Meraki Dog Training
Ranked #8 in Lincoln and #22 in Nebraska
Service area: Lincoln, Nebraska
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Basic Obedience
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Stealing Food
- Recall
- Resource Guarding
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- In-Home
- Private Facility
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Balanced Training
Meraki Dog Training offers two main programs:
Real Life Ready – Foundations Training Program: This program focuses on teaching all basic commands on leash (come, sit, down, place, heel), establishing a kenneling routine, and teaching polite behaviors such as waiting for food and at thresholds. It also covers polite and calm leash walking and good manners in the home, aiming to provide effective communication between owner and dog.
Real World Ready – Balanced Behavior Training Program: This program is designed for dogs needing off-leash reliability and distance communication. It addresses more significant behavioral issues like embarrassing or out-of-control behavior around other dogs, resource guarding (e.g., not allowing items to be taken), and serious fence fighting.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
An in-person consultation costs $150, which is applied to the package price if you sign up for a training program.
Testimonials
“We adopted a beautiful Akita who badly needed a new home. She was 3 and had good socialization to kids, but had never had any exposure to other animals. Her previous family had owned her for 6 months, and told us they had never taken her for a walk. She lived in a small fenced area in the backyard. I was anxious to give her a full life and take her for daily walks, but my initial excitement became anxiety after a month or so. I was seriously questioning myself. I had a 95 pound aggressive dog who I couldn’t out-muscle. Every time we came across another dog on our walk it left me feeling like I had been hit by a truck. At the point that I was dreading taking her out for a walk, I knew I needed help. That’s where Katy came in. I knew she had done some amazing work with her own rescues, and I was at a loss. Our first session with her made a huge difference. I learned a ton, and wished I would have contacted her sooner. After some work and a whole lot of re-programming of ME!, I was able to enjoy and look forward to walks with my beautiful fur-kid. I am so thankful for Katy’s expertise and heart when it comes to dog-training. She knew instantly what we needed to shift, and her guidance has allowed me to launch onto a wonderful and lifelong dogmom journey!”
– Alison Romell
“Those that knew the old Rossy, you understand what my heart feels to think of Ross prior to rescue. Because of the first few years of his life, we never thought he would have a forever home. He will always be with me and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! He is much easier and happy to live with, especially this last year or so. And that is all because of Katy Rawhouser! We have gotten to where we are because she helped me and Ross! He and I will forever be grateful to you Katy! You are why my boy is a boy now and not on edge at all times. I mean seriously, he could NEVER be kenneled . He kennels every day now and we only have to latch one latch! He takes direction far better and fully trusts me. He trusted me about 95% before, but YOU gave us that 5% that made a “home” instead of constantly questioning within himself.”
– Traci Cooney
“Katy helped us when we were really struggling with walking our dog; he would pull constantly and it was becoming nearly impossible to enjoy taking him anywhere with us. She helped us learn how to teach him to walk without pulling and we are able to enjoy walks again! When we decided to foster a second dog, Katy helped us again as our foster had separation anxiety amongst other issues. She showed us how to establish structure for both dogs and how to ensure our dog and our foster dog could live safely together. Katy really loves dogs, has a dedication to helping them and we would definitely recommend her!”
– Sarah and Marcus Hansen.
About the Trainer
At Meraki Dog Training, the trainer understands that dogs are valuable family members and addresses frustrations arising from behavioral struggles or helps proactive owners. As an owner of three dogs and a foster of many, the trainer personally understands the difficulty of finding the right training and has experience with a wide range of behavioral issues, from serious to minor. The training provided is effective and applicable to any behavioral issue.
The name ‘Meraki’ means to do something with soul, creativity, or love, putting oneself into the work. For the trainer, this work is more than just training dogs; it’s about keeping dogs in families and has deep personal meaning. The trainer’s goal is to pass along knowledge to owners so they can better care for their dogs, believing that ‘when you know better, you do better.’
A unique advantage of Meraki Dog Training stems from the trainer’s prior career in Human Services, including over a decade in Child Protective Services. This background provides a deep understanding of helping people stabilize their lives, which is now applied to helping owners understand and stabilize their dog’s behavior. The trainer has also traveled to work with trainers across the country to bring back the most effective methods.
Meraki Dog Training has been serving Lincoln, NE since 2016, evolving from weekend home visits and a garage training space to a dedicated facility opened in July 2023. The business is committed to helping dogs and their people build better behavior, structure, and communication rooted in trust and real-life results. Training plans are customized to each dog and lifestyle, focusing on clear, real-world guidance and communication for a calmer, more enjoyable life with your dog.
Accomplishments
The trainer has a background in the Human Service field, with over a decade of experience in Child Protective Services, which provides a unique perspective on stabilizing behavior. The trainer has also traveled across the country to learn from and work with other trainers to bring back effective training methods. Meraki Dog Training has been serving Lincoln, NE since 2016.
How to Get Started!
To get started, clients should schedule an in-person consultation. This initial step involves an in-depth discussion about the dog’s struggles, what has and hasn’t been working, and an introduction to the trainer’s techniques and style. It also covers leash handling basics and building a respectful relationship. The consultation helps determine if a training program is suitable and leads to a tailored training plan.
Contact Information
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- Women-owned
- wheelchair accessible entrance
- wheelchair accessible parking