At SmartDog we offer solutions for preventing and treating behavior problems in dogs.  Our training and behavior packages consist of one or more appointments where we work closely with you in a stepwise manner to make sure you are able to reach your goals with your dog.  We use positive methods based on the science of animal learning and behavior.

If you have a new dog we will help you set rules and train your dog to behave appropriately from the very beginning.  Don’t wait for those unwanted behaviors to develop!  We have a variety of packages which include teaching polite greeting behavior, housetraining, walking on leash and come.  For more information on our training packages, please click here.

If your dog already has a behavior problem you’d like to fix, we will work with you to determine the cause of the problem and provide a training plan to address that problem.  We have experience with a variety of behavior problems including running away, house soiling, destruction, barking, aggression, fear, and anxiety.  For more information on our behavior packages, please click here.

Our trainer and behavior consultant, Kristina N. Gage, has been working as a professional dog trainer since 1999.  She became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT - KA) in 2004, the first in the area.  Kristina has a strong academic background in science and animal behavior and is currently a graduate student in the biopsychology doctoral program at the University at Albany.  She is studying animal behavior with an emphasis on cognition and social behavior in dogs.  This background allows Kristina to draw upon her personal experience, her scientific background and current research in the field and apply it to each individual case.  She also attends educational seminars on dog behavior and training on a regular basis.  For more on Kristina’s qualifications, please click here.