Jaimie Shaw

Certified in Training & Counseling (CTC)

Southern Mutt provides professional, private, in-home training and behavior modification services for dogs of all ages and breeds.

Barking, lunging, growling during walks? The outbursts happen every time you see another dog, and it makes walks a nightmare. We'll teach your dog to ignore fellow canines and focus on you instead. Let's get you both enjoying your walks! Barking, lunging, growling at (or hiding from) neighbors or guests? Whether it happens on walks, when the doorbell rings, or when guests enter your home, it's disruptive, frightening, and embarrassing. We'll get your dog feeling more comfortable around new people, and we'll set up protocols for smooth, safe visits. Barking, lunging, growling at (or hiding from) family members? You're frustrated and perplexed by your dog's possessiveness of his toys or food, or his distrust of a trusted family member whether that's your spouse, child, or a close relative. It just doesn't make sense, and it's creating chaos in your household. We'll work together to re-establish the peace.

I am an honors graduate of The Academy for Dog Trainers, the most rigorous and highly-respected school for dog trainers here in the U.S. and internationally. In addition to studying under Jean Donaldson at The Academy for Dog Trainers, I've studied under Dr. Susan Friedman through her Living and Learning with Animals course. I've also mentored with certified trainers, volunteered on behavior modification teams at animal shelters, and continue to attend professional development seminars and conferences to remain up-to-date on the latest research in the field. As a result, I use only humane training methods based on sound scientific principles of learning. I believe the way we get training results matters as much as the results themselves. All Southern Mutt services begin with a 90-minute consultation. Each client's situation and needs are unique - their training plan should be, too. I take a history to understand the situation, assess the dog, and discuss the client's goals. Then build a training plan specific to their dog, household, and lifestyle. My goal is to give them the best chance of reaching theirs. In this first session together I also share my professional insights into your dog's behavior, the range of potential training outcomes, and how to set up for training success. I'll show you some simple ways to bring immediate relief, too, by creating a management plan to increase safety and decrease incidents while we train. From there, we meet for an hour of coaching each week until we meet the goals.

I became a Behavior nerd.

Helping people have more enjoyable lives with their dogs.

Catch your dog in the act of getting it right and reward the heck out of it!