Dog Obedience by Gina, LLC

Dog Obedience by Gina, LLC During the course of my training program, we will teach your dog manners using luring, shaping, capturing and molding. They want to know. They want to be good.

Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Animal Behavior Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), Family Dog Mediator (FDM),
Fear Free Certified Professsional (FFCP) We will do this without any harm or aversive techniques. We will watch your dog grow and learn to become a well-behaved family member. I will teach you how to socialize and house train your new puppy. You will learn to train your dog to b

e a reliable member of your family on and off leash (where legally permitted), at a distance and around distractions. Dogs need to understand what their people want. You just need to know how to teach them. That's what I'm here to help you with. Dog Obedience by Gina, LLC (D.O.G.) is owned and operated by Gina Nichols. I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Fear Free Certified and an honors graduate of Animal Behavior College where I earned my certification as an Animal Behavior Certified Dog Trainer. My commitment to these programs provided me with a formal education in canine obedience, training and understanding behavior and its motives. My certifications, education and experience provide me the skills required to effectively and humanely train your dog while keeping alive the spark that makes your dog so special to you. In addition to my certifications, I have a certificate of completion in Pet CPR and First Aid. I am a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, International Association Animal Behavior Consultants and I am insured through Business Insurers of the Carolinas.

09/30/2025
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09/30/2025

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09/29/2025

She is so loving, even when she sleeps. šŸ„°

09/28/2025

Here is a list of area licensed rehabbers in our area. If they are licensed and not on this list, its because they asked not to be listed or they are currently not accepting animals. Please share so rescuers can get animals placed as quickly as possible. We do answer our phone and respond to text messages quickly.

09/28/2025
Awe Minion! Iā€™d like to bring my bed everywhere with me as well. Donā€™t let anyone tell you youā€™re being silly.
09/27/2025

Awe Minion! Iā€™d like to bring my bed everywhere with me as well. Donā€™t let anyone tell you youā€™re being silly.

Axel is staying with us for now but heā€™d sure like a home to call his own. Heā€™s absolutely WONDERFUL! If youā€™re not inte...
09/23/2025

Axel is staying with us for now but heā€™d sure like a home to call his own. Heā€™s absolutely WONDERFUL! If youā€™re not interested in adopting right now, would you please share. He is in the Rockford, IL area.

09/20/2025
09/20/2025

Behavior modification can change what a dog does.
But only welfare-centered intervention changes how a dog feels.

Teaching a dog to sit instead of lunge may look like success from the outside.

But if the dog is still overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or afraid inside, then we have changed nothing of real meaning.

Modifying behavior without addressing underlying welfare needs is like treating smoke without putting out the fire.
True support moves beyond surface-level management and training.

It requires seeing behavior for what it truly is:
šŸ”¹ An indication of needs & welfare
šŸ”¹ Evidence of emotional states
šŸ”¹ A reflection of both biological design and lived experience

The L.E.G.S.Ā® Model reminds us that behavior cannot be separated from the full system of the dogā€™s reality:
šŸŸ§ Learning: Past experiences, positive, negative, or traumatic, shape emotional responses that influence behavior far beyond what training alone can "fix."
šŸŸ© Environment: Chronic stress from inappropriate environments (confinement, overstimulation, social isolation) profoundly shapes emotional regulation and coping capacity.
šŸŸØ Genetics: Behavior is not a blank slate. It is deeply informed by evolutionary history, breed-specific functions, and species-level survival strategies.
šŸŸ¦ Self: A dog's individual age, health, neurobiology, sexual status, nutrition, sensory sensitivities, developmental stage, and internal emotional life all shape how behavior emerges and adapts.

Supporting dogs isnā€™t about suppressing behavior or increasingly restricting a dogā€™s world.

Itā€™s about changing conditions so behavior naturally reflects cohesion between the animal and their world - that they experience the security, comfort, and fulfillment of Total Welfare.

Welfare-first work is deeper, and more durable. And surprisingly, it can even be faster at solving the major problems we experience with our dogs.

It doesnā€™t just alter actionsā€”it transforms lives.

Letā€™s move past symptom management.

Letā€™s meet the real needs beneath the behavior.

Behavior isnā€™t the problem. Unmet needs are.

Oh my gosh! How sweet!
09/18/2025

Oh my gosh! How sweet!

Address

Belvidere, IL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+18472932934

Website

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Teaching Manners with Love and Respect

My name is Gina Nichols and I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and owner of Dog Obedience by Gina (D.O.G.) I am an honors graduate of Animal Behavior College. My year-long commitment to this program provided me with a formal education in canine obedience training and understanding of behavior and it's motives.

In addition to my certification, I am trained in pet CPR and First Aid. I am a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), Pet Professionals Guild (PPG) and I am bonded and insured. I am also a qualified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and can help your pup to earn his CGC status in the AKC records.

My certifications, education and experience provide me the skills required to effectively and humanely train your dog while keeping alive the spark that makes your dog so special to you. I keep up-to-date with the most valuable and relevant information on current training techniques. I use positive reinforcement, science based techniques to train your pups. Since my graduation from ABC in September of 2015, I have attended lectures and seminars totaling countless hours of learning and will continue to update my education and welcome and implement new and improved training techniques. I learn from only the BEST. During the course of my training programs, we will teach your dog respect and manners using luring, shaping, capturing and molding. We will watch your dog grow and learn to become a well-behaved family member. I will teach you how to socialize and house train your new puppy. You will learn to train your dog to be reliable and under control, off leash, at a distance and around distractions. We will use treats as a lure and will phase out food and other external rewards quickly. Many people understand the importance of early puppyhood socialization. You may enroll your puppy in a training class, introduce your puppy to lots of friends and neighbors and may even host puppy play dates. These things are wonderful and have done so much to improve the temperament of countless dogs. Unfortunately, after this intensive early socialization period, many owners think they are in the clear. They think that their hard work has paid off and that their puppy is friendly and sociable in every situation they find themselves in. What they don't realize is that dogs will naturally become more shy and standoffish as they get older. Adolescent and adult dogs will develop fears and phobias to stimuli that they are not continually exposed to. You should continue to train your dog every day of his life. This will keep his mind sharp and body active and keep a constant, well-rounded relationship between you and your dog. I will be more than happy to answer any questions and help with any problem behaviors that may arise for the life of your dog. I look forward to working with you and all of your family members!