MORE ABOUT SMARTDOG
Owner and Behavior Consultant | Our Trainers | Contacts | Locations
Training Philosophy
SmartDog Dog Training has two primary goals. First, to provide dog owners with a fun and effective way to train their dogs in basic to advanced skill levels using dog (and owner!) friendly methods. Second, to provide owners with the skills they need to help their dogs become well-behaved members of the family and promote life-long homes for dogs, reducing the amount of dogs who are surrendered to shelters for behavior and training problems. We do this by offering dog training classes and private lessons and providing consultations for behavior problems.
We believe that training is based on the relationship between a dog and their owner. Training methods should be fun and easy to understand for both the dog and the owner. SmartDog Dog Training applies both the science of animal learning and the experience of the trainers and volunteers to training and behavior. We believe in fostering a positive, life-long relationship between dogs and their owners. Click here for more information on our training methods
Kristina Gage, the owner and behavior consultant, has a lifetime of experience with dogs. She has been training her own dogs for 22 years. In 1998, she started working at a humane society in Madison, WI where she saw dog after dog brought in for behavior or training problems. This inspired her to get involved with owners and their dogs to help stop problems before they got so severe the owner chose to give up their dog. In 1999, Kristina and another co-worker started a program to teach shelter workers to train shelter dogs to make them more adoptable and give them a head start on training in their new homes. She also started volunteering as an assistant trainer at Dog's Best Friend
owned by Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell. She volunteered with Dog's Best Friend until 2000 when she moved to Minnesota. In Minnesota, she worked as a trainer at AllBreed Obedience.
In 2001 she moved again, this time to upstate New York. Kristina opened SmartDog Dog Training in November 2001 with two classes (puppy and beginner) and has now expanded to offer up to twelve classes a week at various levels of training. She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and regularly attends seminars and conferences to continue educating herself about effective methods for training people and their dogs and about dog behavior problems and solutions.
In November 2004, Kristina became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, the first in the area. To further her understanding of behavior, she will be starting graduate school in biopsychology in the fall of 2008. She will be studying social behavior and cognition in dogs. Kristina shares her home with an adopted Australian Shepherd, a hound mix and a cat.
SmartDog's class instructors are committed to providing our students with a supportive and successful class environment. They have a strong understanding of the science of dog training and attend seminars in the field on a regular basis. All of our trainers interned at SmartDog for at least a year before teaching on their own and all are working toward becoming a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. Each class also has a training assistant that aids the trainer during class and ensures that each student gets plenty of personal attention. The assistants have all taken and/or observed classes before becoming assistants and many of them have additional training in the field of behavior or animal care.
Jessica Beers
Jessica Beers is a class instructor for SmartDog Dog Training. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with courses in animal behavior. Jessica started as an intern at SmartDog Dog Training in 2005. In 2006, she became contracted as one of our trainers and continues to teach several classes a week. Jessica is also certified in pet first aid through the American Red Cross and is a current member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). She also owns For Paws Pet Sitting where she offers dog walking and overnight pet sitting services. Jessica has a Sheltand Sheepdog named Roxy and two kittens.
Becky Maurice
Becky Maurice is a class instructor for SmartDog Dog Training. She is a graduate of the University Of Connecticut with a degree in Animal Science. During the day she works full-time as a trainer for 40 Morgan horses at a local horse farm. Becky started at SmartDog as a student with her dog, Rita, a saluki mix. Rita used to be reactive with other dogs, but due to Becky’s commitment and training skills, Rita is now much calmer around other dogs. She also shares her life with York, a Jack Russell, several cats, and two horses, one of which is completely clicker trained. She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
Contacts
Kristina Gage Office: (518) 893-7444
Email: training@smartdogschool.com
Mailing Address: 218 Bockes Rd., Porter Corners, NY 12859
Class Locations: Benson's Pet Center
Locations and Directions
Group classes are currently taught at Benson's Pet Center in Saratoga Springs. Privates are usually done in the client's home, but are also offered at Benson's.
Directions to Benson's: Benson's is located on Route 50, just past the Wilton Mall. It is in the same building as Rex Electronics. From the Northway (I-87) take Exit 15 and head toward the mall. Benson's is on your right, just past the Wilton Mall and a mini-storage company. From the east, take Route 50 into Saratoga Springs. Benson's is on your left, across the street from the new shopping area with Pier 1 and Marshall's. Once you get to Benson's, drive around the right side of the building and through the metal gate (it should be open). You can enter the training area through the glass door in the side of the building. Click here for personalized directions.
