KPA CTP #63199, CPDT-KA, CCUI, Certified Fear Free Professional

My goal is to help my clients achieve harmonious, enjoyable lives with their dogs.  Isn’t that what we dream of when we adopt a puppy or dog?

Having adopted most of my pets from shelters and rescue groups, I’ve experienced many of the problems and frustrations that my clients face.  I know how good it feels to see a frightened dog gain confidence and to see a reactive dog learn to walk peacefully past another dog instead of barking and lunging. 

I love helping my clients share that experience of success.  I get a special kick out of hearing clients report that neighbors and family commented on the improvement in their dog!

I’ve been training my own dogs since the age of ten and have been committed to using force free methods since 1998.  I began teaching dog training in 1999 as an apprentice and started an independent training business in 2005.  I’ve participated with my dogs in service projects and group activities including nursing home visits with a certified therapy dog.

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My Credentials and Background

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I became a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in 2013. I obtained my CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed) certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (an independent certifying body) in 2019, a Fear Free Professional certification in 2019 and a Control Unleashed Instructor certification in 2023. I've also obtained advanced training in puppy training and helping aggressive dogs.  I continue to hone my training skills by participating in workshops, webinars and conferences.

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With a Ph.D. in biology, I've also worked for 40 years in biomedical research, most recently in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.  I enjoy the synergy between my training in biological science and the evidence-based approach to pet training that I learned through Karen Pryor Academy and my continuing education.

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Training Style

Cassie's Story - Why I train the way I do

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We met through a card on the pet store bulletin board: “Free lab, needs big yard.”

When 9-month-old Cassie joined my life, her exuberant approach to life covered me with bruises.  We forged a deep bond through games of fetch and long hikes together.  I immediately started training her using the traditional methods I had learned as a child: pushing and guiding her into position.  Once I thought she knew what to do, failures to perform were enforced by jerks on her choke collar.

I was surprised by what happened and what failed to happen.  She did learn the basics of obedience, but it didn’t make her ballistic behaviors go away.  She still lunged and jumped, but in an anxious way.  What did go away was her joyfulness.  She started to look sad and worried much of the time.  Training wasn’t fun for either of us.

Then someone gave me a book about clicker training.  We took a break from “real” obedience and just learned some tricks together.  Cassie’s joy returned and in time we were able to re-learn heeling, stays and so much more.  She performed even a seemingly boring behavior such as “go to your mat” with gusto {see it in action) Training the old way, she refused to take an object from my hand.  Taught with the clicker, she would carry anything I gave her, and retrieve whatever I pointed to.  Her favorite game was “find the keys.”  She trained me to put my keys away as soon as I got home, because if I absent-mindedly set them down, she would fetch them! (see it in action)

I also found that reward based training is highly effective for breeds of dogs that previously were thought to be untrainable, and that cats excel at learning tasks and love it!  (see my cat Mira learning to get on her "stay-station without dawdling) 

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A growing body of evidence shows that reward based training is more effective, better for your pet and better for your relationship compared to training that incorporates punishment.  In particular, it is the approach recommended by veterinary behaviorists for pets with behavior issues such as aggression, anxiety or fearfulness (see the position statement by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists).  My joy is to share this way of training that enables our pets for enjoyable partnership.