Harmonia Animal Training
Serving South Shore MA and Cape Cod
Where Ancient Instincts Meet Modern Understanding.
Trust-based, science-backed methods to ensure your best friend lives their best life in your home.
Why Choose Harmonia?
Welcome! I’m Anna, owner and founder of Harmonia Animal Training, and a Certified Advanced Canine Training Professional (CACTP) and Certified Service and Therapy Dog Training Professional (CSTDTP) by the Animal Behavior Institute. I also have a BA in Anthropology from Concordia University with a specialization in human-animal relations and Zooarchaeology. I have over 6 years of active experience in dog sitting / walking, and several years of rigorous study specifically in behavioral training. In conjunction with my personal study, I am in the process of earning my CCPDT-KA certification from the Certified Council of Professional Canine Trainers and am a current member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
There is a tendency in the world of dog-training to use overwhelming and hyper-specific jargon and inner community training styles that can make those new to the world of dogs feel lost - I’ve been there myself. Personally, I do not follow a specific methodology of training. I believe every dog deserves personalized, observation-based training methods that suits their breed, temperament, background, and owner compatibility. With Harmonia, I vow to keep things as straightforward and simple for you as possible, using what best fits the science I have dedicated years of study to.
I do not use aversive tools like prong collars, e-collars, spray collars, or choke collars. If this is something you are looking for, I will be happy to refer you to another trainer; I will, however, ask that you consider my force-free, positive methods before using something aversive.
Read more about my background below.
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Consultation
Looking for a better idea of what is going on in your dog’s head? Have a new rescue and cannot understand why they act the way they do? I can break down each of their behaviors to help you better understand how to manage your canine friend.
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Basic Obedience
Have a new puppy or dog in the home? Need to work on basic commands without breaking the bank? Does your dog just not listen to you? You’re at the right place! I help teach you how to get your dog excited to learn and listen, and can help modify behaviors that are destructive or bothersome through enrichment games!
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Therapy Animals
Are you a professional looking for a therapy dog? Someone who works with children, elderly, or the disabled and wants a comforting presence? I am a Certified Service and Therapy Dog Training Professional, and would love to tell you all you need to know about the work related to therapy animals and even assess whether your dog (or cat, etc) would be good for the job!
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Coexistance
Have a dog that chases the cat? A cat that chases the dog? Does your child’s hamster keep escaping and tempting the dog? Having two species in the same home can be difficult — as dogs are not my only training focus, I specialize in opening communication between your different animals.
Specialties
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Primitive Breeds
The primitive breed category refers to dogs with ancient lineages that are, in behavior, health, and sometimes appearance, more akin to wild canids like coyotes, wolves. These include (most commonly) Siberian Husky, Chow Chow, Akita and Shiba Inu, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Basenji, Afghan Hound, Podenco, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Mastiff, and Maltese. If you own any of these, or believe you may have a primitive-type dog, you’re in the right place!
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Southern Rescues
North American Pariah dogs (NAP dogs) are what I have begun to call the Southern rescue dogs that seem to infest training facilities, New England rescues, and many, many new adoptees’ homes. These Southern street dogs have many primitive qualities, and thus are of special interest to me. If you’ve adopted a dog and continually find yourself (and your previous trainers!) at a loss, then you may have an NAP. These dogs also have some specific behaviors of concern that new adopters must know about, but are rarely privy to! They DO require different training then your typical dog, and with my background in primitives I can help you more than other trainers are able to.
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Bella, Cooper, Luna!
Have a regular dog with typical behaviors (with a few interesting quirks, maybe)? Just a regular dog looking for some regular obedience training? Great! I only follow LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) guidelines and am Fear-Free certified. This means I do not use e-collars, prongs, or any other aversive tools to stress out your pup! I believe training any animal is built off of trust, not hierarchy or ‘alpha’ techniques.
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Non-Dog Animals!
Whether your critter is domestic or not, I am experienced in learning the behavior patterns of both wild and non-wild animals. Using mainly target training and a clicker, I can help you live harmoniously, safely, and happily with your non-canine critter! This includes cats, birds, rodents and rabbits, reptiles and more!
Upcoming Events
Upcoming
Event
Looking for a workshop where you can learn how to effectively manage your dog and your children? This one-time group presentation is developed by myself, Harmonia Animal Training, and Linda Price of Wellness Empowerment. Linda is a Massachusetts Licensed Educational Psychologist with over thirty years of experience with children of all ages and special needs, whether that be ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Anxiety, social communication disorders, and learning differences. With her guidance and expertise, as well as Harmonia Animal Training’s special understanding of coexistence, you will leave this workshop feeling confident and prepared.
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How to manage your dog’s behavior when you cannot effectively manage your child’s behavior, and how to manage your child’s behavior when you cannot effectively manage your dog’s behavior.
Kids are kids and animals are animals — each has quirks and behaviors that can be difficult to shift.
You will learn the signs your dog is becoming uncomfortable, and when to give them space.
You will learn how to time certain activities for the enjoyment of both your dog and child.
Discussions from other parents and pet-owners with feedback from Anna and Linda.
A feeling of confidence at the end that you have been looking for!!
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Reassurance Without Avoidance
Have you gone to other trainers looking for behavior management between your dog and child, only to be told to control your dog in ways you don’t like or worse, to rehome your dog? That is unfair and, unfortunately, to be expected when working with someone who may know dog behavior well but not child behavior. Linda will provide guidance with children, and Anna will provide guidance with dogs — the expertise you’ve been looking for.Strategies and Activities
With varying activities and strategies for a slew of different tense moments, you will leave with a bag of tricks to aid you in your next moment of stress!Realistic Expectations
If you believe past dog trainers or psychologists have given unrealistic advice for coexistance within the home, that’s okay! We get it, and will be realistic and straightforward. Sometimes, you don’t have the mental space to deal with a child’s meltdown and a dog’s tantrum! With the right tools, you’ll be able to stay calm and collected while dealing with high-stress.Creative Solutions
Sometimes, animals and children are unpredictable — that’s the problem with intelligent minds! However, Anna’s background of working with primitive and non-domestic animals has required an ability to find creative solutions in strange situations, and Linda’s background of working with many different behavioral disorders has honed the skill of calmness and creative solutions. Creativity all around!Get Excited & Join Us
All that’s left to do now is book a spot — there’s only twenty-five, so get it fast!
Who is Harmonia?
Want to learn more about the reason behind the name? The meaning and message in the goddess Harmonia? Read more in the following blog post.
