My D g Mama
Charleston, South Carolina
Building Bonds, One Paw at a Time
About Me
Hi, my name is Gretchen. I'm a certified dog trainer with over five years of experience working with over 300 clients. I specialize in basic obedience, behavior modification, leash reactivity, and off-leash reliability in both puppies and adult dogs.
My love for dogs has been a lifelong passion, and moving to Daniel Island has given me the opportunity to bring that passion and skillset to the Charleston community.
I'm dedicated to empowering dog owners with the skills necessary to communicate effectively and create lasting, loving relationships with their dogs.
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Private Puppy Program
Our "Private Puppy Program" is key to a balanced journey with your new pup. We will be covering housebreaking, basic obedience, kennel training, leash training, puppy play biting, and more. We tailor each lesson to meet your puppy's unique needs and your specific goals. We focus on establishing solid communication and teaching right from wrong, helping your puppy become a well-behaved companion from the get-go.
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Fundamental Focus Program
Our "Fundamental Focus Program" is designed to develop a solid foundation of tools and techniques for you and your dog. We cover basic obedience, leash reactivity, and behavior modification using various training methods. An important aspect of this program is creating consistency and routine for your dog. As the name implies, fundamental training will set up the framework for you to have a strong line of communication with your dog.
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Independence Program
With the "Independence Program" we take the framework that comes with the Fundamental Focus Program then build on it with more of a focus on behavior modification. Examples include off-leash reliability, separation anxiety, and instances of desired socialization or distraction training. A lot of this program revolves around building your dog's confidence levels to help them handle various situations that may arise in everyday life.
Testimonials
I began working with Gretchen back in 2020 when she trained my Aussiedoodle, Shiloh. From day one I could tell that Gretchen was the perfect fit for us! She is so incredibly kind and patient but also very skilled at getting Shiloh to listen and obey. Shiloh absolutely loves her time with Gretchen and has even developed a friendship with Gretchen's dog Maizee.
I can't possibly put into words how grateful we are to have found Gretchen. I have recommended her to many of my friends and will continue to do so.
-Angela Bostelman
Working with Gretchen was one of the best decisions our family has made for our dog, Lily. We saw Lily transform from a pup who struggled with stubbornness, distraction, and aggression to one who now loves obeying commands, remains calm around other dogs, and has so many new valuable skills! And that is all thanks to how Gretchen catered to our particular needs and showed up consistently with patience and wisdom to share. We realized very quickly that Gretchen wasn’t just helping Lily develop the tactics she needed as our dog, but also providing us with the thoughtfulness we needed to help Lily grow. We would recommend Gretchen to any family looking for help with their pet — we are so grateful for her work and heart!
-The Wellmans
When I came to Gretchen I had a 90 pound dog named Blue who was running me right into the ground. He would yank like there was no tomorrow, he would bark at every person he saw - even worse if it was a man! - and he was an anxious little baby. And in walked Gretchen. She not only trained Blue in an expert way, but she trained us as well. As a regular and consistent communicator, an expert trainer, and someone who really loves the pups she works with, we really lucked out with Gretchen. In fact, when we relocated to Washington, DC, the work we had done with Gretchen prior ensured a smooth transition for Blue. There was a time when I would have avoided a hike with Blue because he was a bit unpredictable, and in the picture above, we had just crushed a giant hike together. Run, don't walk to this angel of pup-land.
-Mehgan Sobel
Committed to Outstanding Canine Care
At My Dog Mama, our commitment to excellence drives us to continually refine our skills and remain at the forefront of the latest dog training techniques. With Gretchen, a certified dog trainer, your dog receives the highest level of care and expertise.