Helping Dogs & Their People Thrive - Side by Side
Personalized dog training for puppies, adult dogs, rescue dogs, and families throughout the East Valley with a special focus on fearful and anxious dogs.
Serving Mesa • Tempe • Apache Junction • Gilbert • Queen Creek • Chandler & surrounding communities
Every Dog Has Something to Learn. Every Family Has Different Goals.
Whether you're bringing home a new puppy, looking for better manners from your adult dog, working through challenging behavior, or helping a fearful rescue build confidence, training should start with understanding the individual dog.
At Side by Side Dog Training, we work with dogs and their people to build communication, confidence, and practical skills that fit into everyday life.
And while we work with all kinds of dogs, Sherry has a particular passion and depth of experience working with fearful and anxious dogs
Does Your Dog Struggle With Fear or Anxiety?
You may have found us because your dog:
🐾 Hides or freezes
Your dog shuts down when faced with unfamiliar people, places, or situations.
🐾 Struggles with strangers
Visitors or unfamiliar people can cause your dog to become nervous or reactive.
🐾 Reacts to other dogs
Barking, lunging, pulling, or trying to avoid other dogs may be signs that your dog is overwhelmed.
🐾 Becomes overwhelmed outside
Walks, parks, stores, or unfamiliar environments may feel like too much.
🐾 Has difficulty trusting
Some dogs need time and patience to feel safe with new people.
🐾 Is a rescue dog
A new rescue may need help adjusting to a completely different life.
If you're nodding along, you're in the right place.
Your Dog Isn't Broken
Living with a fearful or anxious dog can be difficult.
You may find yourself avoiding new places, worrying about visitors, struggling on walks, or constantly trying to anticipate what might trigger your dog.
You may even wonder if your dog will ever feel comfortable in the world around them.
There is hope.
Fearful and anxious dogs aren't necessarily stubborn or "bad." Their behavior may be communicating that they're overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply don't know how to handle a situation.
Understanding what's behind the behavior is where meaningful training can begin.
Experience That Goes Beyond Obedience
Fear and anxiety aren't simply obedience problems.
That's why experience matters.
With more than 17 years of hands-on rescue experience, Sherry has worked with dogs from many different backgrounds—including dogs who are fearful, shy, anxious, under-socialized, and struggling to trust.
That experience shaped the way she approaches training.
Rather than looking only at what a dog is doing, she looks at why the behavior may be happening and what the dog needs in order to move forward.
The goal isn't to force a fearful dog to stop being afraid.
It's to build communication, confidence, and trust while teaching practical skills that can carry into everyday life.
Training Begins With Understanding
Every dog has a story.
Their genetics, experiences, environment, socialization, relationships, and history can all influence how they respond to the world.
That's why we don't believe in treating every dog exactly the same.
We take the time to understand the individual dog, identify the challenges you're facing, and develop a training approach around their needs.
Because the goal isn't simply to make a dog obey.
The goal is to help dogs and their people understand each other.
"Never Walk Alone."
Your dog doesn't have to face their fears alone—and neither do you.
Find the Right Training Program for You Dog
Whether you're starting with a puppy, polishing your adult dog's manners, or tackling a more challenging behavior, we have options designed around your goals.
Foundations
In-Home Dog Training
Build skills and confidence where your dog lives
Five private in-home sessions focused on foundational obedience, household manners, leash skills, communication, and helping you learn how to work with your dog.
Best for families who want hands-on training together.
Hybrid
14-Day Board & Train
*Most Popular*
Focused training with support for the transition home.
A 14-day board-and-train experience combined with three private training sessions to help you understand and continue your dog's training.
Best for dogs who benefit from additional structure and repetition.
Ultimate Transformation
30-Day Board & Train
More time for training, repetition, and individualized support.
A comprehensive 30-day board-and-train experience with three private training sessions and included training equipment.
Best for dogs who may benefit from a longer, more intensive training experience.
Not Sure Where to Start?
You don't have to choose the right program on your own.
Every dog is different, and the best approach depends on your dog's temperament, behavior, history, and your family's goals.
We'll start by learning about your dog and what you're experiencing.
From there, we can help you determine the most appropriate next step.
No pressure. Just a conversation about your dog.
Fear Doesn't Always Look Like Fear
A fearful dog doesn't always hide behind the couch.
Fear can look like:
Barking.
Growling.
Lunging.
Freezing.
Pulling away.
Trying to escape.
Avoiding eye contact.
Shutting down.
Sometimes what looks like aggression is actually a dog communicating that they're uncomfortable or overwhelmed.
Understanding the difference matters.
Confidence is Built One Successful Experience at a Time.
For a fearful or anxious dog, progress may not happen in one dramatic moment.
Sometimes progress looks like walking calmly past a stranger.
Sometimes it's entering a new environment.
Sometimes it's allowing someone new into the home.
Sometimes it's choosing to stay connected with their handler instead of shutting down.
Those moments matter.
We focus on helping dogs develop practical skills while building confidence at a pace appropriate for the individual dog.
Small victories can become big changes over time.
We Train You, Too.
Your dog may learn new skills during training, but you're the person they'll live with every day.
That's why teaching you how to communicate with your dog is such an important part of the process.
We'll help you learn how to:
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Recognize your dog's signals
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Understand potential triggers
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Communicate clearly
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Reinforce appropriate behavior
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Build confidence
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Practice skills at home
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Handle everyday situations
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Continue your dog's progress
The goal isn't for your dog to listen only to the trainer. The goal is for your dog to understand you.
Meet Sherry
The person behind Side by Side Dog Training.
With more than 17 years of hands-on rescue experience, Sherry has developed a particular passion for dogs who need a little more patience, understanding, and support.
She's worked with dogs from many different backgrounds and understands that every dog brings their own history, personality, and challenges to training.
Her approach is centered around communication, understanding, confidence-building, and helping owners
become active participants in their dog's progress.
She founded Side by Side Dog Training around a simple belief:
"Never Walk Alone."
Dog Training Throughout the East Valley
Side by Side Dog Training works with families throughout the East Valley, offering personalized training for puppies, adult dogs, rescue dogs, and dogs working through behavioral challenges.
While Sherry has a special passion and depth of experience with fearful and anxious dogs, her goal is to help every dog and family build better communication, confidence, and everyday skills.
Dog Training in Mesa
Gilbert, AZ
Dog Training in Gilbert
San Tan Valley, AZ
Dog Training in San Tan Valley
Dog Training in Tempe
Queen Creek, AZ
Dog Training in Queen Creek
Chandler, AZ
Dog Training in Chandler
Paws & Progress
Practical guidance for understanding your dog and building a stronger relationship together.
You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone.
If you're living with a fearful or anxious dog, you may not know what to try next.
Maybe you've changed your routine to avoid triggers.
Maybe you've stopped taking your dog certain places.
Maybe you've tried training before and still don't feel like you've found the right approach.
Or maybe you're simply looking for someone who understands your dog.
Let's start with a conversation.
Tell us about your dog, what you're experiencing, and what you'd like to change.
Phone : (480) 809-9247
Side by Side Dog Training LLC
Helping fearful and anxious dogs find confidence.
Never Walk Alone.
Let's Talk About Your Dog
Tell us a little about your dog and what you're hoping to accomplish through training.