Learn Together, Work Together, Adventure Together

Work Together Dog Training provides in-home, science and relationship-based training catered to the goals you have with your dog. We specialize in behavior issues, reactivity, obedience, puppy training, and off leash training.

We work in Castle Rock, Parker, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Sedalia, Elizabeth, and surrounding areas to help owners understand their dog’s needs, learn the concepts to work effectively with their dog, and apply it to real life. Not just in the home.

Effective dog training is not a one-size-fits-all. Each dog, and their owner, are unique. We will meet you both where you are, and provide tailored training to best serve you. Whether you and your pup need to build confidence, practice socialization, manage aggressive behavior or find a way to enjoy afternoon walks, we can help you achieve your goals.

Programs

Training we offer

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Puppy Training

This 6-week program is for puppies 6 months and under and focuses on socialization, engagement, and setting the puppy up for success as they mature.

  • Place
  • Loose Leash Walking
  • Appropriate Socialization
  • On leash Recall

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Obedience Training

This 6 to 8 week program is for any dog 6 months and older who needs help with basic manners and obedience. On leash obedience is 6 weeks, off leash obedience is 8 weeks.

  • In home manners and structure
  • Learning to settle when it is time to wind down
  • Calm greetings
  • Being a well mannered citizen in public
  • Basic commands: Sit, Down, Place, Loose Leash Walking, Recall

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Behavior Training

This 10-week program focuses on dogs who are struggling with behavioral issues such as reactivity, anxiety, fear, destructivity, or aggression.

  • Understanding of your dogs individual needs
  • Addressing behavioral issues
  • Creating clear communication
  • Confidence building for you and your dog
  • Basic commands: Place, Loose Leash Walking, Recall

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Common Questions

Why Private Lessons?

Private lessons give you the greatest understanding of the training you’ll be doing with your dog. Our goal is to have you understand the concepts, why and when they are applied, and build that communication with your dog. This leads to solid, long term results, and allows you to problem solve if your dog develops a new behavior, or you would simply like to teach your dog something new.

Despite the “dog trainer” title, our goal is to teach YOU how to teach your dog. This creates a stronger bond between the two of you through clear communication, boundaries, and a solid relationship that can help you exceed the goals you had initially set out to achieve. Working together with your pup is incredibly important and us taking as much of a hands off approach as possible allows you to really learn, feel confident in your dog and what you are doing, and for your dog to feel confident in you.

What Does Relationship Based Mean?

A large focus of our training is to build a better relationship between you and your dog. Having confidence in one another makes training easier, communication clearer, and creates a much more “liveable” dog. A meaningful relationship can help with certain behavioral issues, create a dog that focuses on you rather than the environment, and boost the confidence of both dog and owner.

What is Balanced Training?

Balanced training is a science based methodology using classical and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is learning through association. Operant Conditioning is learning through consequences both good and bad. Through this approach we create very clear communication by utilizing the things your dog enjoys such as play, treats, and affection, as well as fair corrections through means that will actually work for your individual dog, not just what is convenient. Helping the dog understand what to do as well as what not to do creates a clear picture of what we want from them, and accelerates learning.

The Owner and Head Trainer

Meet Victoria Gaffney. As the founder of Work Together Dog Training, she strives to  create meaningful relationships between dogs and owners, and help them to get out into the world with confidence. Victoria has a wide range of professional experience that includes working with   puppies,   service dogs,  and  severe behavioral cases. Supporting owners with reactive, fearful, and low confidence dogs is her specialty.

Victoria  has earned her ABCDT certification with Animal Behavior College, an Advanced Trainer certificate through The Dog Wizard Academy, and has  shadowed and interned with exceptional trainers across Colorado. She is constantly working to further her education through online courses, in person seminars, and learning through peers. There is never a time where you stop learning, and Victoria aims to give every client the most educated training she can.

At Work Together Dog Training we understand that there are two sides of the coin: dog and owner. Victoria loves to empower not only your dog, but you as well. Watching dogs and owners learn to better their relationship, understand one another, and reach goals they had initially thought were unrealistic is what fuels her passion. Whether it’s an owner with a puppy learning to be calm at the park, or a reactive dog who can now accompany their owner to the local coffee shop, helping dogs and owners to get out into the world is her goal.

Outside of dog training, Victoria loves to hike, camp, and explore what Colorado has to offer with her dog Aspen. However, this is something that once seemed impossible. Aspen was attacked by three off leash dogs when she was young, which caused her to become fearful and reactive. Through lots of work, consistent practice, and some tears along the way, Aspen is now an exceptional companion. Aspen works with Victoria as a demo dog to assist owners with their own reactive dogs, participates in dog-centric events, and enjoys a calmer life without fear.

Victoria aims to give dogs and owners the freedom to get outside and enjoy everything life has to offer. Regardless of the starting point, Victoria is here to support you every step of the way.

Get in Touch

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