Our Philosophy

We train animals using modern, ethical, scientific techniques to understand, address, and modify behavior. We understand that a dog’s best behavior only exists when it is rewarded, therefore we use positive reinforcement, clicker training, and force-free techniques to train your dog.

Two Women Professional Dog Trainers
Woman does tricks with dog

Our Team

Meet Kay

Kay (she/her) has extensive knowledge and experience working with many types of animals. She has a degree in psychology from the University of Washington where her studies focused on the science of animal behavior. She is passionate about working with dogs and is constantly working to keep up with the latest discoveries in the field. Kay has also worked as a zoo keeper and trainer at Pt. Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Kay became a certified trainer through the Karen Pryor Academy in 2017. 

Trainer performs skills with dog in park

Meet Poppy

Poppy (she/they) has been working in partnership with animals since she first learned to walk alongside her childhood Irish Setter, Laney. She is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and IAABC’s Cat Behavior Consultant Mentorship Program. Before coming to Tacoma in 2020, her love of animals lead her to volunteer with several rescues and shelters in the Bay Area. Poppy attends workshops and conferences to build her skills and stay current with the science and ethics of force free, positive reinforcement training.

FAQs

  • Kay (she/her) studied animal behavior psychology at the University of Washington before starting a career at Pt Defiance Zoo & Aquarium as a zookeeper and animal trainer. There Kay honed her skills in training with positive reinforcement with a wide variety of species. While working at the zoo, she also started this business (formerly named The Zoo Crew) in 2013, offering professional pet sitting, dog walking, and training services to the community. She then attended the Karen Pryor Academy for Professional Dog Trainers, becoming certified through the world renowned school in 2017.

    Poppy (she/they) teamed up with Kay in 2022. With an education in early childhood development, Poppy has great experience in the science of learning theory, which applies to all species. Before moving to Tacoma in 2020, her love of animals lead her to volunteer with several rescues and shelters in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to being a Certified Training Partner through the Karen Pryor Academy, Poppy has completed the IAABC’s Cat Behavior Consultant Mentorship and is an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.

  • We are lifelong dog trainers, but professionally we have been working with dogs and training many species of animals since 2010.

  • Yes, absolutely! Poppy is our resident cat expert, and Kay has worked with everything from aardvarks to parrots.

  • Yes. Helping dogs become comfortable around children is a special interest of both Kay and Poppy. Kay has a home with two children under three, two dogs, and two cats. Poppy’s education in early childhood development also makes this area particularly close to the heart.

  • We are mainly a mobile company, so we can meet you at your home, or in the surrounding community. Our general service areas at Tacoma, University Place, Fircrest, Lakewood, Steilacoom, and Puyallup, but we can also travel outside of that area for an additional travel fee.

  • Yes, we are happy to meet you at your home. We can work inside or outside the house.

    (Note that we are happy to observe any covid protocol upon request.)

  • As positive reinforcement trainers, we rely on tools that help dogs love to learn. We use clickers, target sticks, mats, treats, whistles, flirt poles, harnesses, tugs, and more. We do not use choke chains, prong collars, electric shock collars, or any other tool that functions by introducing pain or fear to punish behavior.

  • Positive reinforcement training uses a reward (treats, praise, play, anything the learner enjoys) to reinforce desired behaviors. Because the reward makes them more likely to repeat the behavior, positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behavior. Force-free training means exactly that, no force or punishment is used to train your dog. Force and punishment can be defined as yanking or checking a lead, using verbal or physical punishment, or using training collars that buzz or give the dog an electric shock.

  • Yes! We love having the whole family involved in training lessons. This allows for everyone to be on the same page, making training and communication clear for everyone.