Contact Us & Bios


	Zen Dog Training Dog Training ... Done Differently

	Trainer Bio's
	We are thrilled! ...so impressed to see such a huge difference in only 48 hours! -Vicky and Brady 4-month old lab

Nayiri Krikorian
North Shore Zen Dog

Puppy Class & In-Home Sessions

Nayiri's love of dogs started long before she had one of her own, though raising an affectionate English setter definitely helped. When she moved to the Boston area from New York, she had to leave Winston behind with her parents so Nayiri decided to get her fix by studying to become a Zen Dog Trainer.

After joining the Zen Dog team in February of 2010 Nayiri — a graduate of Emerson College and an avid writer of fiction and essays — put her education to work by revamping the training documents, eBooks and "cheat sheets" that all Zen Dog trainers share with their clients. She also helped edit and refine group class notes for parents and their puppies to reference at home.

Nayiri studied directly with Gordon to learn the unique Zen Dog Training system. Her work can be seen on Zen Dog Training Online in the games and solutions that help users quickly learn how to tackle problem behaviors.

Additionally, Nayiri launched the Zen Dog Training Blog, composes the monthly newsletter, and maintains Zen Dog Training's online presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Nayiri lives and trains in Boston’s North Shore area, and specializes in running puppy classes and visiting clients and their dogs for In Home Training.

Contact Nayiri directly at NorthShoreZenDog@gmail.com

Alana Meserve
Lexington Zen Dog

Puppy Classes & In-Home Sessions

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From the age of four, Alana has adored dogs. She could be found creating agility courses in the front yard for the family dog Buddy, and as a teen was an active member of her local 4-H Club learning animal husbandry, handling and even helping teach riding classes.

Truth be told, as a child what Alana really wanted was a horse — but she was happy to settle for a dog. She used her makeshift agility course as a pretend hunter jumper course with Buddy sitting in for a pony. It was these kinds of moments that led to other unique bonding experiences and eventually a career working with dogs.

Today, Alana has over 11 years experience as a professional dog groomer in Quincy, Brookline, and Cambridge, as well as in Bend, Oregon. Her travels across the country took her to The Animal Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota, where she had he distinct privilege of interacting with selectively breed silver foxes, famously used for research on domestication.

Alana's affinity for working with traumatized and problematic canines inspired her to offer a specialized grooming service helping clients with dogs that required more individual and sensitive handling. Through the years and many private sessions later, Alana discovered that she truly enjoyed and excelled at working with dogs and owners to find authentic solutions to their specific issues. After that realization, the leap from groomer to trainer made perfect sense.

Alana bring years of practical dog handling experience, combined with a unique understanding of the science behind how dogs learn. In 2011 she completed the Zen Dog Training System and aspires to help people work with their dogs to improve the relationships they have with these remarkable animals.

Alana lives and trains in Medford and specializes in Group Classes and In Home Training.

Contact Alana at LexingtonZenDog@gmail.com

Gordon Fontaine, CTC
Founder/Head Trainer - Zen Dog Training

Gordon started this business because of his passion about helping people create healthier, happier relationships with their dogs. He's a Certified Dog Trainer (CTC) with a Certificate in Training and Counseling from the San Fransisco SPCA Dog Training Acadamy. He's proud to be one of only 400 graduates of this highly intensive, world-renowned program where he had the priveledge to work alongside some of the best dog trainers in the nation.

Gordon has been training dogs since he was 11 years old. "I know what works, what doesn't, and why" say's Gordon, "I won't try to sell you on the latest dog training fad or gimmick. I just want to improve your relationship and connection with your dog."

"Our goal at Zen Dog is to educate each client on what truly motivates their dog and what quickly, and humanely, gets results."

Email Gordon: bostonzendog@gmail.com
or phone: 617.233.5496

Brookline Zen Dog - Joel Orkin-Ramey
Puppy Classes, Socialization Parties, In-Home Sessions

From a very early age Joel’s life has revolved around dogs. Starting the very first day Joel was brought home from the hospital Gumbo, the family dog, dropped a slobber covered tennis ball right onto his head! Later Gumbo was responsible for much of Joel’s memorable baby talk, as well as, the loss of his two front teeth.

Undaunted by these first dog experiences, Joel grew up teaching himself by training the family dogs and taking them on off-leash treks in his neighborhood. His childhood dream was to work on a Search and Rescue Team with his dog, needless to say he had to reevaluate once he realized that SAR teams are all volunteers!

In college Joel was fascinated by behavior and social interaction and studied a variety of courses in Anthropology, Psychology, and various other disciplines and graduated with a degree in Anthropology from Hamilton College.

After a year living abroad in New Zealand and a move across the country Joel decided to follow a career that combined almost all of his passions: dogs, behavior, science, problem solving, as well as working with people. He decided to become a dog trainer.

Finding a volunteer position at Angell Memorial MSPCA was easy for Joel since he had previous experience working at the local Humane Society in Berkley, CA. Joel currently volunteers at the MSPCA walking and caring for dogs, as well as, assisting classes including Obedience I, II, & III, Nosework, and, of course, their Puppy classes.

While researching dog training academies Joel discovered Zen Dog Training. Now after training directly with Gordon, assisting group classes and In-Home training sessions, Joel has learned the Zen Dog Training System and is living his dream….to help dogs with their humans and help people better understand and communicate with their dogs.

Joel lives and trains in Brookline and specializes in teaching Puppy Classes and In-Home Training. Contact Joel at BrooklineZenDog@gmail.com .