Rent safe and private dog parks hosted by locals

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David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

Sarah Weber

Dog trainer in Philadelphia

#28 in United States, #4 in Pennsylvania, #1 in Philadelphia

United States

Philadelphia

https://vcahospitals.com/wellington/team/sarah-weber

Service areas:

Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Newtown Square, Wayne, Radnor, Upper Merion, Eagleville, Havertown, Lower Merion

Sarah Weber
Animal Trainer
CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, PDT, CCAA, CCCS, APDT
Sarah's background is pretty diverse in the animal field. She has worked in all aspects of canine behavior as a Sales Specialist for local pet stores as well as dog grooming. She has worked as a Boarding and Daycare Operations Manager, Canine Handler, and Shift Lead at Penn Vet Working Dog Center through the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Sarah works by accessing genetics, breed, lifestyle, physical and mental health in dogs to fully understand why they behave the way they do. Sarah puts a heavy focus on emotional well-being, calmness and engagement to help foster positive experiences with her canine and human clients.

When Sarah is not working, she enjoys camping, hiking, yoga and rock-climbing, all while spending time with her two dogs.

Sarah holds numerous certifications, degrees, and accreditations, nationally and internationally, which includes:

Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed, (CPDT-KA)
International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants - Accredited Dog Trainer
Association of Professional Dog Trainers Accredited Dog Trainer, AKC Evaluator
Certified Canine Athletic Advisor
Certified Canine Conditioning Specialist
Professional Dog Trainer & Kennel Manager - Starmark Academy of Animal Behavior
Absolute Dogs - Pro Dog Trainer Academy
School of Canine Science - Canine Science Specialist

Certifications:

Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants-Accredited Dog Trainer, Association of Pet Dog Trainers- Member, AKC Evaluator, Certified Canine Athletic Advisor, Certified Canine Conditioning Specialist, Professional Dog Trainer- Absolute Dogs, Pet First Aid Certified, The Dog Gurus- Member, Master in Aggression

Dog training services include

  • Aggressive dog training
  • Reactive dog training
  • Service dog training
  • Agility training
  • Board and train
  • In home training
  • Off leash training
  • Puppy training

More info about Sarah Weber's dog training:

Group Classes- 2 to 6 dogs 1-hour classes held weekly. Price Varies based on class type. Class will begin with a 10-minute warm up session, during which the trainer will greet and briefly check over each puppy. The main body of the class will focus on training goals appropriate to the dogs, and then finish with a cool down session, just like a gym class! All of our classes are "Drop In" which means you pay per class and can come to as many classes as you would like. What to bring to group class: Your Dog A leash, Harness or Collar 200 dog treats A treat pouch, we love this brand, Petsafe Treat Pouch Your dog's favorite toy Basic & Advanced Obedience Saturdays 10 am to 11 am Perfect for dogs and owners who want to work on distance, duration and distraction skills. We have a new concept and skill list each week. A consultation session is required Cost: $65 per class, per dog Baby Prep 101 Class Expecting a tiny human? live with tiny humans? Just want your pup exposed to all things, tiny kiddos? This is the class for you! We will focus on positive interactions with cribs, strollers, bikes, toys, loud sounds, feeding time, handling skills, leash manners, management techniques and more. We do NOT require a consultation session for this class, but we do expect your dog to be able to work in the presence of other dogs Cost: $45 per class, per dog Puppy Prep 101 ClassLearn the basics in a fun twist! Work on engagement with your pet while around other puppies! Discussion and hands on skills for things like potty training, teething, nipping, play management and more! Cost: $65 per class per dog $20 for puppies enrolled in our weekly puppy prep program Nose Work Class Have a dog that loves to sniff? A pup that can't keep their nose off the ground? Imprinting and teaching them to find odor is a fantastic way to work their brains by meeting biological needs! We imprint on Clove, Birch, Anise, Cypress. Cost: $35 per class, per dog Day Training 30-minute training sessions without the owner present while your dog is boarding or in daycare at VCA Wellington. Focusing on agility, nose work and or training sessions! 30 minutes - $45 Puppy Prep Program- For all puppies 9 weeks or older! This is a 12-week program including daycare and training three times a week, held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at VCA Wellington. This includes three training sessions, lunch break and three group play sessions. We also offer the program 1-3 days a week. However, pups get the biggest benefit coming all three days a week. School starts at 9 am and ends at 4 pm. Pups are welcome here 7 am to 6:45 pm Puppy Daycare Age Requirements: 10 weeks old to 6 months old Vaccine Requirements to start: Require a minimum of 2 rounds of DHPP & 1 Round of Bordetella to START the program. We also require a clear fecal test. Full Vaccine Requirements: Rabies DHPP Combination- Distemper, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, Parvo, Para-influenza Bordetella Bivalent Influenza (H3N2/H3N8) Flea and Tick Preventative We highly recommend: Leptospirosis Lyme Puppy Daycare is held Monday- Friday at VCA Wellington & Family Pet Resort from 8 am until 4pm. This is separate from our group play daycare program. All Puppies play, rest and interact in a separate space from adult dogs for health and safety reasons. Our Puppy Daycare is a more intimate, slower paced program to help the developing puppy brain. We have a heavy focus on puppy developmental stages:socialization period, fear impact period, juvenile period, adolescent period. We place our puppies with adolescent and adult dog's who have graduated from our training programs. These are select dogs who are able to teach puppies how to safely and appropriately play. Once your dog graduates from Puppy daycare, they are welcome to attend our adult group play! They will need to schedule an evaluation prior to joining our Adult group. This program does NOT include teaching training skills like sit, down, leash manners, leave it, drop etc. Our Puppy Prep Training Program runs alongside our Puppy Daycare. If you prefer our Trainers work with your pup on training skills, you will be charged accordingly along with given homework. Enrichment Daycare Our Enrichment Daycare builds on genetically predisposed behaviors in a positive way. We challenge natural drives such as: chasing, sniffing, carrying objects, chewing, herding, climbing, etc. By challenging these natural behaviors, we help curb destructive or maladaptive behaviors such as chewing furniture, destroying objects, jumping, and more. Each enrichment activity is designed to provide an engaging, natural outlet while working on your dog's physical and mental needs. This program is appropriate for dogs who prefer the presence of humans only, smaller groups of dogs, or who get overstimulated in larger group settings. This includes (3) enrichment sessions and a lunch break during the day. Enrichment sessions can include small group play, fitness & agility, massage, nose work, chase games, herding games, and more. We also use FitPAWS® and Blue-9™ equipment designed to tone up your dog's body, increase core strength, stabilize weak areas, improve body awareness, coordination, range of motion, confidence, our bond with your dog, etc. Our Certified Canine Conditioning Specialist also offers canine massage. This helps promote softer, more glossy coats. Canine massage can also help relax pets and calm hyperactivity. Vaccine Requirements: Rabies DHPP Combination- Distemper, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, Parvo, Parainfluenza Bordetella Bivalent Influenza (H3N2/H3N8) Flea and Tick Preventative

Behavioral issue focus:

Aggression to dogs, strangers, humans in the home, dogs in the home, puppy training, separation anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior, reactivity to: familiar/unfamiliar dogs/people, objects,novelty, dog to dog behavior, group play evaluations, dog to baby relationship, herding, nipping, biting, attention seeking barking

Dog training methods:

The first step to scheduling would be a Consultation Session. This would be held at our facility in Newtown Square 3921 Miller Road, Newtown Square, PA, 19073. It is an hour-long session with the dog and owners, designed to better understand your dog, family and overall training goals. During this session, we will teach you about canine behavior, why your dog does what it does, and how to prevent & manage behavioral concerns. Afterwards, we will prepare a full training plan tailored to your dog and send it to you via email. We offer day school, private lessons, group classes, board and trains based on what we feel is best for the dog. we offer 24/7 365 day support for our clientele

Why I became a dog trainer:

amazing question! I became a dog trainer for a lot of reasons. The first, I actually really wanted to go to vet school. however, being dyslexic, I did not have the support at 17 that I have at 25. I transitioned into law enforcement studies to be a canine handler when I feel in love with dog training at penn vet working dog center as a volunteer and then kennel lead. Growing up, I always wanted to work with animals, I was a pet sitter, dog walker, kennel attendant, vet assistant etc. My first family dog was really was set the story for becoming a dog trainer. One of my clients tells me that I have the best "Why you should hire me" story. I was raised one of 7 kids. We were all under the age of 14 when my parents got us our first family dog. A 10 week old "native American Indian dog" if you know anything about the breed- not a good match for young kids and first time as adult dog owners. He was a loving dog to me.... he hated everyone else. I was in 2nd & 3rd grade when we had him. Looking back... he resources guarded spaces, food, objects, people (me), he had stranger directed aggression, conflict aggression and handling concerns. He absolutely hated my father. Long story, short. One night he ended up biting my youngest brother in the eye and he was medvaced to CHOP in philadelphia for emergency surgery. He thankfully retained his eyesight and healed! As for our dog, Lucas, He went on a 10 day bite hold. He relastically should have been euthanized then. At 9 days, they found a single guy, unmarried, no kids to take him... life happens and he ended up getting married and having a baby. He surreneded Lucas to a local sheltered where he was deemed unadoptable and behaviorally euthanized. I became a dog trainer to make sure history doesnt repeat itself. That we have dogs in the correct homes, that we keep dogs and humans safe. I became a dog trainer to support the best quality of life dog all dogs, and humans.

My favorite part of being a dog trainer:

There are so many things. It is very difficult to pick a favorite. I think the joy I can help bring to dogs lives. Whether it is a foster/shelter dog or a dog already placed in a home. There are so many wonderful people I have met through dog training!

My #1 dog training tip:

The rules of engagement! Eye contact, clear communication, and passion for your partner (dog or human) are key


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David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

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