Meet Your K9 Trainer, Tanneil
Hello K9 Leaders! I'm Tanneil — professional dog trainer and pack leader to 8 large dogs of my own.
My passion is the working and herding groups. After extensive research and hands-on work with breeds like GSDs, Malinois, Border Collies, and more, I've built my training around one truth: you can't take the breed trait out of the dog. But when you understand those drives and motivators, you can use them to create a happier, well-managed dog without straining the owner-dog bond.
I like a challenge! I'm trained to spot the gaps — whether it's confusion in the dog or a missed signal from the owner — and step in to correct them. I don't run blanketed programs. Every dog gets a customized Action Plan because your dog doesn't live in a training bubble.
At K9 Engagement, I put engagement and communication first. Without that foundation, both owners and dogs are left frustrated. I help you solve behavioral issues and build reliable obedience through play-based training, structured motivation, and real-world practice. During our in-person consultation, I listen to your goals and guide you to become the confident leader your dog needs.
Through play-based training and structured motivation, we build Foundation First — using breed traits, not fighting them — so New Haven County dogs and their owners gain the confidence and engagement to be Real World Ready. You can't take the breed trait out of the dog. Working and herding breeds were designed with drive, and "bad behavior" is usually confusion, fear, or missing foundation — not a broken dog. That's why I don't run gimmicks, quick fixes, or blanketed programs.
Foundation First
Everything starts with clear communication and engagement. Without that bedrock, both owners and dogs are left frustrated. We don't let communication break down.
What it means:
Foundation isn’t “sit” on day one. It’s teaching your dog how to learn, and teaching you how to teach. We build focus, engagement, and a shared language before we ask for obedience. If your dog can’t tune into you when it’s easy, they can’t tune in when it’s hard.
What it looks like in sessions:
✔ Marker training so your dog knows exactly when they’re right
✔ Name game and eye contact drills that make YOU the most interesting thing in the room
✔ Food, toy, and play engagement — we use your dog’s natural drives instead of fighting them
✔ Leash pressure games so “heel” isn’t a constant tug-of-war
✔ Calmness and impulse control as skills, not just “good behavior” we hope for
Why owners need it too:
Most “bad dogs” are actually miscommunications. We fix your timing, clarity, and consistency first. That means less nagging, less frustration, and a dog that actually listens because they understand you.
Bottom line: Foundation is the difference between a dog who can perform and a dog who chooses to. No gimmicks. No skipping steps.
Confidence Always
I use interactive play and structured motivation so your dog chooses to work with you. I like a challenge, and that means spotting gaps — a missed signal from you, confusion in your dog — and turning breed-specific drives into training advantages. As understanding grows, so does confidence from both ends of the leash.
What it means:
Confidence isn’t a personality trait — it’s a skill. For your dog, it’s built when they know what to expect and know they can succeed. For you, it’s built when you stop second-guessing every walk, recall, or guest at the door. We train so both of you trust each other under pressure.
What it looks like for your dog:
✔ Play-based pressure: We use tug, chase, and food games to teach dogs how to think and win even when aroused. A herding breed that can play tug with rules can ignore the jogger.
✔ Controlled challenges: We don’t avoid what scares them. We break it down. A dog afraid of skateboards learns to watch, then move, then work around one — and wins every step.
✔ Breed traits as fuel: That ball-obsessed Border Collie? That nose-driven Beagle? We channel that drive into engagement with you. We don’t suppress it.
✔ Failure-safe training: Dogs learn fastest when they can try, get it wrong, and try again without fear of correction. Confidence comes from knowing “I can figure this out.”
What it looks like for owners:
✔ You stop micromanaging: Once you understand why your dog is pulling, barking, or shutting down, you stop reacting and start responding.
✔ You read your dog: I teach you to spot the split-second ear flick, weight shift, or lip lick that tells you your dog is about to make a choice — so you can guide it.
✔ You handle the “oh crap” moments: Dropped leash? Off-leash dog running up? You’ll have tools and reps, not panic.
✔ You become the safe place: When your dog looks to you instead of blowing up or shutting down, that’s confidence from both ends of the leash.
How we build it:
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Engagement first: If your dog wouldn’t choose you in the backyard, they won’t choose you at Edgewood Park. We make you relevant through play and motivation.
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Add challenge gradually: We introduce distractions, distance, and duration only as fast as your dog can win. Confidence dies when we ask for too much, too soon.
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Proof with purpose: We set dogs up to work through stress, not avoid it. A confident dog doesn’t need a perfect environment — they trust their handler.
Why most programs skip this:
Quick fixes and blanket programs can’t build confidence because they rely on suppression or bribery. A dog that’s “obedient” because they’re scared of a prong pop isn’t confident. A dog that only works when you have a hot dog isn’t confident. We build dogs that want to work because they trust the process — and trust you.
Bottom line: Confidence Always means your dog chooses you over the environment, and you choose to handle situations instead of avoid them. That’s what makes you Real Life Ready.
Real Life Ready
Skills get proofed where it counts: doorbells, New Haven parks, sidewalks, crowds, housemates. We train to extinguish those issues, not manage them in a bubble.
What it means:
A dog that “sits” in your kitchen isn’t trained. A dog that holds a down-stay while skateboards roll past East Rock Park is trained. Real Life Ready means your dog’s skills work in the places you actually live, not just in a training room.
What we proof for:
✔ Environmental: Door knocking, delivery trucks, squirrels, other dogs, cafe patios, brewery crowds
✔ New Haven specific: Sidewalks on Chapel St, Farmers Market distractions, Wintergreen State Park trails, busy dog park entrances
✔ Household: Guests coming over, kids running, cats on counters, food on coffee tables
✔ Duration + distance + distraction: We add all three slowly so skills don’t fall apart when you need them most
How we get there:
We don’t “hope” your dog generalizes. We take Foundation and Confidence and pressure-test them. That means controlled set-ups, then real-world field trips. If your dog can’t do it around me, they won’t do it around your mother-in-law.
Why it matters:
Management is exhausting. Avoiding triggers forever isn’t freedom. We train so you can take your dog with you — to brunch, to hikes, to family holidays — without constant stress.
Bottom line: Real Life Ready = a dog you can live with, not just train with. We extinguish the problem, not babysit it.
Step 1: Free 15- Min Call
We talk goals & fit — No commitment. Just making sure we're the right match for you and your dog.
Step 2: Private Intake Forms
Sent after our call — You'll get a secure link to share your dog's history and goals. This helps me prep your custom evaluation plan.
Step 3: In-Home Evaluation
Custom plan for your dog — I come to you. We assess behavior in your dog's real environment and map out training.
Step 4: Book Your Spot
Deposit secures training — Ready to move forward? Your deposit locks in your training schedule.
Welcome to K9 Engagement Dog Training CT LLC! Book your phone consultation below. I look forward to creating clear training goals and building a stronger bond and engagement with your dog. Foundation First. Confidence Always. Real Life Ready.
Choose Your Program
Comprehensive training programs tailored to your goals
2x Per Week Training Schedule
1-Hour Breakthrough Session
Perfect for addressing 1-2 specific behaviors or determining the right training path for your dog.
$175
✔ Address 1-2 specific behavioral concerns
✔ Professional assessment of your dog's needs
✔ Customized training recommendations
✔ Discounted from full program if you enroll
Specialized Programs
For fearful, anxious, or aggression
3x Per Week Intensive Schedule
‼️ PIF Bonus: Pay in full at booking and receive 5% off your total program investment, plus a complimentary follow-up session after completion. 50% deposit is required to secure your spot. Remaining balance due at first session. Travel fee applies for sessions outside a 15-mile radius of New Haven.
Meet My Pack
Client Success Stories
Real K9 parents, real results
Ranger M.
New Haven
"I was thinking about rehoming Ranger because of his leash reactivity. After 6 weeks with Tanneil, his barking and lunging are night and day different. She gave us our walks back. So thankful."
Onyx D.
West Haven
"I thought I wasn’t the right owner for Onyx. Tanneil’s Behavior Rehab program stopped his resource guarding and gave us safety + structure. The muzzle and crate became tools for freedom. Thank you."
Reba G.
New Haven
"Reba was a rescue with no obedience. Now she’s amazing in crowds, engages with me on outings, and her long-line recall is solid. Tanneil is attentive, supportive, and gets rescue dogs."
Meesha J.
New Haven
"First-time Malinois owners, and we were in over our heads. Tanneil taught us to work with the breed, not against it. Week 4 and Meesha is amazing. Signing up for more sessions!"
Ready To Transform Your Dog's Behavior?
Foundation First. Confidence Always. Real-Life Ready.
Engaging Dogs. Empowering Owners. Real-World Ready.
Foundation
Complete
Mastery
Behavior Rehab
Reactivity Reset
1-Hour Breakthrough Session