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| Cooperative Paws llc
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Cooperative Paws' trainers have experience training their own dogs to high levels of obedience and solved behavior problems. Cooperative Paws serves residents of Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland |
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Cooperative Paws trainers, Ken and Veronica have experience working and living with dogs from various breeds and backgrounds. They have owned dogs from various backgrounds from responsible breeders to shelters. Their personal dogs include breeds considered to be relatively "easy" to train, as well as breeds well known for being extremely difficult. They have trained dogs to high levels of obedience and also worked with dogs through challenging behavior problems successfully.
Senior Canine Training and Behavioral Assistant- Phaser (photo: left, dog on right) has a mellow, easy going personality and high level of training which makes him one of Cooperative Paws' most frequently used "assistants." Phaser often helps in training sessions with dogs that are nervous, reactive, or shy.
Both Ken and Veronica have participated in training Phaser to a high level. Phaser has earned an AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate, an AKC Companion Dog obedience title, he earned many ribbons in canine frisbee, AKC competition obedience, has worked as a therapy dog in local nursing homes and works as a service dog for Veronica. Phaser was noted and pictured in Collie Expressions magazine for his many accomplishments. Phaser is also pictured on the cover as well as seen demonstrating various assistance dog skills in the DVD, "Clicker Train Your Own Assistance Dog."
Clients are often surprised to learn that among our four dogs, our gentle Phaser is the unquestioned "alpha." Phaser is living proof of the fact that leadership is obtained through calm confidence.
Puppy and Toy Breed Specialist - Louie (photo above, dog on left) is our youngest dog and he has already become a wonderful assistant. Louie has earned an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate and is in training for public access level service work. He is a happy, outgoing, gentle dog who is particularly helpful with timid or shy puppies and toy breed dogs with fearful behavior problems. Louie has been trained a number of complex behaviors and we are currently working with him towards Rally Obedience competition.
Independent Breed Specialist - Nacho (photo right) is our "senior" citizen at age 11. He demonstrates that even challenging breeds like siberian huskies can be trained to high levels with consistent use of reward based methods. Nacho has earned an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate and has worked as a therapy dog in area nursing homes. Nacho assists in training sessions with reactive dogs and also often with demonstrating loose leash walking. Yes, even huskies can be trained not to pull on leash!
Nacho is also a behavior modification success story. He has severe separation anxiety and was unable to be confined or left alone. Nacho's response to separation and confinement was extreme and included constant barking, urinating, vomiting and defecating when left alone. With hard work Veronica and Ken successfully resolved Nacho's separation anxiety. Nacho can be left alone and also confined to a crate (which makes taking him to the beach much easier).
Reactive Dog Assistant - Monty (photo left) is a large (much larger than he appears in pictures) shepherd mix adopted from a Washington DC area shelter. Monty is a dog who has made tremendous improvements behaviorally in spite of a difficult start in life. Monty has had a number of fearful behaviors to overcome and he has earned an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate. He is our fastest learner and knows a number of complex behaviors all taught by reward based training and clicker training. Monty often assists in sessions involving reactive dogs.
Cupid (photo right) passed away after living a full, 14 year life as a beloved companion. He is included here because he had a huge impact on Veronica. Cupid was Veronica's first dog and her motivation for learning about dog behavior. He was a siberian husky/akita mix who developed dog aggressive behavior.
Veronica worked with a number of different trainers in the late 1980's to try to address this problem where she learned how to implement training techniques that emphasize corrections. While Cupid's obedience improved, his behavior problem with other dogs worsened. Finally in the early 90's Veronica discovered reward-based training at a local training school and she successfully resolved Cupid's behavior problem. By using training methods that emphasized positive reinforcement, Veronica transformed Cupid from a dog who had to be muzzled when in the presence of other dogs, to a therapy dog who passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test as well as 2 different therapy dog program tests. Cupid ended up working as a therapy dog at 4 different nursing homes for several years (which involved working in close proximity with other visiting therapy dogs) and doing demonstrations for school children.
Veronica was later hired by the training school that used reward-based methods where she had taken classes with Cupid, thus starting her career in animal behavior.
