Testimonials.
Vivian Zottola, MSc, CBCC | 617.721.8025
A Trusted Professional Recommended By Veterinarians
Back Bay Veterinary Clinic, Boston Veterinary Clinic, Porter Square Veterinarian, VCA Wakefield Animal Hospital,
Dr Brian Bourquin, Practice Owner
Boston Veterinary Clinic(s), Boston, Charlestown, Seaport, Wellesley
Instagram @bostonveterinaryclinic
"Vivian combines the best of all worlds with her years of dog training experience along side a bright mind, an understanding of behavior, & patience for the pet parents who struggle. As owner of Boston Vet Clinic, I have been working happily with her for years & the only negative thing is my dogs get more excited to see her than me!"
Boston Veterinary Clinic(s), Boston, Charlestown, Seaport, Wellesley
Instagram @bostonveterinaryclinic
"Vivian combines the best of all worlds with her years of dog training experience along side a bright mind, an understanding of behavior, & patience for the pet parents who struggle. As owner of Boston Vet Clinic, I have been working happily with her for years & the only negative thing is my dogs get more excited to see her than me!"
Samara Oster, Boston, MA
Instagram @Levi.the.cavapoochon
"Vivian is amazing! We worked with her intensively a few years ago, when our dog was a puppy, and it was a very formative experience for us. As owners, it enabled us to better understand that training is a partnership between us and our dog, not a dominant-submissive relationship. Vivian brings empathy (for humans and animals!) to her approach, and she taught us to pick up on and respond to cues that our dog was giving to us, so that we were better able to help him grow, learn, and develop in a healthy way. We recently reached out again for a bit of support handling a new behavioral challenge, and she generously offered us her time and guidance to help identify and address the exhibited behavior. If you are looking for a fear-free and pain-free training approach, and if you are eager to truly learn more about how your dog thinks, feels, and understands the world, Vivian is the best of the best."
Instagram @Levi.the.cavapoochon
"Vivian is amazing! We worked with her intensively a few years ago, when our dog was a puppy, and it was a very formative experience for us. As owners, it enabled us to better understand that training is a partnership between us and our dog, not a dominant-submissive relationship. Vivian brings empathy (for humans and animals!) to her approach, and she taught us to pick up on and respond to cues that our dog was giving to us, so that we were better able to help him grow, learn, and develop in a healthy way. We recently reached out again for a bit of support handling a new behavioral challenge, and she generously offered us her time and guidance to help identify and address the exhibited behavior. If you are looking for a fear-free and pain-free training approach, and if you are eager to truly learn more about how your dog thinks, feels, and understands the world, Vivian is the best of the best."
Bradley Phifer, CBCC-KA, Executive Director
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
Instagram @bradleyphifer
"Vivian Zottola, CBCC-KA, is a highly skilled and dedicated professional in the field of dog behavior and training. As a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA), Vivian has successfully passed a comprehensive examination, demonstrating her knowledge of canine behavior and training techniques. In the ever-evolving field of dog behavior and training, staying up-to-date with the latest research and techniques is crucial. Vivian's commitment to ongoing education and professional development ensures that her clients benefit from the most current and effective methods available. Vivian's certification, combined with her expertise, empathy, and commitment to ongoing learning, make her an invaluable resource for individuals seeking assistance with their dog's behavior and training. Her dedication to promoting positive, humane, and effective training methods sets her apart as a trusted and respected authority in her field."
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
Instagram @bradleyphifer
"Vivian Zottola, CBCC-KA, is a highly skilled and dedicated professional in the field of dog behavior and training. As a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA), Vivian has successfully passed a comprehensive examination, demonstrating her knowledge of canine behavior and training techniques. In the ever-evolving field of dog behavior and training, staying up-to-date with the latest research and techniques is crucial. Vivian's commitment to ongoing education and professional development ensures that her clients benefit from the most current and effective methods available. Vivian's certification, combined with her expertise, empathy, and commitment to ongoing learning, make her an invaluable resource for individuals seeking assistance with their dog's behavior and training. Her dedication to promoting positive, humane, and effective training methods sets her apart as a trusted and respected authority in her field."
Chris P. Janelli, Co-founder and Chairman
Center for Canine Behavior Studies, Inc.
Instagram @caninestudies
Linked In
"When Dr. Nicholas Dodman and I co-founded the Center for Canine Behavior Studies ten years ago, we sent out a request for volunteers to assist us and Vivian was right there and has been there ever since. Vivian has been a stalwart of support for the Center! Her dedication to always learning and practicing to be better at her career working with canines has been a pleasure to watch. Her contribution to the Center and Nick’s research, plus her participation in the numerous award winning peer review scientific canine behavior study articles has been exemplary. Her dedication to her profession is exemplified in her dogged (yes pun intended) pursuit and achievement in becoming an advanced animal trainer and Applied Anthrozoologist. It’s been a pleasure to watch Vivian over the years achieve goal after goal for herself, the Center and most importantly her canine clients. CCBS, Nick and I have 100% confidence in Vivian and know that with her, any dog (and its life guardian) are in great hands.
Center for Canine Behavior Studies, Inc.
Instagram @caninestudies
Linked In
"When Dr. Nicholas Dodman and I co-founded the Center for Canine Behavior Studies ten years ago, we sent out a request for volunteers to assist us and Vivian was right there and has been there ever since. Vivian has been a stalwart of support for the Center! Her dedication to always learning and practicing to be better at her career working with canines has been a pleasure to watch. Her contribution to the Center and Nick’s research, plus her participation in the numerous award winning peer review scientific canine behavior study articles has been exemplary. Her dedication to her profession is exemplified in her dogged (yes pun intended) pursuit and achievement in becoming an advanced animal trainer and Applied Anthrozoologist. It’s been a pleasure to watch Vivian over the years achieve goal after goal for herself, the Center and most importantly her canine clients. CCBS, Nick and I have 100% confidence in Vivian and know that with her, any dog (and its life guardian) are in great hands.
William Strader, Roxbury, MA
Instagram @wagwithwilliam
Instagram @guillermostrader
"Vivian has it all! Her expertise is immediately evident, her energy so positive and calming, and her clear passion for improving Human-Canine communication and bonding is contagious. In my quest to become a truly fear and force-free dog trainer, Vivian's guidance and gentle correction have been instrumental. My journey towards truly understanding canines changed when we met, and the loving, humane way that I now work with dogs and coach people to train their dogs has been revolutionized thanks to having Vivian as a mentor. Thank you for all you do!"
Instagram @wagwithwilliam
Instagram @guillermostrader
"Vivian has it all! Her expertise is immediately evident, her energy so positive and calming, and her clear passion for improving Human-Canine communication and bonding is contagious. In my quest to become a truly fear and force-free dog trainer, Vivian's guidance and gentle correction have been instrumental. My journey towards truly understanding canines changed when we met, and the loving, humane way that I now work with dogs and coach people to train their dogs has been revolutionized thanks to having Vivian as a mentor. Thank you for all you do!"
Paula Prada, Costa Rica
Instagram @mr.bunnypenny
Instagram @paulamariapp
"Vivian changed my life. From the very first call she told me how the one who needed the training was me and not my dog. She gave me the tools to understand my dog, be able to communicate and have the best relationship with him. There is not one person that meets Romeo that isn’t surprised by how well behaved and educated he is. Later on in life Romeo and I returned to Vivian because Romeo was suffering from separation anxiety (which I suspected but wasn’t sure). Vivian was able to properly diagnose him and provide a plan to get us moving in the right direction so he would learn to tolerate my absence. I mention this because I would recommend Vivian for not only puppy trainings but also for any behavioral situations you might want to work with or improve. She is really the best!!
Instagram @mr.bunnypenny
Instagram @paulamariapp
"Vivian changed my life. From the very first call she told me how the one who needed the training was me and not my dog. She gave me the tools to understand my dog, be able to communicate and have the best relationship with him. There is not one person that meets Romeo that isn’t surprised by how well behaved and educated he is. Later on in life Romeo and I returned to Vivian because Romeo was suffering from separation anxiety (which I suspected but wasn’t sure). Vivian was able to properly diagnose him and provide a plan to get us moving in the right direction so he would learn to tolerate my absence. I mention this because I would recommend Vivian for not only puppy trainings but also for any behavioral situations you might want to work with or improve. She is really the best!!
Tamsen Webster, Boston, MA
Instagram @tamsenwebster
"Vivian made such a difference with our retired racing Greyhound, Walnut, who was stressed out from all of the changes in his life. She helped us learn how to understand and build trust with him, and now he's confident, happy, and relaxed! Thank you, Vivian!"
Instagram @tamsenwebster
"Vivian made such a difference with our retired racing Greyhound, Walnut, who was stressed out from all of the changes in his life. She helped us learn how to understand and build trust with him, and now he's confident, happy, and relaxed! Thank you, Vivian!"
Zoe Zimmerman, Boston, MA
Instagram @romytheretriever
"Vivian opened my eyes to so much about dog behavior and training. She is incredibly knowledgeable and has built extremely effective programs made up of not only in-home visits, but very informative webinars and online material to leverage, giving me the confidence that I was covering all my bases when it came to raising and building a bond with my puppy.
Instagram @romytheretriever
"Vivian opened my eyes to so much about dog behavior and training. She is incredibly knowledgeable and has built extremely effective programs made up of not only in-home visits, but very informative webinars and online material to leverage, giving me the confidence that I was covering all my bases when it came to raising and building a bond with my puppy.
Bahvin Patel, Cambridge, MA
A Transformative Experience for Both Pup and Parent!
A Transformative Experience for Both Pup and Parent!
- Embarking on the journey of raising a new puppy, I found myself overwhelmed with a myriad of videos and articles, each advocating different techniques and styles for dog training. Trying to decipher which aspects to incorporate made the training process even more challenging, leaving me in a maze of confusion. Then came Vivian, who emerged as a beacon of clarity in the chaotic world of dog training. From our very first session, it was clear that her fear-free approach was different - it was intuitive and resonated with both me and my puppy on a profound level. This method not only simplified the training process but allowed me to understand and appreciate the intricacies of my dog's behavior more fully.
- Vivian's expertise goes beyond the conventional, blending science with an innate understanding of canine behavior, fostering a connection that is both deep and genuine. Group training sessions I attended previously paled in comparison to the rich, one-on-one learning experience that Vivian provided. Her skill and finesse in dog training are unparalleled. On many occasions, in a single session, I witnessed a remarkable shift in my puppy's behavior, accomplishments that seemed almost magical. Vivian guided me on how to observe and understand my pup's cues, teaching me to reinforce behaviors through a method that was respectful and nurturing.
- Thanks to Vivian, my initial anxiety as a first-time dog owner has transformed into a confident and joyous journey. The lessons she imparted have become daily tools in nurturing a harmonious and loving relationship with my puppy. For any dog owner seeking to build a rewarding and enriching bond with their furry friend, Vivian is the unequivocal choice. She offers not just a service, but a priceless experience that nurtures a bond of mutual respect and love between you and your pet. Trust in Vivian to guide you - the results will be nothing short of extraordinary.
I have been working with Vivian Zottola since 2012 both personally with my own pack of dogs as well as professionally as we consult together on clients' pets. I do not think I am overstating the fact when I say Vivian changes lives! Our three dogs had become so unruly that our daily walks were more torture than bonding. Vivian came to our house & spent her entire afternoon assessing the situation, providing insight & advice, & then training us how to be better pet parents. It has been an honor to work beside her & watch her behavior training business flourish. To have a colleague with such expertise and knowledge at my disposal is priceless & I have seen the difference she makes in lives of my clients. Pets that might have otherwise been given up now are cherished family members! I recommend her on a daily basis & do so knowing the positive changes she can bring!
Dr Brian Bourquin Owner/Veterinarian BVC Boston Veterinary Clinic 353 Tremont Stret | Boston, MA 857-362-8672 |
"Vivian Zottola is one of my preferred behavior consultants due to her level of patience, understanding and always striving to learn more.Her consultations are customized to the needs of pets and their owners/advocates. She is great about communicating updates, results and how medical management is working with referring veterinarians. Clients appreciate her ability to come to the home or go for a walk with the pet and observe behavior and make actionable recommendations. Vivian is great at helping clients understand dog behavior and this has been a great help for our clients with dogs that may have a hard time adjusting to noise and social interactions assoctiated with urban living. "
Dr. Randi Henry, Boston Veterinary Clinic (past position) |
claire & eddie
We contacted Viv when summer of 2013 when I was 5 months pregnant so we could prepare our dog, Eddie, for the baby’s arrival. Eddie is our first baby. From the start Viv was very attentive to Eddie’s need as well as our concerns about his behavior. She worked very closely with us to teach us alternative behaviors that would be safer for me still carrying my child and for the months to come. Eddie had been adopted and we had taken basic manners training but didn't keep up. She gave us a refresher of the basics including waiting, no jumping and offered useful ideas to help keep him engaged and settled. We practiced our exercises until our daughter was born. Viv was there for us when our baby was born offering to take Eddie for a few days to give us a break which was a huge help. She was also methodical about introducing Eddie and our new baby. She introduced exercises to help desensitize Eddie to babys cries and other sounds that would be different and possibly scary for hm. Viv assigned useful, realistic homework and held us accountable. Due to Viv’s motivation and the right training tools she provided we started to see a change in Eddie immediately. Viv was always available and made sure she had the right training techniques so that we felt our needs and Eddie’s needs were being met. Even if you aren’t expecting a new baby I would highly recommend Viv for basic training needs as well. Eddie now walks twice a week with Viv’s team and I really think he looks forward to it!
- Taryn M. S.Boston, MA
- Taryn M. S.Boston, MA
Puppy Training
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Puppy Training
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Vivian recognizes training is a financial, emotional and timely investment. The breadth and depth of her experience and knowledge acquired over a decade allows for the timely determination of underlying functions ( reason) for behavior challenges and realistic resolution. Her goal is to teach you skills to manage your dog on your own and not become your trainer for life.
Ronnie & Alana:
Case: owner directed aggression due to high arousal and misplaced frustration
"Vivian Zottola helped me a tremendous amount with training my 7 month old pitbull mix. For the first month of having Ronnie he would bite me uncontrollably and his energy level was difficult for me to manage. I was considering surrender because it had become so difficult for me. As my first dog I had no idea how to communicate or go about training Ronnie. She created strategies to modify unwanted behaviors with unbelievable results using only positive reinforcement. More importantly, she taught me how to communicate with Ronnie and how to read his body language, which improved our relationship and fostered a positive learning environment. There were multiple times during the program when I emailed Vivian frustrated about an aspect of Ronnie's behavior and she always responded in a thoughtful, individualized, and encouraging manner. She is incredibly knowledgeable about dog behaviors and talented at teaching owners how to communicate with their canine. I highly recommend Vivian any dog owner both new and experienced." Alana, Jamaica Plain, Ma
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Lulu & Bob: Puppy Training
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Thank you Vivian! I had approached trainers who used prong and electric shock collars and didn't feel right about it. I was a little nervous with my dog as I had no idea what I was doing. I quickly realized Lulu was a lot of dog growing bigger and bigger by the day. Vivian came to my home weekly to coach me through obedience/manners training using positive reinforcement. She helped me not only learn to manage Lulu but to do it without forcing her. I learned about her natural motivators and interests and how to use them in my favor. - Bob G. Dorchester, MA
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Lola & Maria
Case: multiple behaviors including reactive to strange dogs, people and owner directed aggression
Vivian Zottola of Boston K9 Concierge has helped us enormously with Lola – now 18 months old but we adopted her at 8 months old last summer. Lola displayed fear in a number of situations – certainly fear aggression on leash, with both other dogs and with people. Also anxiety over touch, even with our family. Vivian was wonderful with Lola and with us, she gave us a structured approach to working with Lola, and she was responsive to phone calls and emails when we had further questions about behavior training. Not only is she an accomplished and thoughtful trainer, we consider her a friend of the family. Lola is much more comfortable with touch now, and is an affectionate dog whom we just love like crazy. She will always have her quirks, and that is okay, but I feel much more confident handling here – and she is much more comfortable at home and outside, with other dogs (and sometimes, even with other people)! - Maria V. Cambridge, MA
