Helping service dog teams build independence, 

Helping therapy dog teams serve others, and families communicate better with their dogs. 

About The Founder

 Vania Mahon, President and Founder of BBSP, is a Canine Specialist focused on service dog development, therapy dog work, public-access training, and handler education. She founded BBSP in 2017 and co-founded Hopkins Hounds at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Her education includes Behavioral Canine Specialization and Business Management. She is an AKC evaluator and Temperament Test judge, and continues professional education in crisis response.

Train Your Dog with BBSP Inc

Vania's Training Philosophy

Every dog learns differently. I begin by understanding the dog before me, then break skills into achievable steps. When a dog struggles, we simplify, rebuild confidence, and practice. Progress depends on clear communication, patience, and consistent work together.

Kira- Sultana

 Vania’s service dog and training demonstration partner, Kira-Sultana helps show handlers what teamwork can achieve. 

Words from Martha Hoffman

 

Untrained and unwanted alerts are common in our relationships with dogs. The dog barks too much, or reacts to things in annoying ways. 

And we often don’t see the potential when dogs communicate in unwanted ways. The behavior can sometimes be changed with training into a consistent helpful alert. 

I’m thinking of how we don’t know till too late what they are doing for us. 

My Border Collie hated motorcycles and would bark loudly at them while i was driving. This was so annoying!!! 

But when she got old and went deaf, I was puzzled by how many near misses with motorcycles I was having while driving.

Why were the bikers suddenly so much more reckless than before? Darn bikers, so annoying and dangerous! 

Then I realized that the awful startling barking had unconsciously trained me to check for nearby motorcycles. I could only hear them when they were very close. And I would look around when Jinx barked, along with scolding her to shut up! 

I had to learn to be observant of them on my own, after that. Thank you Jinx! I now wish I’d trained a SILENT alert if I had noticed the potential of her behavior then. I could have taught her to alert silently, or used Vania Mahon’s
genius method using a flashing light button for alerts while driving. 

An example of tweaking a dangerous or annoying behavior into a useful one.

 

 I’ve been working online with Vania, and she is a really proficient and creative SD trainer. She understands how dogs think! She was taking my course, but I learned so much from her sharing so many techniques and ideas, that I have rewritten and added some to my course, with her permission. Thanks 

Vania , we work really well together! 

Martha Hoffman 

SD Instructor for HA 

Author of "Lend Me An Ear"

Training and community service thrive through collaboration.

Meet Rachal Mendoza

  Rachal Mendoza, owner and head trainer of Cor Canis LLC, is a Starmark Academy graduate and military veteran. Her work includes canine behavior and individualized training. With therapy dog Gremlin, she also supports community service through Valor Court. 

Strengthening the Human–Canine Bond

 Rachal and Vania share a commitment to helping dogs and handlers communicate clearly, develop trust, and maintain their skills.