Blue Dog Training & Behavior in Madison, WI

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Telephone:	+1 608-213-5304
Website:	www.bluedogtraining.com
Address:	Madison, WI 53704
Categories:	Pet Training

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Today

Today	9:00 am – 7:00 pm Closed now
Local time (Madison)	08:47 Thursday, 5 June 2025

Business hours

Monday	9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday	9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Saturday	–
Sunday	10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Dog Friendly Dog Training & Behavior Services by Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant in your home or at our Madison Office. Phone consultations also available for some cases.

Services Include:

Board & Train: Manners training and basic to advanced obedience done in a home setting!

Behavior Consultations by Madison’s ONLY Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, using dog friendly but non bribery based behavior modification methods for all types of aggression, fear, separation anxiety, destructive behaviors, house training issues etc working hand in hand with your veterinarian for optimal results.

Dog Training — In home! By Certified Pet Dog trainer

New Puppy Package /New Dog Package — Everything you need to know to get started on the right «paw» and prevent manners and behavior problems by fully understanding your new addition and setting your dog (and household) up for success!

Pet Sitting Services: by Certified Vet Tech! Bonded & Insured

History

Established in 2000.

Blue Dog was established by Internationally renowned dog trainer and behaviorist — Sarah Kalnajs.

Sarah is a highly respected author (Language of Dogs & Am I Safe) and International Speaker on all things dog.

A strong supporter of shelters and rescues, Blue Dog offers discounts to rescue groups and individuals who have adopted from rescues/shelters.

Sarah is an honors graduate of the University of WI Madison with a post graduate education in Animal Behavior from the Etologisk Institut under renowned ethologist Dr. Roger Abrantes and the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lab of the University of Hawaii.

Sarah Kalnajs is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and Certified Pet Dog Trainer (Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers) with over ten years’ experience working in canine behavior, training, and research.

She is on the BOD & faculty of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute.

Meet the Business Owner

Sarah K.

Business Owner

Sarah Kalnajs is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and Certified Pet Dog Trainer (Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers) with over 15 years’ experience working in canine behavior, training, and research.

Sarah is a professional member of the ABMA (Animal Behavior Management Alliance), APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), and the IIACAB (International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior). She is one of the editors of the peer-reviewed Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior and is a member of the advisory board and faculty of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute.

Sarah is an honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin — Madison and has completed post-graduate work at Edgewood College and through the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Research Lab at the University of Hawaii. She is one of the first international students to complete t

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6 reviews of Blue Dog Training & Behavior

No registration required

Andrew H.

Place rating: 5
Madison, WI

Sarah Kalnajs of Blue Dog Training has unique qualifications that sets her apart from other trainers and behaviorists in Madison. She has transformed the way I communicate and interact with my dogs, bringing some much-needed serenity into my home.
I adopted a young White Shepherd that started to exhibit fear aggression. After countless books and DVDs, I wasn’t getting very far. Pinch collars, shock collars (never again!), positive reinforcement, negative punishment, you name it. I was stressed, resented my dog, couldn’t rehome him, and feared he’d end up euthanized.
Sarah invited me, my roommate, and both my dogs to her location for an assessment. Despite my dog’s fear aggression, I felt safe and confident while there. She was even willing to introduce her dogs to mine in a safe manner, which really helped illustrate his issues.
I was given an impressively comprehensive rehabilitation plan, addressing the problem from all angles: training programs, medication recommendations, potential medical issues, behavior modification tools, and new ways to interact with my dogs that stimulate their minds.
One of the most useful parts of the rehabilitation plan was MY education. I thought I understood dog body language pretty well, but Sarah’s «Language of Dogs» DVD corrected many misconceptions I had. With a newfound ability to interpret my dogs’ body language, I quickly realized the things I thought they loved actually gave them significant anxiety.
The Blue Dog hands-free leash is worth every penny. Nothing raised my stress more than having my dog jerk my arms around when his arousal was increasing. The hands-free system allows me to remain safe and calm when taking my dogs outside, preventing me from sending «bad vibes» through the leash.
Sarah has remained committed to my dog’s rehabilitation and has shown genuine concern for him. She is happy to answer questions as they come up and will periodically ask how everything is going. Try getting that level of attention at a typical dog training facility!
I have been seeing more and more trainers popping up telling people to slap shock collars on their dogs and assert their dominance. Run far away from these people! Sarah is, hands-down, the most qualified person to help you modify your dog’s undesirable behavior. She has dedicated her life to understanding animal behavior, and is the only Certified Dog Behavior Consultant in the Madison area. There really is no other choice, in my book.

Chris F.

Place rating: 5
Charleston, SC

I was hesitant to reach out to Sarah initially, believing the internet to be a useful enough tool when learning how to train my ACD puppy. After an in-depth phone conversation with Sarah, I was sold.
I still had not paid her yet.
Throughout the next few weeks, Sarah went out of her way to reach out to breeders and rescues, inquiring as to whether or not they were reputable. She spent countless hours on the phone, guiding me through the puppy’s transition into the household and kept me from making several mistakes that the ‘internet’ recommended.
I still had not paid her yet.
Our appointment was scheduled for a week and a half after I received the puppy, and during that time she continued giving advice and made herself available at all time. She stepped out of family functions to call me, to walk me through certain steps.
I still had not paid her yet.
Finally, I had the appointment. She was able to derive my puppy’s personality, and curtailed the training and socialization to him perfectly. His behavior before and after the consultation is night and day. He is an independent, head-strong puppy, who challenged me daily. Already, he has learned how to behave in the house-hold and if not for Sarah, it is very likely that I would have ingrained many poor behaviors into him and would have had my hands full for the next 15 years.
I absolutely recommend hiring Sarah. When you compare the costs to both yours, and your dogs, quality of life over the next 10 – 15 years, you’ll come to realize that it really isn’t all that hard of a decision. She truly cares about the dog, and you, and will strive to make sure that you both have the best possible life together.

Lori S.

Place rating: 5
Mineral Point, WI

Always wishing for my dog to have the very best life possible, I wanted to contact a behaviorist to get advice regarding several issues we were having. I had made contact with another person calling themselves a behaviorist, and had scheduled an appointment. I mentioned this to our trainer, and she immediately said «You really want to get in touch with Sarah Kalnajs and make an appointment with her.» This trainer had taken seminars with Sarah and had really admired her compassion and the manner in which she had interacted with dogs. Loving our trainer and so respecting her opinion, I immediately cancelled with the other «behaviorist» and contacted Blue Dog Training and Sarah and Andrew. I have since found out that anyone can call themselves a behaviorist– just as they can call themselves a dog trainer. Sarah is a Certified Behaviorist, which to me is just as important as knowing that the person who is calling themselves a veterinarian does, in fact, have the training and expertise to have the title of Doctor. I have loved dogs my entire life, and I consider myself pretty good with all dogs– but is that the qualification to make me a behaviorist? Not hardly.
Sarah and Andrew have been so very kind and helpful in all ways as we work to get my pup to her full potential. Sarah has given me insight to think as my dog does, and in doing so, has given me a new understanding of why she does the things she does. Sarah’s ability to «read» animals is brilliant. The DVD, The Language of Dogs, is absolutely an eye opener, and has helped me to see things in other dogs that I should be alert to. There are many key elements that should be part of every child’s education to grow up safely around dogs– both their family pets and dogs they meet outside their home.
I look forward to a long relationship with Sarah and Blue Dog Training. She has much to teach, and I have so much to learn.
Before you make the decision as to who should be the one to help you with your beloved 4 legged family member, maybe the first question you should ask is «Are you a Certified Behaviorist and Trainer?»

J E.

Place rating: 5
Northridge, Los Angeles, CA

I have had the pleasure of attending some conferences at which Sarah was the guest speaker. I’ve also watched both of her DVDs, used her hands free leash with my own dogs and several client dogs. I’ve consulted with her regarding a client dog of my own.
I can say without hesitation that Sarah Kalnajs is a dedicated dog trainer and behaviorist. She has a deep love and respect for animals and their people. She is patient, considerate and takes her time explaining to make sure that the pet parent/colleague understands what she’s talking about. She is clear in her language — both verbal and body language. She is passionate about training and modifying behavior without using aversive tools such as choke chains, pinch/prong collars and electronic shock collars. She avoids compulsive techniques such as yanking/jerking on leads, forcing dogs into uncomfortable and vulnerable positions, preferring instead to work WITH the dog cooperatively to gain compliance. She sets the dog up for success so that she can tell the dog, «YES! Do that again!!!». She does not set the dog up for failure so that she can then correct the undesired behavior. Sarah has a clear understanding of learning theory and recognizes that teaching the dog what the RIGHT behavior is from the very beginning provides for much more long lasting, consistent results than compelling the dog to do something out of fear of unpleasant consequences.
I’m sorry that someone had what they viewed as an unpleasant business encounter recently. Sarah has had a rough year with some health issues and has been sick. I’m not surprised that this interfered with her ability to schedule appointments for a while. But that should not distract from her skill and dedication to the dogs of Madison and their people. I hope that those considering Blue Dog Training & Behavior for their pet needs will put more stock in the reviews that discuss her actual working methods — how she treats dogs — and not so much in one unhappy review that never actually worked with Sarah. Everyone has moments in their life when they’re not at their best. We shouldn’t define them based on that moment. We should define them based on their «norm» not the exception.

Leah R.

Place rating: 5
Sanford, FL

Sarah Kalnajs is not only an excellent trainer, but she is respected worldwide as an instructor for other trainers. All of her methods are force-free, based on up-to-date scientific research, and have proven results. If you’re looking for training in Madison, you can’t do better than Blue Dog Training & Behavior.

Teal H.

Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA

I have used Sarah Kalnajs’ excellent DVD, The Language of Dogs, extensively in my business. I require all of my employees to watch it, so that we may share a common understanding of the ways that dogs indicate stress and levels of arousal. It helped me so much to formalize the indicators I had been observing for years but lacked the ability to convey to others in a concise, standardized way. The Language of Dogs also gave me added confidence when deciding whether a dog is a good candidate for daycare, and made it much easier to illustrate for training clients the exact signals they should be looking for in determining if their dog was in a good frame of mind to proceed with desensitization and counter-conditioning protocols. I highly recommend the DVD to others, and look forward to someday seeing her speak in person, as I understand she is a dynamic speaker in addition to her obvious expertise.

Blue Dog Training & Behavior

Madison, United States