Counseling & Coaching

When I was just starting out to learn to be a dog trainer 10 years ago, Viviane was my first mentor. I still reach out to her when I want to bounce an idea off her or get an opinion from someone who is thoughtful about a range of things, this includes my own personal cases as well as special projects like podcasts, website content and webinar creation.

What I still value most about Viviane are her exceptional listening skills, attention to detail, and how adjustable she is. She has played and continues to play a critical role in my development as a trainer and a behavior consultant.

Whether you are looking for guidance in training and behavior plans, are seeking to expand your knowledge and skill set as a professional, need help figuring out next steps for your career or business, are seeking help on how to navigate difficult conversations with clients or need someone to hold you accountable for your goals, and more. Viviane can help!

Anthony DeMarinis, DeMarinis Training and Behavior, Glen Head, NY

“Even dog trainers need the help of a dog behavior professional from time to time. I worked with Viviane virtually for help with my dog. She helped me clarify the basic issue I was struggling with, and together we came up with the solution that had been eluding me. She was compassionate and kind and completely honest with me.  She really listened to everything I said, asked me more questions, and took the time to give me answers to everything. She made sure I had all that I needed by the end of our consultation.  

10/10 I recommend Viviane and PumpkinPups!”

- Crystal Gerovac Affinity Dog Behavior and Training, Buffalo, NY

"I am so grateful to Viviane for taking the time to help me brainstorm ideas for what’s next for me as a behavior professional. She took time to understand the road I’ve been on up until now and helped me come up with some things to explore. Sometimes it’s hard to find new resources and perspectives when one is in the same bubble all the time and Viviane was able to give me resources I hadn’t known about that I think are going to be really helpful. I really appreciated her perspective and coaching!"

With Gratitude,

-Katie Heathcoate, White Bear Lake, MN

“Viviane has been mentoring me for 7 months now, but it feels like years of learning already even if we're worlds apart. I live in the Philippines and all our interactions are virtual. We meet weekly via Zoom and she sends me all kinds of resources to study. Because of her guidance, I was able to start taking in clients of my own and help them manage their dogs using force-free, positive reinforcement methods. 

Viviane also made it possible for me to get my certification from Kim Brophey's LEGS Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation, which opened a new world of understanding of dog behavior. Viviane is a kind, compassionate mentor who is very generous in sharing her wisdom, training tricks, and insights on an array of behavior issues. She also loves connecting you with people she knows you can learn from, including trainers from PumpkinPups. I can say that my progress wouldn't be this fast and significant if it weren't for Viviane and her mentoring skills. Really grateful for the relationship we have!”

-Cheryl Salvador, The Dog Tango, Manila, Philippines

“I am so grateful to have Viviane in my life! It’s unique and remarkable to have such a skilled and knowledgeable trainer to go to when I feel stuck on certain cases. Viv’s help goes way beyond that though; she offers emotional support and insights into my own triggers that are affecting my approach. I also go to her when I need help in shifting my dynamic with my own dog. It’s a profound gift and I hope that people will find this same support so that we can all keep changing the world of dog training without wearing ourselves out. Please go talk with Viv!”

-Alison Buehler, Dharma Dog NYC, Brooklyn, NY

"I am fairly new to the field and speaking with Viviane has helped me a great deal!  She helped me think through specific difficult cases but also helped me gain perspective on the field more broadly.  She provided me with resources, further reading, and specific techniques to look into.  I highly recommend talking to Viviane if you are feeling like you need support as a new or experienced dog trainer or behavior consultant."

-Jackie Mobley, Happy Trails Dog Solutions LLC, NC

“Viviane’s mentorship has been so valuable to me in more ways than I can count! First off, it’s really helpful to speak with someone in the industry that has so much experience helping clients, and can help you decide on the services you should offer as you start your new business or expand an existing business. Because of all her credentials and experience, she is such a valuable resource to discuss difficult cases with. Sometimes you just need a listening ear to confirm the ideas you had on how to go about solving a particularly difficult case, or need new suggestions if you don’t yet have the experience of working with a variety of cases yet. She’s phenomenal at pointing you to continuing education resources as well that are exactly what you need for any area of dog training you feel you need to grow. She also takes the time to go over your website and marketing material and gives such helpful feedback to perfect it so you can be confident and proud to share it with the world! We all need support and guidance and Viviane is so knowledgeable and kind in her approach to helping others. You can’t go wrong with Viviane as your mentor!” 

-Sarah Rodriguez, The Home Schooled Hound, CA