My love for training dogs started as soon as I was old enough to help train my family's dogs. Throughout my entire childhood, we always had dogs and trained each of them to be well behaved members of the family. I always enjoyed helping with the family dog's daily training. It was all basic training, but I loved every second of it. 

     Studying Psychology and Sociology at Chapman University taught many different psychological tactics when it comes to behaviors, learning styles, and coaching tactics. 

 

My experience:

     Early on in my dog training career, I was hired as a kennel technician at a training facility to take care of the dogs in boarding. This helped me to become extremely in tune with dogs’ health and how to quickly remedy common illnesses. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to a trainer at the facility and I was able to shadow several professional trainers and personally train hundreds of dogs. 

 

     As I continued training at the facility and working with my own dogs, my love for training dogs continued to grow. However, I found that by working at a huge dog training company, I was not able to have the connection with families and their pups like I wanted to. This is how Peak Performance Dog Training started!

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     While I grew my business, I was lucky enough to be able to train with many different trainers across the country and learn a multitude of different methods - which I used to fine tune my programs to thoughtfully create each one. I now have been able to help thousands of families and their dogs, achieving many different goals. From basic commands to fully off leash reliable (and anything between!), I can help you and your dog achieve anything we put our minds to. 

 

     In my free time, you can find me training my dogs in each of their sports, traveling for their trials, or continuing to connect with other trainers so I can maintain the most updated and elevated training styles. I am dedicated not only to teaching your four-legged family member everything they need to know, but also having a connection with you and your family so you are comfortable and confident to continue training with your pup. I can’t wait to meet you and your four-legged family member and help you achieve everything you have ever wanted!

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My pack:

     When I was in high school, I got a corgi (Billie Jean) and I was committed to training her up to a service dog standard of obedience. Due to the level of training I wanted on her, she completed various styles of training; such as: clicker training/treat training, leash and collar training, and e-collar training. Billie is an old girl now, living her best life - either training for a title in Rally obedience for fun or enjoying her off leash adventures. 

 

     Two years later, I got my Belgian Malinois, Charlie Mae, and I jumped right into doing dog sports with her. Charlie was part of a Mondioring club to learn the basics of the sport, and we loved every aspect of it. However, as she got older, Charlie slowly became reactive towards other animals and most people. Working through Charlie’s reactivity sparked an obsession with helping other reactive dogs, and it is now something I specialize in - with Charlie being the spokesperson (or spokes-dog, if you will) for shedding light on reactivity and how dogs can overcome it. She now is a part of a Protection Sports Association (PSA) club and continues to wow me every day with how much she has overcome.

    

     With my third dog, a German Shepherd (Jinx), I was dedicated to making sure he would be a stable dog so he never struggled the way Charlie did. He was the most confident, bulletproof puppy I have ever worked with, and I fully believe that the way he was raised played a huge role in that. He is the puppy that my puppy program protocol was created off of, as I strive to have all puppies be as confident as Jinx. He now plays many integral roles in both my business and my life. He holds a “lesson dog” role, where his job is to demonstrate obedience during consultations or follow up lessons. He also competes in Schutzhund (IGP), which requires us to travel across the country - which has turned him into an amazing plane buddy with impeccable public access training and manners. 

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     The last addition to the pack is Lennox, a Newfoundland! She was actually a bit of a "foster fail" - I had taken her in from a less than ideal situation, with the intention of putting her into my Peak Performance Working Dogs program (selling trained dogs). However, she stole my heart and found her forever home with me and my pack. She does not love participating in sports like my other dogs, so she is my self acclaimed couch potato. LOL!

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XOXO,

Makenzie