About Our Facility

Our 2,500 square foot training facility is located at 85 Pearl Street in downtown Burlington. There are several parking options within walking distance of our facility:

Metered parking spaces are available on Pearl Street directly in front of our building. On-street spaces on Pearl Street, upper Pine Street, and a large parking lot behind Dunkin Donuts across the street are free after 6pm and on Sundays and holidays.
The College/Lakeview public garages are located just one block south. Parking in these garages is inexpensive (and free on Sundays and holidays). Entrances are on Cherry Street next to Hotel Vermont and on Battery Street next to the Hilton.

Our Training Methods

We train with positive, rewards-based methods to help dogs develop the skills they need using treats, toys, and praise. We never use painful collars or other outdated training devices or techniques. We continue to develop our knowledge of dog behavior, as well as stay current with the latest humane training and handling practices.

Maria squatting next to her yellow lab, Jared.

About Maria (she/her)

A lifelong lover of animals, Maria grew up with a menagerie of dogs, cats, hamsters, and goldfish in downtown Atlanta and learned from a very early age what a delight it was to experience animals using their minds to get things that they wanted. Through various twists and turns she discovered her true love in life: training dogs and their humans.

Maria is the owner and head trainer at Fetch the Leash. She is an honors graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and holds a Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC), as well as a PCBC-A from the Pet Professional Guild, an organization which represents pet industry professionals who are committed to results based, science based force-free training and pet care; and a CSAT (Certificate in Separation Anxiety Training) from Malena DeMartini, the industry leader in separation anxiety training.

Maria’s experience includes working with a wide range of shelter animals at various shelters in Northern California since 2007 (the East Bay SPCA, Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), Berkeley Humane, and Contra Costa Animal Services-Martinez). From 2010-13 she also taught classes for puppy raisers of puppies in training to become assistance animals for Canine Companions for Independence. Her specialties include raising behaviorally healthy puppies, helping adopted puppies and dogs transition well into their new homes; working with special challenges such as resource guarding or separation anxiety; and task-based service dog training. Maria also has a Ph.D. in human education from Emory University, and an undergraduate degree in music from Yale University. Maria enjoys helping people and dogs meet each other’s expectations through training!

Maria’s heart belongs to many dogs: Noodle, a scruffy little guy with a long tongue; Mandy, the girl next door; and Gideon & Bentley, a bonded pair of seniors enjoying their best life; a chow-chow/lab mix named Argie who was very shy and very sweet; and Jared, a yellow lab with a heart of gold to match his fur.