Who We Are
Alexis Toriello, Founder & Trainer (She/Her)
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, M.A., ACDBC, CPDT-KA
Alexis is a certified professional dog trainer, behavior consultant and canine cognition researcher. She has nearly two decades of experience in dog behavior modification and has worked with thousands of dogs over the years, with needs ranging from fear to reactivity to separation anxiety and beyond.
Her methods avoid the use of force and rely on molding pet dogs' behavior by building positive life experiences and a strong relationship between human and dog. As a canine behavior and cognition researcher and long-time trainer, Alexis draws from a thorough knowledge of canine cognition and behavioral science, and bases her training on methods that are scientifically supported as being effective, humane, and lasting.
Alexis is an active member of the international dog behavior community. She is:
An International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (ACDBC)
โA Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)โ
A Master's Degree Candidate in Animal Behavior and Conservation at Hunter College
A professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)
A licensed Family Paws Parent Educator
Endorsed by the the โWashington Humane Society
Endorsed by Veterinary MDs Linda Isaacson and associates at Prospect Heights and Crown Heights Animal Hospitals, Lisa Scibetta of Hamilton Animal Hospital and Caroline Tan of Dupont Veterinary Clinic
A member of the national accrediting Animal Behavior Society
A member of The Association for Force Free Pet Professionals Pet Professionals Guild (PPG)
A member of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Professional Positive Pet Trainers (MAAPPPT) network formed by well-known behavior expert Pat Miller
A member of positive dog trainer networks Truly Dog Friendly ๏ปฟand Force Free Trainersโ.
Certified by the American Red Cross in Canine First-Aid and CPR
Alexis has extensive experience working in animal shelters as a canine behavior specialist and has done foundational work in city shelters in DC and NY to build their behavior departments and rehabilitate their most challenging dogs for life in homes. She has also trained shelter dogs as therapy and companion animals for disabled war veterans for the organization Pets2Vets.
Alexis was born and raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and currently lives in Kensington, Brooklyn with her dogs and her daughter. Look for her in Prospect Park and say hello!
Moriah Shapiro,
Dog Trainer (She/Her)
Certified PMCT1, CPDT-KA
Moriah was born and raised in Brooklyn. She initially started dog walking and boarding as a young child as a ruse to get dogs in the house, and quickly moved up to fostering dogs in her teen years. After working at various Animal Clinics in NYC and North Carolina as a Veterinary Assistant, she realized that her heart lay in the realm of animal behavior. Moriah has since taken courses in dog training, behavior and cognition at Pat Millerโs Peaceable Paws, where she learned how to train dogs using methods that are force-free and science-based to help cultivate a greater mutual understanding and stronger relationship between dogs and their guardians.
While Moriah currently does not have any furry companions of her own to speak of, she can often be seen adventuring in Prospect Park with whatever canine foster or boarder is currently in her care.
Shaunacy Ferro,
Dog Trainer (She/Her)
CCDT, FDM, CSAP-BC
Shaunacy Ferro is a certified animal trainer based in Brooklyn working
with dogs and cats. She graduated with distinction from the CATCH
Canine Trainers Academy and is a Certified Separation Anxiety Pro
Behavior Consultant, a Family Dog Mediator, and member of The
Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She has previously worked as
a dog walker, a pet sitter, and has been a foster mom to numerous cats
and dogs.
Shaunacy is committed to using research-backed methods to create a
stronger bond between people and their pets. When she's not training,
Shaunacy and her dog Milo volunteer as a therapy dog team with The
Good Dog Foundation.
Madeline Pape,
Dog Trainer (She/Her)
CPDT-KA, CCDT, FDM
Madeline is a certified dog trainer and Family Dog Mediator. She is passionate about nurturing the bond between humans and dogs to create a successful learning environment. Madeline works with basic obedience cases as well as behavior cases. She has a particular interest in leash reactivity, urban anxiety, and over-arousal issues. She helps dogs with Big Feelings learn some regulatory skills to have a better quality of life.
Grace Ballard,
Dog Caretaker (They/Them)
Grace has been a dog parent all their life and has used a force-free training approach with all their fur babies. Grace is a therapist and works mostly from home, so when they have the opportunity to host dogs they can give them lots of attention and love. Also, being from beautiful Colorado, Grace loves to be outdoors, especially with a doggy companion by their side. They have been in New York for two years now, and aside from their day job they also train Muay Thai and were formerly a competitive weightlifter for 5 years.
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