Jackie the Dog Trainer / SouthPaw Pet Care & Training

Training programs include one-time consultations, 4- to 8-week coaching packages, intensive day training, and ongoing monthly support. Separation anxiety clients receive a 4-week virtual program with daily missions and weekly Zoom sessions. Puppy training includes in-home sessions with weekly owner reviews. All programs use positive reinforcement, include customized training plans, progress tracking via Google Sheets, and provide email/text support. Group puppy socialization classes are offered for pups 8–18 weeks old.

Pricing Summary

Separation Anxiety: $695 for 4-week startup package, $575 monthly; Puppy Day Training: $1975 for 4 weeks; Puppy Coaching: $995 (8 sessions) or $650 (5 sessions); Consultations: $175; Social Puppy Class: $150. All packages include handouts, clicker, and ongoing support.

Jackie the Dog Trainer, also known as SouthPaw Pet Care & Training, is a professionally certified dog trainer based in Akron, OH, offering positive reinforcement training services for dogs of all ages. Jackie specializes in puppy manners, separation anxiety, leash pulling, reactivity, barking, potty training, and fear-based behaviors using reward-based methods only—no aversive tools or corrections. She is a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP), a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), and a Fear Free Certified Professional, ensuring science-backed, compassionate training. Services include in-home training in Akron, Bath, Richfield, Fairlawn, Highland Square, Hudson, Wadsworth, and Brecksville, as well as virtual training available worldwide. Jackie also offers day training where she trains the dog in the client’s home while the owner is away, and she provides small group puppy socialization classes. Additional services include pet sitting through SouthPaw Pet Sitting, established in 2005.

Jackie’s training programs are customized, with structured packages that include hands-on sessions, weekly virtual check-ins, progress tracking via Google spreadsheets, and ongoing email/text support. She emphasizes building confidence in anxious dogs and empowering owners with tools to maintain progress long-term. Her approach is gentle, patient, and tailored to each dog’s unique needs, making her ideal for families with reactive, shy, or anxious pets.

Accomplishments

Jackie Pekar is a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP #69770), Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), and Fear Free Certified Professional. She has over 18 years of experience as a pet professional and founded SouthPaw Pet Sitting in 2005.

How to Get Started!

Client engagement begins with a 60–90 minute behavior consultation ($175) to assess needs, discuss goals, and create a customized plan. Consultations are offered via Zoom or in-person and include a training protocol, body language analysis, and a progress tracking spreadsheet. From there, clients choose a training package that fits their goals and schedule.