Coastal K9 Training And Behavior

Private sessions are the core of the program, held in the owner’s home or at the Hamden studio. Each plan targets the dog’s specific problems, from leash reactivity and fear to aggression toward dogs or people, resource guarding, and poor recall.

Board and train is for the most difficult dogs: a 3-week reset, or a 4 to 6 week intensive for reactivity, fear, and aggression. The dog stays with Shannon in Hamden, and the owner learns the skills to keep the results.

The intermediate group class is a drop-in session at a local park that proofs heel, sit, down, stay, and recall around real distractions. The free CK9 Pack Walk gives dogs a relaxed setting to practice staying calm around other dogs.

Pricing Summary

In-home private sessions are $200 for 55 minutes, and one-on-one sessions at the Hamden studio are $125 for 55 minutes. Both are currently wait-list only for new clients.

Board and train runs $3,600 to $6,000 for a 3-week reset or a 4 to 6 week intensive. The drop-in intermediate group class is $15, and the pack walk is free.

Policies

New clients start with an intake form rather than a phone call. If Coastal K9 isn’t the right fit for a dog, Shannon says so and points the owner to someone who is.

The drop-in group class is for dogs with prior training experience that can work safely in a group.

Coastal K9 Training & Behavior is run by Shannon Miller, a retired police K9 handler based in Hamden, CT. She specializes in reactivity, fear, and aggression, and takes on the dogs other trainers have written off.

Every program is built around the dog’s needs and the owner’s daily life. The work centers on fulfilling the dog’s natural drives, clear communication, and the structure and routines that keep progress going at home.

Most training is one-on-one, either in the client’s home along the Connecticut shoreline or at her Hamden studio. Board and train is reserved for the toughest cases, and she also runs a drop-in group class at a local park and a free community pack walk.

Accomplishments

Shannon Miller is a retired police K9 handler, CT State Police Patrol Dog certified, with patrol and detection experience. She has worked as a professional pet trainer for 7 years and has handled real human bite cases.

How to Get Started!

New clients fill out the intake form on the Coastal K9 website with the full picture of their dog. Shannon reads each one herself and replies within 2 business days.

Returning clients book their next session through the online scheduler.

What New Clients Can Expect

I want to hear what life with your dog actually looks like: what’s going well, what’s stressful, and what you want to change. Then I observe your dog in a comfortable setting. There’s no pressure for them to perform. I’m looking at how they respond to their environment, communicate, recover from stress, and engage with you. Your job is to be honest, ask questions, and participate. We’ll work through a few practical exercises together so I can see how you and your dog communicate.

In the first week, I ask them to play with their dog, with purpose. A lot of people expect the first week to be all commands and corrections, but I want to see what genuinely lights their dog up. For one dog, that’s a structured game of tug. For another, it’s a long sniff walk, a food search, or scent work.

Proper play and fulfillment give the dog an outlet for their natural drives while helping us build engagement and communication. Owners are often surprised by how much easier training becomes when their dog’s needs are being met outside of obedience practice.

More From the Trainer

I work with a wide range of dogs, including dogs with serious behavior challenges, but I’m honest about when a case needs a different kind of help. If a sudden behavior change, pain, or another health concern may be involved, I’ll recommend starting with your veterinarian. Some cases also benefit from a veterinary behaviorist or another qualified specialist alongside training.

In Hamden, I see owners trying to meet their dogs’ needs while juggling busy schedules, smaller living spaces, close neighbors, and plenty of distractions on walks. Connecticut weather adds another challenge: a routine that works in summer can fall apart during weeks of rain, snow, or early darkness. That’s why we build training around your actual lifestyle. We work on calm behavior at home, practical leash skills, and ways to fulfill your dog’s needs even when a long outdoor session isn’t realistic.