Blue Dog Training & Behavior

Blue Dog Training & Behavior offers in-home behavior consultations, typically 90 minutes to two hours, which include a complete history of the dog, realistic expectations for improvement, and a detailed written plan tailored to the owner’s personality and lifestyle. Free follow-up via phone and email is included.

In-home obedience training focuses on teaching behaviors important to the owner in their own home environment, from basic manners to advanced off-leash work. This approach provides one-on-one attention, customized methods, and encourages consistent practice.

Specialized programs include “New Puppy ABCs” (60-90 minutes for puppies 8-16 weeks, covering socialization, house training, basic obedience, and problem prevention), “Preparing your dog for a new baby” (60 minutes covering preparation before, during, and after the baby’s arrival), and “What every new dog owner should know / Dog Fundamentals” (90 minutes to two hours covering diet, health care, nuisance behaviors, and problem prevention).

Pet sitting, boarding, and exercise services are provided by highly qualified sitters for all dogs, including those with behavior problems. Services can be customized and offered in the client’s home or Blue Dog’s home (for one client dog at a time). They can also incorporate training while the owner is away.

Additional services include “Choosing a dog for your family,” where Sarah helps determine the best dog size, breed, and temperament for a family, and can assist in finding breeders or evaluating rescue dogs. Sarah also provides temperament testing for private individuals to assess a dog’s behavior and suitability for a home, and offers dog bite expert witness services for legal cases.

Blue Dog Training & Behavior LLC is a dog training and behavior consulting business owned by Sarah Kalnajs, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Pet Dog Trainer. The business focuses on solving current problems, preventing future issues, and shaping behavior to improve the relationship between dogs and their owners.

Blue Dog Training & Behavior offers a variety of services including in-home behavior consultations for issues like aggression, anxiety, and fear, as well as in-home obedience training ranging from basic manners to advanced off-leash work. They also provide specialized programs such as New Puppy ABCs, guidance for preparing dogs for a new baby, and “Dog Fundamentals” for new dog owners.

Unique advantages include tailored training plans designed for the client’s specific environment and lifestyle, with a strong emphasis on one-on-one attention. Behavior consultations come with free follow-up via phone and email. Additionally, Blue Dog offers pet sitting, boarding, and exercise services, including care for dogs with behavior problems, either in the client’s home or at Blue Dog’s facility. Sarah Kalnajs also provides expert witness services for dog bite cases, temperament testing for private individuals and shelters, and conducts seminars nationwide on dog behavior topics.

Accomplishments

Sarah Kalnajs holds a B.A. with honors from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and has completed post-graduate work at Edgewood College and the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Research Lab at the University of Hawaii. She was one of the first international students to complete the Canine Behavior Program through the Etologisk Institute in Denmark under Dr. Roger Abrantes.

She is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers). Sarah is a professional member of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior (IIACAB).

Sarah is an editor for the peer-reviewed Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior, a member of the advisory board and faculty of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, and an instructor for Raising Canine. She is the producer of the popular DVD series “Language of Dogs” and “Am I Safe.”

Her extensive experience includes serving as president of Wisconsin American Eskimo Rescue, political liaison for the Wisconsin Dog Rescue Coalition, and an Executive Committee Member of AAFMED. Sarah is a popular speaker and freelance writer, having been interviewed by BBC radio, NBC television, and various magazines. She has extensive experience as an expert witness in civil and criminal litigation related to dog aggression and consults for humane societies in Southern Wisconsin, training staff and implementing behavior programs. She is known for her Blue Dog Behavior Evaluation and the Dog-Safe Waist Restraint System and has conducted almost one thousand temperament tests of her own design. Sarah has also participated extensively in dolphin and humpback whale research.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can schedule an appointment by calling (608) 213-5304 or emailing sarah@bluedogtraining.com. For behavior consultations, Sarah will take a complete history of your dog and the presenting problem, helping you set realistic expectations for improvement.