Riley’s Angels

Riley’s Angels offers a progressive series of six-week group classes: Puppy Preschool (under 16 weeks), Puppy Foundations (16 weeks to 12 months), Life Skills (over 1 year), AKC Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog Prep (4 weeks), and Therapy Dog Certification. All classes focus on socialization, obedience, handler education, and behavior management. CGC certification is required before advancing to Therapy Dog courses. Service dog coaching is available via limited one-on-one sessions with customized curricula.

Pricing Summary

Pricing details are not listed publicly; registration requires completion of an evaluation, submission of vaccine records, and payment to secure a spot. Classes are six weeks long, with Therapy Dog Prep being four weeks. Limited spots available for service dog coaching.

Policies

Once registration, vaccine records, and payment are received, a spot in class is reserved. Classes fill quickly and are six weeks long unless otherwise noted. No specific cancellation or rescheduling policy is stated on the website.

Riley’s Angels is a premier therapy dog training organization in Northern Ohio, founded by Lesley Sinwald to honor her late therapy dog, Riley. They specialize in relationship-based, positive reinforcement training methods that strengthen the bond between dogs and their handlers. While they are best known for certifying therapy dog teams that work in hospitals, hospice, schools, and veteran facilities, their training programs also help families raise confident, well-behaved pets. They offer structured group classes ranging from Puppy Preschool for puppies under 16 weeks to advanced Therapy Dog Certification, with a strong emphasis on socialization, obedience, and handler education. All classes include behavior management, leash skills, and impulse control training. They also provide limited one-on-one coaching for service dogs, though they do not train guide or seizure alert dogs. Their trainers are certified evaluators for AKC programs including Canine Good Citizen and Temperament Tests, and they prioritize compassionate, science-backed training without harsh tools or corrections.

Their unique advantage lies in their deep expertise in therapy dog work, having trained dogs for over 10 years in hospice and clinical settings, and their commitment to training both dogs and humans to communicate effectively. They offer free evaluations to help clients choose the right class, and their programs are designed to build lifelong skills that benefit both the dog and the family.

Riley’s Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and their training philosophy centers on companionship over control, ensuring dogs trust their handlers and enjoy their work—whether as a family pet or a therapy partner.

Accomplishments

Lesley Sinwald, founder and lead trainer, holds an EMBA in Servant Leadership, MEd in Adult Learning Theory, a certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy from the University of New Hampshire, CPDT-KA certification, and is an AKC evaluator for CGC, S.T.A.R. Puppy, Temperament Test, and Trick Dog certifications. She is also a certified Pet First Aid instructor. Riley’s Angels has trained therapy dogs for over 10 years and is the official therapy dog organization for Cleveland State University. Their dogs have worked in hospice, hospitals, schools, courthouses, and domestic violence shelters.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients should click the “Find Out More” button to complete an email form. After contacting them, they will schedule a free evaluation to determine the best class fit. If appropriate, they will then provide the registration form, preparation details, class times, and location information.