Maren Bernadette Lavelle

Positive-reinforcement dog trainer and owner of The Big City Woof Walker, LLC., a dog walking and pet care company based in NYC and Chicago, Maren services clients in the greater NYC and Northern NJ area.

Maren is a CPDT-KA and a Peaceable Paws Affiliate dog trainer, having studied with Pat Miller at Peaceable Paws and graduating from her Level One Canine Behavior and Training Academy and Level Two Behavior Modification Academy.

As a Positive Reinforcement dog trainer, Maren uses science-based force-free ethical training methods, to ensure her clients’ dogs are always actively participating in and consenting to their training program. Using rewards that are of high value to your dog, along with praise, Maren encourages the behaviors you do want from your dog, rather than trying to suppress the behaviors you don't want. She focuses on building trust and confidence between you and your dog, ensuring you have a shared toolkit to enhance your communication and strengthen your bond together.

Maren takes on basic manners training and behavior modification cases, puppy prep and puppy training cases, reactivity and fear-related behavior cases, and mild aggression cases. As a film and television director, Maren also specializes in training dogs for tv and film performance as well as live on stage performances.

She is located in Montclair, NJ and can accommodate last minute private appointments in Montclair, Glen Ridge, and Bloomfield, NJ. Appointments in NYC or other Northern NJ cities need to be booked in advance.