Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.
A. I primarily work with private clients whose dogs are having specific behavioral issues such as aggression or fearfulness. Some of my clients, however, have hired me for basic obedience training in combination with behavior modification for their dogs.
Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.
A. One of my latest jobs involved working with "Emma", a golden retriever who had the good fortune of being rescued by my client here in North Carolina. Emma was, however, a wild dog used to running free in wide open spaces, and once within the confines of a house or car, Emma's problems emerged. Fortunately, after a week of working with her, Emma was no longer hunched down in the crawlspace of the car, but sitting up and looking out the windows.
The second most recent case involved Gizmo, a Pit Bull Terrier, who became overly excited at the door when visitors arrived. After one day of working with Gizmo her owner had her sitting and focusing on her away from the door while guests entered and exited.
Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A. Make sure that the trainer you have contacted has gone through SOME kind of certification program. Too many people are calling themselves "dog pros" now without having had any kind of training or hands-on experience whatsoever.
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. One of the things I do when taking on new clients is to allow their dogs to come to ME and not me to THEM. This establishes from the start a good working relationship.
I also am not a dog trainer who believes in taking the dog away and returning it to the owner "fixed". I prefer for the owners to get involved with the rehabilitation or training from the start in order to make sure what I do will remain longer after I'm gone.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. I LOVE WORKING WITH DOGS! I get up every morning knowing that I'm making a living doing what I love. There is no better life I could be living right now.
Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
A. I am a member of IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals) and I keep current on all new dog learning theory, and training techniques with either self motivated study or by attending seminars for CEUs (Continuing Education Units). The most recent seminar was a 3 day long course with the legendary veterinarian and dog behaviorist Dr Ian Dunbar where we studied socialization, biting and fighting. It was an amazing 3 days!