Insider Weekly has announced DoggEd Training as the recipient of its Best Dog Behavior Expert award, recognizing the company’s innovative approach to resolving complex canine behavioral issues through rewards-based training methods.
Founded by Dr. Mayuri Kerr, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC-CDBC) and Accredited Dog Trainer (IAABC-ADT) with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, the company has achieved a remarkable 99% success rate in keeping dogs with severe behavioral challenges happily in their homes. Many of these dogs were previously facing surrender to shelters or behavioral euthanasia.
The award comes as Dr. Kerr prepares to launch a new course focused on helping dogs that resource guard their food or toys from other dogs, expanding her reach to more families struggling with this common but challenging behavior.
What sets DoggEd Training’s approach apart is its exclusive use of positive reinforcement techniques, employing food, toys, fun and play rather than punishment tools such as prong, choke, pinch or electronic collars. The signature “Chaotic to Calm” program spans 4-6 months and involves playing specially tailored training games that address each dog’s specific behavioral issues while fitting seamlessly into the family’s lifestyle.
“I carefully diagnose each dog and help create a training plan that is simple for the guardian to follow and very effective for creating the desired behavior change,” Dr. Kerr explained, drawing on her background as both a dentist and biomedical engineer. Her clinical experience has taught her that accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment—a principle she applies to dog behavior modification.
The virtual nature of the training program has enabled families worldwide to access specialized help for issues ranging from reactivity and dog-aggression to human-aggression. All sessions are conducted via online video conferencing, making expert behavioral consultation accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Client testimonials highlight the transformative impact of the games-based training approach. Tom W., whose Husky struggled with resource guarding and reactivity, initially felt skeptical when Dr. Kerr introduced the concept of playing games to modify behavior. “Day by day the change became apparent,” he reported. “He would no longer sit and bark at the window, some of his favorite dog friends could pickup his toys without him becoming a raging mess, and he would bring toys to your lap and push them into your hand to play with them.”
Rebecca H. found that the games-based training methods not only improved her dog Dottie’s leash walking and reduced whining around other dogs but also made training enjoyable for both of them. “The games have not only built Dottie’s confidence, strengthened our bond but also made training a joyful experience,” she shared.
For Abby R., who holds a PhD in neuroscience and animal training, working with Dr. Kerr has been educational despite her own expertise. “While at a superficial level it seems similar to positive reinforcement, it’s powerfully different,” she noted. Her dog, who had bitten someone and struggled with fear of strangers despite previous positive reinforcement training, finally showed real improvement by addressing root issues of optimism, confidence, and disengagement ability.
Perhaps most compelling is the story of Sammy, a 4-year-old miniature poodle with multiple behavioral challenges including resource guarding, reactivity, anxiety, and handling issues. His family had worked with multiple trainers with minimal results before finding Dr. Kerr through a Reddit post. “She was able to determine more about Sammy in 1 hour than anyone has in the four years we had him – and she hadn’t even seen him or any of his behaviors!” owner Esther C. reported. Within months, Sammy went from biting family members 4-5 times weekly to not biting anyone for over a month.
The recognition from Insider Weekly highlights an important issue in the dog training industry: the lack of regulation and the prevalence of punishment-based methods. Dr. Kerr’s success demonstrates that even the most challenging behavioral issues can be resolved through scientifically-grounded, rewards-based approaches when applied by properly credentialed professionals.
Growing up in India surrounded by street dogs provided Dr. Kerr with unique insights into canine behavior, which she combines with constant study of the latest behavioral research. This dedication to understanding dogs at a fundamental level, paired with her medical background emphasizing accurate diagnosis, has enabled her to help dogs that have been through multiple trainers and techniques without improvement.
The award recognition comes at a time when more families are seeking humane, effective solutions for their dogs’ behavioral challenges. With the upcoming launch of her resource guarding course, Dr. Kerr continues to expand access to methods that keep dogs safely and happily in their homes while strengthening the human-animal bond through play and positive reinforcement.