The Cooperative Dog

Vera is passionate about animals in general and particularly man’s best friend , the dog. I took my almost 5 year old rescue mix , Papillon/ Dachshund to The Cooperative Dog after reading and hearing many positive reviews. I wanted my dog to be certified in the CGC program to join me on my visits with hospice clients . Sundays from 12-1:15 became my favorite day of the week for 7 sessions/visits. For over an hour we would be with 4-5 other dogs of a variety of breeds and their humans. Vera and her expertise in handling the variety of figs, all at different levels , was very impressive . She gave us history and examples of the fogs her career has encountered . I felt very confident in her approach with all the dogs. My Zoey passed the ten checkpoints for the Canine Good Citizen test and her certificate is proudly displayed by where her water bowl is . We have already visited 4 different people multiple times and they are all very impressed with her . I felt listened to and will recommend anyone with a canine needing help in the obedience department to Vera. It certainly makes the world. A better place when our pets are well behaved .

Vera is one of a kind trainer who has decades of experience that is shown immediately through her thinking and thoughtfulness with each issue that arises. Her deep and personal understanding of each dog and their breed has helped me as an owner become more calm, more knowledgeable and have seen actionable advice to really help me and my dog’s relationship become better and stronger. Honestly very lucky to have met Vera and be part of her practice.

We had a fantastic introductory session with Vera and then enrolled our pup in her adult dog beginner training course as our dog was over a year old at the time. We learned how to safely introduce him to other dogs and how to train him in his basic manners. The skills Vera enforced have been helpful to us daily as we continue his training journey! Not only did we learn basic training but we also learned how to match his pace as well. He is now so much more comfortable putting on booties for the snow and any type of harness/clothing to go on walks (he was terrified of harnesses before!). I highly recommend training in general for any pup and recommend Vera as she is so knowledgeable and experienced.

Vera is the best dog trainer I've ever worked with, and I've known several. She is incredibly observant, knowledgeable, patient, and supportive - everything you need in someone who is training both your dog and you to handle any scenario life throws at you. She truly has a way with dogs and you can tell she understands them at a deep level. I highly recommend her classes - they're extremely well thought out and the perfect mix of a controlled environment with plenty of distractions for your dog to practice with. And of course, our dog absolutely loves being there! Thanks to Vera, our dog has passed the CGC and we are continually working on his obedience and socialization skills with the tools we learned from her!

I would strongly recommend Vera to anyone looking for a professional dog trainer; she is one of the most experienced in the Boston area. I’ve been working with her since our mini poodle came home at 10 weeks old (he is 1 yo now). We have done weekly puppy foundations classes and dedicated private lessons when needed. Vera is incredibly knowledgeable (her certifications and experience were why I selected her in the first place, even though there are many other trainers closer to me) and thoughtful about working with the dog in front of you. She has helped us (a high-energy, agility line pup and first-time owner combo) navigate some tricky teenager months, and we are on our way to having a well balanced, polite guy in public. Her puppy classes cover all aspects of canine care, from the usual obedience training to desensitization and cooperative care, to help you get to a well rounded, cooperative companion over time. Our local MSCPA (where we did some agility and nosework courses) also said that Vera is their go-to for aggression/reactivity cases, so she is experienced in handling more challenging situations as well.