Today we’d like to introduce you to Becca Anderson.
Hi Becca, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey began at 12 years old, volunteering at a local animal shelter. That early spark turned into a lifelong commitment to understanding canine behavior. In high school, I began raising service dog puppies for people with disabilities—a rewarding path I continued for 15 years. During my college years, I gained formal experience working as a trainer at PetSmart and doing private training.
Along the way, I also founded a dog agility club, but the most significant part of my story is my professional evolution. While I started with ‘balanced’ training methods (using aversive methods at part of the training), my continued education and hands-on experience led me to transition exclusively to force-free and fear-free techniques. I found these science-based methods to be far more effective and ethical for both dogs and their owners.
In February 2020, I launched Clementine Dog Training. Despite the timing, we successfully navigated the pandemic through private training and eventually opened our Riverton Training Studio. Today, we’re proud to offer a full range of classes, our training and enrichment-based PEACE Daycare, and many other services.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, primarily because of a deep internal shift in my philosophy. Earlier in my career, I reached a point where I felt deeply conflicted using aversive training methods. I saw the ‘fallout’—both in the dogs’ behavior and in my own behavior—but at the time, I didn’t yet have the technical skillset to achieve the same results with positive reinforcement.
Because I refused to compromise my ethics, I actually stepped away from training entirely for a few years to work as a secondary educator post college. When I eventually returned to the dog world, I did so with a commitment to deep research and formal education in force-free methods. Discovering the power of high-level positive reinforcement was a lightbulb moment. It allowed me to combine my skills as a human educator with my love for behavior, creating a training environment that is effective, ethical, and joyful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Clementine Dog Training?
At Clementine Dog Training, our mission is to help pets become a seamless, positive part of the household through science-based training. What truly sets us apart is our commitment to expertise: every single one of our small group classes is taught by a certified dog trainer. We’ve moved away from the traditional “one-and-done” class structure to a flexible membership model, fostering a diverse and welcoming community of dog-human teams.
Whether you are looking for foundational skills or “just for fun” electives like Nosework, Rally, or Agility, we provide a path for every dog. We are particularly proud of our PEACE Daycare, which rejects the ‘chaos of play-all-day’ environments in favor of structured training and enrichment. From our robust, multi-layered Puppy Pathway Program—featuring free socialization and ‘Night School’—to our specialized, supportive Reactive Dog Program, we believe every dog is capable of learning through positive reinforcement. We don’t just train dogs; we support owners in creating a lifetime of happiness together.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Growing up in a rural area, one of my favorite memories involves the feral cat colonies that lived in our neighbors’ empty barns. I spent countless hours searching for kittens, not just to find them, but to gently socialize them so they could become part of our outdoor cat community. I’ve always had a special spot in my heart for the wild ones.
That early experience taught me the value of patience and the beauty of building trust with an animal that is initially fearful. As I grew up and programs became more accessible, those colonies eventually participated in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs, but that foundational connection stayed with me. Even today, my own cat is a former feral kitten I adopted from a local rescue—a daily reminder of where my journey in animal behavior truly began.
Pricing:
- Silver Collar: 4 classes per month for $109
- Gold Collar: 8 classes per month for $139
- Platinum Collar: Unlimited classes and 4 Focus Sessions per month for $299
- Private Sessions: $109 per session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clementinedogtraining.com
- Instagram: @clementinedogtraining
- Facebook: @clementinedogtraining
