Smart Dog Training and Behavior, LLC

Specialties

Our specialty is training dogs to be well-​behaved members of your household. You want a dog who is enjoyable to live with, who reduces your stress rather than increases it. We train your dog for you — in your home — while you work, shop or take care of your family. Once a week, we meet with you to teach you how to maintain the behaviors we’ve already established. Most people can meet their goals in 3 — 4 weeks. If you prefer to learn how to train your own dog, we are happy to work with that too!

We offer basic training (good manners — including sit, stay, come, polite greeting and leash walking), puppy socialization and training and work with all behavior problems including aggression.

We have been in business since 2001 and our behaviorist has over 15 years of professional experience working with dogs. She will be completing her PhD in biopsychology (the biological basis of behavior) in 2014.

Please contact us via phone or e-​mail — we’d be happy to talk to you further about your concerns and your goals.

History

Established in 2001.

Kristina opened Smart Dog in 2001. The business quickly grew to become one of the most well-​respected dog training and behavior resources in the area. Today the business is focused on day training — Kristina will train your dog in your home while you work, relax or take care of other business. Once a week, she will teach your family how to maintain the newly established behaviors. Day training is faster and more effective than doing the training on your own and is ideal for busy professionals and families.

Meet the Business Owner

Kristina S.

Business Owner

Kristina is in the final stages of completing her PhD in biopsychology — the study of the biological basis of behavior. She expects to finish by early fall of 2014. In graduate school, she ran several studies investigating how dogs navigate and perceive their social environment. She also took numerous graduate level courses in behavior including Hormones and Behavior, Behavioral Neuroscience and Behavioral Genetics. After obtaining her PhD, Kristina plans to complete continuing education by attending annual academic and dog behavior conferences.

Before opening Smart Dog, Kristina earned her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin — Madison. She served as an assistant trainer at Dog’s Best Friend which was owned at that time by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell. In 2000, Kristina moved to Minnesota where she worked as a dog trainer at a local dog training school before moving to her permanent home in upstate New York.