Training Programs Overview
Common Canine was founded by Zach Abulencia in Syracuse, NY. Zach focuses on creating reinforcement-based training programs for puppies and adult dogs facing common behavioral challenges like leash-pulling, counter surfing, human and dog reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, potty training issues, and high energy levels. Our programs are created with not only your pet in mind, but with you as the focus, as well. We continue most programs with follow-up lessons so you can continue the training at home and to create a life of harmony with your pet.
BOARD AND TRAIN PROGRAMS
Learn more about our 3-to-8-week programs for puppies and adult dogs. We’ll build a program to fit your dog’s energy levels, personality, and your lifestyle needs. Whether you’re located in New York City or Upstate New York, we provide pet pick-ups and drop-offs.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Lessons are one-hour sessions used to target individual puppy or adult dog challenges or to expand on past board and train programs. These lessons take place at your home or at our facility, depending on the challenge that we’re focusing on reducing.
PUPPY PROGRAMS
Owning a puppy can come with a number of stressors. With this program, we start young to build a pet that is free of chewing, reactivity, and potty issues. Learn more about our puppy programs for dogs as young as 8-weeks-old.
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
This program is for pet’s with extreme behavioral issues like aggression, intense separation anxiety, vocalization, overactivity, and destruction. We take a focused approach at tackling these specific problems, while working on less-intense obedience challenges.
“I cannot say enough positive things about Zach and his training technique! First, the fact that he immersed George into his home and family shows you the love he has for dogs. George went to Zach a “good boy” and came home and obedient boy. This truly was a total lifestyle change for our family.”
ABOUT ZACH, HEAD TRAINER AT COMMON CANINE
Zach’s passion for dogs and training is what sparked the idea of launching Common Canine in his home state of New York.
Since starting his business, Zach has trained hundreds of pets of all ages, sizes, and breeds. His focus of education has resulted in more long-term, positive owner and pet relationships than most trainers.
Giving back to the community in Upstate New York and beyond is a focus of Zach’s business. Over the years, he has rescued several pets from local shelters, on the verge of euthanization in order to train and re-home them to families who can not otherwise afford a fully-trained pet.
Outside of training, Zach competes in dog sports such as French Ring and Mondioring. Alongside his Belgian Malinois Jocko, Zach has succeeded in securing French Ring 1 and Mondioring 1 titles. In 2022, the pair finished third in the country in a national French Ring competition. In addition to competing in dog sports, Zach is the training director for Divergent Working Dog Club.
Next on Zach’s list of goals is to compete in the PSA dog sport and to conduct an AKC Retriever Hunting Test with his lab.