Animal Matters Training & Swim ‘making waves’ in De Pere

Rich Palzewic

Staff

February 23, 2026

DE PERE – As a trainer at one of the two certified dog training facilities in the Green Bay Metro area, Jenn Cluckey said effective training involves educating owners just as much as their four-legged companions.

Cluckey said Animal Matters Training & Swim in De Pere, which has operated for nearly five years, uses science-proven techniques to help create enjoyable experiences for dogs and their owners.

“Our swim sessions are tailored to fit your dog’s needs, whether exercise, enrichment or recovery,” she said.

Animal Matters, Cluckey said, operates as an extension of the adjacent TailWaggers Doggy Daycare, a franchise that offers daycare, boarding and grooming. 

“TailWaggers is a franchise, but the De Pere owner, Dave Wagner, opened the training and swimming portion of the business because TailWaggers only does daycare, boarding and grooming,” she said. “There aren’t a lot of indoor dog pools in the area, so I think that portion is a really important component of this.”

With Animal Matters – which opened in April 2021 at 2140 American Blvd. – offering private lessons, group classes and pool rental, Cluckey said she stresses the importance of certified trainers in a largely unregulated dog training industry.

“Anybody could wake up tomorrow and begin a dog training business, saying, ‘I’ve had dogs in the past that I’ve done great with,’” she said. “There would be nobody to stop you from doing that. I think it’s really important to find certified trainers to work with.”

Cluckey said there are an estimated eight certified dog training facilities between Oshkosh and Appleton, while the Green Bay area has only two.

“And the thing about it is, everybody has dogs,” she said.

Swim sessions

With few indoor dog pools available in the area, Cluckey said pet owners turn to Animal Matters for access, using the pool for a variety of purposes.

“Some owners just want to bring their dogs in to get some exercise during the colder months,” she said. “We also work with dogs that have never been around water. Maybe an owner has a cottage on a lake, and they want to make sure their dog can swim if they happen to fall off the dock.”

There are also cases, Cluckey said, where an older dog has arthritis or is recovering from surgery.

“In those cases, maybe the vet is recommending the dog to swim to help aid in recovery,” she said.

According to animalmatterstraining.com, the pool is treated with dog-safe shock and has a shower head available to rinse off any remaining chemicals after a swim session.

“A staff member will accompany your dog to the pool room, where they will get to splash and play,” Cluckey said. “We have dog life jackets for use that we will fit for you and pool toys for your dog to enjoy with the staff member. If your dog is unsure about the water, we will introduce them at their own pace and utilize their favorite treats and toys to establish a positive association with the pool.”

For insurance reasons, Cluckey said pet owners are not allowed in the pool with their dogs.

Though some dog breeds naturally figure out how to swim, she said many dogs need life jackets to prevent them from sinking.

“The instinct for some is for their butts to sink, and they start doing that splashing with their front end,” she said.

Cluckey said as long as a staff member is in the pool with a dog supporting their back end, they usually figure it out pretty quickly.

Training programs and classes

Cluckey said Animal Matters offers a variety of training classes and specialized programs, providing guidance and support for dogs from puppies through adulthood.

“We have a puppy program where owners drop their puppies off for four hours and then pick them up after the session,” she said. “That’s with multiple puppies in the room, working on socialization, crate training – all of that fun stuff.”

Cluckey said Animal Matters also offers private lessons, which begin with a consultation.

“The consultation is an hour where we talk about goals, etc.,” she said. “[We] then develop a plan for them to come in for sessions to work on things.”

Some of the classes/programs offered at Animal Matters – according to the website – include:

• Teen dog
• Manners
• Confident canine
• Cooperative care
• Tricks
• Canine good citizen prep
• Drink with your dog
• Daily dog
• Workshops
• Holiday prep

“The ‘Drink With Your Dog’ class is held at a local brewery, Zambaldi [Beer], in the summer and covers the necessary skills for your dog to join you on your brewery trips,” Cluckey said. “We cover behaviors such as relaxing in a new environment, loose leash walking to a counter and remaining calm around the delivery of food/drinks to the table. This class is designed for dogs who are comfortable in public and around other dogs.”

Cluckey said training can help dogs learn obedience and prevent bad behaviors, though owners must remain consistent for it to be effective.

“There is definitely an aspect to the training where we have to break down the concepts we are teaching to the dogs to humans,” she said. “It’s not only training dogs but their owners as well.”

Cluckey said all dog breeds are trainable, though some are easier to work with than others – “at least for her.”

“I find I prefer the way certain breeds work,” she said. “It’s not so much that I think certain breeds are more difficult to work with, but my brain is more similar to how certain breeds work. I’m drawn to the sporty breeds – the labs, goldens, etc.”

Cluckey said Tiara Soderstrom – Animal Matters’ other trainer – specializes in working with herding breeds.

“We both really love terriers, too,” she said. “They have quite a bit of attitude.”

After nearly five years in operation, Cluckey said Animal Matters is thriving.

“In a given week, I probably work with 10-15 dogs total…” she said. “The pool has really taken off in the last couple of years. Training goes in streaks and definitely slows down at certain times of the year. We have built a strong community through our classes.”

For additional information, head to the Animal Matters Facebook page.