The Canine Classroom Mission
Hard work plays off
At The Canine Classroom, we believe great dogs aren’t simply born: they’re taught, guided, and given the opportunity to succeed. Our mission is to help dogs and their owners build the skills, confidence, and communication needed for a better life together.
Through structured training, purposeful socialization, and owner education, we meet each pup-il where they are while helping them work toward where they can be. Whether we’re building puppy foundations, working through behavioral challenges, or fine-tuning everyday manners, our focus goes beyond a well-behaved dog. We want owners to understand their dogs, feel confident handling them, and have the tools to continue their progress at home.
Training takes consistency, patience, and involvement from both ends of the leash, but we believe the hard work is worth it for a more fulfilling and enjoyable life with your furry friend.
Meet Your Lead Trainer
Hi, I’m Maggie, the owner and trainer behind The Canine Classroom! With a degree in Animal Behavior and experience ranging from service dog training to behavior modification and everyday obedience, my goal is to help dogs and their people better understand one another. I believe great training goes beyond teaching commands, it’s about creating clear communication, confidence, and a relationship built on trust and respect.
Maggie's Teacher's Aids
Puppy Mentor
Classroom Greeter
Practice Partner
Socialization Specialist
Hall Monitor
Meet the Rest of the Team
Emily
Assistant Trainer/Handler
Emily brings years of experience working with dogs in both training and veterinary settings. Throughout her career, she has worked in dog training facilities as well as as a veterinary technician, giving her a well-rounded understanding of canine behavior, handling, health, and individual needs.
Her experience has shaped a patient, thoughtful approach to training, particularly with dogs who may be fearful, anxious, reactive, or otherwise challenging. Emily understands that progress looks different for every dog and believes in giving them the time and space they need to work through challenges without rushing the process.
Emily is known for her calm, steady presence and her focus on building handler trust and relevancy. She helps dogs learn to look to their handler for guidance and support while allowing confidence to develop at their own pace. This creates a strong foundation for clearer communication, a stronger relationship, and meaningful, lasting progress.
Shania
Assistant Trainer/Handler
Shania has been working with dogs since she was 20, beginning her training career as an apprentice under Maggie at Loyal Canine Academy while attending college. Her passion for animal behavior eventually led her into veterinary medicine, where she has spent the past five years working as a veterinary technician.
For the last year and a half, Shania has continued growing as a trainer at The Canine Classroom, bringing together her experience in veterinary medicine and dog training. Working with dogs in both settings has given her experience with a wide range of ages, breeds, personalities, and behavioral needs.
Shania has a strong intuition when it comes to reading the dog in front of her. She naturally picks up on subtle body language and recognizes when a dog needs more space, support, structure, or guidance. Her ability to adjust her approach to each individual dog helps them feel understood while giving them what they need to learn and succeed.
Shannon
Assistant Trainer/Handler
Shannon began her career at a dog daycare and training facility, where she gained hands-on experience working with dogs of different breeds, personalities, and temperaments. She later transitioned into veterinary medicine, beginning in reception at a veterinary hospital before working her way into a veterinary technician role.
Since joining The Canine Classroom, Shannon has continued to expand her knowledge of dog training and behavior. Working hands-on with a wide variety of dogs has strengthened her skills in training, handling, socialization, and understanding the individual needs of each dog.
One of Shannon’s greatest strengths is her natural sensitivity to a dog’s emotions. She has a strong sense of when a dog is unsure, overwhelmed, excited, or ready to be challenged and can adjust accordingly. Her thoughtful approach allows her to help dogs feel comfortable and understood while encouraging them to build confidence and progress in their training.
Our trainers in action
My Story
Where it all Began
My love for animals, especially dogs, started long before I ever had one of my own. Even though I didn’t grow up with a dog, I sought them out wherever I went and was always happiest when I had the chance to be around them. Over time, that love became a passion for understanding not only dogs and their behavior, but also the relationships they share with their people. That lifelong love of dogs would ultimately become something much bigger than I ever imagined.
The Early Years
I graduated The University of New England in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Behavior and a minor in Business Administration. While in college, I began working with an organization that raises and trains Great Danes for mobility service work. Through puppy raising, handling, in-home experiences, and a training-focused internship, I gained hands-on experience that helped to solidify my drive to continue working with dogs professionally.
Learning the Craft
After graduation, I continued my education in the pet dog training world, working alongside experienced trainers in a facility that handled everything from foundational obedience and puppy development to more complex behavioral concerns, including reactivity, aggression, fear, and anxiety. Working with such a wide variety of dogs taught me that successful training is never one-size-fits-all and that understanding the dog in front of you is only part of the equation. Just as important is helping the person on the other end of the leash understand how to communicate, set expectations, and continue that progress at home. Those experiences ultimately inspired me to create The Canine Classroom: a place where dogs can learn, but just as importantly, where their owners can learn alongside them.
The Classroom
I started primarily as a mobile trainer, spending my days on the road picking up dogs and bringing training into their everyday lives. On November 17, 2020, The Canine Classroom officially had its first day of school.
As we grew, so did my vision for a space of our own. In November 2022, we found our new home and a true classroom where we could put down roots. Since then, The Canine Classroom has continued to grow and evolve into what it is today, while staying true to where it all began. My approach to training is best categorized as balanced and individualized to the dog in front of me. I believe dogs thrive with clear communication, appropriate structure, fulfillment, and consistency. Rather than simply teaching commands, my goal is to help owners better understand their dogs and give them the tools and confidence to navigate everyday life together.
