I'm Marilyn — a balanced trainer with ten years of hands-on work, specializing in aggression rehabilitation and off-leash reliability. Every dog is different. Every relationship is worth the work.
trail-tested.
real dogs · real dirt
The approach
Balanced training means I use the right tool for the right dog — no dogma, no gimmicks. Some dogs need structure before they can relax. Some need permission before they can try. All of them need an honest relationship with their person.
That relationship is my real job. The sit, the heel, the off-leash recall — those come after.
How I can help
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The deepest transformation in the shortest window.
Your dog lives with me and we work together — three hours a day of one-on-one training plus behavior shaping woven through every moment of the stay. The goal is accountability, freedom, and a dog you can actually live with.
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Hard cases, handled with care.
Aggression and reactivity look different in every dog. I've had deep success across a wide range of cases — from leash-reactive to resource-guarding to dog-on-dog. We'll build a plan that fits your dog, not a template.
The same result as board and train — it just asks more of you.
Four lessons that, paired with real effort between sessions, can take your dog to the same place a board and train would. It's slower, but it builds a stronger handler.
A working vacation for your dog.
While you're away, your dog gets alternating daily training sessions and trail hikes. They come home tired, calmer, and often a little better trained than when they left.
An hour of training, or a real adventure.
Either a focused training walk or a multi-hour hike on a proper trail — your choice. For many dogs, this is the easiest way to start.
A working vacation for your dog.
While you're away, your dog gets alternating daily training sessions and real trail hikes. They come home tired, calmer, and a little better trained than when they left.
What owners say
"Marilyn is awesome. The difference was night and day when we did the board and train with our corgi. When we got another dog and signed up for a weekend boarding, Marilyn took the time to meet her a couple of weeks before drop-off and get familiar. I'd recommend her to anyone."
"Marilyn is the best. She helped ease my nervous doodle right away, and always does. She trained my two puppies and it was worth every penny — they no longer beg for food, they listen to commands. Now I am comfortable going away on trips boarding them with her, knowing they're in perfect loving hands."
"Best dog trainer around. You won't find a more compassionate, caring, and all-around great trainer for your dog. She truly is amazing at what she does."
"Just got our labradoodle back from a few days of board & train with Marilyn. I'm amazed at what she was able to teach her in such a short period. She went in only knowing sit and 'come back' — and came home consistent on down, stay, starting to heel, and no more jumping. Highly recommend."
"Marilyn is an excellent trainer and is wonderful with dogs. I adopted a puppy that Marilyn had been fostering — Broccoli came to us potty trained, could understand sit and stay, and was crate trained, all while being only a few months old. Highly recommend her services."
Ready when you are
Every dog and every home is different. Text me and we'll find the right path.