Four Paws, Four Directions Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, LLC

Laura offers individualized behavior consulting programs delivered via video call. Programs include one-time consultations, ongoing weekly sessions, and intensive multi-week plans tailored to the dog’s specific issues. Her signature SLOW THINKING IS LIFESAVING IN DOGS™ program uses cognitive games to teach self-interruption and problem-solving. Sessions include live coaching, real-time exercises, and personalized homework to reinforce skills between sessions.

Pricing Summary

Pricing details are not publicly listed. Clients are directed to contact Laura directly to discuss session options and fees for behavior consulting services.

Policies

No cancellation or rescheduling policies are publicly stated on the website. Clients are directed to contact Laura directly for scheduling details.

Four Paws, Four Directions Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, LLC is led by Laura Donaldson, PhD, CDBC, KPA CTP, a certified dog behavior consultant and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She specializes in positive, force-free training methods that focus on building confidence and mutual understanding between dogs and their owners. Her unique program, SLOW THINKING IS LIFESAVING IN DOGS™, uses cognitive reappraisal and interactive games to help dogs with aggression, reactivity, fearfulness, and trauma learn to pause and think before reacting. Laura offers online behavior consulting sessions that are particularly effective for dogs stressed by unfamiliar people or environments, and she has worked with clients globally—from the Yukon to the UK. She holds a PhD in the humanities and has advanced coursework in applied behavior analysis, ethology, and companion animal psychopharmacology. Laura is the only IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant in the Finger Lakes region and has won the 2018 Maxwell Medallion for her writing on dog behavior.

Her approach emphasizes games-based training, voluntary cooperation, and self-regulation skills. She does not offer in-home training as a primary service but focuses on virtual consultations, which she finds often more productive for anxious or aggressive dogs. Laura also mentors aspiring dog trainers through CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and publishes educational articles on canine cognition and behavior.

She works exclusively with positive reinforcement methods and avoids corrections, pinch collars, e-collars, or aversive tools. Her clients include dogs of all ages and sizes struggling with behavior issues, especially leash reactivity, fear-based aggression, and separation anxiety.

Accomplishments

Laura Donaldson holds a PhD in the humanities, is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through IAABC, and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP). She graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy in 2009 and was featured as the international KPA CTP of the Month in March 2019. She won the 2018 Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writers Association of America for her article “The Cognitive Revolution and Everyday Dog Training.” She is the only CDBC in the Finger Lakes region and mentors trainers at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to contact Laura via the Contact Us page to schedule an online consultation. No free initial consultation is offered. The first step involves discussing the dog’s behavior issues to determine the appropriate program format and schedule.