Training in the Early Days
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I Just Had to Get Mad Enough...
My professional background is in bank operations. That was my “adult” job. It was definitely not what I wanted to do for my career.
I attended a business conference when I started my pet sitting and dog walking business in 2005. A dog trainer/author gave a presentation on the benefits of modern training methods. After the conference I bought books and enjoyed training my own dogs using the new methods.
My decision to become a professional dog trainer actually stemmed from getting really mad about what happened to one of my client's dogs . When the eight pound small dog returned from training, she was fearful and aggressive. Afterward, my client learned what had been done to her dog during her stay at the training facility. She was very upset and reached out to me for help.
I was beyond disgusted that good people like my client who love and want to help their dogs are spending their hard-earned money to be misled about how their dogs will be trained. I decided right then and there I would do what I could to advocate for ethics in dog training and for the dogs themselves. I enrolled in Karen Pryor Academy and received the BF Skinner Memorial Scholarship. I earned my KPA CTP certification in July of 2015.
Send Your Dog to Fetch a Beer!
My training at Karen Pryor Academy taught me to be a thinking trainer who can find creative solutions to help dog owners resolve behavior issues.
If you should ever need to know how to crate train a wild bear or want to teach your dog to get you a beer from the fridge, I can do that! I'm not kidding- we actually had written assignments on these topics.
The training I do to help dogs with behavior issues focuses on teaching them acceptable behaviors to replace behaviors owners don't like. I help dogs feel better about their environment instead of just suppressing the outward symptoms of the problem. Creating a dog that is afraid to react or "misbehave" in any way is not training. Unfortunately, it is the most common way trainers deal with behavior problems and it's a recipe for disaster.
I have a soft spot in my heart for shelter dogs and have been fortunate to be able to help dogs through my association with Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, Santa Barbara County Animal Services, Shadow's Fund, and the Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation. I consider it an honor when fellow professional trainers rescues, and veterinarians refer clients to me.
If you should ever need to know how to crate train a wild bear or want to teach your dog to get you a beer from the fridge, I can do that! I'm not kidding- we actually had written assignments on these topics.
The training I do to help dogs with behavior issues focuses on teaching them acceptable behaviors to replace behaviors owners don't like. I help dogs feel better about their environment instead of just suppressing the outward symptoms of the problem. Creating a dog that is afraid to react or "misbehave" in any way is not training. Unfortunately, it is the most common way trainers deal with behavior problems and it's a recipe for disaster.
I have a soft spot in my heart for shelter dogs and have been fortunate to be able to help dogs through my association with Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, Santa Barbara County Animal Services, Shadow's Fund, and the Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation. I consider it an honor when fellow professional trainers rescues, and veterinarians refer clients to me.
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On a More Personal Note...
I live in Nipomo with my husband, daughter, and our three dogs. When I'm not working I enjoy training my dogs to do fun tricks. I think Teddy misses being in school and learning new things. My dogs love to snuggle with me while I read on the couch. (I read far too many dog behavior books by any normal person's standards!) I have heard there are actually some people who don't let their dogs sit on furniture. No judgment if you fall into that category, but I have come to peace with lowering my housekeeping standards. Clients are usually embarrassed to admit their dogs sleep on the furniture or even in their beds. I think they're expecting a lecture from me, but it doesn't happen unless the dogs are showing some behaviors that concern me.
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