Our Training Philosophy
At Challenge Accepted Dog Training, in Kansas City, we believe the best training happens where real life happens.
Dogs don’t struggle in a vacuum. They struggle at the front door when guests arrive. At the fence with the neighbor’s dog. On walks when another dog passes. At the park. In the kitchen while you’re cooking dinner. That’s why our training is designed to happen in the exact environments where challenges naturally occur.
Sometimes that means training at home. Sometimes it means working in public spaces, parks, neighborhoods, or around distractions. But success matters to us, so we don’t throw dogs into overwhelming situations before they’re ready. We build confidence gradually and thoughtfully so your dog can learn without panic, shutdown, or failure.
Our approach is rooted in positive reinforcement, the most scientifically supported and effective form of dog training for long-term behavior change. Rather than forcing dogs into submission through fear, intimidation, or pain, we teach them how to succeed by making the desired behavior rewarding and worthwhile.
Every dog is motivated differently. Some dogs work for treats. Others for toys, praise, movement, play, or connection. By identifying what naturally motivates your dog, we create learning experiences that feel engaging, rewarding, and safe.
We focus on creating dogs that are:
calm and emotionally regulated
responsive and attentive
confident without being reactive
connected and attuned to their humans
Because the best dogs aren’t the most obedient dogs. They’re the dogs who feel safe, understood, and capable of navigating the world alongside you.
Gardenia’s training style is especially well suited for:
puppies and adolescent dogs
easily overwhelmed or anxious dogs
dogs with unknown histories or trauma
dogs struggling with public interactions
dogs that have difficulty settling at home
families wanting a relationship-based approach instead of punishment-based methods
owners who want to understand why their dog is behaving a certain way — not just stop the behavior
Dog Training Packages in Kansas City
This one-hour consultation is designed to introduce you and your dog to Gardenia and begin building a customized training plan based on your dog’s individual needs, temperament, and environment.
During this session, Gardenia will assess your dog’s behavior, discuss your goals and concerns, explain training philosophy and realistic expectations, and begin identifying what motivates your dog most effectively. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe your dog learning in real time while gaining a better understanding of what may be contributing to unwanted behaviors.
This session typically takes place in your home or another location within our service area where your dog feels most comfortable. If you decide to move forward with a training package, the $75 consultation fee can be applied toward your package purchase.
The 4-hour package is the perfect starting point for dogs needing foundational obedience skills, better communication with their humans, and help building consistency in everyday life.
This package focuses on teaching core skills and behaviors through positive reinforcement and relationship-based training. Gardenia will guide both you and your dog through practical, real-world learning while helping you better understand how dogs communicate, learn, and stay engaged.
You’ll work together in real time while receiving coaching, feedback, and exercises to practice between sessions so progress continues long after the lesson ends.
Sessions can be broken into 30- or 45-minute increments, making this an excellent option for puppies, young dogs, or dogs who benefit from shorter learning sessions.
This package is ideal for:
puppy foundations
sit, stay, down, and recall
leash manners and walking politely
basic impulse control
polite greetings
confidence building
improving focus and responsiveness
creating better communication between dog and owner
introducing structure and consistency at home
The goal of this package is to create a dog who understands expectations clearly and enjoys working alongside their human — building skills through trust, success, and positive experiences.
Popular
The 8-hour package is designed for dogs and owners who need additional support, more advanced guidance, or extra time to create lasting change and consistency.
Some dogs need more than basic obedience training. These dogs often benefit from slower pacing, repetition, consistency, and additional opportunities to practice success in real-world situations.
This package allows time to fully assess your dog’s learning style, motivations, environment, and daily routines while helping you better understand what may be contributing to unwanted behaviors. Together, you’ll work through practical training exercises in the locations where challenges naturally occur.
Lessons can be broken into 30- or 45-minute sessions to prevent overwhelm and support dogs who learn best in shorter increments. Gardenia carefully watches for physical and emotional fatigue and adjusts sessions accordingly to keep learning productive, positive, and confidence-building.
This package is ideal for:
dogs needing more consistency and structure
persistent unwanted habits
difficulty settling or relaxing at home
leash pulling and overstimulation on walks
public manners and distractions
dogs struggling with focus or impulse control
dogs with anxiety or insecurity in new situations
counter surfing, door charging, or household mischief
owners wanting ongoing coaching and support
The goal is not just obedience, but helping your dog become calm, responsive, confident, and capable of making better choices while strengthening the relationship between dog and owner through trust, communication, and positive reinforcement.
Best
value
The dogs are my clients
“Gardenia has been working professionally with dogs for over 15 years, building a career rooted in experience, compassion, and a deep respect for the human–canine bond. She began her journey in California as a dog walker and house sitter, where she quickly realized that working with dogs was work she truly loved and felt deeply committed to.
After moving to Kansas City in 2017, Gardenia joined Dogtopia’s corporate team as a company trainer. In that role, she traveled across the country supporting franchise owners as they opened new locations, training staff and specializing in canine behavior and safe group play. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was laid off from her corporate position but remained part of the Dogtopia family, joining the Overland Park location on its opening day. She continues to maintain strong relationships with the owners and team there.
In 2019, while still working full time, Gardenia took a step toward her long-held dream of owning her own dog-centered business. She founded Challenge Accepted Dog Training, offering personalized dog training in Kansas City for families seeking thoughtful, relationship-based support. Recognizing that some dogs need a different type of care — more individualized attention, structure, and understanding — she expanded in 2020 to include doggy daycare in Kansas City and boarding services. Today, she is proud to serve the community as a trusted dog trainer in Kansas City.
Gardenia’s training philosophy is grounded in positive reinforcement. As a positive reinforcement dog trainer with a gentle approach, she is calm, consistent, and relationship-focused. She believes dog parents are an essential part of the training process, which is why she works directly with families in the environments where their dogs need support. Gardenia’s motto, “We train dogs to be pets,” reflects her belief that well-mannered dogs are happier, more confident, and easier to live with as integral family members.
Her inspiration runs deep. Gardenia’s beloved Chihuahua, Cinnamon, who crossed the rainbow bridge in 2020 at the age of 12, remains at the heart of Challenge Accepted. Cinnamon’s companionship shaped Gardenia’s understanding of what it truly means for a dog to be family.
The mission of Challenge Accepted is simple but powerful: to help dogs remain safely and successfully in their homes. Dogs who are understood, trained with kindness, and cared for appropriately are far less likely to be surrendered or rehomed. Gardenia embraces the reality that some dogs have complex and unique needs — and when faced with those challenges, her response has always been the same:
“Challenge Accepted”
Bark at us!
