What we do

Prairie Skies offers innovative and learning-based approaches for raising and training dogs and puppies, providing effective discipline, and creating healthier, happier families. Prairie Skies fosters an active and interactive team process between the owners, dog, and trainer. This educational process includes identifying the issues to be addressed, learning and practicing new skills, applying practical techniques and strategies, and utilizing common sense, hands-on approaches.

Training and teaching is a challenge. Our learning and coaching objectives are realistic and work to create effective, caring communication, establish clear boundaries and fair consequences, and support healthy dogs, healthy families and communities.

Jill Morstad PhD has been teaching people to train their dogs since 1985—offering classes through local and regional dog clubs, in private settings, and for animal shelters and veterinary clinics. A professional educator with a broad background and experience in the dynamics of human-to-canine (and canine-to-human) communication, she frequently provides behavior advice and instruction for dog owners, children and families in the interest of public health and community service.

I believe that while dogs do come prepared to live companionably with us in our homes and communities, it is up to us to teach our dogs what our expectations are, and to do so using balanced methods that produce results. Doing so requires practice, care, patience, love, commitment, and, most certainly, a sense of humor.

--Jill Morstad

Morstad is a Certified Dog Trainer and professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals .

Over this past twelve months, Jill earned a TD (tracking dog), a UDX and an OTCh (Obedience Trial Champion) on her current dog, Lark.