Storybook Farm

Storybook Farm Mary Fish Arango, MA, MEd, CPDT-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
insight, experience, patience It is a powerful tool that I love sharing with others.

Greetings Simsbury, CT, and vicinity:

I am an encourager by nature, and I love a good puzzle when it comes to the learning style of a human and the learning style of their dog. I taught ninth grade math for many years, and I am essentially endlessly patient when it comes to figuring out what can help someone (canine or human) learn how to learn. The most exciting and enduring factor in using posi

tive reinforcement for training and teaching is that it spills over into all kinds of other situations involving learning, communicating, and developing relationships. For the last five years, I have enjoyed working with 25 clients who trained in AKC agility or rally continuously and 27 others who took series of classes in beginning agility, puppy skills and manners, or private lessons. I am a retired English and math teacher with two masters degrees -- one in Sportsmedicine and one in Counseling Therapy. I have been training and competing with dogs in a serious way since 1993, starting in Huntsville, AL, continuing in Santa Barbara, CA for 18 years, and teaching more recently in my thriving business in southern Oregon. Deeply involved with therapy dogs since 1993, I have been an evaluator for Therapy Dogs International since 1997. Three of our family's Border Collies were certified as Disaster Stress Relief dogs; seven have been certified for volunteer work in hospitals, hospice, schools, and treatment facilities. I advised Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara in the development and supervision of their therapy dog program for many years. I currently compete in AKC agility with a young Border Collie and do therapy dog work with a retired agility dog who was highly successful in spite of being deaf. I competed in AKC obedience and rally obedience with our previous dogs. I am a professional member of APDT, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and a member of the Dog Writers' Association of America. I am a judge for the annual writing contest for DWAA and have earned their coveted Maxwell Medallion recognition for both writing and photography. My husband and I moved to Simsbury in January 2022 to be closer to family and our childhood hometowns. I am continuing dog training and professional photography here, and I look forward to the wonderful connections that are achieved through our work with dogs. I look forward to meeting you!

Summer at Storybook Farm.... Training with clients in private lessons at their home, in neighborhoods, and in the wareho...
07/12/2026

Summer at Storybook Farm.... Training with clients in private lessons at their home, in neighborhoods, and in the warehouse at Horses and Hounds during cool hours -- brand new puppies from breeders, rescues with unknown pasts who are settling in, boisterous dogs in multi-dog households with no fenced yard and very hot weather.... Growing tomatoes and raspberries and waiting for cucumbers and zucchini.... Weeding and attempting to conquer invasive vines..... Evaluating potential therapy dogs.... Signing to our deaf dog about whether he is asking for water, ice, treat, outdoors, or fan.... Competing in agility with one of our young border collies....
... And attending an awesome conference, Modern Ethical Training 2026 (saved from March) for CEU's for dog training recertification. First two presentations (in Czech, with simultaneous translator):

Markéta Rybářová
BRAVE – A Comprehensive Approach to Canine Fear
Length: 2 hours 30 minutes (incl. 30 min for Q&A)

What you’ll learn:

How to structure your work with fearful or reactive dogs using the five pillars of the BRAVE Framework.
Why stress management is often overlooked – and how to support your dog’s nervous system.
How pain and physical health influence behavior.
When and how to consider behavioral medication, and under what conditions it can be introduced.
Why building resilience is more valuable than aiming for a perfect reaction – and how to develop it through training.
Which key performance indicators (KPIs) are worth tracking and how they can guide your progress.
Practical strategies and skills for handling real-life situations safely and with minimal stress.
How to plan gradual, ethical exposure and monitor genuine progress in practice.

Stano Farkaš
From Stress to Cooperation: How to Turn a Vet Visit into a Calm Experience
Length: 2 hours 30 minutes (incl. 30 min for Q&A)

What you’ll learn:

How to reduce animal stress during veterinary visits using cooperative care and low-stress handling techniques.
Practical handling methods that encourage cooperation and a sense of safety.
Step-by-step preparation of dogs and cats for the clinic environment – from home training to the actual examination.
Ways to build trust between animals and veterinary staff for a calmer treatment experience.
Key principles of stress prevention applicable beyond the clinic.
Effective communication among owners, veterinarians, and clinic staff to support teamwork.
Real-life examples and case studies from veterinary practice.
Inspiration to approach animal care with respect, empathy, and professional confidence.

I love the flexibility of summertime training -- cool mornings on hot days, meeting people at their homes and in their n...
06/16/2026

I love the flexibility of summertime training -- cool mornings on hot days, meeting people at their homes and in their neighborhoods to address questions specific to their newly arrived puppy or their acclimating rescue. The dogs all have stories to tell. The people are endearing and fascinating. Some have really done their homework, with a stack of puppy raising books on the table with colored tabs to mark important practices and a detailed read of trainer bios and practices to inform their choices. Meeting them from one town to another connects me to the community with streets and neighborhoods, individuals, and families and dogs -- all eager to learn with each other. Click and treat. Therapy dog evaluations and consultations. Time on the edges of daylight for photography assignments and submissions to publishers. And black raspberries turning pink and purple and tomatoes gearing up for sandwiches and gifting. Welcome, summer.

When the cats in a household catch on to clicker training and rewards before the cautious and fearful dog.... They would...
06/06/2026

When the cats in a household catch on to clicker training and rewards before the cautious and fearful dog.... They would have a career in commercials, for sure. Treat bag....eye contact.... treat bag.... entreat with paw (followed by grasping feeding hand with both paws, claws retracted...) Summertime private lessons bring all kinds of variety.

Private lessons are sometimes a hoot. I often forget to take a photo when we're done, as I get caught up in processing w...
05/23/2026

Private lessons are sometimes a hoot. I often forget to take a photo when we're done, as I get caught up in processing what progress might have happened and what goals might come next. The dogs, themselves, have much to communicate.

Pelly (short for Pelham) gave me a moment to reflect and snap a photo with my cell phone. Somehow, with some kind of really knowledgeable intervention mixed with luck, this Shepherd/Pit mix landed a fabulous match in CT with the help of a rescue group that noticed him in Mississippi. He is "a lot of dog," boisterous, powerful, loud at the door, incredibly fast and muscular, friendly, eager to learn, and inexperienced with boundaries and personal space. According to records, he spent a year in a shelter shed. Someone recognized he was worth saving for the right person.

He landed a new life on a quiet cul-de-sac with people who've known their neighbors for decades, with a gigantic back yard (more than an acre with an eight-foot fence), mature shade trees, wildlife wandering by in deep woods, and a devoted person who marvels at what he has learned about life at home over three weeks.

He greeted me more politely than usual when I rang the doorbell -- fewer scattered treats before he came to lean against my thighs and knees for hugs and scruffles. He did speed circles in the back yard and refined "retrieving" and "sharing" to a three-foot radius. He trained for "stay" with a pitched ball for reward and release. We free-shaped polite heeling on the left in between his gleeful zooming in and out of clusters of trees with a ball in his mouth. Somewhere along the way, someone had been good to this dog.

The three of us walked the length of the cul-de-sac with equipment that let him sniff and explore and check in frequently at the sound of a kissing noise, eventual practice for reliable recalls. (Nine times out of ten, return to play/sniff...)

As we returned to the kitchen to wrap up the hour, he climbed in my lap for face to face attention at the table. We silently shaped and rewarded settling on "his" chair as we set a date for another meeting. He blinked like a cat on a blanket on a warm radiator, and I laughed quietly so as not to interrupt.

Summer teaching/training/coaching details.....Well, it is supposed to reach 90 degrees today, here in West Simsbury, CT....
05/19/2026

Summer teaching/training/coaching details.....

Well, it is supposed to reach 90 degrees today, here in West Simsbury, CT.... I guess it's a good time to write about summer offerings from the cool interior of my house in the woods.

I have learned that summer temperatures and people's varied schedules warrant a break from the routine of group classes at Horses and Hounds in Granby. Those will resume in September.

In the meantime, private lessons and shared private lessons are available with a flexible schedule that accommodates summer travel, weather and heat, and vacation plans. I travel widely in the greater Granby/Simsbury area, working in homes and neighborhoods or at Horses and Hounds.

New puppy arriving? Support and training are available on a regular basis or scheduled as needs arise. Welcoming a rescue or rehomed dog with an unknown background? Experienced insight and evaluation can help set up for success from the start. One on one training with insight provides a wealth of information and solutions that anticipate next steps.

I have a wealth of experience working with people and their dogs in home settings and group classes. I love teaching with clicker training and positive reinforcement, shaping and rewarding desired behaviors and creating lifelong skills that apply to new dogs, new people, and new circumstances. The dogs always teach me something new, and my days are filled with ah-hah! moments as we work together.

Group classes for younger puppies, older puppies, and mature dogs will resume in September, as temperatures cool and schedules resume a more predictable rhythm. Dates and times will be available mid-August and will be posted here and on the Horses and Hounds website.

The cost for private lessons is $130 (includes CT sales tax), with an added travel fee for locations far from my home. Lessons may be shared with compatible teams, and summer temperatures often call for very early mornings. I'm game!

Detailed bio information is on the Horses and Hounds website under Services >>> Dog Training and on the Association for Professional Dog Training International website on their trainer search page.

I look forward to meeting you and your dog! Please be in touch if you'd like to schedule some training or consultation.

Group classes at Horses and Hounds will start new cycles on April 30th and May 3rd. Registration is open now, and inquir...
04/14/2026

Group classes at Horses and Hounds will start new cycles on April 30th and May 3rd. Registration is open now, and inquiries are welcome. I take a break for summer weather and varied client vacations and continue with private lessons throughout the summer with flexible scheduling. Group classes will resume in September.

As always, classes focus on positive reinforcement and clicker training, capturing and shaping desirable skills and behaviors and building a greater and greater working vocabulary as puppies and dogs mature. Class descriptions and my detailed trainer bio are on the Horses and Hounds website under Services >>> Dog Training.

Please email or call if you'd like to inquire. I look forward to meeting you and your dog.
-- Mary Fish Arango MA MEd CPDT-KA

Sundays 5/3 thru 5/31
Younger Puppies (3-6 mos)
10:15 to 11:15
Older Puppies (7 mos and up)
11:30 to 12:30

Thursdays 4/30 thru 5/28
Mature Dogs (by evaluation)
4:15 to 5:15
Older Puppies (7 mos and up)
5:30 to 6:30

If you know of someone who might benefit from training and bonding with their dog in a great learning environment, please spread the word!

I am seeking fabulous canine or feline photo models in the greater Simsbury/Granby, CT area. Spring is making an effort,...
04/14/2026

I am seeking fabulous canine or feline photo models in the greater Simsbury/Granby, CT area. Spring is making an effort, and I am archiving images for another round of submissions to BrownTrout, Willow Creek Press, and other publishers. If you have a purebred dog with terrific obedience skills off leash (sit-stay, down-stay, recall, attention for headshots), I thank you for your time and training with several of the best images we get. I love hearing about new favorable locations with picturesque backdrops. Very early morning and late afternoon work best at this time of year. A friend or two with compatible dogs who alternate turns is a bonus but not necessary. Plain buckle collar, no leash or long line, handler just out of camera frame. Click, treat, repeat. Let your friend with an amazing dog know.... Thank you!

The DNA results are in :-) Many people have been curious and amused by Hutch, a sweet and laid back puppy in my Younger...
04/12/2026

The DNA results are in :-) Many people have been curious and amused by Hutch, a sweet and laid back puppy in my Younger Puppies class who was brought up from the south as a rescue. His owner had Embark test his DNA. Sarah M. from Horses and Hounds wins the prize for her early guess..... (She guessed Sharpei from the earliest photo...)

Spring is looking a little more possible, and inquiries are coming in for the next series of classes at Horses and Hound...
04/12/2026

Spring is looking a little more possible, and inquiries are coming in for the next series of classes at Horses and Hounds in Granby, CT.

I take a break from group classes over the summer's hot weather, so this spring series will be the last groups until early September. I continue to offer private lessons in a wide radius, and I am happy to help people with foundations or maintenance one-on-one or shared with a compatible training friend. All training is heavily based on positive reinforcement, using clicker training to shape, reward, and refine desired behaviors. The dogs quickly learn new skills to add to their vocabulary of offerings.

Classes that will usher us into summer:

Sundays 5/3 thru 5/31
Younger Puppies (3-6 mos)
10:15 to 11:15
Older Puppies (7 mos and up)
11:30 to 12:30

Thursdays 4/30 thru 5/28
Mature Dogs (by evaluation)
4:15 to 5:15
Older Puppies (7 mos and up)
5:30 to 6:30

Detailed descriptions and trainer bio are on the Horses and Hounds website under Services >>>> Dog Training. Please send a direct message for information or inquiries. I look forward to meeting you and your dogs!

Address

26 Woodlot Road
West Simsbury, CT
06092

Telephone

+18055708899

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Storybook Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Storybook Farm:

Shortcuts

Share

Category