A bit of my story...
Meet my happy greyhound, Asher...
Asher (which means "blessed", "happy" in Hebrew) is a stunning retired racing greyhound that I adopted in 2019. He is such a gentle, sweet soul with silly antics that bring me joy daily. You can see more of Asher in my YouTube videos. I'm so grateful to share life with this guy!
In 2011, I adopted my first rescue greyhound, John (pictured below). His track name was "Junkyard John" and so he kept the name "John" (which means "God is gracious").
I lost John in 2019 to cancer.
We shared so many adventures together and I learned more from him than he did from me. He was a truly beautiful dog and an amazing companion.
In 2011, I adopted my first rescue greyhound, John (pictured below). His track name was "Junkyard John" and so he kept the name "John" (which means "God is gracious").
I lost John in 2019 to cancer.
We shared so many adventures together and I learned more from him than he did from me. He was a truly beautiful dog and an amazing companion.
John provided the inspiration for me to pursue the wonderful world of dog training...
As it turned out, I'm not bad at it!
Before focusing on training, I provided a dog hiking service, traveling to various trails around the Bay Area with several dogs at a time. The experience of spending countless hours with those dogs, working with them and simply observing their behavior, helped me to better understand them and informed my training philosophy.
I believe that animals have rich emotional lives and that we can connect with them in ways that add beauty and depth to our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world we live in if we remain open and curious. Their lives are gifts to us and they are deserving of our kindness and respect which serves as the foundation for my training programs.
I actively pursue continuing education courses (see some listed below) and am excited to continue learning from some of the top animal trainers, scientists, and behavior specialists in the industry.
I'm also featured as an "expert" co-author on wikiHow! Here's a recent wikiHow article that I co-authored: Why Do Dogs Bark at Nothing?.
I partner with various rescue groups, including SAGE to offer behavior support for their adopters.
As it turned out, I'm not bad at it!
Before focusing on training, I provided a dog hiking service, traveling to various trails around the Bay Area with several dogs at a time. The experience of spending countless hours with those dogs, working with them and simply observing their behavior, helped me to better understand them and informed my training philosophy.
I believe that animals have rich emotional lives and that we can connect with them in ways that add beauty and depth to our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world we live in if we remain open and curious. Their lives are gifts to us and they are deserving of our kindness and respect which serves as the foundation for my training programs.
I actively pursue continuing education courses (see some listed below) and am excited to continue learning from some of the top animal trainers, scientists, and behavior specialists in the industry.
I'm also featured as an "expert" co-author on wikiHow! Here's a recent wikiHow article that I co-authored: Why Do Dogs Bark at Nothing?.
I partner with various rescue groups, including SAGE to offer behavior support for their adopters.
Ready to get started?
Sign-up for your FREE initial call to be on your way toward a Fearless dog, and YOU as a happy client!
Courses I've Completed
Below is a partial list of classes, workshops, and seminars that I have attended:
Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
Fear Free Animal Trainer Certification Program
Living & Learning with Animals: The Fundamental Principles and Procedures of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Susan Friedman, Ph.D.
Canine Behavior Academy, I & II, Trish King
Dog Emotion and Cognition, Dr. Brian Hare
2023 Canine Science Symposium
Unleashing applied behavior analysis to improve canine training and enrichment programs through a university-based animal behavior research clinic, Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D.
Waking up on the wrong side of the dog bed: Mood, motivation, and learning, Alexandra Protopopova, Ph.D.
Pushing your dog's (preferred!) buttons: Toward a science of communication training and "consent" for dogs, Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D.
Let’s talk about prong & shock collars: A review of what we know about operant and Pavlovian effects of aversive control, Erica Feuerbacher, Ph.D.
Child-dog bonds matter: “Do as I do” training as a tool to improve child-dog relationships & wellbeing, Monique Udell, Ph.D.
Social interaction as a reinforcer for dogs: What, when, and how to use it Erica Feuerbacher, Ph.D.
Wolves, pets and free-ranging dogs: Exploring the spectrum of their relationships with humans, Sarah Marshall-Pescini, Ph.D.
2023 ClickerExpo LIVE
Stranger Things: When Food is Aversive, Lindsay Wood Brown
Magic Tricks! The Secret to Improving Training for You and Your Learner, Michele Pouliot
All Ears: Protocols for Dogs with Sound Sensitivity, Debbie Martin
Stimulus Control, Duration, and Other Impossible Dreams, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Separation Anxiety: The IRL Application of Behavior Change Conducted Virtually, Terrie Hayward
Power Targeting for Any Training Goal, Michele Pouliot
What Not to Err: Training Mistakes that Create Headaches for Dogs, Kathy Sdao
2022 ClickerExpo LIVE
Toward a New Understanding of Constructional Aggression Treatment (C.A.T.), Kellie Snider
A Successful Approach: Your Dog Controls the Distance! Leslie McDevitt
Bait and Switch 2.0: Advanced Luring Skills Expanded, Michele Pouliot
Snakes on the Plain! Snake-Avoidance Training Using Positive Reinforcement, Ken Ramirez
Tricks Are Not Just for Kids!, Melissa Millett
Your Reactive Dog Needs a LATTE: A Game for Decompression and Enrichment, Leslie McDevitt
How to Approach a Spinning Chainsaw: Safe Handling in Aggression Cases, Michael Shikashio
Team In Transition: How to Bring Husbandry At-Home Behaviors to the Vet Clinic with Laura Monaco Torelli & Kelly
Ballantyne, DVM
Three Days to Fluent Training:
2018 Canine Science Symposium
Resource Guarding: Trish King & Sue Sternberg
Excitability, Rehabilitating the canine wild child! with Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Separation Anxiety (Mission Impossible) Solving canine separation anxiety! with Malena DeMartini
Pharmacological Intervention for Canine Non-Aggression Problems, Dr. Ellen Lindell
RECALLS: Why Dogs Aren’t Coming When Called and What We Can Do About It with Susan Garrett
From Distress to De-Stress: Teaching the Switch from Frantic to Focused, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Reducing Overarousal and Reactivity via the Circle Method of Leash Walking, Denise Fenzi
Separation Anxiety and Current Research: Time to Toss Grandma's Training Plan? Malena DeMartini, CTC
Arousal and Aggression: When There’s Fuel Behind the Fire, Michael Shikashio, CDBC
Reactive Dogs, Trish King, CPDT-KA
Common Myths of Veterinary Behavior, Dr. Amy Pike
Separation Anxiety - Beyond the Pandemic, Preventing/Fixing Separation Anxiety in Your Dog, Tracy Krulik, CTC, CSAT
Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
Fear Free Animal Trainer Certification Program
Living & Learning with Animals: The Fundamental Principles and Procedures of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Susan Friedman, Ph.D.
Canine Behavior Academy, I & II, Trish King
Dog Emotion and Cognition, Dr. Brian Hare
2023 Canine Science Symposium
Unleashing applied behavior analysis to improve canine training and enrichment programs through a university-based animal behavior research clinic, Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D.
Waking up on the wrong side of the dog bed: Mood, motivation, and learning, Alexandra Protopopova, Ph.D.
Pushing your dog's (preferred!) buttons: Toward a science of communication training and "consent" for dogs, Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D.
Let’s talk about prong & shock collars: A review of what we know about operant and Pavlovian effects of aversive control, Erica Feuerbacher, Ph.D.
Child-dog bonds matter: “Do as I do” training as a tool to improve child-dog relationships & wellbeing, Monique Udell, Ph.D.
Social interaction as a reinforcer for dogs: What, when, and how to use it Erica Feuerbacher, Ph.D.
Wolves, pets and free-ranging dogs: Exploring the spectrum of their relationships with humans, Sarah Marshall-Pescini, Ph.D.
2023 ClickerExpo LIVE
Stranger Things: When Food is Aversive, Lindsay Wood Brown
Magic Tricks! The Secret to Improving Training for You and Your Learner, Michele Pouliot
All Ears: Protocols for Dogs with Sound Sensitivity, Debbie Martin
Stimulus Control, Duration, and Other Impossible Dreams, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Separation Anxiety: The IRL Application of Behavior Change Conducted Virtually, Terrie Hayward
Power Targeting for Any Training Goal, Michele Pouliot
What Not to Err: Training Mistakes that Create Headaches for Dogs, Kathy Sdao
2022 ClickerExpo LIVE
Toward a New Understanding of Constructional Aggression Treatment (C.A.T.), Kellie Snider
A Successful Approach: Your Dog Controls the Distance! Leslie McDevitt
Bait and Switch 2.0: Advanced Luring Skills Expanded, Michele Pouliot
Snakes on the Plain! Snake-Avoidance Training Using Positive Reinforcement, Ken Ramirez
Tricks Are Not Just for Kids!, Melissa Millett
Your Reactive Dog Needs a LATTE: A Game for Decompression and Enrichment, Leslie McDevitt
How to Approach a Spinning Chainsaw: Safe Handling in Aggression Cases, Michael Shikashio
Team In Transition: How to Bring Husbandry At-Home Behaviors to the Vet Clinic with Laura Monaco Torelli & Kelly
Ballantyne, DVM
Three Days to Fluent Training:
- “Let Me Want It” the science of choice and engagement in training with Agnieszka Janarek
- “Off Cue—Off Control?” the art of offered behavior with Catja Pedersen
- “Control Is An Illusion” stimulus control without frustration with Sarah Owings
2018 Canine Science Symposium
Resource Guarding: Trish King & Sue Sternberg
Excitability, Rehabilitating the canine wild child! with Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Separation Anxiety (Mission Impossible) Solving canine separation anxiety! with Malena DeMartini
Pharmacological Intervention for Canine Non-Aggression Problems, Dr. Ellen Lindell
RECALLS: Why Dogs Aren’t Coming When Called and What We Can Do About It with Susan Garrett
From Distress to De-Stress: Teaching the Switch from Frantic to Focused, Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Reducing Overarousal and Reactivity via the Circle Method of Leash Walking, Denise Fenzi
Separation Anxiety and Current Research: Time to Toss Grandma's Training Plan? Malena DeMartini, CTC
Arousal and Aggression: When There’s Fuel Behind the Fire, Michael Shikashio, CDBC
Reactive Dogs, Trish King, CPDT-KA
Common Myths of Veterinary Behavior, Dr. Amy Pike
Separation Anxiety - Beyond the Pandemic, Preventing/Fixing Separation Anxiety in Your Dog, Tracy Krulik, CTC, CSAT
