Welcome, and thank you for reaching out. Ears to Animals is a force-free, private dog training and behavior consulting company dedicated to enhancing the behavioral wellness of animals in the North Country. Whether you’re a first-time dog owner looking for the best support or a family overwhelmed by new behavior challenges, I’m here to support you every step of the way. I’m the dog trainer for you.
Helping the North Country’s Pet Families With:
- Preparing for a baby
- Recall
- Basic Obedience
- Reactivity
- Jumping
- Anxiety
- Puppy socialization
- Aggression
- Critical incident consulting/triage
- Compassionate rehome or behavioral euthanasia consultation
- Group obedience classes
- Private in-home classes
- Dog walking & adventures
- Puppy outings
- Workshops & outreach
The world of dog training is full of conflicting information.
I overhear it all the time. It comes from social media, people at the park, on the trail, and well-meaning friends and family who don’t know what I do for a living. Sometimes, I even get it from those who do.
Most of that advice is outdated, or has zero basis in behavior science. I’m not going to equivocate: it harms animals. It harms their families, too.
I see people take and follow advice that they’re uncomfortable with just because they’ve been told it works. And it might, at the risk of emotional shutdown, fear, or increased aggression later on.
So what’s a pet family to do?
Meet the Trainer
Marianne has spent years dedicating herself to the science of animal behavior, and not just in dogs. She believes that everyone, from pets to humans, deserves respect and kindness through the happiest and most overwhelming times. Dog training has always been much more than teaching obedient pets. Their human families deserve just as much compassion.
Hear it From Our Clients!
“So fantastic to work with a trainer who really understands the science behind the inner workings of dogs and uses that as evidence to create a training program.”
“Marianne is a thoughtful, skilled and effective trainer. She continues to impress me with her ability to gently motivate my adopted adolescent pup to make better behavior choices. Her work also includes training me to be a more informed pet parent. I highly recommend her to everyone.”
Credentials and Why They Matter
- The dog training industry is unregulated. That means anyone can start a dog training business regardless of their prior experience. While the industry should be as welcoming as possible to new faces and ideas, that needs to sit on a foundation of behavior science. Veterinarians should have medical training, and lawyers should know the laws in their state. Is trusting your dog to a professional any different?
- I follow a code of ethics.
- I have specialized training and have learned from more than just dog training professionals. My studies have led me to clinical social workers, veterinarians, and behavioral scientists.
- A community of specialists is essential for the diverse array of behavior challenges I see. I have contacts in the field of separation anxiety, dogs & kids, veterinary behavior, and dogs with bite histories.
How Can Marianne Help You Achieve Your Goals?
- Comprehensive evaluation. Every full consultation comes with a detailed report on your dog’s behavior, any likely causes, and the strengths that will help you along the way.
- Compassionate consultation. Clients come to me with a variety of challenges. I see everything from families with new puppies to families considering behavioral euthanasia. The thing that never changes is that all my clients love their pets. And all my clients deserve the same kindness and respect, free of blame or shame, no matter what happens.
- Curating the right resources. There are so many videos, articles, and books on every behavior subject. So many of them are even free! The problem is that all the good stuff is buried under a mountain of contradictory or ineffective advice. I’ll lay out the good stuff: leave the digging to me.
- The network that counts. A good trainer knows when to refer to a specialist, whether for their own scheduling conflict or for complex cases that need additional resources. I refer to trusted professionals trained in specific areas of behavior.
Serving These Regions and More:
- Bethlehem
- Littleton
- Franconia
- Easton
- Sugar Hill
- Lancaster
- St. Johnsbury, VT
- Danville, VT