Carol Tenny Dog Training and Teaching
Dog trainer in Pittsburgh PA
Insured.
Cell: 412-559-5608
Messages: 412-781-2685
email: tenny-at-linguist-dot-org
About me
Dog trainer in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, with over thirty years’ experience in dog training. I have trained both pet dogs and competition dogs. I have taught basic obedience, puppy classes, clicker training classes, and more, to all breeds and mixed breeds, at venues in the Pittsburgh area.
I offer in-home private consultations on dog problems, puppy raising, basic and puppy obedience, to just a few clients. I am mostly word-of-mouth and happy that way.
My dog training philosophy
There are some ways to train a dog that are clearly wrong. But there is more than one right way to train a dog. I approach every dog and person as a new experience, and try to find the approach that works best for the dog, the handler, and the circumstances.
I subscribe to LIMA: Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention Policy. (Actually, this was the way I trained, long before the concept was invented.)
If you are thinking of hiring a dog trainer, consider these recommendations from the American Society of Veterinary Behaviorists:
How to Select a Trainer
How to Choose a Trainer
Clicker training
Since I started using clicker training (operant conditioning) more than a decade ago, I have been using it in more and more of my training, in both competition training and for helping pet dogs with issues. I have seen it work wonders with fearful dogs and leash-reactive dogs; and I have seen it bring confidence and precision to competition dogs. It is such a powerful technique, and it is so much fun for both dog and trainer that it is hard to resist. I have been especially enjoying teaching clicker training classes.
I attend conferences to keep up with the latest developments, when I can; most recently, Clicker Expo 2023.
Member of:
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
World Canine Freestyle Organization
Organization for the Working Samoyed
Dog Training as a Spiritual Exercise
I have been thinking more and more about dog training as a spiritual practice. If you are interested you can check out my blog.
I have had Samoyeds for 30 years, training in both competitive and non-competitive venues. I have put obedience, agility, and freestyle titles on my dogs. My dogs and I have also been involved in outdoor dog sports, including dogsledding, skijoring, and backpacking with dogs. My first Samoyed and I hiked the length of the Long Trail, a 300-mile trail that runs the length of the Green Mountains in Vermont. All my dogs have been registered Therapy Dogs.
Carol Tenny Dog Training and Teaching 