All training is force-free, positive reinforcement.
About
Trainer Steve Porter
Over ten years ago, while still teaching, I got two of my dogs certified with the Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dog organization and immediately began taking them on weekly visits.
Some of the places we have gone on a regular basis are New Hope Community (a center for people with Developmental Disabilities), Achieve Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, and DPOA (Disabled Persons Action Organization). I am proud to say that we are still doing weekly visits but under Covid-19 guidelines.
Great Companion Dog Training
After a successful teaching career, I decided to turn my skills and passion to dog training so in 2015 I started Great Companion Dog Training. All my training is force-free, positive reinforcement. It includes hand signals, clicker training, voice commands, operant conditioning, and reward systems.
In 2019 besides my private in-home dog training I was the trainer in Sullivan County, NY for the not-for-profit Action Toward Independence that was administering a grant for the Wounded Warriors Project. It helped Veterans with PTSD acquire and train their dogs to become Service Dogs.
My responsibilities included temperament assessing, training and evaluating/testing for AKC Canine Good Citizen and Community certification, measuring and ordering all training equipment. The program was furloughed due to Covid 19.
Advisory Role
I am on the board of a local animal rescue (Rocky’s Refuge).
I have consulted on the construction of a new “green” dog park.
Stream likes my cat joke.
Visiting Achieve Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center
I'm the one on the right.
Geo greeting a student at a school event
From concerned to thrilled
“We adopted Harlow as an adult dog who, while very sweet, was too rambunctious to suit our three cats.
We thought we had made a terrible mistake. But, after just a couple of sessions with Steve—who, to be honest, is also training us—we can now imagine a time when everyone gets along.”
— Brad Aaron