Animal experience

I began my career working with animals more than ten years ago.  After volunteering at two different animal shelters I began working at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in San Mateo, CA.  In my four years there, I met thousands of animals, and animal people, learned a tremendous amount about dogs and cats as well as pigs, goats, rats, and chickens, and became fascinated with animal health and behavior.

When I started my pet care business, Busy Pets, there was no doubt that I would specialize in caring for animals that had special health and behavior needs.  Over the years, I gave lots of injections and pills to sick dogs and cats.  And, I worked with lots of cats and dogs with a variety of behavior problems including aggression toward dogs and people.

Roscoe – my biggest influence

But, it wasn’t until an out-of-control, 8 month old, untrained, unsocialized and fearful great dane became a client and then my own dog that I truly developed a passion for positive dog training.  As he grew to 150 pounds it became clear to me that I couldn’t force him to do anything he didn’t want to.  That is when I began to get serious about positive reinforcement training.

Education

There is no substitue for experience but I also believe in arming myself with as much high-quality information as possible.  I graduated from Jean Donaldson’s Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA considered the Harvard for Dog Trainers along with a dozen one and two day seminars by famous trainers and behaviorists:

Ian Dunbar, inventor of off-leash puppy training, founder of Sirius Puppy Training, Veterinarian, Animal Behaviorist, creator of Dog Star Daily, and noted author of many books on dog behavior including Before and After Getting your Puppy & How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks, and consiered the leading authority on puppy training and behavior.

Pat Miller, author of The Power of Positive Training, regular writer for The Whole Dog Journal, Owner of Peaceable Paws dog training

Susan Freidman, psychology professor at Utah State University, creator of Behavior Works, and noted applied animal behavior expert and presenter

Jean Donaldson, noted dog behaviorist, best selling author of The Culture Clash and four other dog beahvior books, creator of Perfect Paws in Five Days, and Director of the San Francisco SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers.

Janis Bradley, instructor at SF SPCA's Dog Trainer Academy and author of Dogs Bite - But Balloons and Bedroom Slippers are More Dangerous

Trish King, Director of Behavior and Training at the Marin Humane Society, author of Parenting your Dog

Veronica Boutelle, former Director of Behavior & Training at the San Francisco SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers and founder of DogTec

Kim Moeller, instructor for dog behavior courses including the Dog Walking Academy and Master the Growlies for DogTec, graduate the the SF SPCA's Dog Trainers Academy and received a special certificate in dog to dog aggression from Jean Donaldson

And, along the way, I earned a psychology-related master’s degree which also helps me understand dog behavior.

I also attended a three-day Wolf Behavior Intensive Seminar at the Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana

Most recently I attended the Association of Pet Dog Trainers conference, in October, 2009 with a day-long symposium on Fear in Dogs where I heard talks from Dr.Brian Hare, Dr. Suzanne Hetts, Nicole Wilde, Ian Dunbar, Turid Rugass, and Sue Sternberg amoung other dog behavior experts.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 03 April 2011 11:54 )