Get In touch

If you are ready to begin, the most efficient path forward is to book your dog’s Training Evaluation directly.

Our schedule typically fills 6–8 weeks in advance. Availability fluctuates daily, and the openings currently listed may not remain available. If you have reviewed our services and have a clear understanding of our process, I encourage you to secure your place on the calendar.

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Reach Out

If you have a unique behavioral situation, need help choosing the right training track, or require a special accommodation, please use the form.

Before you reach out:

  • New Clients: Please book your mandatory Training Evaluation directly through the Evaluation page to reserve your spot.

  • Most questions regarding pricing, methodology, and program details are covered on our Services page.

I personally review all inquiries and will respond within 48 hours. If you do not see a reply in your inbox, please check your spam folder.

Email: hi@theactualizedcanine.com

Phone:(970) 822-7125

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We service Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, & the surrounding areas.

We work with clients from all over Western Colorado — including Rifle, Grand Mesa, Moab, Glenwood Springs, and even the Eastern Slope. While these areas are outside my travel radius, many people still make the trip to train with me.

Looking for training options?

View our services and schedule an evaluation.

Services

Frequently Asked Questions

How we can help

  • All services are individually tailored to each dog’s strengths and weaknesses.

    • Setting puppies up for success

    • Rehabilitating rescue dogs who got a rough start

    • Older dogs struggling with seemingly new issues

    • Working dogs who are causing chaos in the home and need appropriate outlets

    • Happy-go-lucky dogs who need to tighten up their obedience

    • Dogs with a bite history who need a behavioral overhaul

    My methods and training are for all dogs and we work with clients all over Colorado’s western slope.

    • American Shepherds

    • Anatolian Shepherds

    • Australian Cattle Dogs

    • Australian Shepherds

    • Beagles

    • Belgian Malinois

    • Bernese Mountain Dogs

    • Blue Tick Coonhounds

    • Border Collies

    • Boxers

    • Bulldogs

    • Cane Corsos

    • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

    • Chihuahuas

    • Corgis

    • Daschunds

    • Dobermans

    • German Shepherd Dogs

    • German Shorthaired Pointers

    • Golden Retreivers

    • Great Danes

    • Great Pyrenees

    • Huskies

    • Labrador Retreivers

    • Mastiffs

    • Pitbulls

    • Pomeranians

    • Poodles

    • Portuguese Water Dogs

    • Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    • Rottweilers

    • Samoyeds

    • Shelties

    • Wheaten Terriers

    …and all the mixed and designer breeds in between!

    • Leash pulling

    • Door manners

    • Reactivity

    • Dog aggression

    • Human aggression

    • Bite histories

    • Resource guarding

    • Socialization

    • Separation anxiety

    • Timidness/lack of confidence

    • Barking

    • Jumping

    • Compulsive behavior/anxiety

    • Hyperactivity

    • Kennel/crate training

    • Potty training

    • Eating issues

    • Place

    • Recall/off-leash

    • Heel

    • Sit

    • Middle

    • Down

    • Leave it

    • Out/drop

    • Load up

    • E-collar conditioning/training

    • Less frustration for you and your dog

    • More mangeable greetings

    • Desire to spend more time with your dog

    • More enjoyable time together

    • Boundaries with kids and babies

    • Better communication

    • Less stressful home

    • A more calm, confident dog

    • Dog Sports - Agility, Scentwork, Dock Diving, FastCAT, Barn Hunt

    • Advanced Obedience

    • Service Tasks

    • Therapy Dog Work

    • Tricks

    • Games

    • Treadmill Conditioning

    • Body Awareness and Conditioning

    • Nutrition

Community Events

  • I currently offer the following public events:

  • Pack Walks are 45-minute structured group walks focused on calm movement, leash handling, and real-world neutrality around other dogs and people.

    These walks are guided and intentional. They are not casual social walks.

  • Following select Pack Walks, (3) 10-minute mini-clinic spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

    These sessions are designed for brief, individualized feedback. Bring one focused question and leave with tangible guidance.

    Donations are highly encouraged, and all donations directly support our Rescue Dogs Board & Train Program.

  • No. Community Events are open to the public. No prior training or membership is required.

  • Available dates are listed directly on this page when events are open for registration. Community Events do tend to sell out.

    Event locations are shared after registration via email. Locations are always held at public parks within the Grand Valley area and are intentionally kept private until registration to maintain a controlled, safe, and organized experience for all participants.

    The newsletter is the best way to stay informed. Community Events are always announced there first, and subscribers receive early notice when new Pack Walks and offerings are released.

  • Dogs must be able to remain safely managed on leash and in a group setting. If you’re unsure whether a Community Event is a good fit, reaching out in advance is recommended.

  • Community Events are designed to provide education, exposure, and brief guidance. They are a valuable way to learn, ask questions, and participate in structured experiences, but they are not a substitute for ongoing training or behavior work.

    If you’re looking for deeper support, individualized planning, or long-term progress, ongoing training and behavior services are offered separately. You can explore available options on the Services page, or begin with an Onboarding Package if you’re ready to take the next step.

Board and Train

  • An immersive training program where your dog lives and works on-site to establish clear structure, reliable obedience, and improved emotional regulation. This program is well-suited for behavioral concerns such as aggression, fear, or significant reactivity, as well as for owners who want a strong training foundation established before taking the reins at home.

    Includes weekly progress updates, structured private lessons to transfer handling skills back to you, and guided reintegration support so the work holds once your dog returns home.

    **Dogs completing four or more weeks receive continued access to group training and pack walks for four months following completion.

    • Slip collar

    • One private lesson for each week your dog is enrolled in Board and Train (e.g. 4 private lessons for 4 weeks, 5 for 5, etc.)

    • Weekly email updates, plus text and Instagram progress updates

    • For 4+ week programs: a post-program support package including three months of group training, pack walks, and Ranch field use following completion, along with lifetime support* (please see contract for further details)

Private Coaching

    • Either four or seven one-hour private coaching sessions, depending on the package selected

    • Sessions take place at my property unless otherwise discussed due to extenuating circumstances and availability

    • A slip collar at the first session

  • It’s normal for questions to come up once you’re working with your dog independently. Ongoing text and email support is available, and additional lessons can be scheduled if more hands-on guidance is needed.

Foundations Program

  • This program will give you a well-started dog. A steady, lifestyle-focused approach designed for puppies and non-behavioral dogs who need clear guidance, fulfillment, and strong foundational skills. Dogs stay for overnight training to build consistency, confidence, and appropriate social habits within a structured environment, while owners participate in bi-weekly private coaching to learn how to best support their dog at home.

    Focus areas include basic obedience, loose leash walking, recall foundations, marker word conditioning, and thoughtful socialization. The goal is to develop capable, well-rounded companion dogs without rushing the learning process.

    • Four overnight training sessions scheduled weekly

    • Drop-off at 9:00 AM and pick-up at 5:30 PM the following day for each overnight

    • A slip collar

    • Two private lessons to review progress, handling skills, and next steps in detail

    • Periodic progress updates throughout the program shared via social media or text

The Reward

  • The Reward is the phase of training that is reserved for clients who have completed a training track within our program. It is the natural progression of our work together. The Reward is about shifting from active training to a better lifestyle with your dog. It provides a long-term ecosystem for structured practice, continued learning, and a community of owners who value a capable, well-adjusted dog.

    • Stays are available exclusively for Actualized Canine-trained dogs who have successfully completed a primary training path and are now in a maintenance phase of training.

    • Dogs must be kennel trained, potty trained, familiar with routines, and manageable within a structured household environment.

    • Dogs cannot display human-directed or dog-directed aggression during Stays. If aggression is present or reemerges, a Private Coaching package or Board and Train will be required before future Stays are considered.

  • Structured drop-off days focused on socialization, neutrality, and ongoing upkeep of your dog’s existing training in a consistent, familiar environment. Ranch Days reinforce routines, emotional regulation, and reliability while providing purposeful engagement without replacing formal training.


  • The Social Club is a structured community offering designed to provide safe, ongoing connection, accountability, digital support, and regular, intentional social exposure for dogs who have already completed a primary training program.

    It serves as a maintenance-focused environment to preserve structure, reliability, and handling skills while staying engaged in a familiar training community. The Social Club is not intended to restart training or address significant gaps in skills or behavior. Dogs and handlers should already be familiar with expectations, routines, and equipment. If a dog has been out of training for an extended period or is showing regression, stepping back into Private Coaching or a more intentional training track may be recommended before participating.

  • Group Training sessions are 90-minute drop-in classes offered multiple times throughout the month, with additional sessions added as demand increases. Each session begins with a brief demonstration of a featured skill or exercise, followed by open working time where handlers can practice, ask technical questions, and observe other teams in a structured group setting.

    These sessions are designed to introduce novelty, expand your dog’s skill set, and provide guidance on questions that do not require a full Private Coaching session. Featured topics may rotate between agility-style obstacles, conditioning work, trick training, engagement exercises, and other structured fulfillment activities that build confidence, body awareness, and reliable behavior around other dogs.