started my own training business. My background in HR taught me that successful training is really about clear communication, patience, and understanding what motivates each individual - skills that translate perfectly to working with both pets and their families.

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My Professional Credentials

I'm a CPDT-KA certified trainer through the Certification Council For Professional Dog Trainers, and I complete continuing education credits to stay current with the newest techniques while following a strict code of ethics.

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Whether you're dealing with basic obedience, reactivity, anxiety, behavioral challenges, introducing pets to other pets or children, advanced training, or cat training, I give my 100% compassion and effort. My training philosophy combines positive reinforcement, compassion, consistency, and proven techniques to deliver real, lasting results.

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What Makes Working With Me Different

When you work with me, you're not just hiring a trainer - you're gaining a compassionate friend who's genuinely invested in your pet's well being and your family's happiness. I tailor my approach to meet the unique needs of each pet and their family because I understand that every situation is different.

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Together, we can help your pet become the happy, well-behaved companion you've always wanted, and create the peaceful home life you deserve.