Alaina Rudin
My name is Alaina Rudin and I am the owner and dog trainer behind Scallywags Dog Training in Grand Rapids.
I specialize in helping parents raise and train family dogs your neighbors would be jealous of. My top priority is household safety, and I understand that dogs who live with young kids have different training needs than most pets.
Experience & Credentials:
I have five years of experience working with kids under 10 in both educational and therapeutic settings.
On top of that, I am a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), helping kids with autism learn life skills through play and positive reinforcement.
I am certified through the Karen Pryor Academy. which means that I use proven methods for fast and reliable training. I am also certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
I have experience working with dogs, rescues organizations, veterinary clinics, kennels, and service dog programs.
Your Dog’s Transformation:
The dogs I’ve seen the most success with are hyper, active pups like one of the first dogs I worked with, Crocket.
Crocket was a 1 year old golden doodle with boundless energy. He did nothing slowly, he ran away when called, pulled and paced on leash, chased after the kids, and snatched anything left on the floor.
The final result for Crocket and his family:
🔎 Customized a routine, games, and list of products to ensure the family achieved the life balance with their new puppy. No more wasting hours trying to learn dog training on Tiktok.
🧐 Alleviated the work load of Crocket’s family by giving him private 1:1 sessions to speed up his learning. No more spending days trying to do it yourself.
🌳 People mistakenly keep dog training in the home, but then their dog struggles with training issues out in the world! So, I worked with Crocket on listening in various environments (parks, trails, etc.). Your dog can be calm and confident whatever comes his way.
🎾 Taught Crocket’s human siblings (9 and 11) how they could safely train and play with their dog.🤓
Crocket learned so quickly! He was a smart dog, but his energy and enthusiasm sometimes got the best of him.
Training helped give his brain a workout. It also showed him what was expected, and once he knew what people wanted, he was happy to do it!
“She listened to all our concerns and was able to turn those into tangible training points that we can continue to reinforce.”
— Brian, Char, and Roxie
What to Expect when Working with Alaina
The common problems I see:
Whether it’s jumping up, stealing shoes, or pulling on the leash, all these problems can be solved by with a little clever training.
Dogs thrive on routine, repetition, and structure, but they can learn even when life is a bit crazy (I see you toddler moms!)
Where does the dog training happen:
Typically, training starts in client homes or in my home. Then, once we get a few skills under your dog’s belt, we are ready to add in some real-life distractions. We may even take the training on the road to parks, patios, and other places!
Recommended tools:
Clicker: a small plastic button that makes a click noise that helps your dog understand what you would like them to do (as pictured above). BTW if you are a client of mine, you get one for free!
We combine this with treats to teach your dog new skills (and get rid of the ones that you don’t like). See all my favorite training tools here.
Get in Touch Today!
About Karen Pryor Academy
Why choose a certified dog trainer?
Dog training is an unregulated field. Anyone can claim to be a dog trainer, regardless of their understanding of canine behavior. Certified trainers have gone the extra mile to learn and practice their craft.
That means they know how to help you get your dog trained the right way!
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP):
The Karen Pryor Academy has led the way in science-based positive reinforcement dog training. (That means methods that have been proven time and time again to be effective without harming your dog).
Certified Training Partners must continue their education and adhere to a training pledge.
Karen Pryor Trainers are tested on:
- Teaching skills for human clients.
- The science of behavior.
- Dog training skills.
Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
The CCPDT is one of the largest dog trainer accreditation organizations in the US. Certificates must maintain their education and sign a LIMA pledge.
CPDT-KA trainers must:
- Pass a 200 question exam.
- Document 300 dog training hours.
- Prove skills in teaching, animal husbandry, ethics, and behavior.
See Alaina in action: Check us out on instagram @scallywagsdoggtraining or on Facebook.