Training

The back-half of Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s building is dedicated as the "Training Center". Serving all of Lorain County (Ohio) and surrounding areas, we offer mainly private, “one-on-one” training sessions, as well as some limited group class and in-home training options, for ALL dogs, puppy through senior-dog, of ALL breeds!

We offer basic training program, as well as more advanced behavior modification programs, and even Therapy Dog certification programs! Chip Ingersoll is the certified trainer and offers Obedience Training (group classes & private lessons), Canine Behavior Modification, Puppy Workshops & Socialization Sessions, and much more!

For inquiries, please contact Chip at (440) 984-3152 or training@alphadogpets.com.

Group Class Information and Scheduled Start Dates can be found on our Events Page and our Facebook Page!

Training Center Hours

Sun-Mon: Closed

Tues-Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thu: 4pm – 9pm

Fri-Sat: 10am – 6pm

** Training Sunday-Monday are by appointment only

The back-half of Alpha-Dog Pet Center’s building is dedicated as the "Training Center". Serving all of Lorain County (Ohio) and surrounding areas, we offer mainly private, “one-on-one” training sessions, as well as some limited group class and in-home training options, for ALL dogs, puppy through senior-dog, of ALL breeds!

We offer basic training program, as well as more advanced behavior modification programs, and even Therapy Dog certification programs! Chip Ingersoll is the certified trainer and offers Obedience Training (group classes & private lessons), Canine Behavior Modification, Puppy Workshops & Socialization Sessions, and much more!

For inquiries, please contact Chip at (440) 984-3152 or training@alphadogpets.com.

Group Class Information and Scheduled Start Dates can be found on our Events Page and our Facebook Page!

Training Center Hours

Sun-Mon: Closed

Tues-Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thu: 4pm – 9pm

Fri-Sat: 10am – 6pm

** Training Sunday-Monday are by appointment only

About the Trainer

Chip Ingersoll is a Professional Dog Trainer & Canine Behavior Consultant, as well as being the Owner/Operator of Alpha-Dog Pet Centers, LLC located in Amherst, Ohio. Chip is a life-long resident of Amherst, Ohio and loves being able to have his business serve his hometown! Chip’s professional background is in Education. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University, and a Master of Education Degree from Trident University. He has taught at both the elementary and junior high school levels, and until very recently still taught middle-school science for an online virtual school.

Chip is a graduate of the Obedience Trainer Program from K9-University (Online) in Tennessee, and has completed studies in Canine Behavior Consultation through the Canine Behavior Specialist Network. Chip is currently working on completing additional training and certification in Canine Behavior Modification, as well as Canine Resistance Training (CRT). Chip has participated in numerous workshops and training events for the "Training Between The Ears" (TBTE) system of training and canine behavior work, under the mentorship of nationally acclaimed trainer, Mark McCabe. Chip is currently working toward completing his certification in the TBTE system.

Chip is a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), as well as the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Chip is also certified a Pet First-Aid & CPR Instructor through PetTech’s “PetSaver” program. Chip currently has three dogs and two cats… all of whom are rescues!!! All three of his dogs are certified Therapy Dogs, and along with other family members they visit schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. In his free time, Chip enjoys playing with his dogs, baseball, movies, and martial arts. He is a 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan) and is certified as an Instructor in Chinese Kenpo Karate, which he taught for many years prior to opening Alpha-Dog Pet Center in 2013. For inquiries, please contact Chip at (440) 984-3152 or training@alphadogpets.com.

About the Trainer

Chip Ingersoll is a Professional Dog Trainer & Canine Behavior Consultant, as well as being the Owner/Operator of Alpha-Dog Pet Centers, LLC located in Amherst, Ohio. Chip is a life-long resident of Amherst, Ohio and loves being able to have his business serve his hometown! Chip’s professional background is in Education. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University, and a Master of Education Degree from Trident University. He has taught at both the elementary and junior high school levels, and until very recently still taught middle-school science for an online virtual school.

Chip is a graduate of the Obedience Trainer Program from K9-University (Online) in Tennessee, and has completed studies in Canine Behavior Consultation through the Canine Behavior Specialist Network. Chip is currently working on completing additional training and certification in Canine Behavior Modification, as well as Canine Resistance Training (CRT). Chip has participated in numerous workshops and training events for the "Training Between The Ears" (TBTE) system of training and canine behavior work, under the mentorship of nationally acclaimed trainer, Mark McCabe. Chip is currently working toward completing his certification in the TBTE system.

Chip is a Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), as well as the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Chip is also certified a Pet First-Aid & CPR Instructor through PetTech’s “PetSaver” program. Chip currently has three dogs and two cats… all of whom are rescues!!! All three of his dogs are certified Therapy Dogs, and along with other family members they visit schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. In his free time, Chip enjoys playing with his dogs, baseball, movies, and martial arts. He is a 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan) and is certified as an Instructor in Chinese Kenpo Karate, which he taught for many years prior to opening Alpha-Dog Pet Center in 2013. For inquiries, please contact Chip at (440) 984-3152 or training@alphadogpets.com.

Training Style Information

As a professional trainer and behaviorist, I use a positively-balanced training style, called "Training Between the Ears" ("TBTE"). I have studied extensively with TBTE's founder, master canine behaviorist Mark McCabe, who is from the Baltimore/Washington, DC area, and has been training dogs and working with behavior issues for over 35 years. The TBTE training system is unique, very effective, and places a high-value on the emotional state and well-being of the dog! We don't just solve the owner's problems... We solve the DOG's problems, which in-turn also solves the owner's issues. "TBTE" is NOT traditional obedience-based training. We do teach obedience, and are happy to help owners who want to teach their dogs obedience techniques! That said, while teaching and practicing obedience commands can have value in some situations, and can be a very fun activity for some dogs & owners, it is NOT the most effective way to solve many behavior issues. Why? Obedience tends to help us control or "manage" behaviors, but does not address the underlying emotional state of the dog, which drives those behaviors. Because of this unique approach, TBTE is a great training platform for everything from basic puppy training, to minor behavior challenges, to larger behavioral issues, such as aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, etc.

Training Style Information

As a professional trainer and behaviorist, I use a positively-balanced training style, called "Training Between the Ears" ("TBTE"). I have studied extensively with TBTE's founder, master canine behaviorist Mark McCabe, who is from the Baltimore/Washington, DC area, and has been training dogs and working with behavior issues for over 35 years. The TBTE training system is unique, very effective, and places a high-value on the emotional state and well-being of the dog! We don't just solve the owner's problems... We solve the DOG's problems, which in-turn also solves the owner's issues. "TBTE" is NOT traditional obedience-based training. We do teach obedience, and are happy to help owners who want to teach their dogs obedience techniques! That said, while teaching and practicing obedience commands can have value in some situations, and can be a very fun activity for some dogs & owners, it is NOT the most effective way to solve many behavior issues. Why? Obedience tends to help us control or "manage" behaviors, but does not address the underlying emotional state of the dog, which drives those behaviors. Because of this unique approach, TBTE is a great training platform for everything from basic puppy training, to minor behavior challenges, to larger behavioral issues, such as aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, etc.

Resources

To help you have a better understanding of how we will be approaching the behavior aspects of our training program, I have two links to share with you, which I hope will give you an idea about how we approach training and behavior modification with dogs who are having behavioral challenges:

Optimist Article

The following link will take you to an article, written by the founder of the TBTE training system, Mark McCabe, which is titled, "Is Your Dog An Optimist". While Mark's article specifically discusses dogs with issues such as fear, anxiety, and aggression, teaching your dog to view the world through a lens of optimism can be extremely beneficial for ALL dogs, including dogs with over-excitement issues, resource guarding issues, separation anxiety issues, and even dogs with smaller behavioral challenges and puppies who are just generally learning to be a "good dog".

YouTube Videos

Here is a link to a YouTube playlist of several videos by TBTE founder Mark McCabe, explaining various aspects of the TBTE approach to dog training and behavior modification. While you can't really learn any specific techniques from these videos, you will get a very good feel for the unique perspective and mindset that we, as TBTE trainers, bring to our work with dogs (and humans).

Don't feel like you must watch ALL of these videos before we discuss the possibility of you starting a training program with us... that is NOT necessary! If you have time to read the "Is Your Dog An Optimist" article, and watch the first 5 or 6 of the videos, it will give you some good background to start with! I would love to have a further conversation with you, regarding your dog's issues and the possibility of us working together to make positive changes in your dog. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me by phone, or in-person here at Alpha-Dog, if you have any questions or would like to discuss starting a training program!

-Chip Ingersoll, trainer

Resources

To help you have a better understanding of how we will be approaching the behavior aspects of our training program, I have two links to share with you, which I hope will give you an idea about how we approach training and behavior modification with dogs who are having behavioral challenges:

Optimist Article

The following link will take you to an article, written by the founder of the TBTE training system, Mark McCabe, which is titled, "Is Your Dog An Optimist". While Mark's article specifically discusses dogs with issues such as fear, anxiety, and aggression, teaching your dog to view the world through a lens of optimism can be extremely beneficial for ALL dogs, including dogs with over-excitement issues, resource guarding issues, separation anxiety issues, and even dogs with smaller behavioral challenges and puppies who are just generally learning to be a "good dog".

YouTube Videos

Here is a link to a YouTube playlist of several videos by TBTE founder Mark McCabe, explaining various aspects of the TBTE approach to dog training and behavior modification. While you can't really learn any specific techniques from these videos, you will get a very good feel for the unique perspective and mindset that we, as TBTE trainers, bring to our work with dogs (and humans).

Don't feel like you must watch ALL of these videos before we discuss the possibility of you starting a training program with us... that is NOT necessary! If you have time to read the "Is Your Dog An Optimist" article, and watch the first 5 or 6 of the videos, it will give you some good background to start with! I would love to have a further conversation with you, regarding your dog's issues and the possibility of us working together to make positive changes in your dog. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me by phone, or in-person here at Alpha-Dog, if you have any questions or would like to discuss starting a training program!

-Chip Ingersoll, trainer

Navigation

Shop By Pet Type

Sign Up for Our Email List

© Copyright 2023. Alpha-Dog Pet Centers, LLC. All rights reserved.

View our accessibility statement