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Not Sure What You Need? Please Email Niki Tudge. We are hand to help guide you into the correct service type
Welcome to The DogSmith of The Villages.
Thank you for dropping by!
We're dedicated to providing exceptional Pet Dog Training and Behavior services. Our services include basic obedience, puppy training, behavior modification, and specialized programs like Dog Sports and Scent Training.
Located on 5 beautiful acres in Fruitland Park, just 1.5 miles outside The Villages and conveniently 40 minutes from Clermont and Orlando, our facility offers the perfect environment for residential training. We also offer unique Slumber Parties for our training and behavior clients for small dogs under 30 pounds.
Browse our service options below and click the top menu to learn more about our specialized training programs. If you don't see exactly what you need, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our experienced trainers are here to help you build a fabulous, trusting, and empowering relationship with your pet.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
Private Training
No bones about it, your dog has unique needs. Here at The DogSmith we recognize that dog training programs need to be developed around the needs of you and your dog.
Group Classes
DogSmith Group Training has everything you need to establish, strengthen and perfect the bond you share with your pet.
Behavior Consults
Whatever your dog’s behavior issue may be - Your DogSmith is here to help you. DogSmith Dog Behavior Consultants are uniquely qualified to help you and are experts in evaluating, managing and modifying a wide range of challenging canine behaviors you may be experiencing.
Virtual Training
Flexible, Cost-Effective and Convenient. Get DogSmith’s ‘Anytime, Anyplace’ web-based training. Your on-line solution
Training Retreat
If your busy schedule doesn't allow you the time to train and bond with your dog the way you would like to, our Training Retreat services are just what you need.
DogVenture
Introducing a major breakthrough in caring for your pet dog. We know how busy you are with work and family. DogVentures is our scientifically based enrichment system that helps you promote, improve and maintain your pet’s physical and mental health and well-being.
Puppy Training
Puppies are delightful, cute, funny and highly entertaining. Unfortunately, they do not come with an owner’s manual. We are changing all of that. The DogSmith has developed Puppy Training Programs that provide you with everything you need to train your puppy from ‘cute and cuddly’, through the ‘terrible twos’, all the way to ‘best friend’.
Throughout her travels and career, Niki Tudge has pursued her passion of animals. Wherever she worked, she always became active in rehabilitating abandoned and abused animals. In 1996, while working in Africa, Niki spearheaded a project, in cooperation with Fauna & Flora International - the world's longest-established international conservation charity working to save threatened species and ecosystems worldwide - to rescue endangered and protected species from poachers and transition them back to their natural environment. This project resulted in successfully saving numerous orphaned chimpanzees, endangered drill monkeys, and preuss monkeys.
It was also in Africa in 1998 that Niki began developing her skills as a Family Pet Dog Trainer. Working with the local Police K9 unit, Niki took German Shepherd puppies deemed "unsuitable" for police work and trained them to become wonderful family pet dogs suitable for adoption. Her favorite ex-police dog was adopted by a family in Oregon USA, where she lived out a very happy life on a Christmas tree farm.
Though her work with Africa's wild animals was fulfilling, Niki's first love was always the family pet dog. In 1998, inspired by research on Cape Hunting Dogs at the De Wild Cheetah and Wildlife Trust, where Niki was a regular visitor and contributor, Niki established a personal goal of working with local communities and animal rescue centers to improve the relationship between families and their pets. By teaching families to communicate with dogs and dogs to understand humans, Niki believes we can significantly reduce the number of stray, abandoned, neglected, abused and unwanted pets. Niki committed herself to support, through training, rescue facilities, and shelters to improve the adoptability of dogs and educate pet owners so that dogs remain happy, contented, loved, and fully integrated members of the family. "A happily trained dog is a retained dog" says Niki.
Niki believes nothing is more delightful than a pet who can participate in family activities and understands how to cohabitate with humans.
About Niki Tudge
DogSmith of the Villages
Niki Tudge MBA. PCT-A, PCBC-A
Helping Pets Become Family!
The Pet Professional Accreditation Board
Professional Canine Behavior Consultant - Accredited
Professional Canine Trainer - Accredited
College of Scent Dogs
Canine Scent Instructor
Companion Animal Science Institute
Animal Behavior Technology – Diploma
Dog Behavior Consultant - Diploma
International Training Board (HCITB)
Certified People Trainer
Certified Project Manager
International Sports Science Association
Certified Transformation Specialist
Business Mentor & Coach
Certified Walking & Running Coach
ISSA Certified Elite Trainer
ISSA Certified Nutritionist
My promise to you
As a DogSmith professional, I pledge to use my knowledge and skills for the benefit of pet owners and their pets.
I will practice my profession conscientiously with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of The DogSmith ethics, mission, vision and values.
I accept as a lifelong obligation, the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.
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