Popular North Fork Dog Trainer Opens Doors To New Business

NORTH FORK, NY — Dawn Bennett is known on the North Fork for her ardent love of dogs, and her tireless dedication to training four-legged friends. And now, Bennett, who co-owned the North Fork School For Dogs for years, has announced the opening of a new business, Coast Dogs Training.

Bennett, CCPDT, or certified professional dog trainer-knowledge assessed, opened hers doors once again in January with the new business.

She promises the "same quality training, but with some slight changes."

Bennett, based in Cutchogue, mainly operates on the North and South Forks of Long Island, but she also teaches in Sarasota, Florida, from December to March, where she and her husband have a second home.

Her passion for helping dogs has been a guiding light in Bennett's life.

"Having worked in the animal field, with dogs, most of my adult life, and heavily involved with rescue, my mission is keeping dogs in their homes and not being relinquished to a shelter," she said. "Dogs are my life and everyone knows it."

Bennett co-founded the North Fork School For Dogs in 2009 and has been training since 2007, she said.

"Over the years my experience grew, along with my training methods. My training has changed slightly and sometimes I may use other methods of training. I no longer want to categorized solely as a treat trainer," Bennett said.

She added that she's discovered many techniques through years of training and not all dogs respond to food. "So my training has differed from all positive to least intrusive/minimally aversive, or LIMA, where I may use all four quadrants of training if need be," she said.

LIMA, she said, requires that trainers use the “least intrusive, minimally aversive technique likely to succeed in achieving a training with minimal risk of producing adverse side effects."

Training a dog properly is critical to its future success in life, Bennett said.

"Most dogs land up in a shelters around the teen stages; this can be anywhere between seven and 20 months. This can be a very trying time for owners. I am here to help them, help them, help their dogs," she said. "Teaching proper management skills, enrichment strategies and helping them to read their dogs more clearly."

Oftentimes dogs get a bad rap when it's human who need enlightening, Bennett said.

"One of the biggest mistakes as pet owners is that we look at our dogs and try to rationalize why the dog is doing a bad behavior, from a human perspective, instead of from analyzing that behavior from the animal's perspective," she said.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Bennett has experience working with behavioral issues such as reactivity, and in teaching dogs and puppies life skills, manners and obedience.

"I enjoy competing for fun with my dog Dexter in agility, lure coursing, competition obedience, rally-o, trick training and K9 nose work," she said.

In addition, Bennett is a longtime advocate for homeless pets, assisting different rescues with advice, evaluations and matchmaking; she sat on the Board of Directors for the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Riverhead and Peconic, where she also served as president. Currently, she volunteer for The Humane Society of Sarasota, FL.

"I am up-to-date on current humane methods of training and well versed on dog behavior. I continue my education attending workshops, seminars and lectures where I am fortunate to train alongside some of the best trainers from around the world," she said,

Before NFSFD, Bennett owned the "All Creatures Great and Small" kennel, worked as a veterinary assistant, and has been a member of the National Association For Search And Rescue, as well as an instructor and evaluator through the American Kennel for AKC-Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, Urban Canine Good Citizen, and S.T.A.R. Puppy. She's also served as a district representative and home inspector for Crest Care, Inc.

Coast Dogs Training offers behavior consulting, obedience training, sport training, walk and train programs, and more. She offers group classes and private instruction in an array of areas ranging from basic obedience to changing unwanted behaviors.

"My group classes are small and geared for owners who want to do more with their dogs, whether it be basic obedience, or learning a new dog sport like 'rally 'or 'agility,'" she said. "I use lots of play and rewards and really show owners how to motivate their dogs and become a team. I just love playing with my dog and want to show owners how to have fun with their dogs while teaching. It should not be boring or stressful for either party. Teaching should be fun."

She added, "Dogs that are mentally enriched are far happier, content and nicer to be around, and they get to hang out with their families in and outside the home."

For additional information click here or call 631-523-5059. Coast Dogs Training is open most days, by appointment only, on site or at the client's home.

Patch photo courtesy of Dawn Bennett, taken by Katharine Schroeder for Coast Dogs Training.