VERONICA'S DOG TRAINING
PLAY AND RELATIONSHIP-BASED DOG TRAINING
BRIDGTON, MAINE
“Take on only such animals as, under the conditions that can be offered, really live instead of just dying slowly.”​
- Konrad Lorenz, King Solomon's Ring
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Whether it came about through intentional domestication or happenstance symbiosis, dogs rely on us in the anthropogenic world we share. In perpetuating this relationship, we assume an enormous moral burden.​ In my work, I aim to make this an honorable endeavor.
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From getting highly prey-driven dogs off-leash, to stopping aggression, I help dog owners achieve goals they never believed possible, all without breaking a dog's spirit.
I believe in working efficiently and effectively, which means that I train dogs to a high level more quickly and for less money than the average dog trainer. ​The work I do is not only engaging and enjoyable, but has lasting, sustainable results.​​
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What I Offer
Services include private lessons, in-home boarding, and board-and-trains.
The place to start for any service is a free phone evaluation so we can discuss your and your dog's needs and come up with a plan. Training is highly personalized and goal-oriented.
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Private Lessons
Private lessons take place either in your home or in public. Each lesson includes a detailed write-up so you can continue the work we do together.​​ Lesson packages include lifelong follow-up support, as well as priority sign-up for group classes, events, and boarding.
Some things that we can work on in training are puppy raising, obedience, leash walking, off-leash reliability, handling and grooming cooperation, and things like reactivity, resource guarding, fear, and separation anxiety.
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Phone consultation: Free
In-person evaluation/single lesson: $175
Lesson packages starting at $450
Virtual lessons: $50
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Dogs currently living in foster homes or shelters: 60% off
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Payment plans and sliding scale payment options available (see below)
In-Home Boarding
Dogs stay in my home (not a kennel facility) with my family, participate in outings, and have access to a private 70-acre wooded property. Walks, hikes, and all daily care are included in prices. Space is limited, and scheduling preference is given to dogs who have trained with me.​​
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Overnight Boarding:
$75 per weeknight
$85 per weekend night
Puppies 6 months and under: $100 per night
Holidays: +$10
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***Effective May 2026 - the boarding rate for dogs who have not trained with me will be $110/night, not including holiday fees***
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Board-and-Train
Similar to boarding, dogs live with my family and my personal dog and are in a home environment, not a boarding kennel. This comprehensive program includes daily training and detailed updates, training field trips, outings, play, hikes, and whatever care your dog needs. You are able to spend time with your dog during this program. I take on one board-and-train dog at a time, though sometimes two dogs will overlap during their respective first and last weeks in the program.
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Training that can't be maintained by you once your dog goes home is a waste of time and money. Go-home lessons are required and write-ups are included so you can learn how to implement everything I've taught your dog. Training tools and lifelong support are included in the cost of the program.​
This is not cookie-cutter training; I will structure training based on your goals, but if you are just looking for a well-rounded dog with real-world skills, some things we can work on are:​
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Play skills
Loose leash walking
Manners in public and in the home
Dog socialization
Grooming/handling cooperation
Sit + implied sit stay
Down + implied down stay
Place for duration
Kennel on cue
E-collar recall (come when called) off wildlife, people, dogs, and other distractions
Mountain biking, hiking, canicross, bikejoring, and other adventure skills
Scent work foundations
Therapy Dog and Canine Good Citizen prep
Behavior modification - things like resource guarding, aggression, reactivity​
***all training is proofed in a variety of real life scenarios***
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Payment plans available
Dogs currently living in foster homes or shelters: 60% off
***Board and train programs are booking into August 2026***
Board-and-Train Lite
Boarding with a bonus. During your dog's stay, I'll get them reliable on and off-leash.
Only available for dogs who are crate trained, house trained, and have no severe behavioral issues. Includes one private lesson.
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BARTERING AND SLIDING SCALE OPTIONS
I live in a fantasy world where money doesn't mediate all human interaction, and where services that enrich the lives of living creatures are not luxuries exclusively for the wealthy. If your financial situation is stopping you from training your dog, we can work something out. I will barter for services, work out payment plans, or modulate prices based on income.
Some things I'm usually looking for are farm goods and crafts like meat, eggs, dairy, produce, furs, and pelts; tools and specialty equipment; skilled services like haircutting, mechanical work, carpentry, and landscaping; large machinery usage; cleaning services; sporting goods; skills teaching, and more.
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If you would like to know more about my sliding scale/pay-what-you-can system for private lessons, please let me know.
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Here is a helpful resource regarding sliding-scale payment systems.
About Me & Lewey
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The Dog Who Started It All​​​​
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​I'm Veronica. Some years ago, I got a crazy coonhound puppy I named Lewey off Craigslist. The first thing out of the vet's mouth at our first visit was, "you can NEVER let this dog off leash". After the initial heartbreak of being told the dog I got to accompany me on my adventures in life would always be confined to a leash, I decided that I didn't accept this assessment. I looked for a training philosophy that would let me have my cake and eat it too. I understood that a dog's natural instincts were both enduring and vital, and though the dog in front of me was hard-wired to run miles away into the woods following his nose, I learned how to harness his instincts instead of fight them.
The majority of Lewey's life is spent off-leash. I got on my first mountain bike to keep up with him. We've traveled all over the country to hike, mountain bike, and backpack. We're working on completing the 48 4000 footers in New Hampshire. Together we've done nose work, AKC Rally, bird hunting, barn hunt, bikejoring, canicross, and many, many trail miles.
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Lewey started me on this dog training journey and has taught me more than many people I've met. My professional career began when I started leading off-leash pack-hikes, after which I transitioned to training client dogs in their homes. I haven't looked back since, and I haven't stopped learning.
My Philosophy and What It's Like to Work With Me
My training does not adhere to any one style or school of thought, but is both analytical and dialectical in nature, meaning that all tools and techniques are assessed on a case-by-case basis so that our approach is ethical, humane, and based on observations of concrete circumstances. The decisions I make in training are informed by experience and analysis, and are made to better the lives of the dogs and people in front of me, not for optics. I do not use gimmicks in training, and I strongly discourage my clients from following the piecemeal advice they come across on the internet. If you ask me why I am doing something, I will have an answer. I will be direct and honest with you, and I will hold you and your dog accountable in our work together.
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I believe it is important to understand the conditions under which behaviors and emotions develop, and to account for the interplay of a dog's environment with factors such as genetics, life stage, breed, health, and diet. I believe in harnessing intrinsic motivators as opposed to developing transactional relationships. I am laser focused when it comes to addressing behaviors, and I emphasize giving dogs the ability to make good decisions over micromanaging them as much as possible. I do not discount the importance of the human's well-being in my work.​ ​
My approach has been developed over the years through intensive mentorships, apprenticeships, workshops, seminars, my academic background in Anthropology, ongoing research, and the sage advice of the dog trainers I'm lucky to call my friends. I am fortunate to have some of the best dog trainers in the country as mentors.
This is more than a job for me, and many of my clients and colleagues have developed into lifelong friends.​
I am a Certified Training Without Conflict Professional Dog Trainer and AKC CGC evaluator. ​​​​
