Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant
CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified
Claire Horvat (she/her/hers) is a dog trainer and behavior consultant with Pet Harmony. Claire’s favorite part of her work is creating communication and understanding between furry friends and their people. She knows that understanding what your animal is trying to tell you is the key to cultivating a more confident pet and more harmonious lifestyle for the both of you.
Claire has been passionate about animal behavior from an early age. As a teenager, she was the go-to girl in her neighborhood (and beyond) for pet walking and sitting. She would spend afternoons with her collie mix, Kahlo, teaching various games and cues, helping to set the foundation for her deep understanding of pet behavior. She later pursued a training apprenticeship and gained her CPDT-KA certification and her Fear Free Certification, further solidifying her expertise in behavior modification and training.
Her journey into professional behavior consulting began when she adopted her pup, Olivia, the most loving pup with many a behavior challenge! Since then, Claire has helped countless pet parents navigate complex behavior challenges, from fear and aggression to hyperactivity and anxiety. She believes in practical, science-based solutions that are tailored to both the pet and the person, making training not just effective but also sustainable.
Claire is committed to ongoing education and attends industry-leading conferences, including Clicker Expo, Aggression in Dogs, and CanineCon, ensuring she stays up to date on the most current information in her field.
She especially loves working with shy or shut down dogs who are searching for confidence. Her goal is always to make life easier and more enjoyable for both pets and their people—whether that means teaching management strategies, essential life skills, or even fun games that strengthen the bond between human and animal.
Claire lives in the Chigagoland area with her husband, dog Olivia, and enjoys movies, video games, reading, and singing too loudly while doing dishes.
Kind Words From Happy Clients
“If you love your pup and your own sanity, work with Claire. She has been an absolutely stellar trainer, teaching both us and the dog simultaneously which has helped us develop an understanding of our pup and our bond with her. Claire’s insights have always been spot on, and her flexibility with scheduling has made the whole experience a breeze. We cannot recommend her nearly enough!”
– Monica C.
“I met Claire in July 2023 a couple of months after bringing home my golden retriever puppy, Sherman. As a first time dog owner, I felt overwhelmed and not very confident in raising Sherman to be the loyal and well-mannered dog I dreamed of him being. I signed up for Puppy Manners class, in hopes of socializing Sherman, and learning some basic commands. I was so impressed with Claire’s breadth of knowledge, patience, and willingness to troubleshoot any issue. Dog behavior & learning is very complex, and she was always willing to dig into figuring out exactly what was throwing us off. We graduated puppy manners school and she sent us off into the world to continue to develop our skills! After a few weeks, Sherman was struggling with pulling on the leash & also was choosing to not obey commands I knew he had down already. I gave Claire a call and she talked me through some options. We opted to go with private at home training for 1:1 attention and to see Sherman operate in his home environment. Every single issue I presented Claire with, she was able to solve in 1-3 sessions. I was so pleasantly surprised with how quickly he progressed in this setting. I strongly recommend Claire to train your furry best friend. Beyond training the dog, she can help coach you on how to best handle different issues. I feel so much more confident & Sherman has grown into such a sweet and loyal pet with her help!”
– Rachel Greenberg
Claire in Action
