Phone: 206-706-4875

Address:
BALLARD: 6733 15th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98117

BURIEN TRAINING CENTER: 15227 Ambaum Ave SW
Burien, WA 98166

Our Training Philosophy:
At DDO we use a scientific, evidence based method of training that is Cooperative, Effective and Fun! We practice fear-free training offering clients several different ways to work with their dogs all of which involve gentle, kind and fair techniques. We teach students using “mark & reward” training that can involve the use of a clicker, or a verbal marker if the client is not comfortable using a clicker. We do not use leash “corrections” and shock collars, choke chains or pinch/prong collars . We strive to help humans understand how their dogs think and learn so that they can live peaceful, happy and fulfilling lives with their canine companions!

Our Day Care Philosophy:
Healthy, happy dogs need social interaction, stimulation (mental and physical) and guidance. Dog’s Day Out is a comprehensive training and day care facility providing training, exercise, safe socialization and specialized small day care with a strong emphasis on educating both the human, and the canine companion.

For behavioral and training inquiries contact: Danette@dogsdayoutseattle.com
For day care scheduling contact: Elora@dogsdayoutseattle.com
For Nose Work questions contact: Erica@dogsdayoutseattle.com

In 2022, Dog’s Day Out Owner Danette Johnston was named #1 Dog Trainer in Seattle, #2 in Washington State and #18 in the United States!

  Danette Johnston, Owner, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP) Trainer and Fear Free Coach, and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM). Prior to becoming a dog trainer and behavior consultant, she worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in the state of Washington. Danette has years of experience training dogs (and people!) and working in animal hospitals and shelters prior to opening dog’s day out in 2000. She has published articles on dog day care and dog-dog interactions for The Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). She has lectured on dog behavior to Veterinary Technicians and students at the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians conference. Danette is a Licensed Canine Good Citizen evaluator for the the AKC and worked as a Delta Society Pet Partner’s (animal assisted therapy) Instructor and Team (with her dear departed dog Georgia). She is a Be a Tree presenter for Doggone Safe teaching bite prevention to school age children and is the creator/instructor of Barks & Babes, a specialized class for expecting parents on how to prepare their dog for the family’s upcoming human addition.  Danette started a Shelter Training Program in which she works with shelter and rescue groups educating staff and volunteers working to improve the lives of shelter animals and to innovate modern sheltering. Danette is passionate about learning and continuing education. She attends conferences, workshops and seminars on a regular basis to keep up on advances in canine science and behavior. She has attended seminars by: Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Susan Friedman, Chiraq Patel, Ken Ramirez, Victoria Stilwell, Pat Miller, Emily Larlham and Ken McCort among others.  Currently Danette lectures in person and via webinar on a variety of topics and teaches group classes: The Basics (in-person and virtually for dogs and their humans anywhere!), Beyond Basics, Teens & Tweens and Reactive ReDo  at DDO as well as virtual and in-person private behavior consultations and lessons. Her private behavioral consultations and training  cover a variety of issues including: fearful, reactive and aggressive behaviors as well dog-human (children/baby) dynamics in the home. Danette shares her home with Ernie, a brown tabby with many extra toes, one human teenager, and a very tolerant husband. After losing her beloved Border Collie/Pitbull mix, Rufus to lymphoma last year, she and her family have now downsized and gone a totally different direction by adopting Boogie, a 20 pound fluffy mop-dog.

Erica Wells, CPDT-KA, CNWI, Nose Work Instructor 
Erica is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer as well as a Certified Nose Work Instructor through the National Association of Canine Scent Work. She manages our day care, teaches Nose Work and Teens classes at DDO as well as private lessons, positive gun dog training and truffle hunting training  in the field. She participates and competes in in both Agility, Nose Work and Truffle Hunting with her  Brittany Spaniels, Mimi and Gator.

Cynthia Howell, CPDT-KA, CCS, FDM, Puppy Play & Train, Puppy Training Camp Lead, Basics, Leash Walking/Recall Workshop  Instructor
Cyn is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer as well as an alumni of the NW School of Canine Studies where she graduated in the fall of 2018, earning her CCS designation. Along with rescue and volunteer work, Cyn has worked with dogs for over 15 years in a variety of capacities including day care, dog walking and health insurance. She currently  lives with a naughty French Bulldog and offers private training through her company Diamond Dogs.

Keiko Swanberg, CPDT-KA, CCUI, Fun-Gility and Play & Train Instructor
Keiko is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI), and a licensed AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator.  After working with many top professional trainers and being an assistant trainer for 7 years, Keiko left the corporate world and started her own business, Zen Dog Seattle LLC. She offers various group classes as well as private lessons through her business. Keiko moved from Japan in 2000 and has been a long-time shelter/rescue volunteer and foster parent ever since. She shares her house with her husband, adopted dogs, cats, and often with foster animals from shelters.

Sugako Sasaki, CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, FDM, FFCT, Control Unleashed, Cooperative Care, Senior Enrichment, Speciality Workshops Instructor
Sugako’s background is Canine Behavior Analysis and Counseling and Animal Assisted Therapy. Sugako is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and is a former certified behavior therapist (CBT) and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for children with autism and worked closely with board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) to gain in-depth knowledge and experience of applied behavior analysis. She decided to become a full-time dog trainer to focus on dog’s behavior modification training and service dog training. Sugako is a team facilitator of Atlas Assistant Dog and a Fear Free certified professional trainer. She is fluent in Japanese and offers private sessions through her business, Happy Stretch Dog Training. She loves dogs and cats.

Annie Michelson KPA-CTP, Nosework Instructor
Annie Michelson is a professional dog trainer certified through the Karen Pryor Academy. Annie is an avid student of dog training and behavior, equally focused on precise training technique and deepening the human/canine bond. Since 2019 Annie has been training and competing in canine nosework and she loves to share the joy of this fun cooperative sport.

Kayla Diener,B.S., LVT, KPA-CTP, CTBC, FFCP Elite (Veterinary), FPPE. Cooperative Care & Puppy Instructor.
Kayla earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University SLO. She originally planned on going to veterinary school but things went in a different direction and ended up going to veterinary technician school; which in hindsight was a much better fit! Kayla runs her own training business Pawsitive Living and loves educating people and helping them create a strong bond between themselves and their animals. She is currently working on accruing hours and skills to become a VTS (veterinary technician specialist) in Behavior. After moving to the PNW in 2019, she enjoys exploring new places with her husband, their dog, Holly and daughter, Avery.

Elora Moeller, CPDT-KA, Day Care Manager
Elora graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a dual bachelors degree in International Affairs and Spanish.   She is looking forward to a lifetime continuing education and rehabilitating animals of all kinds. Currently she has a senior pitbull rescue named Rhett, who occasionally joins her at daycare.