Explorers Dog Training

Services for Better Quality of Life

Whatever your circumstances, Explorers supports and empowers your efforts to make your time together more enjoyable!

Preparing a puppy for their most confident, happy life? Want to see others appreciate and admire your dog's participation in social events? Maybe a service dog role is in the future? Pampered purse dog welcomed everywhere?

Feeling overwhelmed by the time required to meet your pet's unique needs for exercise, company, and stimulation?

Is your dog your first one? Not like your last one? Or just not an "easy pet"?

Are you hesitant to try group classes for dog activities like agility, scent work, flyball, dock diving, and others? Worried about how your dog might behave on the patio of your favorite restaurant, bar, or coffeeshop?

Need a daycare-style program for a dog who isn't well-served by the typical group daycare setting?

Every service we offer is intended to increase joy and decrease stress. Dogs are supposed to be fun!

A passion for dogs

No matter where you got your dog, we LOVE it! Adopt, shop... As long as you love them!

Dogs add so much to our lives. They deserve our best efforts and consideration.

Mobile Training

Having spent time offering traditional board & train programs, we understand that many folks and dogs have situations better served by having more time at home.

Puppy training is undoubtedly the most effective training approach. Especially between age 14-16 weeks (after vaccination, still within a critical developmental period)... But who wants to send a puppy away from home for 3 weeks??

Starting new additions in training immediately produces the best long-term results, but do we want to introduce yet another "home" right away?

Separation, especially in multi-dog homes, can be source of anxiety for the dogs in training, the dogs at home, and owners.

Cost can also be a big barrier for homes needing board & train effectiveness. By reducing the number of hours the dog is away from home, and eliminating the overhead of a traditional facility, Explorers is able to offer the same quality training sessions at lower overall cost.

Remote

Having immediate access to information in this day and age is easy... But making sense of so much contradictory information, and applying it to your specific dog is time-consuming and difficult!

While remote support is not appropriate for all dogs and issues, there are many homes well-served by having custom dog training advice just a text or phone call away. You can even send video of "How does this look?" and "What's going on here?" to get individualized advice without delay.

Welcome to Explorers Dog Training!

Training Programs

Day School

Board & Train, but make it mobile with less time apart! Your dog will have multiple short training sessions during the day under the guidance and watchful eyes of a professional dog trainer in a variety of real-world settings... And you still get to enjoy your dog at home! Locations and techniques are carefully selected for your dog's unique needs, level of training, and training goals

Camp

Want to take home a tired dog? This is the way! A fun mobile daycare program offering exposure to a variety of real-world environmental stimuli. The #1 way to build confidence for puppies and young dogs! Also ideal for dogs who are not a good fit for typical group daycare programs: seniors, socially-challenged, differently-abled, or of particularly physically vulnerable breeds who don't recognize their own limitations (Looking right at you, Doxies, but there are many others!)

Coaching (Custom Private Instruction)

Maintaining your dog's good behavior depends on consistency, but life has a funny way of not being consistent! Support is designed to help ensure your success long-term, not just during initial training phases. Get help to stay accountable, maintain your positive and in-charge attitude, troubleshoot, address unforeseen circumstances, or prep for special events like weddings, arrival of kids or baby in the household, moving to your new house, your new job/schedule, new neighbors & their pets, new pets in the household, etc. **Available in-person or remote**

Remote Problem-Solving Programs

Article written by Nicole, links to curated educational material, and a Q&A

Nicole S Silvers, Trainer

Bachelor's, University of Toledo, Education, Math, & French

Additional coursework, mathematics, Millersville University, North Carolina State University, and University of Alaska Fairbanks

Accredited by PetSmart in 2003 and reaccredited by Teamworks Dog Training, LLC, I have received instruction and assistance from numerous top trainers, decoys, and former police k9 handlers turned dog training instructors, and continue to do so. Commitment to ongoing education is one of many ways to provide top care for the dogs we love!

In Fairbanks, AK, I started Wild Hearts, and pics, videos, and reviews from that business can be found at facebook.com/WildHeartsAK. Ask for references, as I have many clients who are willing to talk directly to you. I cared for and trained with dogs from a 6 lb mini doxie to Great Danes and St Bernards, and even a Karelian working as Denali National Park's Wildlife Conflict Managment dog. I also had the pleasure of instructing for multiple ADA service dog teams working on public access manners. I was a member of PAWS search and rescue program, ASPA race participant, and had the honor of working to help prepare a young K9 handler for work with the Fairbanks PD.

I have a passion for animal rescue, and have fostered and adopted dozens of dogs over the past 2 decades. Don't get me started on dog stories, unless you have a lot of time!! I am especially familiar with the challenges that accompany loving dogs of unknown backgrounds.

I am dedicated to helping you learn to listen to your dog's body language, and to apply techniques that maximize results while minimizing training time. Dogs live short lives! Happier, more relaxed, more confident, adaptable, and trusting dogs are simply more enjoyable pets. Better responsiveness means more access to the world for better quality of life.

Explore Better Behavior