About Us

"My interest in dog training started 16 years ago when I adopted my dog, Pancho. Like most rescue dogs, he had significant behavioral issues that needed to be addressed. Our journey together sparked a passion that led me to become a certified dog trainer.

Over the years, my philosophy has evolved significantly. Initially, my focus was on teaching obedience behaviors. However, I've come to realize the importance of also teaching dogs to thrive in various environments and communities. High-level competitive obedience and sport dog training have heavily influenced my methods. These disciplines emphasize teaching dogs to think and solve problems rather than merely controlling them. The result? Happier dogs with better obedience.

One unique aspect of my training approach is building communities of dog owners who regularly work together. This collaborative effort benefits everyone involved and fosters a supportive environment. I am committed to keeping training affordable, allowing clients to achieve realistic goals within a manageable timeframe.

As a reward-based trainer, I believe in using positive reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviors. This approach not only builds trust between dogs and their owners but also leads to more lasting and effective results.

My current projects include creating high-quality online training programs that reach a broader audience and designing engaging events that provide significant value for dogs in training while also being enjoyable for our clients.

Looking ahead, I aim to make dog training accessible and affordable for everyone, fostering a strong sense of community support and collaboration. Together, we create happier, more obedient dogs and a stronger community.”

— Keith Vaquera-Little, Owner

For us, Sirius Strides isn't just a business. It's a community that we foster continuously.

One of the highlights every week at Sirius Strides is the free community pack walk that Keith hosts at a nature reservation neighboring our Northeast Ohio facility. These started back in March 2016, when Keith invited a fellow Shaker Heights resident and their dog to take a walk with him and his dog, Pancho around Horseshoe Lake. The dog had been dealing with mounting stress and reactivity that Keith felt could be improved with patience and work. What started as a one-on-one Saturday get-together quickly grew. On one of their walks, they came across another person with a dog who Keith felt the activity would benefit and they joined in. After realizing the impact this walk was having on the dogs he was working with, Keith put out an ad in local Facebook groups, inviting more people to walk with them and two dogs became consistently over 40. 

Keith has been hosting these walks every weekend, weather permitting, ever since. The largest pack walk to date consisted of 139 dogs! In his mission to benefit as many dogs as possible, big and small, with this no-contact but close proximity approach, Keith has kept the walk free for all to join.

The free pack walks have helped countless dogs gain confidence and the ability to relax around other dogs through consistent desensitization and generalization. Many owners have made lasting friendships with each other and have kept strong through their dog training journeys with the weekly camaraderie to motivate and support them. Keith's favorite part is being able to watch everyone's growth in real time and keep in contact with them through the years. "Every one of these people and their dogs has a story" that he is grateful to witness.

While the Shaker Heights walk is still ongoing, Keith himself continues to host the one close to our training facility. We're proud to know its format has also inspired similar walks as far as Florida.

We are also deeply grateful that our pack walk turnouts and other events and meetups we hold throughout the year help get eyes on organizations that we believe in and want to support. Our community has raised money for and donated requested necessities to organizations such as Marilyn's Voice, a foster volunteer-based organization that rescues and rehabilitates dogs from puppy mill and abuse situations; Canine Companions, a volunteer-based organization that raises dogs to become service dogs, hearing dogs, skilled companion dogs, and the likes; City Dogs, an adoption and volunteer program for Cleveland Animal Care and Control; Secondhand Mutts, a volunteer based rescue organization providing structure and socialization for foster homes where they eventually are adopted; and Rescue Village, an organization that provides services to thousands of homeless, abused, and neglected dogs every year. In 2026, we plan to do charitable fundraising for Paws with a Purpose and a local Search and Rescue team.

We've seen firsthand just how important the community aspect is to the success, motivation, and happiness of those that are a part of it. It's an honor to have a chance to be able to bring this key component to more people, no matter where they are located and where they are in their training journeys. Every single owner and their dog is a unique and valuable part of our community, bringing their own story and fresh perspective to those around them. We are sincerely looking forward to meeting you if you choose to join us and become a part of our "something bigger".

Surveys indicate that over 68 million households in the United States alone include at least one dog, which would be over half of all households in the entire country. According to a study by the American Pet Products Association, less than half of dog owners report their dogs receiving some form of formal training, which is tens of millions of dogs left without. We know there are countless barriers preventing people from seeking out training with professionals, all of which we aim to break down through our Online Training and Community. 

Geographical barriers and transportation constraints have been factors we've been addressing at Sirius Strides already, with our course instructors offering to do in-home visits for some of our clients who aren't able to make it to our facility. We are so excited to be able to bring our training methods and established, supportive community to people beyond our small scope of Northeast Ohio. According to the American Psychological Association, a meta-analysis of nearly 900,000 participants reported that just someone knowing help is available when needed is linked to better educational functioning and work performance, even if they don't directly seek out the help they know is there. That is why we so strongly believe that the community aspect of our work is so integral to our clients' success and directly tied to our mission of accessibility.

Having to schedule dog training classes into an already busy schedule with limited free time can also be challenging and exhausting. We wanted to make our entire course catalog and core community challenges evergreen so everyone can start with us at any time and go at their own pace. Consistency is key and it can feel overwhelming and discouraging if course material is progressing at a faster rate than you're able to practice. We will be there to support and guide you no matter how you're working through our courses and challenges.

Our courses also include in-depth written summaries in addition to video demonstrations, and of course instructor feedback on any videos or anecdotes you choose to share with us. We understand that the way people learn best can differ and wanted to address this in our teaching methods.

Despite monumental increases to cost of living, dogs continue to be an integral part of many people's lives. With PetSmart Charities and Gallup reporting that just over half of dog owners share that affordability is a deciding factor in whether or not they are able to seek out care for their dogs, we don't want training to be another part of dog ownership that feels like an unobtainable privilege. We have completely free offerings like our mini courses and a structured learning path with personal, professional feedback and guidance for $15 per month to make training something that's within reach.

Our dream is to effect change by offering our expertise to help people create happier, more harmonious lives with their dogs.