Meet Your Trainer
Hi, I’m Desiree—most people call me Des. I’m the owner and trainer behind Des Amour Dog Training. I believe lasting training grows from trust, clear communication, practical structure, and compassion for both ends of the leash.
Why “Des Amour”
The name comes from my first name, Desiree, and my middle name, Amour—together they mean longing for love. Many of the dogs I’ve worked with have been rescues, longing for love, attention, structure, and an all-around balanced life. To me, helping a dog work through problem behaviors is part of loving them. It takes time and patience, and every dog deserves both.
What drives me
For me, it all comes down to the bond. When a dog gets love, attention, training, and clear structure, that dog is right there by your side with every step you take. I’ve shared my life with several large-breed dogs who were my loyal companions and best friends, and I love the work itself: building a reliable recall, a long down-stay, even fun little tricks. You can see the passion light up in a dog who gets to work, exercise, and play with their person. We have our dogs for a short time, and they spend their whole lives wanting to be with us. My goal is to help you build that same bond with yours.
My experience
I spent four years as a kennel technician and receptionist at Jamestown Veterinary Hospital, working hands-on with dogs of every size, temperament, and background—including safely handling them for blood draws and medical care. I’ve also spent more than five years training dogs: my own, friends’ dogs, and dogs referred through the vet. Along the way, I’ve kept learning from experienced training mentors online and here in Tuolumne County.
How I work
One of my favorite moments is teaching a dog something brand new, like a down. At first they don’t know what I’m asking. Then it clicks, they get excited, and they move a little faster every time—until all it takes is a hand signal. Every dog is different. Some are shy, some are fearful, and some have simply never been taught. When a dog won’t sit or down, it usually isn’t stubbornness; often the trust, structure, and bond just aren’t there yet. I build that foundation first with patience, love, and consistency, and then we train.
You’re part of the training
Training isn’t something I do to your dog in a one-time session. It’s a change in how you and your dog live together every day. Everything I teach, you’ll learn too: why it works, how to do it, and how to fit it into your real routine, whether you work full time, have kids at home, or have a busy, changing schedule. Your dog listens best to the person they trust, so my job is to coach you until you feel confident doing it on your own. The families who see the biggest changes are the ones who practice between sessions and make training part of everyday life.
Real results
Door dashing. One family’s dog kept bolting out the front door—and they lived on a main highway. On leash, we taught the dog to sit and stay at the door until released, so an open door no longer meant “run.” It took a couple of weeks of steady repetition, from me and from the family between sessions. Now an open door is just an open door.
From fearful to inseparable. A family adopted a small rescue dog who was afraid of their young child. Fear isn’t disobedience, and pushing a frightened dog closer usually makes it worse. We used desensitization and counterconditioning: the child stayed calm at a distance and tossed treats, never reaching for or approaching the dog. I taught the family to read early stress signals—lip licking, turning away, freezing—and to add distance when they appeared. Over several months, the gap closed only as the dog stayed relaxed, always with an adult supervising. Today, the dog and child are inseparable.
What I can help with
Puppy foundations: biting and mouthing, potty routines, crate training, and early manners
Leash walking and everyday manners
Door dashing, jumping, settling, and impulse control
Recall, stays, and focus around distractions
Shy, fearful, or never-trained dogs
Lower-risk leash reactivity with no bite history
My training approach
I use a balanced approach. Most of our work is rewards, clear instruction, management, and plenty of practice. Once your dog understands what’s being asked, I may add calm, fair corrections that fit the behavior. I’ll always explain why we’re doing each exercise and using each piece of equipment, so you’re part of every decision. Tools like a prong collar or head halter are only discussed after I’ve met your dog in person—and they’re never used without your separate, signed consent.
Who I help
Over the years, I have worked with family dogs, puppies, leash manners, household routines, and selected lower-risk reactivity concerns throughout Columbia, Sonora, Jamestown, Twain Harte, Tuolumne, and nearby communities. Every request is screened individually. I do not accept dogs with any history of biting or attempting to bite a person or another animal, dogs that have tried to injure another dog, dogs with severe aggression, or protection, attack, or bite-work training. Normal puppy mouthing is not counted as a bite. Leash reactivity without any bite or attempted bite may be a good fit after screening.
I’m continuing my education in working with aggressive dogs. I’m not taking aggression cases yet, but I plan to offer that in the future.
In-person and virtual coaching
In-person sessions take place at your home or another agreed location in Tuolumne County. Virtual coaching through Google Meet gives you live guidance from your own home—for puppy preparation, household routines, manners, and situations that can be handled safely without the trainer physically present.
If you’re not sure where to start
Give an assessment a try. You’ll see exactly how I work with your dog and leave with techniques you can use right away. My approach isn’t the right fit for everyone, but if you’re willing to listen and practice, I’ll give you real, hands-on help. My goal is for you to see progress with your own eyes—and to trust me with the next step because of it.
How to get started
Ready to begin? Fill out my Start Here intake form. I personally review every request before anything is booked or charged.
Let’s build a better bond.
—Des
