Business Details
30 Years
experience
Professional Positive Dog Training Services
Positive Motivation Dog Train, founded in 1996 by certified dog behavior consultant Pam Dennison, specializes in positive reinforcement dog training for obedience, behavior modification, and service dog preparation. With decades of experience in competition obedience, rally, and aggression rehabilitation, we empower owners through personalized private sessions, live online classes, and pre-recorded video courses. Our methodology focuses on building communication, trust, and mutual respect between dogs and handlers while avoiding aversive techniques.We serve clients locally in New Jersey and globally through virtual training, offering flexible scheduling and evidence-based solutions tailored to individual needs. Our team maintains active involvement in professional organizations like the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and the Dog Writers Association of America, ensuring our practices remain at the forefront of humane, science-backed training.
Services
Private Dog Training
Online Video Classes
Service Dog Training
Aggression Rehabilitation
Competition Obedience
Rally Training
Whistle Recall Instruction
Scent Discrimination
Multiple Dog Household Management
Behavior Consultations
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of experience in positive reinforcement training methodologies
- Our owner holds multiple advanced competition titles with her own dogs
- We provide flexible training options including virtual sessions and video courses
- Our methods are backed by scientific research and professional certifications
- We specialize in solving complex behavior issues like reactivity and aggression
Associations and certifications
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA)
What people say
Positive methods work
Improved behavior
Expertise evident
Personalized approach
Effective virtual training
Services
Private Dog Training
Customized training programs address basic manners, behavior issues, and advanced skills. Sessions focus on building communication between handler and dog using positive reinforcement techniques. Ideal for dogs with specific needs or owners seeking personalized instruction.
Online Video Classes
Self-paced training programs with instructor feedback cover obedience, competition preparation, and behavior management. Courses include pre-recorded lessons with optional live Q&A sessions for comprehensive learning support. Suitable for remote clients worldwide.
Service Dog Training
Specialized programs develop service dogs for medical alert, mobility assistance, and psychiatric support roles. Training emphasizes public access skills, task-specific behaviors, and handler-dog partnership development through structured protocols.
Aggression Rehabilitation
Targeted interventions address reactivity, fear-based aggression, and resource guarding through systematic desensitization. Programs include owner education on reading canine body language and implementing behavior change strategies.
Competition Obedience
Advanced instruction prepares dogs and handlers for AKC, CDSP, and World Cynosport competitions. Focus areas include precision heeling, directed retrieves, and advanced obedience routines using positive reinforcement methods.
People
Pam Dennison
Owner/Head Trainer
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with IAABC and award-winning author of multiple dog training books. Competes nationally with her own dogs in obedience and rally, holding multiple advanced titles. Developed innovative positive training methodologies adopted by professionals worldwide.
Questions
What training methods do you use?
We exclusively use positive reinforcement techniques with no aversives, focusing on building desired behaviors through rewards and clear communication.
Do you offer virtual training options?
Yes, we provide Zoom sessions and online courses for clients worldwide, maintaining the same quality as in-person instruction.
Can you help with aggressive dog behavior?
Our specialized aggression rehabilitation program addresses reactivity and fear-based behaviors through systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning.
What competition obedience levels do you teach?
We prepare teams for all levels from novice to utility/versatility, with proven success in AKC, CDSP, and World Cynosport competitions.
How long are private training sessions?
Private lessons last one hour with customized follow-up plans, including homework exercises and progress tracking resources.
Do you guarantee results?
While we can't guarantee outcomes, our structured approach and 30+ years of experience maximize success when clients consistently follow training protocols.
Reviews (5)
Tobey Wodder
Feb 03, 2021
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Fifteen years ago I worked with Pam to train my puppy. The results were amazing, giving us the best dog we've ever had, with a foundation that allowed her to become a therapy dog. Recently we adopted a rescue dog and faced some concerning problems. I messaged Pam and she responded immediately, giving great advice on both how to train the dog and how to make the best decision for dog & family going forward. Pam is wise, experienced and confident. Best of all, her methods are based on kindness and positivity and bring the greatest results in obedience and temperament.
Laraine Mocenigo
Mar 27, 2020
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Pam is a remarkably talented and incredible dog trainer who loves dogs. She can read the most subtle body language and behaviors of a dog and tailor training to every dog's quirks. She pulls amazing suggestions out of her incredible knowledge base to overcome what I see as insurmountable roadblocks. She breaks down training into small, easy steps that quickly turn into the behavior you're working towards, and has left me thinking, "wow, we got it!
How did she figure that out?" Her DVDs and online training are easy to follow and understand and she mostly employs dogs who are not already trained, which allows you to see the types of issues you might encounter instead of just the perfected end result. Because I recently moved, I started doing Skype/Zoom training with her and she has the logistics perfected, and our private sessions have been able to continue. If you want to learn easy steps to train your individual dog, Pam is the best. Her techniques are positive and rewarding for both the dog and handler!
How did she figure that out?" Her DVDs and online training are easy to follow and understand and she mostly employs dogs who are not already trained, which allows you to see the types of issues you might encounter instead of just the perfected end result. Because I recently moved, I started doing Skype/Zoom training with her and she has the logistics perfected, and our private sessions have been able to continue. If you want to learn easy steps to train your individual dog, Pam is the best. Her techniques are positive and rewarding for both the dog and handler!
Christine Buckner
Apr 17, 2019
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This woman is nothing short of remarkable. Pam has such a way with dogs and so perfectly explains the "why" behind what she is asking you to do. She's a wealth of information, with a variety of tricks to help stay positive and calm.
George Ryder
Jan 15, 2019
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Pam is amazing in her understanding of dog behavior and in her ability to devise training steps to improve the relationship between owner and dog. My dog, Ginger, had developed some noisy barking, growling behaviors with strangers which were getting worse. Pam's methods quickly develop the dogs focus on the owner to produce good behaviors that provide a substitute for unwanted reactions. Overall my dog is much calmer, more responsive, better behaved, loves Pam, and thoroughly enjoyed the classes.
Marguerite Plank
Dec 25, 2015
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I've been following Pam Dennison's advice since I first discovered her book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training" many years ago. It totally changed the way I train my dogs, and we're all happier for it. That book is out of print now, but she has revised, updated, and self-published its follow-up, "You CAN Train Your Dog." You don't have to go to New Jersey to train with her, though.
I took the first part of Pam's "Clean up your act" online course several months ago and I enjoyed it so much that I'm back for Part 2! Pam always responded to my messages and had constructive comments on my videos--it was a very encouraging process! I have to say, too, that you have to pay many hundreds of dollars more for such individual attention in some other online courses. Since I took the first class, my newer dog has earned multiple obedience and rally titles. But I recognize that if I want to advance farther up the obedience ladder, well, I have to keep "cleaning up our act"!
I took the first part of Pam's "Clean up your act" online course several months ago and I enjoyed it so much that I'm back for Part 2! Pam always responded to my messages and had constructive comments on my videos--it was a very encouraging process! I have to say, too, that you have to pay many hundreds of dollars more for such individual attention in some other online courses. Since I took the first class, my newer dog has earned multiple obedience and rally titles. But I recognize that if I want to advance farther up the obedience ladder, well, I have to keep "cleaning up our act"!
