Yooper Paws of Love is dedicated to providing training "With Love" to you and your 4-legged friend! My mission as a trainer is to TEACH owners to ENGAGE better with their dogs to empowering them to ACHIEVE their goals using MOTIVATION to create the perfect team of handler and dog.
Yooper Paws of Love is dedicated to providing training “With Love” to you and your 4-legged friend.
Our mission is to TEACH owners to ENGAGE more deeply with their dogs, empowering them to ACHIEVE their goals using MOTIVATION to create a connected, confident team.
Because when the relationship comes first, everything else falls into place.
Positive, Personalized Dog Training
At Yooper Paws of Love, we believe every dog and human deserves a relationship built on trust, communication, and joy.
Our approach is rooted in the SAFE Framework; a method that prioritizes your dog’s emotional wellbeing alongside skill-building so learning can truly stick.
SAFE stands for:
Security – Helping your dog feel safe in their body and environment
Attachment – Building trust, connection, and clear communication
Functional Skills – Teaching real-life skills that support calm, confident choices
Environmental Processing – Supporting your dog in navigating the world without overwhelm
We offer force-free, science-based training tailored to your unique needs—whether you’re just starting out, working through challenges, or fine-tuning advanced skills.
Training should never be one-size-fits-all.
Every dog is different. Every human is different. And every team deserves a plan that honors both.
That’s why our training is:
✅ Motivation-based
✅ Game-filled and engaging
✅ Focused on building teamwork
✅ Guided by the SAFE Framework
✅ Designed around your dog and your lifestyle
Whether you're working on manners, fear-based behaviors, reactivity, or advanced public access skills, we meet you where you are—and help you move forward together.
All training is grounded in modern behavior science, a force-free philosophy, and a deep respect for both ends of the leash.
We don’t just focus on what your dog is doing—we look at why.
Behavior is communication.
By supporting your dog’s security, connection, skills, and ability to process their environment, we create lasting change instead of quick fixes.
This means:
Less overwhelm
More clarity
Stronger relationships
And real-life results that last
Yooper Paws Owner & Lead Trainer
Trauma Informed Dog Practitioner & Certified Behavior Consultant
Hi! I’m Penny, the heart behind Yooper Paws of Love.
I’ve been working with dogs for over 30 years, starting with my own family pets, helping friends and rescues, and eventually training my own Service Dogs.
Kindness has always been at the center of my work, and over the last five years, I’ve fully embraced positive reinforcement and force-free training rooted in both science and emotional awareness.
As a trauma-informed trainer, I understand that behavior, both human and canine, is deeply connected to lived experiences. That perspective shapes everything I teach through the SAFE Framework.
I hold certifications in:
Advanced Animal Behavior (ILLIS Animal Behavior Courses)
Trauma-Informed Dog Training (PawsUp Dogs)
My goal is simple: help you understand your dog in a way that builds confidence, trust, and a true sense of partnership.
I’m joined by two incredible canine teammates who help bring training to life:
Azul is my 6-year-old semi-retired Service Dog.
Azul enjoys going out as a Therapy Dog to meet new friends. He brings a calm, steady presence to people everywhere.
Belle is my 2-year-old Service Dog
Belle supports newer learners with enthusiasm and curiosity. She often helps fearful dogs by modeling calm, confident behavior. She also assists me daily with medical alerts, retrieving items, and mobility support including counterbalance and forward momentum tasks.
You’ll often find them at the Training Center and in virtual sessions, demonstrating skills, supporting other dogs, and cheering you on every step of the way.
Training isn’t just about obedience.
It’s about creating a dog who feels safe, a human who feels confident, and a partnership that works in the real world.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Pawsitively Pups Trainer
Pawsitively Pups offers puppy classes, obedience classes and nosework classes as well as private lessons. We are reinforcement-based trainers and our goal is to make training fun for both you and your dog.
Tammy has been in training in the Kingsford areas for years using positive reinforcement methods. Recently she has taken on the role of training for some of our group classes. Tammy specializes in:
Pawsitively Puppy Classes
Small Dog Adolescent Classes & Private Sessions
Nosework Classes & Private Sessions
AKC Testing for STAR Puppy, Canine Good Citizen Tests & Trick Dog Titles
Tammy is a long time member of Bay de Noc Kennel Club where she loves to compete in Nosework including attending AKC & UKC Competitions with her dogs and is now having fun with Agility Competitions too. Tammy & her husband share their house with a whole family of dogs including Katie, Colby, Oliver, Charlie, Oz, Angel, & MaDoogan. Angel is part of the Yooper Paws Therapy Dog Team and often assists with small dog lessons. MaDoogan is the baby of the family, currently assisting with puppy & adolescent classes as needed.
Yooper Paws Admin & Training Assistant
Office Assistant most likely to call you back!
Athena started out in our Service Dog Mentor Program and loved Yooper Paws so much, she stuck around to help us out. She specializes in new client intakes & supporting online training platforms. She also does pretty much anything we need! Athena & her family share their house with Hanna, Bo & Roz. Roz is part of the Yooper Paws Therapy Dog Team