Expert Dog Training for Every Situation:
Build Skills or Calm Anxiety
From new puppies to reactive adults, we
provide solutions for every behavior challenge.
Welcome! I’m Teresa Loya, a Colorado-based dog behavior expert with over 30 years of experience helping dogs and their humans overcome behavioral challenges. My passion for dog training began with my own journey to transform a fearful, biting puppy and a reactive Alaskan Malamute. These personal experiences drove me to find compassionate, effective ways to build trust and create cooperative, responsive dogs and to share this knowledge with others.
I can help you turn struggles into success and
build a more enjoyable life with your dog
At Clever Canine Academy, I’m dedicated to helping you reduce the stress and frustration that comes with challenging dog behavior. By getting to the root of the problem, I focus on creating long-term solutions that lead to lasting change.
Whether you're dealing with anxiety, reactivity, or just seeking a deeper connection, I’m here to guide you toward a calmer, more harmonious future with your dog. Together, we’ll build a foundation that ensures both you and your dog can thrive, now and in the years to come.
A Holistic Approach to Animal Behavior:
From Managing Wildlife to Training Well-Behaved Pets
A Experienced and Compassionate Approach
My educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Biology and Animal Behavior and a Master’s Degree in Anthrozoology and Applied Animal Behavior, allowing me to bring both a scientific and compassionate approach to every animal I work with. I’ve studied wild wolf packs in Montana and Idaho, collaborating with biologists to mitigate wildlife-human conflicts. One of my proudest achievements was training Karelian Bear Dogs to reduce bear-human interactions, blending my love for wildlife with my passion for canine behavior
Shaping Well-Behaved Companions
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide range of animals. I owned and operated a doggie daycare, boarding, and training facility for 12 years, where I helped thousands of dogs become well-behaved companions. My experience also extends to managing a Wildlife Sanctuary, caring for over 50 non-releasable wild animals, which gave me a unique perspective on animal behavior across diverse species
Expanding My Expertise Beyond Dogs
In addition to my work with dogs, I’ve had the chance to work with a variety of other species. I owned, trained, and used my "big dogs"—llamas—to trek into the backcountry, conducting trail and remote campsite surveys for various forest and conservation organizations. This hands-on experience gave me an incredible opportunity to understand animal behavior in more rugged and natural environments.
Animal Care & Wildlife Welfare Manager
During my time at a Wildlife Sanctuary, I cared for 50+ non-releasable wildlife species, including large felines like a mountain lion, bobcat, and Canada lynx, as well as canids such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes. My responsibilities involved overseeing the animals' training, health, and enrichment, ensuring that they received the care needed to thrive in a safe and stimulating environment. One of my most rewarding experiences was training a great horned owl to become a conservation education ambassador, helping to raise public awareness about wildlife conservation.
Continuing Education-learning to apply positive training to marine animals
I also had the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, where I learned how trainers work with marine animals. Working with dolphins, sea lions, and orcas deepened and enriched my understanding of positive reinforcement and reward-based methods, especially for animals that you cannot put on a leash. This experience reinforced my commitment to using humane, trust-building techniques across all species.
Success Stories from Happy Dog Parents
Hear from dog owners like you who have transformed their pets into calm, well-behaved companions through our expert training resources and guided support.
Finally Got Our Puppy to Listen!
Emma S. and Luna, 6 month-old Labrador Retriever
""We were really struggling with training our new puppy, Luna. She would constantly nip at everything and couldn’t figure out how to walk on a leash without pulling. After joining the membership, the step-by-step videos were so easy to follow, and the personalized advice made a huge difference. Now, Luna is so much more well-behaved – we can actually enjoy our walks! I can’t recommend this enough for new puppy parents."
Our Adolescent Dog Finally Calmed Down
Katie P. and Max, 10 month-old Border Collie
"When our dog Max hit adolescence, things got out of control. He was constantly jumping on people, barking non-stop when excited, and had no impulse control – it was exhausting! We felt overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do. After joining the membership, the advice and techniques for managing over-arousal were a game changer. The expert guidance on impulse control exercises helped Max calm down, and now he's much more manageable. It's like we have a whole new dog! This membership has truly transformed our lives."
where confidence and connection grow