Exploring Life & Business with Lindsey Kooistra Berg of Locdogs Dog Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Kooistra Berg.  

Hi Lindsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My dog training journey began when I rescued my first dog, a 130 lbs. Rottweiler named Riley. Riley was leash reactive and would excitedly pull and aggressively bark and lunge at other dogs. He once lunged with such force that it broke my finger, requiring surgery and two screws to fix that I still carry today. Despite this, I thought I didn’t need a trainer; I could figure this out by watching Cesar Milan and amassing a large personal library of dog training books. Every New Year, I would say “this is the year I fix Riley” and that was my resolution for 6 years in a row. 

When I finally got serious about training, I contacted the “Dog Guru” of Chicago’s North Shore, Michael Jayko. Michael helped me understand the psychology underlying Riley’s reactivity, he gave me exercises and tools that worked, and he helped me set appropriate expectations. He showed me what was possible for Riley, and this changed my life. I was hooked. I was brought on as a volunteer apprentice, and not long after, I quit my consulting job to train full-time at Your Dog’s Guru. This 3-year apprenticeship was my formal education in dog training, giving me hands-on experience working with dogs of all ages, breeds, and issues, including anxiety, reactivity, and aggression. I learned that every dog is as unique an individual as their owner, and I developed an open-minded training approach employing a wide range of techniques and tools tailored to the individuals in front of me. 

I founded Locdogs in my hometown of Grand Haven in 2020 under the premise that every dog is a good dog and every owner is trying their best with what they have. My mission is to give people a deeper understanding of their dogs and empower them with practical solutions to improve behavior and deepen their relationship. This approach transformed my life with Riley (which is why his silhouette is our logo), and now I’m honored share it with my large network of happy clients. The term “locdogs” (lōc•dogs) originates from skate and surf culture to refer to the “locals” who know all the best spots, and I have expanded this to include the local dogs and people that make up your community. You see us out walking, training, and doing our best to fulfill our dogs every day. I’d love to support you and your dog in your training journey! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting started was a huge challenge. When I set out to find a mentor, trainer after trainer told me “No” or that they would “never train competition.” Then, after I finally found Your Dog’s Guru, leaving my corporate job with benefits and maternity leave for an hourly dog trainer position was a big risk. I took a major pay cut and had to work long hours and weekends, but that experience proved invaluable, giving me what I needed to eventually start my own business. 

Now my biggest challenge is striving for balance in being a wife, mother of two young girls, and running a dog training business out of our home. I’ll admit it’s a circus with a puppy leashed around my waist and baby on my hip but luckily, I thrive on chaos, and I have an amazing support team. I also have to be careful about becoming overly invested in my clients, especially aggression cases, as it can be hard to turn off dog training thoughts at the end of the day. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I will train any dog with any issue. There’s no behavior problem that I won’t try to help someone work through with their dog; however, the owner is going to have to be willing to change their own behavior as well. This is why I consider myself to be just as much a human trainer as I am a dog trainer. I love the creative, human element of dog training, and I see my role as bridging the gap between dog and human psychologies. I tell all of my clients that if I make a suggestion that doesn’t work for them, please tear it apart. Help me understand why something doesn’t work for you so that I can get creative in coming up with solutions that work for both you and your dog. 

While I love training all dogs, reactivity is one of my favorite issues to work because it’s the bottomless pit of despair from which I started with Riley. I’ve felt the embarrassment and stress of reactivity, so I love when I see my clients shift from dreading encounters with “oh shit!” distractions to seeing them as training opportunities. I’m also passionate about aggression (mostly fear or resource guarding) work because it can be life or death for the dog, earth-shattering for the owner, and also affects the community. I pride myself in giving dog owners honestly and hope for their dogs, no matter where they are starting from. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I love anything written by dog trainer Patricia McConnell, especially her book titled “The Other End of the Leash.” As a lifelong learner of dog training, I also love collaborating with other dog trainers in-person and online. Samantha Johnson of Pack Life LA and Vinnie Somma of Say It Once have been incredible online resources. Lastly, “The Canine Paradigm” podcast is a wonderful resource for balanced trainers that are interested in hearing detailed conversations about all things professional dog training. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.locdogs.com
• Instagram: @locdogsdogtraining
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/locdoglinds 

Image Credits
Abbey Moore Photography