Professional Certifications, Education and Memberships
Education - Academic
Formal Academic Education
The Academy for Dog Trainers: Also known as the "Harvard for Dog Trainers," the Academy is one of the most highly respected and advanced trainer programs in the world. The program is an intensive 2 year program with all students under direct tutelage of Jean Donaldson, an accomplished and well renowned dog trainer, behavior consultant and author.
The Academy for Dog Trainers: Also known as the "Harvard for Dog Trainers," the Academy is one of the most highly respected and advanced trainer programs in the world. The program is an intensive 2 year program with all students under direct tutelage of Jean Donaldson, an accomplished and well renowned dog trainer, behavior consultant and author.
Malena DeMartini's Separation Anxiety Certified Trainer Program (CSAT)
Malena DeMartini's intensive hands-on training program is for professional dog trainers to learn new skills to help owners and companions suffering from separation anxiety and isolation distress.
Malena is the author of Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs and a widely-recognized authority in effective treatment protocols for anxiety disorders that are based in scientific principles of behavior modification.
Malena DeMartini's intensive hands-on training program is for professional dog trainers to learn new skills to help owners and companions suffering from separation anxiety and isolation distress.
Malena is the author of Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs and a widely-recognized authority in effective treatment protocols for anxiety disorders that are based in scientific principles of behavior modification.
Julie Naismith's Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer program (SA Pro). Julie's comprehensive, step-by-step guided training program for professional dog trainers teaches pros how work with clients to overcome separation anxiety related behaviors using science-based principles and motivational behavior change for the human half of the relationship to help you stay the course!
Julie is the author of Be Right Back! How to Overcome Your Dog's Separation Anxiety and Regain Your Freedom, Be Right Back! Puppy Separation Anxiety Edition, and Be Right Back! Separation Anxiety Success Tracker.
Additionally, Julie has a wonderful podcast Be Right Back! The Separation Anxiety Podcast that is filled with tips, tricks and actionable steps to help you and your companion and pros alike!
Julie is the author of Be Right Back! How to Overcome Your Dog's Separation Anxiety and Regain Your Freedom, Be Right Back! Puppy Separation Anxiety Edition, and Be Right Back! Separation Anxiety Success Tracker.
Additionally, Julie has a wonderful podcast Be Right Back! The Separation Anxiety Podcast that is filled with tips, tricks and actionable steps to help you and your companion and pros alike!
Education - Hands on
Bozley and I making new friends at a Madison, WI school.
Experiences Include
- In-Clinic Behavior Consultant - I worked with staff, clients, and patients to promote low-stress visits.
- Behavior evaluations - Experience with protocols based on Emily Weiss's SAFER Assessment and Sue Sternberg's Assess A Pet.
- Coordinator, Class instructor & Presenter - Positively Pitties at Dane County Humane Society: a training program for pit bull terriers and their guardians
- Play Group Instructor - Both in a shelter environment and a private day care facility.
- Shelter Staff Positions: Animal Medical Services Supervisor, Volunteer Training Coordinator & Supervisor at Dane County Humane Society
- Volunteer at Dane County Humane Society as a canine handler, trainer, behavior evaluator and foster parent.
Professional Certifications and Memberships
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC): Earned Certified Dog Behavior Consultant credential (CDBC) This is available for professionals with 3+ years of consulting experience in complex cases. The test is includes long form answers that assess your knowledge of behavior principles and modification techniques, ability to analyze and address real-world behavior cases, and one's consulting skills and collaboration with other professionals.
- The Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT): Earned Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed credential (CPDT-KA) - Previous certification. I did not renew due to the organization not taking a stance against aversive training techniques.
- The Family Dog: (Private Trainer Program) - The Family Dog is a specialized, fun, effective and 100% positive training program created just for families. Not only do you get private in-home lessons from a certified professional dog trainer, but also a lifetime access to The Family Dog's online family video training program packed full with easy to follow videos and games for the whole family.
- The Family Dog: (Stop the 77 Presenter) - When 50% of our children are being bitten by a dog by the time they are 12 years old and 77% of bites come from their family or a friend’s dog – that’s an opportunity for education that anyone who loves kids or dogs simply cannot ignore. They’re staggering statistics and ones I want to help change – that’s why I present the Stop the 77 programs of "I Speak Doggie" for preschool aged children and "Dog Stars" geared for elementary aged children.
- The Pet Professional Guild: (Full Member Dog Training Professional): The Pet Professional Guild's goal is to further the public’s education and awareness of force-free dog training techniques and pet care methods with the most current research in dog training and pet care.
- Fear Free Certified Professional: The Fear Free Certification Program aims to “take the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified’” and get pets back for veterinary visits by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques in calming environments. Utilization of Fear Free methods and protocols leads to reduction or removal of anxiety triggers, which creates an experience that is rewarding and safer for all involved, including pets, their owners, and veterinary health care teams.
Collaborative Projects
- The Academy Husbandry Project - This is a pilot project that worked collaboratively with veterinary clinics to test training plans for cooperative veterinary procedures.
- The Pet Rescue Resource - I worked with colleagues to generate and review SOPs, user friendly guides, and videos for the dog playgroup section of the site.
