Dog Training Built on Connection, Not Compliance
Positive reinforcement, force-free dog training for puppies, everyday behavior challenges, reactivity, and aggression in the Kansas City area.
No shock collars. No prong collars. No intimidation. Just practical training built around you and your dog.
You don't need a perfectly obedient dog. You need a dog you can enjoy living with.
Maybe your puppy is biting everything. Your dog pulls you down the street. Guests coming over is chaos. Or your dog is barking, lunging, growling, or has even bitten someone.
Whatever brought you here, we'll start by understanding why the behavior is happening — then build practical skills that make everyday life easier.
Connection over compliance.
Puppy Training
Build a strong foundation from the start with positive, practical training focused on confidence, communication, socialization, and everyday life skills.
Connection-Focused Dog Training
Personalized training for leash pulling, jumping, recall, overexcitement, and other everyday challenges—while strengthening the connection between you and your dog.
Reactivity and Aggression Training
Compassionate, safety-focused support for dogs who bark, lunge, growl, guard, or bite. We focus on understanding the behavior, building felt safety, and creating lasting change.
Virtual Dog Training
Personalized, one-on-one coaching from the comfort of your home. Get practical guidance and a training plan designed around you, your dog, and your everyday life.
Training should feel good for both ends of the leash.
Force-Free Training
We don't use fear, pain, shock, or intimidation to change behavior.
Understand the Why
Behavior is communication. We look beyond what your dog is doing to understand why they're doing it.
Real-Life Skills
Training isn't about performing commands in your living room. It's about making everyday life together easier.
Connection Over Compliance
The goal isn't a dog who is afraid to make the wrong choice. It's a dog who has the skills and confidence to make choices that work for both of you.
Connection over Compliance
Hi, I'm Nate.
I'm the trainer behind Connected Dog Training. My approach to dog training changed after seeing firsthand what can happen when obedience is prioritized over a dog's emotional wellbeing.
Today, I use positive reinforcement, choice, enrichment, management, and behavior science to provide connection-focused training that helps dogs and their people better understand each other.
Nate is fantastic at training dogs (and humans 🤣). His instructions are logical and helped us connect with Bishop. After just a few sessions, we have the tools to help Bishop make smart decisions.
I've gone from questioning why we had a dog to truly enjoying having Bishop in our home. We can't recommend Nate enough!!
Client Reviews
— Client ReviewNate was awesome! He came to our house and spent time not only training our dog but also teaching us on how to continue training our dog throughout the week where we saw real progress. He showed us fun games to build good behaviors and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. We love that his training is force-free and really focused on creating a positive experience. we like our dog better now after the training. Highly recommend!
— Client ReviewNate has been working with my new girl for awhile now. I am a very experienced Weimaraner owner, but he has helped out tremendously with potty training and, especially, leaving the cat alone.
Thanks so much Nate for all your good pointers. CC and I look forward to continuing our training relationship. No shock collars or anything cruel used, just treat based rewards upon verbal commands. HIGHLY recommended.
— Client ReviewGetting Started is Easy
Book a Free Evaluation
Tell me what's going on and what you'd like life with your dog to look like.
Build a Training Plan
We'll create a plan around your dog, your goals, and your everyday life..
Start Training
Learn practical skills while building better communication and connection.
Ready to Enjoy Life With Your Dog Again?
Whether you're raising a puppy, struggling with everyday behavior, or dealing with something more serious, you don't have to figure it out alone.