Meet the trainer, Maddie!
Maddie with Niko
Gaining the trust of nervous dogs can be one of life’s greatest joys. Customizing training plans that fit the needs of individual dogs is important to Maddie. She wants to build that trust, then build confidence and teach new skills.
Madison Giove (Maddie to us) joined Cold Nose Lodge as an assistant dog handler in July 2018. She quickly showed an interest in dog training, so began shadowing our lead trainer, Lori, and working with dogs in daycare who needed some coaching. She assisted with classes, and continued to study dog behavior and learning styles.
Maddie joined the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program in 2023. She received her certification as a Karen Pryor Academy – Certified Training Partner, KPA-CTP. For more information on the program, visit the website here.
She became a Fear Free™ Certified Trainer in January 2026. Fear Free™ professionals do all they can do avoid/reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for the animals in their care. It applies to training methods, too. Maddie (and all trainers at Cold Nose Lodge) use positive reinforcement, redirection, and avoid coercion. The focus is on the well-being of the animals, not just teaching them tasks and commands.
As Assistant Manager, Maddie focuses on behavior and training. She creates plans for daycare dogs who are struggling with stress or over-arousal, helping to make daycare safe and fun for them again. She works with clients in private lessons, most commonly working on leash manners and recalls with their pups.
Maddie loves teaching Puppy Kindergarten – adorable puppies, plus the opportunity to teach good behaviors before bad habits have set in. Maddie also teaches Puppy Headstart for those who want to get training started immediately, or if classes don’t fit into their schedule.
Most weekdays, Maddie is focused on our Day School program. Dogs come twice a week for four weeks, and clients receive two private lessons to keep those new skills up at home.
Maddie hopes to continue growing the dog training programs at Cold Nose Lodge, and looks forward to helping you create a trusting relationship with your dog.
