Green Mountain Dog Camp employs only positive reinforcement training techniques which are scientifically proven to change behavior while building trust, strengthening relationship and improving confidence.
Small classes are offered year-round in our indoor/outdoor training facility. All winter classes incorporate fitness activities for muscle strengthening and injury prevention.
A variety of classes to meet your needs:
All classes are instructed by an AKC Certified Evaluator:
Welcoming your dog to our facility for exercise, mental stimulation and safe socialization with other dogs. Our doggie daycare is available Tuesday through Thursday, year-round, and in all kinds of weather.
We are excited to now offer 24-hour dog boarding services for established clients only. Please call for availability and scheduling. Dogs MUST be well socialized and able to participate in doggie daycare.
The Hierarchy of Behavior-Change Theory developed by Susan Friedman, PhD, states that a dog is motivated to learn only after their base needs are fulfilled.
Successfully modifying a dog’s behavior in the least intrusive and minimally aversive (LIMA) way will help ensure that the dogs’ emotional and mental equilibrium is maintained. This, in turn, helps ensure that owners will have a satisfying and respectful relationship with their dogs.
The known side effects of punishment-based procedures include increased aggression, generalized fear, apathy, and escape/avoidance behaviors, all of which are frequently observed in companion & non-companion animals.
For additional reading, please follow this link: https://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/What's%20Wrong%20With%20this%20Picture-General.pdf
Green Mountain Dog Camp teaches first of three sessions at the Warren Dog Park. Read all about dog:dog introductions and other helpful dog park information here:
https://www.valleyreporter.com/index.php/news/local-news/18401-dog-park-first-training-session-held
As a Certified Training Partner (CTP) and graduate of the Professional Dog Trainer course from Karen Pryor Academy (KPA), I practice only force-free positive reinforcement training methods which are scientifically proven to improve confidence, build relationship, and to learn behaviors faster and with less stress than other correction-based methods. Prior to moving to Roxbury in 2019, I was a teaching assistant for several professional dog trainers at the Port Chester Obedience Training Club in White Plains NY for several years. My current dogs have training and some have titles and certifications in the following: rally, therapy dog, tricks, disc dog, obedience, and nose work.
In addition to being an internationally certified dog trainer, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has deemed me as a official Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator. As an AKC CGC Evaluator, Green Mountain Dog Camp may now administer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program, Canine Good Citizen (CGC), AKC Community Canine (the advanced level of CGC), Urban CGC, and Trick Dog tests. When you take a class and pass a test at GMDC, in addition to having a certified well-trained and well-behaved dog, you may be eligible for a discount on your homeowners insurance policy. Of course, being the owner of 5+ pit bulls, I had to shop around a bit to find a company that does not discriminate against certain breeds, but I definitely got a discount for my dogs being certified.
Currently I have ten dogs. Nine rescues and an aussie. My rescues are mostly pitbulls from the south who have been trained well and enjoy living altogether. I specialize in reactive dog training and training multiple pet households. I also have about 40 birds ranging from indoor cockatiels to outdoor chickens, ducks, guineas and peafowl. All of my dogs have been trained to respect and not bother the birds using positive reinforcement methods. I love to share my passion for dogs and birds with others.
One of my goals of opening Green Mountain Dog Camp is to create a community of dog lovers and learners. I am a teacher by trade and I like to create highly effective learning environments where I act more as a facilitator of learning rather than an authority figure. We together have a wealth of information and experience that can be drawn upon and shared in hopes of benefiting us all. I strive to help people develop deep trusting relationships with their pets through well-designed meaningful training sessions.
For more information about dog training or dog daycare, please call (802) 485-4585 or email janine@greenmountaindogcamp.com.
Growing up in Northfield Vermont, I have always been surrounded by a house full of animals. In 2020, I adopted my own dog Charlie, a mostly Australian Cattle Dog mutt. I knew I needed to train him and my first thought was bringing him to Green Mountain Dog Camp. After taking a few classes and passing the Canine Good Citizen test with Charlie, I fell in love with training dogs and seeing all of the amazing things dogs can do! I have the incredibly honor of assisting Janine in weekend dog training classes. I can’t wait to keep learning different ways to help you train your dogs! It’s incredible to see the bond dogs and their owners create through training, so thank you for trusting me and Janine with that!
I have always felt a huge connection to animals, in fact they’re easier to get along with than most humans! When I was 10 years old I convinced my parents to get a dog, and I have been obsessed ever since. I just graduated from Skidmore College, and figured it was time to get my very own dog. I got my Dalmatian, Squid, in August and have enjoyed every second with him so far. Squid has one older sister, who is a very big dog aka horse, named Flower. I work alongside Kiera at 888 Art Studios, creating personalized dog tags with traditional silversmithing techniques. I look forward to expanding my knowledge on dogs, and continuing to further Squid’s training with Janine.
After spending five years working in human services, I left in search of work that would give me energy rather than drain it. Caring for animals, especially dogs, is that life-giving work I was seeking! My special interests are in nervous/fearful rescues, dog-to-human communication, dog body language, dog snuggling, and dog forehead kisses. I am also the proud mama of two very sweet rescues who teach and amaze me everyday just by existing.
Growing up in Georgia with a vet tech and golden retriever breeder for a mother, I have always been surrounded by dogs and other rehab animals. I was the kid in the neighborhood that would take care of pets when a family went on vacation. Even after moving out of state, I worked at a boarding and daycare facility in Iowa. After a few years, I moved to a training facility and worked on a Train and Play program to get dogs ready for Canine Good Citizenship tests and S.T.A.R. Puppy. It was here that I learned about positive reinforcement training. After moving to Vermont, I immediately began searching for a career in dog training and after looking around for a while, I decided that Green Mountain Dog Camp was the place for me because of their use of positive reinforcement and clicker training.
Working retail and office jobs gave me great people skills but not nearly enough time to play with all the doggos. Being a daycare trainer is a new adventure for me but I am no stranger to loving and caring for dogs of all sizes and I am happy to be joining Janine's community of dog lovers! I grew up in the Burlington area and settled in Northfield in 2021 with my family and since have rescued our two pups, Stella and Sammy. I love spending time at home with a good book and a few cups of coffee or out thrifting with my kids. I enjoy being the home-cook for my family of 6 and LOVE to bake in the cooler months, especially cookies around the holidays. I am a born care-giver, I always look for ways to share kindness and encouragement to anyone I come across (two or four-legged, I dont discriminate). I hope to greet you with a smile in the future and help meet the needs you and your dogs have, thank you for trusting us with their care!
Liz's Dog Biscuits
Ingredients:
· 2 cups (227g) Whole Wheat Flour
· 1 cup (89g) rolled oats, old-fashioned or quick-cooking
· 1 tablespoon dried parsley or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
· 1/2 cup (56g) Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 2 large eggs
· 1 cup (270g) peanut butter, crunchy or plain
· 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon (128g) cold water, enough to make a cohesive dough
Instructions:
1 Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease a couple of baking sheets, or line them with parchment.
2 Mix together the flour, oats, parsley, dried milk, and salt.
3 Add the eggs and peanut butter, stirring to combine; the mixture will be crumbly.
4 Add enough water to bring the dough together; depending on the season, you may need to add a bit more (winter), or a bit less (summer).
5 To make biscuits using a dog-bone cutter, roll the dough about 1/4" thick, and cut with a 3 1/2" cutter (or the size of your choice). Gather and re-roll the scraps, and continue to cut biscuits until you've used all the dough.
6 To make dog "cookies," drop the dough in walnut-sized balls onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten them to about 1/4".
7 Bake the biscuits for about 40 to 60 minutes, baking the smaller cookies for a shorter amount of time. When finished, the biscuits will be dark golden brown, and will be dry and crisp all the way through.
8 Remove the biscuits from the oven, and cool right on the pans.
