APF Pet Academy

Introduction: GREAT TRAINERS, SMALL CLASSES AND help your local shelter as 50% of your registration fees benefits the Animal Protective Foundation. The APF’s Pet Academy Program is designed to train owners how to develop well-mannered family pets and good canine citizens. Our courses offer socialization with other people and dogs, as well as training for skills, including how to walk calmly on a loose leash, come when called, sit, down, stand and stay. Our approach to training is a motivational one, always using positive reinforcement to achieve success. Training with the APF also helps homeless pets, as 50% of your registration fee benefits the shelter. The minimum age for handling is 16 years old if accompanied by an adult. Our instructors have been certified through American Kennel Club or Animal Behavior College and are also approved Canine Good Citizen evaluators. MEET OUR TRAINERS Kathy Snowden has been involved with Dog Training and the APF for over 20 years. Her commitment to training evolved from seeing first hand so many dogs given up because of behavioral issues that the owners did not know how to address. Kathy develops and continues to update the training program to meet the needs of the dogs and the dog owners. Her goal is to keep the dogs in their homes and to help bridge the communication gap between human and canine. Kathy is certified by the Animal Behavior College as a Dog Trainer as well as a Shelter Dog Trainer. She is also a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Lynnae Howe became involved in Dog Training over the past few years after adopting a rescue dog and wanting to help him integrate into the human world. Lynnae is committed to helping humans understand their dogs and dogs understand what their humans want from them in a calm and positive manner. Kathy and Lynnae are Certified Dog Trainers through Animal Behavior College. Kathy is also a Certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator and certified in “Training Shelter Dogs” and Lynnae is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). For the betterment of all dogs and owners, they will continue to further their education with workshops, conferences, and working with rescue dogs. They are committed to training through positive reinforcement techniques and strive to teach the tools needed for a successful relationship with your dog. Cydney Cross teaches Canine Good Citizen Classes at the APF. She is co-founder and president of Out of the Pits, an organization for the education, rescue and placement of “America’s favorite dog,” the American pit bull terrier. She provides education and evaluation services and training to public and private institutions and organizations. She also trains and works with Therapy Dog International (TDI) certified dogs. Highly committed to keeping pets in their homes, one of her specialties is working through the challenges that put dogs at risk for relinquishment. We love helping dogs and their humans develop strong bonds and good communication.