Paula’s Dog Services

Paula offers private behavior consultations and group classes held on weekends. Group classes include Puppy Kindergarten (Saturdays 11AM), Family Manners (Saturdays 12:15PM), and Building Confidence (Sundays 12PM). Outdoor training is available for reactive dogs but requires a prior consultation. All programs use positive reinforcement, clicker training, and behavior science principles to teach skills like loose leash walking, recall, settle on mat, and resource guarding modification. Training is structured around individual dog needs with ongoing sessions recommended for behavior modification.

Pricing Summary

Private Behavior Consultation: $250 for 90 minutes. Camp Haven group classes: $210 for 6 sessions. Training is offered in packages with no mention of hourly rates or discounts.

Policies

Contract and behavioral consult forms are available online. No explicit cancellation or rescheduling policy is stated, but clients note Paula is flexible and accommodating to last-minute changes.

Paula’s Dog Services is a force-free and fear-free dog training business founded in 2001 by Paula Shimko, Pittsburgh’s first Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP). Paula uses positive reinforcement methods grounded in the science of how dogs and mammals learn, following the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principle. She offers private behavior consultations, in-home training, and group classes including Puppy Kindergarten, Family Manners, and Building Confidence, all conducted outdoors or in clients’ homes. Her programs focus on building trust, communication, and confidence in dogs, especially those with fear, reactivity, resource guarding, or anxiety. Paula emphasizes teaching owners to understand canine body language and uses tools like clickers and food rewards to create joyful, effective learning experiences. She also provides specialized behavior modification for leash reactivity, fear-based behaviors, and separation anxiety, helping dogs and families build lasting, positive relationships.

Paula is certified in pet CPR and first aid, is an AKC Good Citizen and STARR Puppy Evaluator, and is a member of multiple professional organizations including the Pet Professional Guild, Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is bonded and insured, and her training philosophy centers on giving dogs choices to foster confidence and reduce stress.

Her services are tailored for all dog ages and types, with a strong focus on rescue dogs and anxious or reactive pets. Clients praise her patience, flexibility, and deep understanding of canine behavior, with many noting dramatic improvements in their dogs’ confidence and behavior after working with her.

Accomplishments

Paula Shimko is Pittsburgh’s first Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP). She is an AKC Good Citizens Evaluator, AKC STARR Puppy Evaluator, Pet CPR and First Aid Certified, and a certified mentor with Catch Academy. She is a member of the Pet Professional Guild, Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Her own Shelties have won ribbons in Agility, Rally, and Obedience competitions.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients must complete a Behavioral Consult Form and schedule a consultation prior to enrolling in outdoor training or behavior modification programs. Bookings are made online through the scheduling link.