Valerie Masi has been training dogs in the Coachella Valley since 1986. According to her site, she completed a live-in program at National K-9 School of Dog Training, earning a Master Trainer Certificate, and holds an associate's degree in animal behavior management from Moorpark College's exotic animal training program. She's also a certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
Best Paw Forward describes its approach as praise-based rather than treat-dependent—their tagline is "You Are The Reward." The philosophy centers on teaching owners to communicate with their dogs through body language and structured interaction. Their site states that most aggression problems stem from miscommunication and can be addressed through proper training rather than being considered permanent.
The Indio-based business offers puppy kindergarten for dogs 8 weeks to 4 months, group obedience and agility classes held outdoors, private in-home sessions, and board-and-train where dogs stay in Masi's home environment. They claim a particular focus on fearful and aggressive dogs, offering custom behavior modification plans that identify the specific type of aggression—whether fear-based, territorial, possessive, or otherwise. The site describes this specialty as unique to the area, though prospective clients would want to verify such claims independently.
