Can older dogs still be trained?

Absolutely. Dogs can learn throughout their entire lives.While puppies often learn quickly because they are experiencing many things for the first time, adult and senior dogs are fully capable of learning new skills and behaviors.Many older dogs actually excel in training because they already have the attention span and emotional/cognitive maturity to focus longer than puppies.

Happy Hearts Canines

Confident dogs, capable humans.

Welcome! I'm Jeanine Kosinski (ja-neen ko-sin-ski)—dog trainer, linguist, disability advocate, and owner/founder of HHC, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
I use science-based, humane methods to build better communication between dogs and humans—especially those navigating big feelings, loud environments, or first-time dog guardians/those with new babies/small children.
Training isn’t just about obedience. It’s about building trust and confidence—in both directions Thank you so much for visiting Happy Hearts Canines!

Meet the Team

Meet the team

Who is behind Happy Hearts Canines?

I’m Jeanine—a service dog handler, trauma-informed trainer, educator, and lifelong learner.

I wasn’t always a dog trainer—I hold an MA in TESOL from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a BA in linguistics from University of California Santa Cruz, plus over a decade teaching communication skills to students, business professionals, and diplomats. When my own chronic illnesses landed me in the hospital for weeks and left me disabled, it pushed me to train my own service dog. After a 2-year deep-dive into animal training, psychology, and behavior, I realized many of the same tools I use for teaching humans could empower dogs and their guardians.

I threw myself into learning — courses and mentoring programs from Susan Garrett, seminars and reading across the whole spectrum of the field, including trainers whose methods I ultimately rejected. Knowing exactly why I don't use fear is part of why I can explain what I do instead. I blend science, compassion, and a little bit of humor to help dogs and their humans work as a team—welcome to Cookie Party Central (IYKYK!)!

I am especially passionate about teaching companion (pet) dogs/emotional support pets to be calm around fireworks, training service dogs, and bite prevention for children and their dogs. Children are the most commonly bitten group, and most bites come from a familiar dog, according to the AVMA. Education for parents and kids is the first step in bite prevention.

Neurodivergent and disabled clients are some of my favorite people to work with—this is a shame-free zone, and I'm committed to making dog training accessible for everyone. If you don't see what you need here, or have specific learning needs for yourself or your child (e.g., learning differences, limb differences, deafness, blindness, mobility devices, an AAC device, people that find instruction or constructive criticism difficult) please send me a message and I'll be happy to design/modify what I can to meet you where you are. I can communicate in English, ASL (intermediate) and French (proficient), just let me know which language you'd like to learn in, and we will go from there.

A black Portuguese Water Dog service dog looks up at her handler with the Pacific Ocean behind them

Who is that cute, fluffy dog?

Jo is my 5-year-old Portuguese Water Dog who works as both my service dog and my demo partner here at Happy Hearts Canines.

In demos, Jojo models the calm routines, service dog tasks, and training games we use with client dogs—she shows families what’s possible: a dog that is focused, confident, and still full of personality.

Some of Jo's favorite things to do when she's off-duty are playing tug or fetch, beach romps, learning new skills/tricks, and sniffing/searching for items! If you can't find her, she can likely be found snuggling mamma or holding her blanket.

How does Jo help you with your disabilities?

As a service dog, Jo is trained for me, specifically trained to help me with both psychiatric disabilities (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and physical disabilities (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Chronic Migraine)—we call this a "multipurpose service dog", because she mitigates both psychiatric and physical disabilities. Her trained tasks include:

Psychiatric Tasks

Alerts me to PTSD episodes (taps my leg with her paw)
Grounding during PTSD episodes (puts her head on my leg her or whole body on mine like a weighted blanket)
Behavior interruption for crying, dissociation, foot/hand tapping, and self-harm behavior (uses her paw to tap my leg, pushes her head into my chest and stays there)
Buffer (stands behind me and alerts if a person approaches with a nose boop to my leg)
Guards my back (faces backwards, between my legs and lets me know if someone is approaching
Bark and hold (barks at a threatening person)
Crowd control (circles me standing or walking / rolling)
- Learning: Room search, checking corners

Physical Tasks

Retrieving items (eg, her leash, water bottle, keys, backpack, crutches, anything I drop or point to)
Locating my spinal cord stimulation implant remote, phone, and keys when I misplace them
Anxiety / panic (scent) alert
Learning
- Migraine alert
- Closing and opening doors

A black Portuguese Water Dog service dog in a red service dog harness lays under her handler's legs looking up at the camera

Jo intro

Learn More About SDs Here!

Services

Our Services

PLEASE READ

These prices are transparent, standard yet competitive rates in the Bay Area, and are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information on pricing.

New Client/Puppy Evaluation

START HERE!

New to training or interested in trying HHC's methods? Start here. I'll come to you for a full evaluation — your dog's temperament, social skills, and any specific behaviors you're working through — and leave you with a written training plan you can actually use to decide which points are the most important.

60 minutes, in-home

Investment: $150

Book a 3-pack or program within 24 hours of your evaluation and $75 of the evaluation fee is credited toward it.

HHC's Brave Dogs Programs

HHC's NEWEST and most popular program!

Although Brave Dogs was originally a single program designed to heal Pacifica's dogs' fireworks trauma, we heard your feedback! Now, we have expanded our program to include three different tiers of support, in order to serve all of our fearful friends, not just those traumatized my big booms. Any dog can be calm around fireworks, children, vacuums, costumes, balloons, and recover quickly from a startll.

If you are heartbroken every time there's a big boom because of your dog panicking over and over again, it's time to change that.

Foundations--a structured start.

Ideal for mild-to-moderate reactivity, fear, or sound sensitivity.

What's included:

Written behavior plan
Sound desensitization audio library
Homework after every session
Between-session text Q&A (during business hours)
Brave Dogs certificate and recognition on our website upon graduation

6 sessions | 6 weeks

Investment: $1,170

Complete--The flagship program, most chosen.

Ideal for: Established reactivity or fear affecting daily life and fireworks.

Everything in Foundations, plus:

10 sessions instead of 6
Environment management consult
Video review of practice
Mini Course access

10 sessions |10 weeks

Investment: $1,950

Intensive--Comprehensive support

Ideal for: Severe reactivity, profound fear/trauma, sound phobia, complex cases.

Everything in Complete, plus:

14 sessions over 12 weeks
Follow-ups at months 4 and 6
Vet collaboration on medication / progress
Unlimited text support during business hours

14 sessions | 14 weeks + 2 follow-ups

Investment: $2,950

Boarding / Board-and-Train

Residential

Boarding at Happy Hearts Canines

Fear-free, low-stress, and trainer-supervised. Your dog stays in our home—not a kennel, with safe, thoughtful, loving care in a calm environment. Ideal for anxious, reactive, fearful, or sensitive dogs who don't do well in traditional boarding—and just as great for easygoing dogs whose people want a higher tier of care.

What's included

1:1 attention in a calm home (limited boarders at a time)
Daily walks, sniffaris, and decompression time
Enrichment, rest, and a predictable routine
Daily photo and video updates
Humane handling—always

Pricing

Weekday: $135/night
Weekend: $160/night

Our Board & Train program

If you want your dog to learn during their stay, the B&T option might be for you. Our B&T program provides intensive, structured learning in a safe home environment. Your dog lives and trains with us, practicing manners, calm behavior, and confidence through daily lessons, enrichment, and real-world outings. This program is ideal for busy owners, new parents, or for dogs needing consistent structure and professional handling.

Foundational Board & Train

What's included

Manners
Leash skills
Confidence building
Engagement & lifestyle behaviors
Daily structured sessions (2–4 sessions)
Photo/video updates

Pricing

Weekdays: $150/night
Weekends/Holidays: $175/night

Targeted / Reactive Board & Train

Pricing

Weekdays: $225/night
Weekends/Holidays: $250/night

What's included

Reactivity support
Fear/sensitivity work
Threshold management
Behavior goal plan
Photo/video updates
Transfer session
Go home report with recommendations going forward

3-week minimum recommended for best results.

ADD-ONS

Medication administration + $12/day
Housebreaking: + $25/night
Extra enrichment or field sessions: + $45–$65/day
Short-Stay Premium:
- + $20/night (1–3 nights)
- + $10/night (4–6 nights)

At this time, can NOT board:

Aggressive dogs (reactive dogs welcome after assessment)
Dogs with bite history
Dogs requiring isolation
Unvaccinated dogs
Female dogs in season/intact males
Dogs without flea/tick preventable

The reason we are selective with out boarders at this time is two fold:

Jo was attacked and sustained a level 4 bite in March 2025, and I need to keep her safe.
I do not have the space to isolate dogs, this is not a kennel only environment.

Companion (Pet) Training

Behavioral Solutions/Puppy Program

Structured training sessions where Jeanine works directly with you and your dog. Sessions can take place in person (at your home or in the wild) or virtually.

Ideal for new puppies, mildly reactive/fearful dogs, families welcoming a new pet or baby into their home, and humans who want to build their ideal companion, this program is a wonderful way to learn to create and lead the best life with your ideal pet.

Whether you want to create the best life for you and your dog, are working through an unwanted behavior, desire a solid recall, or just basic manners, this program is for you.

What's included:

1:1 training session (60 minutes)
Reinforcement plan tailored to your dog
Training videos + practice exercises
Digital resource library (coming soon!)
Follow-up support

Investment: $145/session (or $420 for a 3-pack)

Service Dog Training

*Disabled clients/caregivers ONLY--the law is clear, service dogs are trained, durable medical equipment for persons with disabilities.

If you have a disability, you may benefit from a service dog. Service dogs aren't just for the visually or mobility impaired--service dogs can assist as

Medical Alert/Response Dogs: these dogs can alert their handler to blood glucose, seizure, heart-rate changes, (and more!) before the episode becomes and emergency.
Allergen/Gluten detection and alert dogs: these dogs check food/their environment to keep their person safe (as well as bring rescue medication and accompanying their person to the hospital for treatment).
Psychiatric service dogs: these dogs are not just for vets with combat PTSD--they can help many many survivors (assault, medical PTSD,cancer or other life-threatening diseases), as well as chronic pain, eating disorders, schizophrenia/other mood disorders, and so many more disabilities.
Guide Dogs: These dogs guide their visually impaired handlers to give them more independence navigating the world.
Hearing Dogs: These dogs alert their Deaf/Hard-of-hearing handlers to noises that they can't hear (e.g., fire/carbon monoxide alarms, doorbells/knocking, gunfire, and more).
Mobility Digs: These dogs help mobility impaired individuals move about. Anything from using a wheelchair (full or part time), those with limb differences, people with balance challenges, and more.

With the HHC Service Dog Program, you can train your own service dog with professional guidance, or apply for the residential program where you SD in training is trained by HHC entirely until they are ready to join their handler.

These programs focus on building strong foundations, reliable, consistent task

performance, and calm public access skills—all through positive, science-based training. Whether you’re starting your dog’s training or fine-tuning advanced work, each session is customized to your needs and disability-related goals.

Send us a message for program options, pricing, and fundraising guidance.

Therapy Dog Preparation

Interested in visiting hospitals, schools, or care facilities with your dog?

Happy Hearts Canines offers therapy dog evaluations, Canine Good Citizen exam preparation, and training to help dogs develop the calm temperament and manners required for therapy work.

Get Started

Frequently asked questions

General

Professional dog training involves much more than teaching a dog to sit or stay. Ethical trainers spend years studying animal behavior, learning humane training methods, and gaining hands-on experience with many types of dogs, often pro-bono at shelters.Training sessions also include time spent preparing lessons, analyzing behavior patterns, and supporting owners between sessions.In high cost-of-living areas like the San Francisco Bay Area, pricing also reflects standard rates.Good training is an investment in your dog’s safety, confidence, long-term quality of life, and your confidence and capabilities as a dog guardian.

Board and train programs can be extremely effective when they are done ethically and include owner education.In a board and train program, the dog receives daily professional training, which allows habits and skills to develop faster than with occasional lessons.However, successful programs always include owner coaching so that the dog’s new skills transfer back to the home environment.When choosing a board and train program, owners should always ask about:• training method • daily schedule • communication with owners • follow-up supportKeep in mind, boarding and board and train are different. B&Ts, have training goals, while boarding does not.

The timeline for training depends on several factors, including:• the dog’s age/breed(s)• temperament• previous experiences• the behavior being addressed• consistency at homeSome skills, like lose-leash walking or basic manners, may improve within a few weeks. More complex issues such as reactivity, fear (house/street noise, people, cars, bikes, fireworks) or a reliable recall may take several months of structured work.Training is not a one-time event—it is a process of building communication between dogs and humans at their pace. If a trainer or company guarantees time bound results (“teach you dog to stop barking at everything in 2 WEEKS!”), choose another trainer.

Yes. Modern animal behavior science strongly supports positive reinforcement training. This method focuses on rewarding desired behaviors so that dogs choose to repeat them.Positive reinforcement training can help dogs become:• confident• engaged• motivated to learn• emotionally stableThink of something you are learning at school or work recently. Now imagine if a teacher or your boss yelled at you when you did something incorrectly. Would you want to learn and be afraid to make a mistake?Now imagine if your teacher or boss was encouraging and passed out some cookies when you got something right. Would you want to keep learning?Training should strengthen the relationship between the dog and the handler, not damage it.

One of the most common questions dog trainers receive is how to “certify” a service dog.There is no official government certification or registration for service dogs in the United States. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are "individually trained to perform tasks that help a person with a disability" and "remain under control of the handler". If the dog does not behave like a service dog, the handler must remove the dog (yes, even legit ones). Examples of tasks include:• guiding a blind handler• alerting to medical events• retrieving items• providing mobility support• interrupting PTSD episodesStaff can ask two legal questionsIs that a service dog required for a disabilityWhat work do they do to help you?Simply "providing comfort" or"keeping me calm" are NOT trained tasks, and do not qualify a dog for accessing non-pet friendly places. Managers and staff must ask handlers of ESAs and pets to leave and return without the animal, and are protected under federal and state law from retaliation.SD handlers are trained to (and love to) answer the two questions, because it keeps disabled people and their working dogs safe. If the customer yells and fights you, they are not legit. Employees are allowed and encouraged to do ask the 2, legal questions. Bottom line: behavior, training, and a disabled handler (not all disabilities are visible and not everyone uses a lab or golden/large breed) make a service dog, NOT a vest and a scam certification.Happy Hearts Canines offers corporate and small business training. Send us a message to ask how to get started!

Policies (please read)

Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

My schedule is intentionally limited so each dog receives focused care. Because of this, cancellations impact the entire calendar.
I keep the policy straightforward and fair:

Private Sessions

Cancellations or rescheduling with 24 hours notice: no fee.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours: 50% of the session rate is due.
No-shows: full session fee due.

Board/Board & Train

Deposit is non-refundable and reserves your dates.
Cancellations 7+ days before the start date: deposit refunded.
Cancellations within 72 hours: 50% of the total program cost is due.
No show: deposit forfeited.
Early pick-up does not reduce the program fee.
Late pick-up: 5-8PM: $35; after 8PM: an additional night.

Trainer-Initiated Rescheduling

In the case I need to adjust a session due to a medical needs or emergency:

You will be contacted as early as possible
The session will be rescheduled promptly
No penalty, no loss of value

These policies keep training sustainable, ethical, and reliable for everyone involved—including the dogs we love.

Policies

Cute Pups & Happy Clients

Reviews

Thank you so much to my clients for these lovely reviews! And thank you fo trusting me with your dogs: it's an honor to work with you!

If you are an anxious pet parent who wants real behavioral progress alongside genuine love and care, Jeanine is exceptional. We couldn’t recommend her more highly.

-Kai's Daddy (full review on Google Maps)

HHC's Brave Dogs

Happy Hearts Canine's Brave Dogs Badge Gallery shows our dogs that have passed through or tested out of our Brave Dogs Program. Being an HHC Brave Dog means learning to be neutral to major noises / movements including street noise, large trucks, plastic bags, balloons, storms, cars backfiring, children screaming, doors slamming, rolling objects (skateboards (e)bikes, motorcycles, cars, large trucks), and, the final test, fireworks. These badges honor the hard work done on both ends of the leash--well done, graduates, and welcome to the Brave Dogs Pack!

Want your dog to be a Brave Dog? Check out our Brave Dogs programs in the Services section. *

Any dog can be a Brave Dog!

*Brave Dogs content is included in our Service and Therapy Dog training programs-- check out our free Service Dog information packs by sending us a request or email.