Dogs of the Dunes

Dogs of the Dunes offers one-on-one private coaching, small group classes in Valparaiso, day training sessions with video documentation, and home-based board and train programs. Programs address leash pulling, jumping, barking, fear, reactivity, and basic obedience using positive reinforcement and fear-free methods. Board and train clients also receive a coaching session and a follow-up visit after returning home.

Pricing Summary

Private coaching starts at $150 for a single one-hour session, with package pricing from $425 for four sessions. Group classes run $300 for a 4-week course, and board and train programs start at $2,500 for two weeks. A 50% deposit is required to book training or boarding, and free consultations are offered before booking.

Policies

Training and boarding require a 50% deposit that is forfeited if canceled. Dog walking and drop-in visits need at least 24 hours notice to avoid the full fee, and refunds beyond that are granted at staff discretion.

Dogs of the Dunes provides science-based dog training, boarding, walking, and pet sitting services throughout Valparaiso and the surrounding Northwest Indiana area. Founder Theresa Armstrong, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) since 2019, built the business around force-free, fear-free methods after seeing dogs harmed by outdated training approaches.

Training options include private one-on-one coaching, small group classes, day training, and home-based board and train programs, covering everything from leash pulling and jumping to fear, reactivity, and basic obedience. The team also offers overnight boarding, dog walking, and in-home pet sitting, with every visit built around positive reinforcement and no aversive tools.

Dogs of the Dunes serves Valparaiso, Portage, Michigan City, Chicago, and Southwest Michigan, with a small team of experienced, Pet CPR-certified staff.

Accomplishments

Theresa Armstrong is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) since 2019, a Pet Professional Guild member, and Fear Free certified. The team is Pet CPR and pet first aid certified and volunteers with local rescue organizations including Hobart Humane Society and Giant Paw Prints Rescue.

How to Get Started!

Reach out by phone, text, or the online contact form to schedule a free consultation. New clients can also book directly for walking, sitting, boarding, or training services online.

What New Clients Can Expect

Our consultative approach is designed to listen to pet parents and discover existing behaviors their dog performs well and those that may need some work. We rely exclusively on positive reinforcement (r+) training, meaning that one of the first steps is to associate, in the mind of the dog, food or a clicker with a desired behavior. From there, training can be as simple as showing your dog what the expected behavior is! We never rely on fear or aversive training techniques.

More From the Trainer

We work with all types of dogs regardless of skill level. We have years of experience dealing with aggressive and out of control dogs.