Positive Dog Training for Dogs and their People

Dog training for life and competition — helping dogs and their people learn to work and play together.

Training in Aurora, MN

Train in-person with Nicole and work on basic obedience, behavior problem solving, and dog sports.

Online Training

Nicole teaches online classes, workshops, webinars, and private training through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.

Dog Training Services

In Aurora, MN & Virtually

Puppy Training

From socialization to manners, we’ll help your puppy grow into a well-adjusted, confident companion.

Dog Training for All Ages

Positive, effective training to build focus, manners, and confidence—at any age or stage.

Dog Sports

Strengthen your teamwork and polish performance with positive, effective dog sports training.

Behavior Training

Positive, supportive solutions for reactivity, fear, and frustration—so life with your dog feels easier again.

Private Virtual Training

Enjoy flexible, personalized coaching for your sport or skills training—with expert feedback and unlimited support—no matter where you live.

FDSA Training Classes

Build stronger skills and connection with my comprehensive online courses through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.

Want to give the gift of good training? Consider giving a Golden Paws Gift Certificate!

Why Choose Golden Paws Dog Training?

Ready to take the first step? Let’s Get Started!
Whether you’re local or remote, we’ll help you and your dog connect, grow, and thrive.

Experienced Educated Trainers

Kind and Effective Methods

Small Class Sizes

Supportive Environment

Personalized Coaching

Family-Friendly Training

Custom Training Plans

Lasting Behavior Change

Ongoing Support

About

Golden Paws Dog Training

At Golden Paws Dog Training, we specialize in effective, force-free, positive reinforcement methods to train dogs of all ages—from puppies to senior dogs—for manners, behavior, and dog sport goals. Whether you’re battling leash pulling, anxious greetings, reactivity, or preparing for competition, we’re here to help you and your pup.

Our classes are intentionally small and personalized, giving every team the attention and support they deserve. You’ll receive hands-on coaching, detailed guidance, and ongoing feedback to ensure steady progress. We’ll teach you how to reinforce calm, confident behavior and turn everyday challenges into opportunities for teamwork.

At Golden Paws, we turn training into communication—and communication into connection.

Latest

Blog Posts

Why Rally Is About Foundation Skills, Not Memorizing Signs

When people begin training for Rally, it's natural to focus on the signs. After all, that's what you'll see in the ring. But the truth is, rally foundation skills are far more important than memorizing individual signs, even though that's where many handlers naturally start. You print off the sign...

read more

Stay Training Frustration: What It Looks Like and How to Prevent It

One of the biggest misconceptions about teaching stays is that if a dog gets up, they simply need more practice. Sometimes that's true, but often the dog is giving us much more valuable information than that. They're telling us that something about the training has become unclear, and if we don't...

read more

“I have been training with my dog Elsa through Golden Paws Dog Training since she was 12 weeks old. She is now a little over 2 years of age and we can’t get enough.
We currently take Rally Obedience Class and Advanced Agility. I decided to attend her Basic Manners class when I first got Elsa because I believe strongly in Positive Reinforcement Training and Nicole came highly recommended by my co-worker.

I was not disappointed. Nicole’s classes are kept small and she is very good at getting in one-on-one training time even in a group setting. She also is great at adapting training techniques that work best with how an individual dog learns. It’s not a one size fits all program, because no two dogs learn exactly the same way.

We have attended all the classes she has offered. Basic Manners, Advanced Manners, Dealing with Distractions, Agility, Rally Obedience, and we are now doing Private Sessions to work on getting ready for our big Rally and Agility trial in May! We love Golden Paws. 5 stars for sure!”