Meet Skyler Gingrich | Dog Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Skyler Gingrich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Skyler, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Redemption Dog Training, LLC because while there are a ton of really great dog trainers out there, I wanted to be in control of what I offered to clients.
A lot of dog trainers still focus mostly on obedience training and most dog owners just want to enjoy their dogs, not make them stay in one position for 5 minutes to several hours.
Obedience can be helpful, don’t get me wrong but I try to focus more on how the dogs interact with the world and helping them make decisions that are in line with what their humans are looking for.
I also found that most dog trainers require multiple sessions, which can make dog training inaccessible to people who really need it or just need a little bit of feedback.
So, I started Redemption with the goal of functional dog training for real life. It doesn’t matter what kind of dog you have or what the issues are, I want to help.

What should our readers know about your business?
Being able to help dogs and their people is a dream for me. I wish I had had someone like me when I adopted my first dog. Back then it was really hard to find compassionate people who wouldn’t automatically suggest getting rid of a problem dog.
It definitely hasn’t been an easy road. I’ve dealt with a ton of imposter syndrome and compassion fatigue.
I realize with every client I help that I am doing good in the world and even though I’m never done learning, I do know what I’m talking about.
I also realized that I can’t put more effort into a dog than their owner does, as hard as that is. I became more selective about the clients that I work with in order to keep myself from getting burnt out. Dog training isn’t a miracle cure and can take a lot of time and effort, so I ask that people acknowledge that before they train with me.
All and all, I love what I do. My company focuses on dogs who don’t fit into societal standards and helps them make better choices and live bigger lives.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite place in the city is the Denver Botanic Gardens. It’s gorgeous and you can bring a picnic. Even when it’s busy you can find a spot to just sit and enjoy the plants.
As far as food goes, my favorite breakfast/brunch place is Toast in Littleton. Everything on the menu is delicious but my favorite is their veggie hash.
Entertainment wise, The Pinball Pub in Littleton is my go to. They have delicious drinks, both alcoholic and non, and a ton of pinball machines that you can play on.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d never be where I am today without Shannon Mayfield. She was an incredibly supportive mentor when I first decided to become a dog trainer and even gave me my first real training job.
I also want to shout out Macey Fruge for always being there when I need encouragement and someone to talk things through. Having people in your industry that you can talk to is invaluable and other dog trainers can be intimidating. I’m not a super outgoing person and Macey has always been there to encourage me to make connections.

Website: https://www.redemptiondogtraining.com

Instagram: redemptiondogtrainingllc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redemptiondogtraining?mibextid=ZbWKwL