About

Hi Pet Parents!

My name is Karen DiCostanzo, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, FFCP, AKC CGC Evaluator; I’m a dog behavior consultant and certified professional trainer. I specialize in helping pet parents whose dogs exhibit problem behaviors like reactivity, aggression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, compulsive disorders, fearful avoidance, and other behaviors related to trauma, anxiety, fear, and stress. I also coach dog guardians in proactive training and problem prevention for puppies and newly adopted dogs.

From Crazy Dogs to Calm Ones…

Many years ago, I became intensely interested in dog training and behavior modification after adopting a rescue dog—my first dog ever. It was a baptism by fire: I soon learned that in addition to serious health issues, he suffered from a panic disorder called separation distress that took considerable time and effort to help him overcome it. Later, I adopted a large dog who drove me nuts with persistent barking, lunging, and pulling like crazy on leash; jumping all over people; going after small animals; and reacting to people, other animals, moving things, and more, so I definitely feel my clients’ pain when they come to me with these issues!

I learned to “speak dog” and interact with my pups using kindness, patience, and compassion to work through their behavior issues and teach them life skills like effective emotional self-regulation and looking to me for gentle guidance and support. Today, I share my insights with those who want to achieve their training goals while deepening the bonds of love, trust, and understanding they share with their companion dogs.

Fear-Free Certified Professional 

I use a fear-free, holistic, and rewards-based approach and have seen my training methods dramatically improve the lives of countless dogs and their humans! After earning my MBA from MidAmerica Nazarene University, my professional education started with an intensive apprenticeship with an experienced, certified professional dog trainer. After that, I logged hundreds of hours of hands-on teaching both dogs and their humans so that I could earn my first professional certification credential, Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers.

Next, I became a Certified Fear Free Professional through Fear Free Pets, and then I earned a third professional credential as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP). Since then, I’ve earned a certificate in Dr. Susan Friedman’s highly respected Living and Learning with Animals: the Science and Technology of Behavior Change course in applied behavior analysis, completed Kim Brophey’s highly regarded study program, L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional Course, taken Dr. Kristina Spaulding’s Unlocking Resiliency and Canine Impulsivity and Fear courses, and participated in multiple Control the Meerkat: Trauma in Animals conferences (along with hundreds’ more hours of continuing education over the past 14 years!).

Ready to improve the life you share with your dog? Get started now by contacting me!