REDEFINING
DOG TRAINING
BYÂ HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND YOURÂ DOG & THEN GET RESULTS!
FOR OVER A DECADE
I'VE BEEN HELPING PET OWNERS!
 GIVE ME 60 DAYS...
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG!
Do any of these sound familiar?
I've done dog training programs before.
I am overwhelmed by my dog’s behavior.
I feel lost with my new puppy.
I’m jealous of other people casually walking their dog on leash.
I am embarrassed when people come to visit and my dog jumps all over them.
I get frustrated when I call my dog and they ignore me.
I've used trainers before and all we did was learn some commands.
If you want help… let's talk.
SCHEDULE AN EVALUATION HERE!I take a simple, common-sense approach to training dogs—one built on trust, communication, and reliability between you and your best friend.
For more than a decade I’ve helped thousands of dogs and their families—from raising puppies the right way to working through tough issues like reactivity and aggression.
I’ve spent years learning, testing, and refining methods that actually work in the real world. My obsession is helping dogs and humans live better together, not through quick fixes or gimmicks, but by building understanding and creating true companionship that lasts a lifetime.
I’ve had dogs most of my life—and now that I’m in my mid-50s, that adds up to a lot of years.
But simply living with dogs doesn’t make someone a professional. For more than a decade, I’ve been working full-time in the dog training industry—helping owners, serving in leadership roles, and raising and training my own dogs along the way.
My own dogs have taken me on all kinds of adventures: hiking, camping, backcountry trips, search and rescue training, even dabbling in sheep herding and tracking. I’ve helped clients do the same—whether it’s paddleboarding with their dog, sailing on the east coast, or exploring trails across the country.
The truth is, adventures with our dogs —whether it’s at a coffee shop, on the sidelines of a soccer game, or deep in the mountains—don’t happen by accident. There’s a process to building the relationship that allows that.
As a Certified Professional Trainer, Licensed Family Dog Mediator, Certified Pet Nutrition Coach, and Professional Coach, I bring an understanding of both dogs and people. My job is to help them meet in the middle—to communicate better, to live better, and to succeed together.
Because dog training is more than a bunch of commands. It’s about owners understanding their dogs, dogs understanding their people, and both learning how to navigate the world as a true team.
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FOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIALS FOR TIPS, INFO, AN INSIDE LOOK AT LIVING WITHT DOGS & A WAY TO GIVE YOURSELF A BETTER IDEA WHO YOU ARE WORKING WITH... YOUR DOG DESERVES THAT.
TOP DOG FB PAGE
See announcements, service offerings, my life with dogs, behavior help and educational content!
MY INSTA PAGE
A real life mix of dog training, behavior insights, service offerings, life with my own dogs and more!
MY YT CHANNEL
Behind the scenes of Top Dog KY, my cases and thoughts on welfare and dog training.
MY PRO FB PAGE
My personal reflections on training philosophy, debates in the dog world, and daily life with my dogs.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER...
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A PROGRAM FOR ALMOST EVERYONE!
From everyday “selective hearing” to more serious challenges like reactivity, fear, or aggression—I’ve got programs designed to help.
Some owners prefer one-on-one private lessons at my training location, in your home or even virtual.
Others may want a little more help, like day training or a full board & train where your dog lives and learns with me in my home on my property with my dogs.
No matter what you and your dog are facing, I’ll help you figure out the right fit so you can make real progress together.
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HERE ARE A COUPLE TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS CLIENTS!
"Spoiled by our first dog experience, we adopted a new puppy (Petra) that proved to be quite the handful. As much as I hoped for a quick fix, John taught us that the solution wasn’t a magical formula, but understanding and raising our new family member for a lifetime. He has worked with us extensively, and has helped us navigate several twists and turns. Overall, if you want a trainer who truly cares about the relationship between you and your dog, we highly recommend John.."
Stephen L.
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"Lincoln’s training program was tailored specifically for him based on his personality and the behaviors he was exhibiting. Even more importantly, John taught ME how to work with him to encourage the behaviors I want and discourage those I don’t. He explained everything from Lincoln’s point of view to help me understand why he behaved the way he did and how he would interpret my response to his behavior. We do a lot of hiking. He enjoys the freedom of exploring off leash and I have peace of mind knowing he will come to me when I call him. I highly recommend John and Top Dog Training!."
Devin B.
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