Topp Canine Solutions

Private training sessions are tailored to specific behavior goals and conducted in-home or outdoors. Sessions last 1–1.5 hours and are scheduled 7 days a week. Group classes are offered seasonally and focus on foundational obedience and socialization. Behavior consultations address complex issues like separation anxiety and aggression with customized plans. Training emphasizes positive reinforcement and building a strong human-dog bond through games and rewards.

Pricing Summary

Initial private session: $100 (1.5 hours); Follow-up sessions: $75 (1 hour). Group classes available starting January 2021. Pet sitting and dog walking services offered separately.

Policies

Erin is on maternity leave from late August 2020 through January 2021 and is not accepting new clients, consultations, private sessions, or group classes during this time. She will respond to emails but may be delayed. Clients are encouraged to join a contact list to be notified when scheduling resumes.

Topp Canine Solutions is a dog training business in Ames, Iowa, owned and operated by Erin Topp, a certified professional dog trainer who uses only positive reinforcement techniques. The business helps dog owners build trusting, fun relationships with their dogs through training that focuses on rewarding desired behaviors with treats, toys, or play. Erin offers private training sessions and group classes to address common behavior issues like leash pulling, jumping, barking, separation anxiety, and recall. She also provides pet sitting, dog walking, and boarding services. Erin is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), ensuring her methods are grounded in science and humane practices. Her extensive experience includes volunteering with animal rescues, evaluating AKC Canine Good Citizen and Star Puppy programs, and competing with her own dogs in obedience and lure coursing.

Clients appreciate her personalized approach, flexibility in scheduling, and ability to train dogs in-home or in various community settings. Erin’s commitment to ongoing education and her deep roots in the Ames animal community since the 1990s make her a trusted local expert for families seeking effective, joyful dog training.

She is currently on maternity leave until January 2021 and not accepting new clients during this time, but interested parties can join a contact list for future availability.

Accomplishments

Erin Topp is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP). She is a past president of the Cyclone Country Kennel Club, a Canine Good Citizen and Star Puppy Evaluator for the American Kennel Club, and a superintendent of the Story County 4H dog project. She has been active in the Ames animal community for over 20 years and competes in obedience and lure coursing with her own dogs.

How to Get Started!

Interested clients should fill out the contact form to be added to a notification list for when Erin resumes services in January 2021. No new bookings are being accepted during her maternity leave.