This page isn’t a sales pitch. It’s the story behind the work — the why, the how, and the part people don’t see: the moment a family exhales because their home finally feels steady again.
I’m the owner of Exceptional Canines In-Home Dog Training, and for over 30 years I’ve been coaching, teaching, and helping families find their footing again — sometimes with their dogs, sometimes with thier health, wellness and life, usually with both.
My approach to training is simple: fun, respect, clarity, and structure. Dogs thrive when expectations are clear. Families thrive when stress goes down. And when both happen at the same time, everything changes.
I don’t believe in harshness. I don’t believe in chaos. And I definitely don’t believe your dog is “bad.” Most of the time, they’re overwhelmed, under-structured, or misunderstood.
Also, full disclosure: my brain can run like a browser with 42 tabs open. The difference is — when I train, I close the extra tabs and focus. Dogs absolutely thrive on that. Humans usually breathe again.
Whether it’s a brand-new puppy learning the ropes, a dog adjusting to a new home, or more complex challenges like leash reactivity, anxiety, or aggression — I look at the whole picture:
Because behavior doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
As an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Certified Dog Behavior Advisor, I bring professional experience to the table — but what matters most isn’t the credential. It’s what happens in your living room when things finally start to feel steady.
Two worlds. One mission. Transformation starts with presence, patience, and purpose.
This cell phone shot of five Saint Bernards still makes me smile — not because it’s “perfect training,” but because it’s proof that peace can come back to a home.
Their owner, Lisa, was at her kitchen counter working when I said, “Hey Lisa… look at your pack.” She turned around and couldn’t believe what she saw. I said, “Take a picture. FAST!”
She’d already tried two trainers before me, and one of the dogs had bitten the pool guy just days earlier. She couldn’t open the front door, go into her workout room, or even move through the kitchen without a stampede.
After a few hours of one-on-one work and (yes) four pounds of grass-fed beef hot dogs… everything changed — calm dogs, eyes on me, peace restored.
That photo is priceless to me. It’s not just a picture — it’s proof that structure + consistency + communication actually work.
Most families don’t need more information — they need a calm plan, clean steps, and a trainer who can read what’s really happening in real time.
By sliding into this page and hitting submit, you’re basically saying: “Yep, you can reach out to me.”
That might look like a text, a phone call, or a Zoom chat where we actually talk like humans about your goals and the questionnaire you filled out. Good news:
Just real conversations, real help, and a plan that actually makes sense.
Exceptional Canines specializes in dog training, puppy training, aggressive dog training, leash reactivity, lack of confidence issues, potty training, not coming when called, and bad behavior change for dogs in Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding cities like, Anthem, Carefree, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Peoria, Surprise, Glendale, Tempe, Avondale, Mesa. We also service the Northern Arizona areas of Prescott, Prescott Ridge, Cottonwood, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey, Camp Verde, Sedona, Queen Creek
