Business Details
21 Years
experience
Expert Dog Training in Colorado
BlackPaw Dog Training is Colorado's premier dog board and train and rehabilitation service, dedicated to creating harmony between dogs and their families through personalized training approaches. With over 20 years of experience, our team specializes in addressing behavioral issues such as anxiety, aggression, and obedience challenges using humane methods like vibrating electronic collars and positive reinforcement. Founded by Certified Professional Dog Trainer Bernadette Pflug, our programs are designed to develop calm, confident dogs while fostering trust and respect between pets and their owners.We pride ourselves on individualized attention, transforming over 2,000 dogs and serving 5,000+ satisfied clients. Our philosophy emphasizes clear communication, boundary-setting, and long-term behavioral solutions tailored to each dog's unique needs.
Services
Board and Train
Rehabilitation
Puppy Training
Behavior Modification
Obedience Training
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in dog behavior and rehabilitation.
- Our programs use humane, science-based methods tailored to each dog.
- Founder Bernadette Pflug is a certified professional dog trainer with law enforcement commendations.
- We provide personalized follow-up support to maintain training results.
- Our small-class focus ensures individualized attention for every dog.
Associations and certifications
- CPDT (Certified Professional Dog Trainer)
What people say
Life-changing results
Well-behaved dogs
Compassionate trainers
Expertise in aggression
Confident off-leash control
Services
Board and Train Program
Our immersive board-and-train program addresses obedience, anxiety, and aggression through personalized daily sessions. Dogs learn commands, leash manners, and confidence-building skills in a structured environment. Clients receive hands-on follow-up lessons to maintain progress at home, ensuring lasting behavioral changes for improved family life.
Behavior Rehabilitation
Specialized rehabilitation targets fear, anxiety, and aggression using positive reinforcement techniques. Customized plans help reactive dogs socialize safely while teaching owners effective communication strategies. Success stories include rescued dogs overcoming trauma and regaining trust in human interactions.
Puppy Head Start
This early-intervention program focuses on potty training, bite inhibition, and basic commands for puppies aged 10 weeks to 6 months. Structured daytime sessions build foundational skills, preparing young dogs for lifelong obedience and reducing future behavioral challenges through consistent guidance.
Off-Leash Training
Our off-leash programs develop reliable recall and impulse control using vibrating collar technology. Dogs learn to respond to commands in distracting environments, enabling safe outdoor adventures. Owners gain confidence in managing their dogs without physical restraints during hikes and public outings.
Socialization Classes
Controlled group sessions improve dogs' social skills with other pets and people. Trainers address reactivity through gradual exposure, teaching appropriate play behaviors and calm interactions. Weekly pack walks reinforce positive habits for long-term social confidence in various environments.
People
Bernadette Pflug
Founder / Head Trainer
Certified Professional Dog Trainer with 10+ years in search-and-rescue, Bernadette specializes in behavior rehabilitation. She combines equine training techniques with dog psychology to resolve complex cases, featured in media outlets like Animal Planet and Denver Post.
Lexie
Dog Trainer
Former Humane Society trainer focused on canine cognition, Lexie emphasizes positive reinforcement. She owns a Border Collie and Cattle Dog, applying her expertise in creating supportive learning environments for dogs and owners.
Alaina
Dog Trainer
Overcame leash reactivity challenges with her own shepherd mix, Alaina now helps families manage difficult behaviors. Her anthropology background informs her approach to human-dog relationship dynamics and communication strategies.
Elianna
Assistant Dog Trainer
Equine Science graduate with competitive horse training experience, Elianna applies animal behavior principles across species. She manages four trained dogs and contributes to our holistic training methodology at the facility.
Questions
What training methods do you use?
We use humane, science-based techniques including vibrating collars and positive reinforcement, avoiding pain or fear-based approaches.
Do you guarantee results?
While we can't guarantee 100% compliance, our 20+ years of success with challenging cases demonstrates high effectiveness when owners follow our guidance.
How long does training take?
Most board-and-train programs last 2-3 weeks, with follow-up sessions ensuring long-term behavioral maintenance at home.
Can older dogs be trained?
Yes! We've successfully trained dogs up to 9 years old, proving age doesn't limit behavioral improvements with proper techniques.
What behavioral issues do you handle?
We specialize in aggression, anxiety, reactivity, separation issues, and obedience challenges for all breeds and sizes.
Do you offer post-training support?
Yes, we provide follow-up lessons, weekly pack walks, and ongoing consultation to maintain training effectiveness after program completion.
Reviews (1)
Meredith Whipple Callahan
May 18, 2022
Report
We can't say enough good things about Bernadette and her team at BlackPaw. Our dog, Charlie, is high-anxiety and crate-resistant. We tried positive reinforcement training, and, while obedient, she still struggled on numerous dimensions. We did the board-and-train and it gave us a way of communicating more effectively with Charlie. We honestly went from trying to figure out how Charlie could be a part of our family to having her be happily a part of the pack. We continue to go back for boarding and are so grateful they are here!
