Expert Force-Free Dog Training in Heber, Midway, Park City UT

Are you struggling with a reactive dog on the local trails? Or perhaps you’ve just brought home a new puppy to your Heber Valley home and feel overwhelmed? Maybe your dog lunges at every passing dog on Main Street, and you’ve started timing your walks to avoid other people.

You’re not alone — and you don’t need a shock collar to fix it.

At Choose To Train Humane, internationally recognized canine behavior expert and bestselling author Annie Phenix provides force-free, trauma-informed dog training right here in the Heber Valley. Annie doesn’t just teach commands — she helps you understand why your dog behaves the way they do, so you can build a relationship based on trust, not fear.

Specialized Training for Heber Valley Dogs

Living in the Wasatch Back offers incredible opportunities for outdoor adventures with your dog, but it also presents unique challenges. Annie specializes in:

Reactivity on Trails & Around Town

Does your dog bark or lunge when passing others on local trails? Annie helps “the midnight dog walkers” — owners who avoid daytime walks — find peace and confidence during the day. Her trauma-informed approach addresses the root cause of reactivity, not just the symptoms.

The Heber Puppy Club

A local community for puppy parents in Heber City and Midway. Think of it as a new mom’s club, but for puppy parents. Safe socialization, enrichment, and essential life skills with expert guidance every step of the way.

Private Sensory Room Sessions

Annie’s indoor sensory room provides focused enrichment work that tires your dog out mentally without the overstimulation of group doggie daycare — perfect for the long Utah winters. Your dog comes home happy and calm, not exhausted and overstimulated.

In-Home & Virtual Behavior Consults

Whether your dog struggles with separation anxiety, aggression, hypervigilance, or just won’t stop digging up your yard, Annie offers private consults in your Heber, Midway or Park City home or via Zoom for clients worldwide.

Why Choose a Force-Free Trainer?

Not all dog training is created equal. Many “balanced” or “alpha-based” programs in Utah rely on e-collars, prong collars, or physical corrections that can make anxiety and aggression worse — especially in dogs who already feel unsafe.

Annie’s methods are 100% force-free and pain-free. As a trauma-informed practitioner, she understands that a dog who is reactive or aggressive is usually a dog who is scared. Punishment doesn’t heal fear — it suppresses it until it comes back worse.

Her approach works because it addresses the root cause of behavior, not just the symptoms. That’s why Annie is often the third or fourth trainer families come to — after other methods have failed.

Annie is the bestselling author of “The Midnight Dog Walkers” and “Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs,” and holds certifications including Certified Canine Behaviourist (INTODogs), Fear Free Certified Professional, and a Certified Dog Mediator.