A woman with long hair and tattoos hugging and kissing a happy Labrador Retriever dog with open mouth and tongue out, in a black-and-white photo.

* My Training Philosophy *

Dogs are family, but still animals. That’s not a bad thing—it’s a beautiful one. But it means we have to meet them where they are. Dogs communicate through body language, movement, and energy—not English. So instead of punishing behaviors we don’t like, I help you understand why they happen and how to guide your dog toward behaviors that work better for both of you.

I use positive reinforcement and fear/pain-free methods to build real-life skills and long-term trust. That means no shock, prong, or fear tactics—just smart training rooted in compassion and clarity.

A woman with a dog on a rocky overlook with a river and trees in the background on a sunny day.

* Certified Dog Nerd *

Hi! I’m Rachelle Trafton, CPDT-KA, a certified professional dog trainer with over 5 years of hands-on experience helping dogs (and their humans) learn to speak each other’s language. My journey began with my childhood adventure buddy, Boscoe—a wise old Collie who shared my wild outdoor spirit. All I wanted was to talk to him. Then came Hershey, our spicy dachshund, who introduced my family to dog training and lit the spark that became my life’s work.

That spark turned into a career, and since then I’ve:

  • Become a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed)

  • Trained thousands of dogs through PetSmart, DogBoy’s Dog Ranch, Zoom Room, and Every Dog Behavior & Training

  • Specialized in puppies, leash reactivity, fear-based behaviors, and communication-based training

  • Helped one of my clients on America’s Got Talent

I now run Rachelle’s Ruff Riders, where I combine real-world experience with science-based methods to help families build trust, clarity, and calm—without force, fear, or gimmicks.

A woman holding a leash with a Belgian Malinois dog, standing in a grassy, rocky outdoor landscape with trees and a blue sky with clouds.

* How Dogs Learn *

Dogs don’t misbehave out of spite—they behave based on what’s worked for them in the past.

Whether it’s jumping, barking, or ignoring a recall, there’s always a reason behind the behavior. I teach clients to use:

  • Classical conditioning (changing how your dog feels about a situation)

  • Operant conditioning (reinforcing the behaviors you want to see more of)

  • Management and prevention (setting your dog up for success)

With a little consistency and the right communication, your dog will learn what earns rewards—and what doesn’t. It’s not magic. It’s science. And it works.

* Testimonials *

“One training session in and so many helpful tips and tricks for Aayla and Kit!! Rachelle was patient with us and the pups. Thank you so much for your help and follow up.”
— Kaitlyn, Aayla, & Kit

“Rachelle did an amazing job training me and my young Frenchie ! She was ultimately responsible for allowing me to keep him and not only manage his behavior but understand his queues and be ready to react. All my dogs became quickly attached to her, I am very impressed with her gentle training style and loving approach.”

— Gail, Atlas, Willow, Wally, Peanut, & Keller

“I've known Rachelle Trafton since 2020 and can wholeheartedly recommend her. She's an exceptional trainer—compassionate, knowledgeable, and deeply attuned to both dogs and their people. Her calm presence and clear guidance help even shy or fearful dogs feel safe. Rachelle tailors training to each dog-human team and always goes above and beyond. If you're looking for a skilled, thoughtful, and effective trainer, Rachelle is the one.”

— Devi & Rooster