Calm Canines Academy - Our Story

About Us at the Calm Canines Academy

Strengthening the human-canine bond since 2014! We are Jeff and Gillian Scarpino, a husband and wife team who not only love dogs but have a passion to help them live their best lives possible. Our story began in 2008 when we adopted our first dog together. “Jibber” was a wonderful puppy who quickly became an assertive, confident dog and started to show aggressive tendencies. Not knowing where to turn, we brought him to a dog trainer. This particular trainer, while he was a very nice person, told us that our dog was not aggressive, just had a few quirks, and sent us on our way with no real plan on how to help our boy. Not long after that, our naivety cost him his life. He bolted out of the yard to chase a car and he was hit. Our devastation served a purpose, and we started volunteering to work with dogs and immersed ourselves in any education we could get our hands on. Jeff started officially training dogs in 2011, and we opened our facility in 2014. Knowing what we know now, we should have been managing Jibber so much differently. We have learned over the years just how misunderstood dogs are in our society, and our purpose with this business is to help as many dog owners as we can to better understand their furry family members, strengthen the bond that they share, and help the entire family live more balanced lives. We always advocate for the dogs in our care, and at the same time, we will always be their students.

Our goals are to help develop clearer communication between you and your dog, alleviate stress, and leave you with a better understanding of your canine companion so you can live more peaceful lives together. Visit our Off the Beaten Trail website to learn more.

Visit the Off The Beaten Trail Canine Facility website to learn more: www.otbtvt.com

About Jeff Scarpino

For roughly the last 10 years Jeff Scarpino has been working with dogs from New England and beyond, helping with everything ranging from basic obedience to severe behavior modification. His years of experience and knowledge have brought him to serve on the board of Directors for the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Through the IACP, Jeff is a Certified Dog Trainer (IACP-CDT). He is also a mentor for up and coming trainers from Animal Behavioral College (ABC). In previous years Jeff has worked as an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and was also fortunate enough to work at East Haven Veterinary to expand his knowledge of the internal workings of animals in his care. He and his wife, Gillian Scarpino, own and operate Off the Beaten Trail, a dog training, boarding and daycare facility located in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

The Calm Canines Academy family photo.

1000

THOUSANDS OF DOGS HANDLED



100

HUNDREDS OF HOURS SPENT TRAINING

10

OVER 10 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY

1

ONLY ONE OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL

At Calm Canines Academy, we understand that owning a dog can be both rewarding and challenging. While dogs are loyal, loving, and make great companions, they can also exhibit problematic behaviors that can cause stress and anxiety for their owners. Common issues such as barking, aggression, anxiety, and destructive behavior can make it difficult for dogs and their owners to live together in harmony.


That's why we founded Calm Canines Academy - to provide dog owners with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively address their dog's behavioral issues. Our goal is to help dogs and their owners build a strong, trusting relationship that lasts a lifetime.


We are proud to have helped countless dogs and their owners over the years, and we are committed to continuing our mission to improve the lives of dogs and their owners. Thank you for choosing Calm Canines Academy, and we look forward to helping you and your furry companion on your journey to a happier, healthier life together.

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