PRIVATE 1 ON 1 SESSIONS IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME
"The only difference between a well behaved dog and a dog that has behavioral issues, is a knowledgeable owner."
Private Training
Say It Once makes Dog Training so much fun and enjoyable that the whole family will want to join in. This makes for a much better learning experience for you and your dog! |
"Properly trained humans can be a dog’s best friend" is not just our slogan, it’s our training philosophy. Dogs meet our needs every single day with their unconditional love, it is our job as responsible dog owners to meet their needs as well. When your dog's needs are not met, you will experience behavioral issues such as:
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Meet the Staff
Vincent Somma - Trainer
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My name is Vincent Somma, most people call me Vinnie. Before I learned to Say It Once, my life was going a different direction. Hockey was my life's passion, but unfortunately while playing in Chicago I suffered a injury which restricted me from ever playing again. In that moment, when one door closes, it seems like the world is ending. Little did I know at the time, the world was far from ending, God just needed to open up two new doors in my life. Not only do I now own SIODT, the fastest growing, winner of Pittsburgh’s Best Dog Service, and highest rated dog training business in Western PA, I also coached the Plum Mustangs Varsity hockey team to a Penguins Cup. When I am not teaching humans how to live with their dogs, you can find me hanging out with my pack, which consists of my brother Sergio, Mom and Dad, close friends, and of course my 4 legged pack members, which you can check out below.
Hello, my name is Anthony Manning. I graduated from Plum Senior High school and studied criminal justice at CCAC. I went on to join the United States Army where I served as an infantryman for 4 years. After returning back to Pittsburgh five years ago I started working with dogs and adopted one, my best friend Ghillie. Personally, I know the impact a dog has on your life (especially after a hard time) and how much they can do for us. Because of this, I am devoted to make sure humans know what they can do for their dog! I look forward to helping you and your dog become a well behaved pack!
Rachel Balko - TrainerHey! Rachel here! I graduated from Penn Trafford High School, and went off to Philadelphia for college. While in Philly, I lost my best friend, my dog Sadie. Going through that heart wrenching loss made me realize how much I loved dogs, and needed them in my life. I made the decision at that point to come back home and pursue my true calling, working with animals. I reached out to Vinnie with Say It Once Dog Training, and started as a pet sitter and dog walker for the first 1.5 years, while also apprenticing under Vinnie and learning the art of training dogs. My happy place is working with puppies, but more importantly their owners, and continuing the training journey with the entire family. I am so grateful that I get to spend every day improving the lives of dogs and their owners, and I cant wait to help you!
Michelle McGraw - Trainer |
Hey guys! My name is Michelle McGraw, and I am a native of Pittsburgh. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in the arts from Carlow University in 2007. I stepped back from teaching art in 2014 because I wanted to follow my passion in working with animals. This lead me to start a dog walking and pet sitting business, which is where my path crossed with Vinnie a few years back. I became fascinated with the transformation dogs have through structured and balanced training. For the past three years I have been diligently studying and understanding dog behavior and body language, and when the opportunity came up to work with Vinnie I couldn’t pass it up! Now, I combine my abilities of training dogs and teaching, to help owners live in harmony with their best friend.
Erin O’Toole - Trainer
Hey, It’s Erin here with Say It Once Dog Training. I’ve always had a passion for working with dogs, and I followed that passion almost a decade ago, starting with dog rescue. For me, there was nothing more rewarding than rescue in a dog and helping them find a new home. I began working with, and still do to this day, Paws Across Pittsburgh. I’m currently PAP’s Foster Coordinator. Years ago I noticed the correlation between dogs who had an understanding of obedience training, and how high their rate of adoption was. I worked with Vinnie in 2016, and have been fostering and training PAP’s “difficult dogs” ever since. I recently made the best decision of my life to become a full-time dog trainer and work with Say It Once Dog Training. I can’t wait to help you communicate better with your dog!
I’m Travis, and I can’t wait to tell you about my story, and more importantly help you with your dog! Like most dog trainers, my journey started with my baby girl Talia, a pitbull that I rescued 5 years ago. I loved her so much, but I knew that love wasn’t enough to help me with her misbehavior, so I called in the professionals. After meeting Vinnie, and spending every waking minute training my girl Talia, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I researched and found a program that trains Dog Trainers, and I spent the last year in training honing my craft, and soaking in as much knowledge as possible. This is where my journey came full circle. Vinnie had an opening for his team, and I hopped on the opportunity to join Say It Once Dog Training. I’m looking forward to showing you what your dogs potential truly is, and giving you the best life possible with them.