ABOUT
MAGGIE MARSHAlL
Professional Dog Trainer & Canine Behavior consultant
Maggie refers to herself as a “family dog trainer” because she works best with all the beautifully ordinary issues that come with life in a family home. She is a wife, mother and grandmother, and knows by experience how a dog can be an amazing family member or a stressful burden. Maggie enjoys working with people of all ages, all abilities, and developing creative solutions to make life with your dog harmonious.
All cases are approached with three things in mind; safety first, basic needs second and training third. This allows for the correct priorities to be established and optimizes learning.
Because Maggie prefers to work with “family dogs,” she does not offer service dog training or dog sports. Her training is focused on having a well behaved, family dog that gets along well with its family’s routine and lifestyle, is safe with people, and responds to the cues that each family needs. Maggie does not focus on traditional obedience, but on calmness, listening and an overall behavior that pleases each owner. Things like riding in the car, good play with children, good behavior around furniture and counters, an educated and empowered owner and lots of calmness is what is important to most families. If you want an awesome family dog, Maggie is your trainer.
Maggie Marshall Dog Training was founded in 2009 in the Jacksonville, FL area. Maggie left the Jacksonville business to be run by her son, Joe, when she relocated to West Palm Beach, FL in June 2023. With a new address, and a new outlook, Maggie has begun to establish her business in South Florida and is focusing on providing training with a truly personal touch.
Be sure to check out Maggie’s extensive resume and transparent methods below.
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.
Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR.
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.
Currently a Foster Family for Cavalier Rescue of Florida.
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. Clicker or Marker Word and Food: Clickers and marker words are used to “mark” behaviors as they happen and are followed by a food reward. Once the behavior is learned, the marker is no longer used. 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.