Lead with Love, Train with Joy!
Discover a joyful, connected way of living with your dog
Walking Allegan and Kalamazoo County down the Positive Pathway to the Dog you imagined
Welcome to Positive Pathways Dog Training
Where every journey is unique—and every stride is celebrated!
At Positive Pathways, we believe every dog has a story worth listening to.
Whether you’re a first-time parent to a fur-baby, a seasoned dog lover, or a busy professional needing a helping paw, we’re here to guide you to happiness, harmony, and joy with your dog.
Are you searching for:
Calmer walks? Without leash pulling or lunging?
Polite hellos instead of wild greetings?
Relief from chewing, nipping, or chasing?
Embrace a confident companion at home and in new places
Discover more understanding, feel less frustration, and build a stronger bond with your dog?
Need guidance on where to start?
Explore the path that’s right for you:
Done For You Dog Training
Perfect for busy owners who want expert results without lifting a finger
We work directly with your dog in your home, so you can relax, reduce stress, and watch the transformation unfold.
Leave the Hard work to us
We've got You covered
Custom Canine Coaching
Discover your dog’s potential while learning together at your own pace
Best for hands-on owners ready to build a stronger bond and tackle challenges with personalized guidance.
Train together
Thrive forever.
Hands-Free Leash Walking
Build practical leash skills and confidence each week, with expert support both at home and outdoors
Perfect for anyone wanting calmer, more connected walks with their dog.
Embrace the strides
not the struggles.
We’re passionate about giving dogs a voice and empowering you with tools, understanding, and confidence—so you can both shine, together.
Ready to make your next walk (or wag) wonderful?
How it Works: Chart Your Course to Canine Connection
1. Choose
Your Adventure
Explore our training paths and discover the journey that fits your lifestyle and goals
2. Reserve
Your Spot
Find your fit, sign up for your chosen program to save your place on the schedule
3. Begin
Your Journey
Step into a new adventure! Unlock the dog you’ve always wanted
Embrace a confident companion at home and in new places
Discover more understanding, feel less frustration, and build a stronger bond with your dog?
What Families Are Saying
With Evan for support our 13yo daughter has gained so much confidence, and help the bond between pup and human be so much stronger. - Amy Hawkins
Done For You Dog Training
Leave the hard work to us.
We’ve Got you covered
Quick Results, Happy Pups
Pro Training, Less Stress
Enjoy More Free Time
Will my dog really listen to me? You’re the one doing most of the training?
Absolutely. We are here to teach the skills so your dog knows what they need to do. You determine the cue (command); we teach your dog to respond to it, and you get to use it.
What if my spouse or partner isn’t sure about someone else working with our dog—how involved do we need to be?
You can be as involved as you would like. You can watch while we work with your dog, or you can do other things around the home. You don’t even need to be with us for most of the training sessions. You must attend the session at the end of the week in order to put the skills to use.
Is this “drop off your dog and get them back fixed,” or will we need to keep working with them at home?
No, this is not a board and train service. We come to you twice a week, and we work in the environment that is most challenging for you. We will not dive right into the hard part immediately; we start our journey in your home so your dog is familiar with what they need to do. You can’t be successful on a test that you haven’t prepared for.
I’m nervous about letting a trainer come into my house—how does that part work?
That is a valid concern; it may seem strange to let a stranger into your home. We will only work in an open area of your home. You are welcome to stay and watch, or have a camera set up to keep an eye on everything that happens. We will never enter your private spaces, like bedrooms, without your consent.
I’m nervous about letting a trainer come into my house—how does that part work?
Your “wild” dog is what we are here for. As trainers, we see many different challenges—you are not alone in your struggles. Whatever your challenge, we will find a solution. All dogs are individuals, and we work at the pace your dog can handle. We cannot guarantee results, nor can we guarantee that we can reach the desired outcome in a single package. Some challenges may require multiple packages before we reach your goals.
We’ve tried group classes before and didn’t see results. Is this different?
This is quite different from a group class. This is individual training with a custom plan to get the results you are looking for. Even better, having an expert trainer do all the work for you means things get done more effectively and allows the trainer to be more creative when coming up with solutions.
Does this work for older dogs, or is it just for puppies?
This can work for any age dog. Whether your dog is 11 months or 11 years old, the plans are developed to work best for both them and for you.
Custom Canine Coaching
Unlock Your Dog’s Potential
Train Together, Thrive Forever
Success That Sticks
Stronger Bonds
Tailored to You
I’m worried I’ll mess something up—what if I do the training “wrong”?
Good news: while working with an expert trainer, it can be hard to mess things up. You don’t have to come up with any plans or know how to do any of the training—that’s where we come in. We provide solutions to your struggles and teach them to you in a way that is bite-sized and easy to understand. You will also receive step-by-step instructions on what we covered during class and how to continue to practice on your own. Creativity is a big part of finding solutions to your challenges, and we teach you how to deal with situations at a pace that’s right for you.
Do both my partner and I need to be at the lessons, or can one of us handle it?
It can work best if everyone in the house is familiar with what we are doing. This helps keep everything consistent and keeps the work strong. If only one person is able to attend the meetings, that’s fine—it just means a little extra work on your part to show the rest of the family the skills. It is required that the same person attends all the meetings so we don’t have to play catch-up teaching someone else everything from scratch.
Can you help if we have kids or other pets at home?
Absolutely, the kids are welcome to join in the fun as well. We only work with one animal at a time; if you have multiple animals in the same home that need help, that would require a separate class purchase.
We’ve used punishment in the past because we didn’t know what else to do—can we still switch to your method?
Yes, you can always change to using positive reinforcement. You need to stick with what we work on, however, because switching back to using punishment can put all of the hard work at risk of no longer working. We can help you transition into a different form of training; however, reverting back to using punishment could result in class forfeiture.
What if my dog isn’t super food-motivated—will your approach still work?
Yes, as long as your dog finds something motivating. It could be treats, play, or even petting. As long as the learner gets rewarded with something they like, the training will work. We want to create opportunities for good things—missing out on a reward can be a powerful motivator.
Is this going to take a lot of time every day?
It doesn’t have to take up too much time. There are ways to limit full training sessions while still improving skills. As long as you have 15–30 seconds of downtime, you can easily fit in a quick training session.
Can we get help with more than one issue, or is it just for a single problem?
This depends on what we are working on. We learn several different skills during our time together. Some skills all connect to the same issue, while other skills are problem-specific. It also depends on the time we have together. Some problems may not be resolved with just one package, which may require additional packages to resolve the issue.
Hands-Free Leash Walking
Step into effortless strolls
Embrace Strides, Not Struggles
Handle Chaos Confidently
Calm & Connected
Walk in Sync
My dog isn’t aggressive, but sometimes they bark or get a little wild on walks—would that be a problem in your group?
That depends on their reaction. If your dog has big feelings in public around people or other dogs, this may not be the course for you. This course is designed to help dogs that pull hard on the leash, or dogs that “don’t listen” on walks. If you are concerned about your dog's behavior, you should sign up for a discovery call or a private session.
Can my partner and I both come to the class, or should just one of us handle it?
The whole family is welcome to come. We do not have a facility, and our in-person sessions will take place at a park. As long as one person attends every class, we can find success. Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to walk the dog on their own for the safety of the child, dog, and other clients and client dogs.
Do we need to buy any fancy leashes or harnesses for this to work?
You are encouraged to switch to a harness and a hands-free leash, but it is not required. Slip leads, choke chains, prong collars, or shock collars are not allowed in the course. If you want to switch to something else but don’t feel comfortable using a normal collar or a harness right away, this class is not for you. We would recommend a private session so we can build up your confidence with other equipment before attending the class.
How crowded are these group sessions? I’m a little nervous about being around lots of other dogs.
We keep the classes small. Our group classes are designed for up to 6 dogs. We will be at a park as well, so you can have all the space you need, and the trainer can easily get to you to observe your progress and provide instruction.
We’ve had trainers before who said our dog was “too stubborn”—do you think some dogs just can’t learn to walk nicely?
That’s the wonderful thing about this course: there is no dog that’s “too stubborn” when we allow the dog to make choices on our walks. We let the dogs explore while still being able to get on with your walks. This makes walks more enjoyable for both dog and human.
Will I get a chance to ask questions about our specific struggles, or is this all just general advice?
Most of your concerns should be covered in the class curriculum; however, anything highly specific to your dog may require extra work in a private session in order to get the answers you are looking for.
What if it doesn’t work for us—are we stuck, or can we get extra help?
You should see progress as long as you continue to practice the skills on your own. If you are safe at home, we actually encourage off-leash practice in your home and in your yard. This course is about showing the dog it can really pay to stick close to their owner.
Enrollment opens March 1st 2026
Not sure which path is right for you?
Let’s talk! Book your free 15-minute Discovery Call and we’ll help chart the perfect path for you and your dog.
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Meet The Trainer
Evan Shoemaker, KPA-CTP #61911
Hi, I’m Evan Shoemaker, KPA-CTP, owner and trainer at Positive Pathways Dog Training
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner 2024
I guide people and their dogs to open the lines of communication so you can truly understand each other in any situation. I strive to build strong cues and even stronger bonds, using positive reinforcement methods by rewarding desired behaviors with what the learner finds motivating
Discover how to listen to your dog’s unique language, and master how to clearly express what you want in a way your dog can understand. I specialize in transforming challenging walks into enjoyable adventures and equipping you with practical, real-world solutions tailored to your dog’s personality.
Connect on a deeper level, overcome obstacles, and build a lifelong partnership. Whether your goal is smoother leash walking, resolving reactivity, or simply developing a stronger bond, I’m here to empower you every step of the way.
Evan is such a blessing to our family. His guidance and expertise have helped our family so much.
With Evan for support our 13yo daughter has gained so much confidence, and help the bond between pup and human be so much stronger. - Amy Hawkins
Being a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner signifies my commitment to excellence in positive reinforcement training.
Learn how this sets me apart.
As a Thrive member, I am dedicated to continuous professional growth and success.
Discover what this means for your training experience here.
Service Area
Positive Pathways Dog Training proudly serves families and their dogs throughout Allegan County and neighboring communities.
Allegan County
Otsego
Plainwell
Martin
Allegan
Hopkins
Shelbyville
Wayland
Fennville
Nearby Cities and Towns
Kalamazoo
Parchment
Portage
Schoolcraft
Richland
Gobles
Galesburg
Augusta
Don’t see your town listed? Feel free to reach out to explore your options.
Virtual training is available for anyone so you and your dog can enjoy professional, positive reinforcement dog training wherever you call home
