Nearly every dog sphere to ever exist has been touched by Monica Allaire-McMahon. From rescue and shelter work, to dog sports, and pet dog training, Monica has seen it all. What sets her apart is her willingness to take it even further wherever she can! She has done a deep dive into the world of specialized behavior trained in gait, posture, and ADL analysis. In case you need an incredibly impressive list of her extensive education, check out her CV here.
Monica is passionate about ethical dog training, with a strong emphasis on a holistic approach. She takes a relationship first lens to any behavior struggles happening within family’s homes. This is a top priority because looking at the whole dog is key! Monica guides pet parents through kind learning methods, environmental adaptations, management, and need fulfillment. By improving the underlying relationships, life with our furry best friends gets that much better!
Ethical Dog Training
25 years of experience with fostering dogs, and several years running a state licensed quarantine has shown Monica the importance of compassion first-hand. In pursuit of how we can better serve our dogs, she has studied in: ethology, body language, aggression, enrichment, separation anxiety, fear, affective neuroscience, pain and behavior, and more. Additionally, Monica has recently taken the position of country representative of Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (PDTE)! This amazing organization prioritizes all of these wellness principles and aims to make ethical training as accessible as possible. Monica sees companionship above compliance when it comes to how we set expectations for our dogs behaviors.
Sensory Explorers
Compassion can only come from understanding, so Monica’s goal has always been to understand our dogs. Sensory Explorers was developed as a way to observe dogs, teach humans, and strengthen communication for cooperation. During a Sensory Explorers session, your dog will engage all of their senses, as well as proprioception and the vestibular system. Monica curates a collection of objects to ensure an intentionally designed safe space. Giving dogs the freedom to interact with what they want when they want boosts their feeling of choice and control. In turn, this empowerment can increase confidence and lower stress levels. Monica’s epic safaris contain different items, textures, sounds, and structures full of information to uncover. The human takes a back seat to allow their dogs to drive the session. Through this, patience and understanding is cultivated, leading to deeper bonds and a softer approach to training in the future.
Book Your Session at BlueDog – May 25th, 2026!
BlueDog is so excited to be hosting Monica again and her truly inspiring and insightful teachings Memorial Day weekend. Monica will be presenting a live Zoom webinar on Friday, May 22nd at 7pm EST. At the webinar, Monica breaks down what it means to be a Sensory Explorer, provides at home actionable steps to improve guardian/dog well being, and prepares students for in person sessions on Monday, May 25th! The Zoom presentation will be purchasable as a standalone for just $20. You will also have access to the recording with your purchase in case you can’t make it live! In person sessions are booked on a first-come-first-serve basis, and can be booked for $100 (which includes your admission to the webinar, as well as lifetime access to the recording).