ABOUT
MAGGIE MARSHAlL
Professional Dog Trainer & Canine Behavior consultant
Maggie guides families to discover how their dogs can be the ultimate teachers of balance, health, and joy. By meeting their dogs' needs and creating a sense of safety, families unlock calmness and harmony in their homes. Maggie’s training goes beyond obedience—it's a journey of growth, connection, and wellness for both pets and their people.
Through personalized guidance, she helps families embrace the benefits of fresh air, play, exercise, and the joy of learning new skills with their dogs. Training with Maggie feels almost like therapy, inspiring confidence, mindfulness, and a deeper appreciation for life's simple pleasures.
As a mother, wife, grandmother, and experienced dog trainer, she brings a holistic, family-centered approach that nurtures meaningful connections and lasting well-being—for both two- and four-legged members of the family.
Now that you know who Maggie is, see below for what she has done.
RESUME
Graduate of Animal Behavior College and received ABCDT in 2009.
Mentored by the late Bob Hammesfahr, owner of Behavior Training for Dogs.
Featured on Channel 4 Morning LIVE, in reports about both dog attacks and dog safety.
Received Professional Dog Trainer Certification from CPDT in 2015.
Served as Safety Patrol Staff for the National Strutt Your Mutt Event by Best Friends Animal Society in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
One of only 474 people in the world to hold a Certification of Canine Behavior Consultant (2019). She has over 500 hours of specialized training in fear and aggression, as well as expertise guiding people through tough decisions concerning dogs.
Completed the most comprehensive aggression course in the world: Aggression in Dogs Master Course in 2018.
Voted Best Trainer in the City in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Jacksonville Magazine and Top Trainer for Sniff Spot in 2023.
Mentor Trainer for Animal Behavior College.
Guest speaker at Safe Animal Shelter, San Jose Beauclerc Animal Hospital, Happy Hounds Dog Resort, St. John’s Community College, Pet Therapy Expo, K9 Obedience Club, and the DePaul School.
Consultant for NE FL GREAT Rescue, Clay Humane Society, and Pawstars Pet Care.
Taught Group Classes at Safe Animal Shelter, Poochies Park, Pawstars Pet Care, Happy Hound Dog Resort, Birch Island Animal Hospital, Palm Valley Veterinary Center and her own facility.
Currently an Adoption Counselor for Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida.
Featured on the podcast, Pet Professionals Unleashed (at work and home) by Colleen Pelar. 2024
In 2024, featured in Voyage Jacksonville Magazine as an inspiring entrepreneur.
In 2024, featured in Canvas Rebel as a brilliant small business owner.
MAGGIE’S METHOD
Maggie prefers not to label herself or her methods using the current terminology, (positive reinforcement, balanced, etc.) because it can often be misleading and misunderstood. Describing her methods will give you a full understanding of what you can expect.
Maggie employs the concept of LIMA: Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive to her training and always discusses her methods openly and honestly and seeks approval from the dog’s owner. She highly respects the dog and the family and will make every effort to agree upon anything used or done to the dog. Maggie focuses on educating the owner about normal dog behavior, setting realistic goals, and creating a calm dog that is easy to manage and enjoy.
Management may be used in the form of crates, tethers, leashes and gates to prevent behaviors from occurring.
Crates are used minimally to keep dogs safe when they are alone, resting or sleeping, until they can be reliably free without accidents or chewing. Most dogs can be transitioned to not need a crate, if the owner desires this.
Tethers are used if the dog is a danger to others.
Leashes are used when it makes sense: on walks, when first meeting people, and for control around things, until the dog’s behavior is reliable and can be trusted to listen.
2. Marker Words: Marker words are used to “mark” behaviors as they happen, to help the dog identify behaviors and predict consequences. Food rewards are constantly adjusted, and weaned completely, when behaviors are reliable in each setting desired.
3. Corrections/Punishment/Discipline: E-collars are NOT used.
Prong collar may be used if agreed upon. In some situations, it is a life altering tool. A prong collar may be warranted if a dog can overpower an owner or Maggie, a dog is dangerous, or the dog has learned to ignore other equipment.
Verbal corrections, leash corrections, and Maggie’s discipline method are used to teach the dog what NOT to do. These are all hands off forms. Corrections are used until the dog no longer requires them and no longer performs the unwanted behavior. Examples of times these may be used are barking excessively, stealing food, anything dangerous, etc.
Consequences are used in many forms; receiving a food reward or not, ignoring the dog, walking away, putting a toy away, receiving a toy, petting, eye contact, praise, etc.