Why Thrive Dogs

woman playing with dog at the beach

Mental Enrichment Feedback

The evolution of positive reinforcement dog training

After working as a behavioral trainer for zoos around the country and helping thousands of Dog Owners to finally start enjoying life with their dogs, Marina Somma has designed her unique new approach to positive dog training.

Traditional trainers often get into the field to work with dogs, not people. They can accidentally leave out the human-dog connection.

Marina’s Mental Enrichment Feedback system was designed not only to deliver dramatic changes quickly but to also create long-term results and a more loving and natural bond between you and your dog. It’s partnership instead of punishment.

This is a unique step-by-step methodology that focuses on your relationship with your dog along with improving their mental health, happiness, and confidence. It creates what we call “team dog”.

Mental Enrichment Feedback use simple to follow rules “baked” in a unique positive reinforcement approach that works from the ground up to quickly eliminate bad behavior and get your pup back on track:

  1. Health and environment assessment
  2. Mental stimulation activities and games
  3. Change the way you react to your dog’s behavior
  4. Create new long-lasting positive behavior
GET STARTED TODAY
AKC Logo

Thomas Wipperman

Thomas is an AKC accredited dog trainer with 12 years of experiences. He previous trained dog trainers for large pet retailers, learned from monks and dogs on Mt. Athos, and has worked with multiple service and working animals for special needs children. He currently lives in Nashville, and works with dogs both on and offline.

All of his methods rely on Positive Reinforcement, taking cues from the most up to date dog training theories. Having traveled across America and spending time in Greece to engage with monks and their relationships with dogs, he has experienced a great deal of different styles and methods of training.

He has an Australian Shepard, and has worked with a significant amount of herding breeds in his dog training tenure, and has even trained dogs for multiple celebrities in Nashville.

mark with dog rio

Mark Myer

Hi, I’m Mark Myer from Sydney, Australia.

I’ve never had a dog until recently and after my kids begged to have a dog, I finally decided to bring Rio home, our new fluffy and adorable little boy.

As a no-clue and first-time dog owner, I was lost on how to take care of my fur baby, so I joined a puppy school for advice. It was helpful but I was left with more questions than answers.

I went online and look for information about how to transform my little dog into a well-behaved and obedient dog. I felt there was too much information spread over the internet and I was looking for simple easy to follow the information I could use with my dog.

So I decided to create Thrive Dogs and help a lot of dog owners out there that enjoy the companionship of their four-legged friend and want to provide the best training possible.

Welcome to Thrive Dogs!

Marina Somma with elefant

Marina Somma

Marina is a certified exotic animal trainer and dog behavior specialist from Florida and has been working with clients to help them have obedient dogs of all sizes.

Marina is responsible for the advice and content of Thrive Dogs programs and is bringing all her experience with dogs and wild animals.

Before joining our team, Marina previously ran her own in-home dog training business. In her spare time, she now runs Dark Wings Wildlife, an education and outreach program dedicated to teaching the public about misunderstood species.

Marina, Graduated From Monmouth University with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Marine and Environmental Biology & Policy. She has over 8 years of experience in Zoological and Domestic Animal Care, working at Facilities all around the country, and 5 years of experience in private animal training.

You can learn more about Dark Wings Wildlife here: https://www.facebook.com/DarkWingsWildlifeEducation/