My name is Gayle Cosentino and I am the Owner and Trainer of It's a 'Paws'-itive Thing dog training. From the time I was a little girl and brought that first stray dog home my passion has been helping dogs. I bring my life-long love for animals, experience in dog ownership and veterinary care, together with proven positive reinforcement training techniques, that both you and your pet will enjoy. I am a Certified Dog Trainer, having graduated from Animal Behavior College, certified in Pet CPR and First Aid and am also an AKC Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator. I am committed to helping dog owners build and strengthen their relationships with their pets.  I am a dog lover first, and a dog trainer second. I know from first-hand experience the difference dog training makes in the relationship between dog and owner.  I have two wonderful dogs of my own (Noodle  and Bean - Shadow, Squirt, Gizmo, Gadget and Doodle have crossed the rainbow bridge) and I know that without professional training, dog ownership can sometimes be a frustrating relationship, but with an investment in professional dog training a wonderful transformation will occur.

My experience extends from being an Animal Behavior College graduate to working at a veterinary hospital, shelter and rescue work, and obedience and behavior modification classes at Wheaton Park District. I have been working with dogs and their owners for 30 years and there is nothing more rewarding than to see a happy dog and a happy owner!

Browse through my website, enjoy the photos and videos and give me a call to find out more about professional dog training. Whether you are looking for group dog training  or private dog training, I am sure we can find a training class to fit your needs.



 ALSO:  ABC MENTOR TRAINER, CGC, CCGC  and S.T.A.R. PUPPY EVALUATOR      

Training Philosophy

Every trainer has different training methods and sometimes a different philosophy. While there are many methods of training, I have found that positive reinforcement methods are truly effective, long lasting and result in a well-balanced owner/pet relationship. There is no reason to dominate or intimidate your pet into getting the behavior you want. It is a short lived result.  Your long term result will come when you are an effective leader that they trust.  Being an effective leader means teaching your pet how to communicate with you and learning yourself how to communicate with your pet. Remember all your pet wants to do is please you, and rewarding and praising your pet for good behavior is all they ask for. 

My training philosophy is:

• Positive reinforcement training methods produce positive results.
• Harsh Leash corrections and yelling techniques are not necessary to effectively train a pet. In fact it usually results in negative behaviors.
• Strong owner leadership skills result in a strong owner/pet relationship.
• Training should be a fun and rewarding experience for the entire family (including your pet).
• Old Dogs CAN learn new tricks.

Coming from multi-pet household (three of which were abused) it keeps me reminded that each pet has a personality of their very own and that each pet requires training designed toward their individual personality, breed and family lifestyle. My extensive work with shelter dogs has also taught me that any dog can be taught appropriate doggie behavior and can be rehabilitated.

Let me show you how rewarding and how much fun training your pet can be. It is not only teaching your pet to sit when you say 'sit', but having your pet learn how to become an integrated part of your family. All classes are designed with your lifestyle in mind - basics, of course, are a must because without them specialized training will fail. We then place special focus on the things in your household that you consider to be intolerable behavior ..Some of these things may be counter-surfing, jumping, nipping, inability to walk on leash, recall, begging, etc.  We will tailor your class to suit your particular needs. We work on these things not only in a home environment but in group classes as well. Once you experience the ease and fun of professional dog training you will wonder why you waited so long.

I look forward to working with you, your family and your pet.