What started as a personal passion for Ridgefield resident Stephen Foster has grown into a full-fledged career — and soon, a dedicated space for his work.
Foster’s dog-training journey began eight years ago when working in a grooming shop and kennel facility. He became interested in training after meeting and connecting with dogs, with whom he had good energy.
Foster founded All Dogs Go to Haven after earning his dog training certification in 2021. He offers a variety of services, including a two-week boarding and training program, in-home private lessons and doggy daycare. These programs are designed to teach pet owners effective training methods tailored to their dogs’ special needs and environments.
“I had people come in and their dog would come up to me and like, well, my dog doesn’t even go up to anybody or my dog doesn’t like men, but he likes you. It kind of just fed that fire that I had that I wanted to be a dog trainer,” Foster said.
During the two-week program, dogs stay at Foster’s facility where they receive hands-on training. Afterward, owners participate in lessons to reinforce what their dogs have learned. Foster also offers in-home lessons, working directly with clients to address behaviors such as loose-leash walking and essential commands like “sit” and “stay.”
Foster, familiar in canine behavior, highlighted a common misconception about dog training, as many owners believe that punishing bad behavior is the key to success. Instead, he explained, rewarding good behavior is a more effective approach.
“The relationship between a parent or a pet and a human is more of a parent-child type of relationship versus an alpha. So that is a common misconception. ‘Well, I just need to be the alpha.’ No, that’s not necessarily the case. You need to build a relationship with your dog, use positive reinforcement and build their trust and skills,” Foster said.
Foster shared that, in his years of working with dogs, he has relied on four key pillars to establish good behavior:
• Consistency ensures dogs receive clear and predictable messages, helping them understand and meet expectations without confusion.
• Repetition reinforces learning through practice, building confidence and making commands second nature over time.
• Follow-through involves ensuring commands are completed as given, establishing trust and reinforcing that instructions are non-negotiable.
• Patience allows dogs the time they need to learn, fostering a positive environment where they feel supported through challenges.
Near the training field where Foster works with dogs daily, a new facility is under construction to expand its services. The space will include grooming areas, boarding facilities and overnight accommodations. Foster’s wife, a certified pet nutrition specialist and skilled dog groomer, will soon join the venture, bringing her expertise to the project. With a shared passion for dogs, the couple is excited to collaborate.
“When I met my wife four years ago, she wanted to contribute to the business and really liked working with dogs, so we decided that’s what we were going to do. She got certified as a pet nutrition specialist, and we’ve worked in the dog food industry for a couple of years now. Then she decided she wanted to try dog grooming, and she’s just excelled at it. So now we’re making a go of it.” Foster said.
To stand out in the dog training industry and to hone his skills, Foster dedicated years of hands-on experience and rigorous study to earn advanced certifications.
In 2021, after dedicating three years to completing over 300 hours of hands-on dog-training work, he earned the Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) certification. This achievement required passing a rigorous exam that covered topics like ethology, learning theory and dog training techniques, heavily emphasizing positive reinforcement for good behavior. Foster noted that while the certification was not mandatory, it set him apart by demonstrating his commitment to the proper training and a deep understanding of effective dog training methods.
“Dog training isn’t a regulated industry, so anyone can claim to be a dog trainer. I wanted to set myself apart, so I decided to earn a certification to show that I’ve gone through the proper training and gained a deep understanding of the knowledge and skills required for effective dog training,” Foster said.
Seeking to further deepen his expertise, Foster pursued the Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) advanced certification, which he passed last summer. Over a three-week testing period, Foster trained two dogs, demonstrating his skills in real-world scenarios. He submitted video recordings of his training sessions, which verified his ability to teach dog owners effective methods for encouraging positive behavior in their pets. Foster highlighted that, as of December last year, only 171 dog trainers earned the same certification.
To learn more about All Dogs go to Haven at facebook.com/ADGTHaven?mibextid=Z bWKwL.
