At the Capable Canine, we are committed to offering high-quality reward-based/clicker training services. We strive to educate the public that training should NEVER involve the use of force and aversive tools such as shock collars or prong collars, etc. Our organization stands strongly against the use of these tools in every aspect of training for all animals.
All our instructors are required to to be certified through The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. This certification ensures instructors are up to date on the most current techniques and are required to complete continuing education credits to keep their certification in good standing. We are also proud members of the Pet Professional Guild, The Association of Force Free Trainers.
The Pet Professional Guild, The Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and organizations in the animal training industry have issued position statements against the use of force in animal training. Please see below for their position statements:
Pet Professional Guild
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Jessica Robichaud, Owner
Jessica Robichaud has been a CPDT-KA, Knowledge Assessed Certified Professional Dog Trainer for 15 years. She is also a AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Ms. Robichaud holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism/Communications from the University of Hartford.
After holding various positions in corporate America, she decided to pursue her passion for working with dogs. Upon completing her training at a national retail chain, she began teaching puppy and beginner training classes in New Jersey. Ultimately, she became the senior trainer, teaching up to 12 group classes per week and conducting private lessons for owners of dogs with specific behavioral needs. Jessica worked as an assistant volunteer trainer at one the of most influential schools in the country, St. Hubert’s Dog Training School in Madison, New Jersey.
With more than 10 years of teaching humans to train dogs, Jessica’s strength lies in her gentle force-free approach. One of her favorite quotes is “Train with no ego” by Suzanne Clothier. Jessica finds that the most essential building block to creating life long trust in your canine companion is developing a relationship that is built on mutual respect. Committed to the use of positive reinforcement and behavior modification, Jessica has provided practical solutions to help owners better communicate with their dogs.
Jessica is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and attends numerous seminars each year. She enjoys volunteering for Lucky Pup Rescue and Pittie Posse. Mrs. Robichaud resides in York County with her husband, her daughter and two dogs, Lilly a deaf French Bulldog and Lucas, a Shetland Sheepdog.
Naomi, Trainer
The Familiar Canine
Naomi is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed, through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). She is also a professional member of The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) .
Naomi holds an AAS in Business Administration from Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, NY and a BA in Psychology, with a minor in Biology from the University of Southern Maine.
Naomi’s passion for living and working with animals started in childhood. She grew up around dogs, cats, and horses. As an adult she followed that passion into a career working with horses. She has worked at show barns, trail riding facilities, breeding farms, and equine veterinary clinics.
Naomi began working with dogs as a volunteer, walking dogs first at The Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, ME and then at the NHSPCA in Stratham, NH, as well as transporting rescue dogs on their way to shelters and adopters in Maine. After graduating from USM, Naomi began working at York Bark and Play managing doggie playgroups. The dog daycare environment provided a great opportunity to hone her canine behavior observation and group management skills. She started her dog training career by completing an internship with the Behavior and Training Department at the NHSPCA and later joined the team as a dog trainer where she worked for 3 years. While there she worked training shelter dogs with behavioral needs, collaborated with dedicated dog walking volunteers, and helped caring pet parents and their dogs through group training classes and behavior consultations. Most recently she consulted as a trainer for Canine Karma, offering behavior consulting and group training classes to the seacoast and surrounding areas.
Naomi stays up to date on the latest canine learning and behavior research and dog training best practices by regularly participating in continuing education, including attending conferences, workshops, lectures, and training classes with her own dogs.
Naomi believes that training should be enjoyable for dog and owner alike. She feels that reward based training not only enables dog owners to effectively change behavior but also strengthens the bond they share with their canine companions.
Lauren Buhelt, Trainer
Lauren has been a certified professional dog trainer since 2022. Before earning her certification, she worked as an intern at The Capable Canine for four years. Studying under the owner, Jessica Robichaud, she learned about canine behavior and reward based training.
Growing up she always had a passion for wildlife, which lead her to seek out a future working with animals. Looking for a place to start, she spent time volunteering at local animal shelters. After high school she mainly worked in customer service, it wasn’t until the loss of her beloved two year old retriever mix that she realized she needed to continue her work with animals. After some time, she adopted her now seven year old dog Lola. Her two cats, Daphne and Mystique followed, and a chicken named Bean. Already loving a little rabbit called Smoky, her little fur family was now complete. Having all types of animals around Lola, it became important for Lauren to make sure she was properly trained.
Networking through a mutual friend she was introduced to Jessica and The Capable Canine. While earning hours towards her certification, Jessica took Lauren under her wing and taught her everything she knows and practices today. Lauren has been gifted many opportunities, such as, being introduced to reward based training with horses at Empowered Equines. This experience solidified her drive to continue her education with other species. Lauren finds her work extremely rewarding and hopes to one day own her own wildlife sanctuary, focusing on wolves.
