Jessica McCloskey, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), has been working with dogs in San Diego since 2007. She also holds credentials as an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and AKC Temperament Test Evaluator, and maintains membership in the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. According to her website, she views her role less as someone who trains your dog for you and more as a guide helping you and your dog work together.
Finest City Dog Training describes its methodology as "balanced," meaning McCloskey draws from multiple training traditions, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and counterconditioning, rather than adhering strictly to one school of thought. Their site explains this allows her to adjust techniques based on individual temperament: gentler methods for sensitive dogs, measured corrections for more confident ones. They note they don't use shock collars, dominance-based approaches, or clickers, and they limit treat dependency.
The business offers both private lessons and group classes, addressing concerns from basic obedience and house training to more complex issues like separation anxiety, aggression, and reactivity. Their site indicates they work with dogs of all ages and backgrounds, including rescues and reactive dogs. Whether the focus is teaching a puppy to walk calmly on leash or helping an older dog learn reliable off-leash recall, the stated goal is building communication between owner and dog.
