When Sara Sokol started classes with her late shih tzu Milo, she realized it nurtured a bond between them that took their relationship to a new level.

Sokol, owner and trainer at Mr. Dog Training’s new Canine Enrichment Center in West Gardiner, now hopes to share what she’s learned over many years of training for dogs and their owners.

“The relationship that I built with him, those training classes created something with him I’d never had before,” Sokol said. “I liked being a part of that and I wanted to be able to give that to other people. It’s not about blind obedience and a dog that follows directions at all cost. It’s about creating a relationship between a person and a dog built on trust and communication and kindness. And creating a really strong bond between them and, more importantly for the human, teaching them to understand their dogs’ emotional state, and how that drives their dogs’ behavior.”

The 2,400-square-foot Canine Enrichment Center, at 6 Terri Lane, near Interstate 95, in West Gardiner, is a metal building Sokol had built for her training facility last year.

Within the expansive, rubber-floored space is agility equipment such as jumps, a tunnel, an A-frame for climbing, weave poles, and a tire jump, other equipment and obstacles including tables, a ladder, hula hoops and skateboards, and an assortment of toys, a ball pit and boxes for “nose work” training.

Sokol offers training in person, as well as online training via Zoom.

Clients can also rent the space, which includes use of the equipment and toys within it, for some quality one-on-one time with their pooch. She sees the rentals as the primary use of the Canine Enrichment Center.

The space rents for $30 for 30 minutes, though there are also discounted packages offered.

Jessica Dolce, of North Yarmouth, and Billy, her 4 1/2 year-old pit bull, have been taking classes with Mr. Dog since 2023. They started with basic and intermediate training classes and have also taken classes in nose work, agility and tricks. Dolce said they’re now using the new Canine Enrichment Center “for mini-adventures.” She said she’s seen the difference the training and enrichment time has had on Billy.

“Billy LOVES going to classes in person and online,” Dolce said in an email. “Learning and working together are his favorite activities. He’s focused, tail wagging, energized and, when class is over, he just wants to keep going.”

She said Billy is a sensitive dog and sometimes the world can feel scary for him. But she said by taking classes and doing fun activities at Mr. Dog, she and Billy have developed a stronger connection and learned skills that help him feel safer and calmer.

“On our walks, loud trucks used to scare him to the point that he would want to run home,” Dolce said. “Now when there’s a scary noise, we use a specific pattern Sara teaches in her intermediate class that helps him feel safe and less stressed. It’s made a huge difference in our walks and his quality of life!”

Nose work, as the name implies, involves training dogs to search for and identify scents. In nose-work classes, Sokol said boxes are spread around the room, one contains an item, such as a snack, which the dog has to sniff out. Sokol said she’s had some clients who sought help training their dogs to use their noses to find “sheds,” antlers found in the forest after deer shed them.

Sokol offers agility training, but targets non-competitive owners, not those preparingfor agility competitions, though some dogs and their owners have participated in those events.

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The space is climate controlled with heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. Sokol said a recent rainy weekend was booked solid, with people looking for a dry place to exercise their dogs.

Sokol also owns a Mr. Dog training facility at 85 Baribeau Drive in Brunswick. She shares the building there with the Brunswick Veterinary Clinic. She plans to keep it running while expanding in West Gardiner to offer rental space, and tap into a larger client base for its services.

Mr. Dog is named for Sokol’s late pooch Milo, who died in 2023 at age 15 1/2. He inspired her to start the business. He’s also featured on the logo, wearing a top hat, monocle and bow tie, because she used to dress him up. His nickname was Mr. Dog. Her website notes he “Lives on every day in Mr. Dog Training and every dog and human I have the privilege of teaching.”

“Milo was my soulmate dog,” Sokol said. “I wouldn’t have become a dog trainer if it weren’t for Milo.”