Positive Dog Training in Connecticut & Online

Personalized I Empathetic I Holistic

Helping you build a calm, connected life with your dog – specializing in herding breeds and family dogs.

Positive Dog Training in Fairfield County, CT

Whether you’re raising a high-energy puppy, navigating reactivity or fear-based behaviors, or preparing your dog for big life changes like a new baby—you're not alone, and you're in the right place.

At Dogfulness Holistic Dog Training, we specialize in helping become calmer, more confident companions—using positive, evidence-based training methods that truly work. Our approach is rooted in connection, compassion, and understanding both your dog’s instincts and your family’s needs.

We offer customized coaching programs designed to help you:

  • Reduce reactivity and anxiety

  • Build structure and trust with your puppy

  • Strengthen the bond between you and your dog

  • Feel more calm, confident, and in control—on walks and at home

The Peaceful Puppy

Our signature puppy program sets your young dog up for a calm, confident, and harmonious life.

We cover essential obedience, socialization, and life skills—while building trust, communication, and a strong bond between you and your pup.

Together, we’ll address common challenges like mouthing, biting, jumping, and separation anxiety, and work toward your unique training goals.

The Connected Companion

This program is for dogs who need more support beyond the basics—whether it’s reactivity, big emotions, or habits that just aren’t working. We’ll dig into behavior, social skills, and real-life obedience, all while strengthening the connection between you and your dog.

My goal is to help you move from feeling stuck or unsure to feeling calm, clear, and confident in your everyday life together. Every dog is different, so our work is always tailored to your pup’s needs—and yours.

The Herding Hero

If you’ve got a “crazy” Aussie, Border Collie, or Heeler who’s always “on,” you know how intense these dogs can be. Reactivity, herding everything that moves, big feelings… it can be a lot.

This program is all about helping you understand your herding dog’s instincts and needs—so you can bring more balance, structure, and calm into both of your lives. With the right support, your dog can be their best self—and you can enjoy the ride a whole lot more.

Virtual Coaching 💻

Looking to strengthen the bond with your dog?
Hoping to create a richer, more adventurous life for them?
Concerned about how your dog will behave around your baby or toddler?
Or maybe you’re dog-less and need guidance finding the perfect match for your lifestyle?

If any of these resonate with you, virtual coaching could be just what you need. Let’s connect one-on-one to create a plan tailored to your dog's unique needs—and yours. Together, we’ll set the foundation for a happier, more fulfilling life with your dog. Virtual Coaching is available for clients worldwide.

Enhance life with your dog through our personalized dog training solutions.

It all begins with knowledge.
With countless materials available on dog training, it’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed. We take the guesswork out of dog training and identify the individual goals, wants, and needs for your dream dog.
With simple and achievable steps, you will discover a more intuitive and natural relationship with your pet. The Dogfulness concept combines empowering life coaching elements to build confidence for the owner with evidence-based canine training principles for the dog. Your dog is as unique as you are. Personalized training makes all the difference.

Client Testimonials ✨

  • I cannot say enough good things about Bianca. She is patient, skilled, professional, and personable. I began working with Bianca about six months after adopting my 4yo rescue dog Quinn from the Hawaiian Humane Society. In all honesty, I didn't necessarily know what I was getting into. Quinn has trauma in his past, and it manifests in some overwhelming ways. Most notably, he is leash reactive and exhibits fear aggression (with dogs and humans). Working with Bianca gave me the tools, knowledge, and confidence to minimize Quinn's reactivity and avoid triggers and situations that might lead to anxiety or aggression. As one example, Bianca taught (me how to teach) Quinn how to relax in a portable "place" in almost any environment. Whereas before I had to be on high alert anytime I sat with him in public, Quinn is now largely able to self-regulate, as long as I set him up for success with some of Bianca's tools and tricks. Beyond the specific drills, tricks, and tools Bianca shared, she has also helped educate me on reading and responding to Quinn's body language, which is a critically important skill as the owner of an anxious dog. In sum, I strongly recommend Bianca for your dog training needs.

    Danielle B. & Rescue Mutt Quinn

  • "We are so lucky to have found Bianca - our ill-behaved rescue is now the perfect model pooch. What a transformation! We focused a lot on the leash and recall as well as in-home training. I am now able to take Kiki on walks with our newborn in a stroller with confidence. Although I have had dogs my whole life, Bianca taught us so much I never knew, not just about training but also how dogs think and experience the world. Thank you, Bianca!"

    Miriam & Pittbull Mix Kiki

  • "Bianca was amazing working with my Pomeranian puppy. Not only did I see remarkable progress in his behavior, through her coaching I also gained skills in knowing how to communicate effectively with him. Helping me fully house train, reduce barking, experience less anxiety during our walks and obeying simply commands are just a few of the things her training helped us with. Highly recommend."

    Esther P. & Pomeranian Chai

  • "We could not have had a more positive experience with Bianca as our dog trainer. She is extremely knowledgeable, professional, patient, and positive! Each session was tailored toward exactly what we needed & wanted to work on with my golden."

    Leka K. & Golden Retriever Indy

  • "It was clear from the very start of our training sessions that she was in tune with dogs and their body language. I have watched and read a LOT but to work with someone in person is a whole different, more effective way to fix the bad habits. She showed me how to quickly fix his unwanted behavior with daily walks and reinforcing boundaries to his life. Since then, he’s back to his sweet self and I don’t have to worry about him doing anything in public places. Thank you Bianca!"

    Olivia J. & Australian Sheperd Jackson

  • "We enrolled our Aussie Mix Mahina into Bianca`s Puppy program. What I love about her training, is the positive reinforcements she uses. Simple things in the beginning & more advanced as Mahina grew. We get so many compliments from our vet & groomer on her behavior."

    Jacklyn C. & Aussie Mix Mahina

  • "Bianca is fantastic! She not only trains your dog but also teaches you how to better connect with them. Her holistic approach has made a huge difference in our dog’s behavior and our relationship with her. "

    Karin M. & Jack Russel Terrier Luna

  • "Bianca`s training strategy made me feel empowered to give Louie more freedom. He went from anxiously-attached to calm and confident. Overall the best thing I`ve ever done for Louie! Plus my dream to take him to my 3-month workation in Costa Rica came true!"

    Fernanda M. & Mini Aussie Louie

  • "Chief has his moments with new or un-neutered dogs. And before working with Bianca, I thought his aggressive moments were just something I needed to deal with. Bianca helped me build a stronger bond with Chief by teaching me how to communicate with him. She explained why he does it and the cues to look for, and since our training, I feel more equipped to communicate with him better, which has minimized our negative encounters with other dogs. Thanks, Bianca!"

    Michelle C. & Staffordshire Terrier Chief

  • Bianca works magic with dogs! Her depth and breadth of knowledge about dog psychology and needs, as well as her ability to communicate that knowledge clearly and kindly was amazing and so so helpful for me and my dog, Juniper. I have a very smart and active border collie mix who I had for 6 years before starting to work with Bianca. Though I've worked through many things with my dog, there were a few things - like leash aggression - that I just could not figure out on my own. Not only did Bianca help me understand my dog like I never have before, but she helped me see how all of these "issues" were interconnected. She gave me a few simple practices to target the root of the issue and my dog responded very quickly. She was very supportive through the process and helped me hold my intention to work through these things with my dog by checking in regularly and talking through any questions that arose. After the first two sessions I was starting to see enormous progress with my dog. The best part is that I started to feel closer with my dog and our relationship became much more easeful and enjoyable. I would highly recommend Bianca for any of your dog training needs!

    Maggie Torness & Border Collie Mix Juniper

  • I always wanted to be able to take Ollie for long walks. But every time he pulled or reacted, I’d get frustrated — not at him, but because I didn’t know what to do. Since starting with Bianca, I’ve seen a real change. Ollie is learning how to slow down and stay connected. And I’m learning how to stay calm and lead him better. It gives me hope that someday soon, I can take him out without stress — just us, walking peacefully. That would be a dream come true.

    Melissa H. & Australian Shepherd Ollie

  • I am a dog trainer and soon to be clinical animal behaviorist in June who specializes in human directed aggression and reactivity based behaviors. I was working on a case with a herding breed, and I knew the behaviors being expressed were not true aggression but rather misdirected herding. As trainers, we all have our strengths within our areas of interest and I knew I needed an expert in herding breeds. I reached out to Bianca to collaborate on a case and we met online via zoom with the clients. Bianca’s entire approach was incredible. She took us on a journey, asking intentional questions to build a history, yet she knew where she was taking us the entire time. Her calm energy, paired with her deep knowledge of the breeds she works with allowed us to settle in and see the dog’s behavior through her lens - yet rather than just telling you quickly about what she already knows to be true, she helps you see what she sees through the structure of the session. I have three pages of notes from sponging the knowledge she poured over us in our session together! If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior, choose to work with her. I cannot recommend her enough! She will transform the way you live with your dog and the way you think about your dog’s behavior. Highly highly recommend!! An incredible trainer and person!

    Kristina OKeefe

The Dogfulness Concept

  • There are no cookie-cutter solutions at Dogfulness.

    Each program and each session are designed to resonate with you and your dog, making the process enjoyable and effective.
    Here are just a few things we take into consideration when curating a training plan for you: breed-specific behavior, the dog`s age, history & lifestyle, as well as the dog`s unique personality and challenges.

  • We believe in sustainable transformations over "quick fixes." That`s why we aim to achieve a more balanced dog and finding the root cause of the behavioral challenge when addressing any problematic behaviors.

  • We take advantage of the most current scientific research on dog behavior and training methods to empower you to understand your canine companion better.

 FAQs

  • We provide in-home dog training services throughout Fairfield County, including Fairfield, Southport, Westport, Trumbull, Newtown, and nearby neighborhoods. Typically, the first 1-3 sessions take place in your home, allowing me to observe your dog in their natural environment and gain valuable insights into their behavior. Beyond the home, we train in locations that best support your unique goals—whether that’s a train station, coffee shop, dog park, or mall.

  • My personalized training programs range from one to three months in duration. The first session of each program lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes a home visit, a detailed consultation to identify your unique challenges and goals, and a thorough behavioral assessment of your dog. Subsequent sessions typically run about 60 minutes (+/- 10 minutes, depending on your dog’s focus, your questions, and other factors). Training sessions are typically 1-2 per week, depending on your schedule and goals.

  • My training philosophy embraces the idea that “less is more” when it comes to tools. My primary goal is to foster a trusting and harmonious bond between dogs and their owners. I rely on modern, safe, and effective training methods that are evidence-based, focusing on clarity, structure, and positive reinforcement rather than punishment-based techniques.

  • Absolutely—yes, please! All one-on-one training programs include text and email support throughout the week between sessions. Your clarity and success are my top priorities. You will receive a personalized training plan as well.

  • Your dog`s future matters.
    I am a certified professional dog trainer, having completed an intensive one-year training program in Germany. This comprehensive education covered critical topics such as domestication, ethology (behavioral science), anatomy, pathology, and science-based training methods. Over the past 12+ years, I’ve gained extensive hands-on experience working in various training settings with a wide range of dogs and behavioral challenges (more in my “about” page)

    Unlike many countries, the dog training industry in the U.S. is largely unregulated, meaning anyone can claim to be a trainer without formal education.
    I firmly believe that learning never stops and am commited to staying current with the latest research and continuing education to ensure I provide the best possible support to dogs and their owners. In complex cases, I collaborate with or refer to veterinary behaviorists to ensure a holistic approach to behavioral care.

    If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out anytime!

Connect with us on Instagram

View fullsize
View fullsize If you have a „crazy“ and high-energy dog this is your your gentle reminder to find healthy outlets. #australianshepherd #trainyourdog #ctdogtrainer #ctdogtraining
View fullsize
View fullsize Are you feeling stretched thin between baby life and dog life? Start here 🩵 #dogandbaby #newparentlife #mindfuldogtraining #familydog #gentledogtraining #familypawsofficial #familypawsparenteducator
View fullsize It’s not all about „how you raise them“. There are a lot of factors that affect your puppy‘s behavior even BEFORE you bring them home. This is why I believe in an integrative approach when it comes to puppy training - tailor
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize Your dog isn’t being “needy”. But they’re sensitive to change. Noise, new routines, less access to you - their favorite human… it adds up! Let’s make sure they feel understood before baby arrives 🐣🍼 #dogandb
View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize

Contact Us

Curious about enhancing your dog's behavior? Complete the form below, and we will reach out to you promptly.
We are excited to get to know you and your dog!