Meet Our Certified Dog Training Team
At Smart Puppy Co, our Madison, WI based dog trainers are the heart of everything we do. Led by certified professionals (CBCC-KA, KPA CTP), our team brings expert knowledge in animal behavior and positive reinforcement to families throughout Dane County. More than just skills, we bring empathy and science-based methods to help you and your dog thrive.
​
What makes our team special isn’t just how much we know about behavior—it’s how we listen, how we adapt, and how we show up for the little moments that make big change possible.
We draw from a range of professional backgrounds—behavior consulting, early puppy development, group behavior management, and more—bringing those lenses into every session. Whether we’re coaching a first-time dog parent or consulting with a veterinary clinic, our goal is always the same: to support lasting, positive relationships through thoughtful, individualized care.
​
At the end of the day, we’re not here to “fix” your dog. We’re here to partner with you—bringing calm, clarity, and connection to the process of growing together. Our work rooted in the SMART philosophy—Support, Manage, Adapt, Reinforce, and Thrive.
Steph Tauscher
she/her/hers
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA) Professional Dog Trainer (KPA CTP)
Specialties: Puppy Development, Fear, Leash Reactivity, and Separation Anxiety.
With over 11 years of experience as a trainer, Steph has worked with dogs at every life stage—but her heart has always been with the very new and the big feelers. From tiny, wiggly puppies just beginning to make sense of the world, to dogs navigating big feelings, her approach has always centered around empathy, clarity, and trust.
​
Certified through the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA-CTP) and holding credentials including Fear Free Certified Trainer, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, and CPACM, Steph brings both a deep well of knowledge and a thoughtful, intuitive presence to every session. If you ask her what really matters most, she’ll tell you—it’s not about the "alphabet soup". It’s about creating moments where dogs feel safe, seen, and understood.
​
Her background spans rescue work, daycare, boarding, group classes, private training, and behavior consulting, but what she loves most is helping people and dogs feel like a team. Whether you're navigating puppyhood or supporting a dog who’s overwhelmed by the world, Steph shows up with patience, creativity, and a calming presence. Here to help you understand each other—because that’s where real change begins.
​
When she’s not working with clients, Steph is usually outside soaking up nature or hitting the trails with her own crew of four dogs—two Great Danes, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and a beagle mix—who keep her grounded, laughing, and always learning.
Steph is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant serving Madison, WI. With over 11 years of professional experience, she specializes in puppy development and training, Fear-Free behavior modification for complex cases like fear, reactivity, and anxiety. As a Karen Pryor Academy Graduate, she uses science-based methods to help dogs thrive without the use of punishment.