The Engaged Dog

Brenda Aloff is an internationally recognized speaker, clinician and author.

Brenda published her first book in 2001 and has since added more books & DVDs, online courses and a certification program to teach Entry Level Classes. Canine Body Language earned a Maxwell award for Excellence in Dog Writing.

Bringing over 25 years of practical and “in the trenches” experience to the table, Brenda works primarily with problem dogs. She also counsels working dog and competition dog owners to improve dog performance, error reduction and how to enhance their relationships.

Brenda has taught thousands of group classes, from puppy to advanced competition to re-socialization classes for reactive dogs. She has worked with SAR teams and police officers at clinics and in private lessons, with scenting and working dogs.

A large percentage of her practice consists of dogs that are referred when other training techniques have been exhausted or failed. A high percentage of clientele consists of dogs with reactivity and/or aggression problems. Referrals come from other professional trainers as well as veterinarians.

Living with dogs is not always easy! Brenda knows the “problem dog” group well, having lived with several bad actors and delinquents herself. This allows her to bring an intimate knowledge of how to deal with dogs and what can be done to prevent problems from developing. Having worked & LIVED WITH a huge variety of rescue and problematic animals promotes her very unique way of dealing with clients. “I KNOW what the owners are going through. What owners of difficult dogs need is not sympathy, they need empathy and understanding and protocols that work!”

Bringing her knowledge of cross-training species to her dog training makes her approach unique and effective and above all humane and loving. Accustomed to outsmarting rather than forcing equines was a habit long before Brenda began training dogs professionally.

Brenda has kept sheep (including lambing). She is currently riding her 2 Morgans and 1 Lusitano and studying Classical Dressage in the French Tradition.

Much repeated phrases to students are:
“Shut up! Stand Still. Let your dog THINK!” (said in a very loving way)
“If that dog weighed 1000 pounds, you would be handling this situation much more carefully!”

Learn more about Brenda Aloff here.

Published Books & DVD’s

Positive Reinforcement – Training Dogs In The Real World, (2001). New Jersey: TFH Publications, Inc.

Aggression In Dogs: Practical Management, Prevention and Behaviour Modification, (2003). Tennessee: Fundcraft Publishing, Inc.

Foundation Behaviours for Every Dog: DVD, (2005). Michigan: Pix Elegance

Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide, (2005). Washington: Dogwise
2006 DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America) Maxwell Award

Get Connected With Your Dog: Emphasizing the Relationship While Training, Book & DVD Set
(2007). Washington: Dogwise

Puppy Problems? No Problem! : A Survival Guide for Finding and Training Your New Dog, Book & DVD Set
(2011). Washington: Dogwise