Calmer walks, steadier days, a dog who feels safe
Force-Free Dog training in Whatcom Co., WA
Hi, I'm Sara! A certified behavior consultant working one-on-one with reactive, fearful, and easily overwhelmed dogs in Whatcom County. Tell me what's going on with your dog, and I'll let you know whether I'm the right fit, what I'd recommend, and where to go from here. No prong collars, no e-collars, no intimidation.
Harsher tools don't fix fear. Understanding does.
Prong collars, e-collars, and dominance advice can look like fast results, because a dog who's afraid to react looks calm. Underneath, the fear is still there, so is the bite risk. I work in the other direction: lower the stress first, then build the skills that hold up when it counts.
Rooted in Science
Modern learning science and Fear Free protocols, not dominance folklore. My training comes from KPA, the Aggression in Dogs Master Course, and Family Dog Mediation.
Safety Before Obedience
A dog who feels safe can learn. I lower stress and build trust first, so behavior change actually holds instead of hiding under pressure.
Real-World Training
I do the work myself, in the moments that go sideways: the sidewalk, the doorway, the vet's exam table. Then I hand those skills to you.
Humane methods only — no shock collars, prong collars, or "alpha" tactics. Ever.
Hi, I'm Sara. Dogs like yours are my whole practice
Things change fast once a dog is heard instead of handled.
I'm Sara Dimas, a certified behavior consultant in Whatcom County, WA. My work centers on dogs’ other trainers pass on: leash reactivity, bite histories, deep fear, dogs who can't tolerate a nail trim or a vet exam. I'm a Karen Pryor Academy graduate, Fear Free Certified, a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and a graduate of Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course. What that credential list really buys you is judgment — knowing which dogs I can help, which ones need a veterinary behaviorist first, and how to tell you the difference honestly.
Behavior work that meets your dog where they are
Everything I do starts with behavior first: what's driving the barking, the lunging, the shutting down. Once I've seen your dog in person, I'll tell you honestly which format will move the needle fastest: a class with structure and space, focused one-on-one work, or getting out on the sidewalk together. Sometimes it's a combination, and sometimes it changes as your dog changes.
Not sure which one fits? Send me a note about your dog and we'll figure it out together.
Private Lessons
One-on-one sessions for the behavior that needs a dedicated plan: reactivity, aggression history, fear, resource guarding, or handling and vet-visit tolerance. We work in the environments where the problem actually shows up.
Reactive Dog Walks
Structured outings for dogs who find the world loud. Predictable routes, decompression, and controlled exposure at a distance your dog can handle — with sniffing encouraged and no pressure to perform.
Group Classes
Small, carefully managed classes for dogs who can't cope with a typical training room. Generous spacing, visual barriers, and a curriculum built around thresholds and recovery instead of sit-stay drills.
Kind words from owners:
Free guide
5 training myths that keep dogs stressed
A short, science-backed mindset reset that replaces dominance advice with what actually helps — so you can move forward without fear or force.
Let's make ordinary days ordinary again
Tell me what's happening with your dog. I'll read it myself and tell you honestly whether I can help or point you toward who can.
Serving Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, and greater Whatcom County.