About

We all want what's best for our pets, but we don't always know how to go about it. At Ruff Start Dog Training, it's our goal to teach you about your dog so you can have a peaceful and fulfilling life with your dog.

NICE TO MEET YOU

I'm Amy Dunlap

I'm a certified dog trainer through Animal Behavior College and an AKC Evaluator. I have experience training working wildlife management dogs in the Chicagoland area and dog fitness as taught by the professionals at Penn Vet Working Dog Center. I volunteered with Chicagoland's chapter of Pets for Vets, pairing companion dogs with Veterans. My husband was an Army Ranger, so I have a deep respect for service members and their families. I have experience with fear and anxiety cases with dogs (2 years mentored), and have been successfully training dogs since 2014. I have always held an affinity for the relationship between people and dogs. My goal is to use proven, science-backed methods to train PEOPLE to train their own dogs, so they don't need a trainer anymore.

I am hoping to provide a community here where you can find solutions through my videos, blog posts, books, subscription community, virtual, or in-person training. If you can't afford to have me to your home, I hope to offer you other affordable resources so you can find solutions within your budget. I have the most amazing friends and mentors whom I trust with my own dogs, who will give multiple perspectives and ideas to help. Please join our community. Ask your questions freely with no judgment, and receive honest answers for your problems. Let's work together to take your dog from their Ruff Start to your DREAM companion.

Our Dogs:

Carrots:

Carrots is the newest addition to our family. He is a pure-bred Golden Retriever puppy who is full of life and confidence. He absolutely loves people, and we hope, soon after he is a year old, to have him certified to be a Therapy Dog for local hospitals, libraries, schools, and nursing homes. He loves affection, treats, and any toy you put in front of him. You will see him featured in our training videos titled "Training Carrots" on Facebook and TikTok. He's my helper in making content to help teach you how to train your dog.

Athena

Named for the God of wisdom, this brilliant girl is a local rescue who was a foster fail. She ended up having so much promise, that Amy took this teenaged rock star in. She is FULL of energy and has a few insecurities to work through, but she is extremely solid when it comes to the important stuff and has already proven to be a very useful helper in Amy's training. She is going to be very athletic once her joints finish growing, but for now, she's getting tons of enrichment through training, brain games, helping Amy train other dogs, and her favorite- FETCH! Look out for this girl. She's very special and MAY just help your dogs in their lessons.

Our Property:

11 Acres of mountainside in the beautiful hills of Weston, WV.

Dog Training classes are usually held in our driveway of our home, while private lessons can range anywhere on the property based on your dog's needs. In inclement weather, we hold classes in the basement.

Our address is: 54 Liberty Dr. Weston, WV 26452

Call Amy Directly at (219)314-1874

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