About Playing Fur Keeps, Dog Training in Grand Rapids MI - PlayingFurKeeps.com

About

Playing Fur Keeps is a certified dog training service in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.

Casey DeKam, the owner and trainer, provides safe, effective, gentle dog training for dogs of all breeds and puppies of any age, based on positive reinforcement and proper leadership.

Casey Dekam, Certified 5-Star Dog Trainer in Grand Rapids MI - PlayingFurKeeps.com
Hi I’m Casey!

After years of fostering rescue dogs and volunteering in local shelters, I one day decided that I COULD do more and I WOULD do more!

I could no longer sit back and continue to watch great dogs needlessly suffer through the pain of abandonment.

Over 3 million dogs enter shelters each year in the US alone. The #1 reason for owner surrenders? Behavioral issues. Many of which can be corrected through owner dedication and basic training.

So, I set out on a two-and-a-half-year journey, in which I gained certificates from Animal Behavioral college in 7 different areas.

In 2016, I took the leap and began building my business, with 1 main goal in mind — providing affordable and effective training to my community, in hopes of keeping more dogs out of our area shelters.

That goal will never change!

How Can I Help You & Your Dog?

I’m happy to answer your questions, get you on my schedule or help you sign up for my online services.

ABC Certified Dog Trainer in Grand Rapids MI - PlayingFurKeeps.com

I’m an ABC-Certified Dog Trainer Serving the Greater Grand Rapids, MI Area

ABC Certified Dog Trainers understand how to teach new behaviors through luring, shaping, capturing or molding and have mastered the behavioral principles of operant conditioning.

We have studied positive reinforcement dog training techniques as our primary training tool, which allows your dog to learn the desired behaviors while keeping that unique spark that makes your dog so special to you.

I am Committed to…
  • Love for all dogs and their people too
  • Treating you and your dog with respect, kindness, empathy, compassion, kinship, patience and encouragement
  • Teaching new behaviors through luring, shaping, capturing or molding
  • Understanding the benefits of professional dog training with operant conditioning
  • Having many tools and knowing how to use them
  • Continuing my education and knowledge
  • A strong sense of ethics
  • Understanding that anger and abuse have no place in dog training
  • Always being professional
  • A life-long passion for living and working with dogs