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My Background and EducationIn March of 1997, I developed a keen interest in dog behavior and training after adopting “Jack,” a very mixed-up aggressive Border Collie. I was able to get help from a local obedience trainer who taught me how to use clicker training to rehabilitate my dog. After spending months working on behavior modification with him, I saw how positive training methods were so effective in motivating Jack to change his negative emotions and behaviors. The pictures below were taken during that very difficult and stressful time, As you can see, Jack began to "lighten up" and show that he actually had a great sense of humor. Sadly, my beautiful dog died much too early of a fatal liver disease at the young age of 6 years. Thinking back over the time he shared his life with me, he had chronic digestive problems, which may have been the root cause of his aggressive behavior. I never realized how one dog could completely change someone's life! My husband and I owned a gift shop in the Berlin Farmer's Market (in Berlin, NJ) for 27 years. Thanks to Jack, we sold that store so that I could go out and professionally train other dogs. I don't do any showing or trialing. I also don't train agility or flyball. I leave that for other trainers. My goal in life is to prevent dogs from winding up in animal shelters and to help keep them in their forever homes. I do this by educating dog owners about dog behavior, and by training their dogs to be polite, well-mannered companion pets. Since that time, my life has changed completely. I volunteered my time assisting Jack’s trainer for 2 years in her obedience classes. I enrolled in Cynology College (now known as The Companion Animal Sciences Institute - www.CASInstitute.com), an online college that teaches canine learning theory, canine behavior and positive reinforcement dog training methods. I graduated With Distinction as a Certified Canine Behavioral Theorist as well as receiving a Diploma of Canine Behavior. I joined several email lists where I continued to learn about dog behavior, and after time, started helping people who had similar problems with their dogs to what I had experienced with Jack. I have volunteered my time as the trainer for the Animal Adoption Center in Lindenwold, NJ and have spoken to the volunteers at the Camden County Animal Shelter and the Cumberland County SPCA animal shelter about how to clicker train their dogs in order to successfully adopt them out to their forever homes. Radio Talk Show "Thursday in the Doghouse"I host a weekly 30 minute talk radio program on WNJC - 1360 AM called "Thursday in the Doghouse." The program is on from 10:00 - 10:30 In 2004, I was invited to train puppies in the New Jersey area for the Northstar Foundation. Northstar breeds Golden Retrievers as service dogs primarily for children who are autistic or who have seizures. Teaching puppies is always fun, but learning about Autism and working with the families and the children who suffer from these disorders has been a hugely rewarding and educational experience for me! Thank you, Patty Dobbs Gross for inviting me to participate in your organization. Northstar published a book about their dogs entitled "The Golden Bridge." I was asked to write a chapter for this book, which became Chapter 16, "Puppies 101." For anyone interested in purchasing this book, it is available at www.amazon.com Dog Training in Your HomeI began doing in-home obedience training and behavior modification training for troubled dogs since 2001. I continue to offer private training at very reasonable rates. Click here for in-home training information. If your dog's behavior is causing problems with your relationship, please get help before you wind up getting frustrated and giving up. Most problems are caused by our lack of knowledge and understanding about what motivates a dog to do what he does. Give your dog an opportunity to prove that he really does want to behave appropriately for you. Let me show you how to accomplish this by using reward-based methods. Group Obedience ClassesIn addition to in-home training, I also offer a limited number of weekly group obedience classes at the Dog Days Camp for Canines, 23 W. Main St., Marlton, NJ 08053. I offer 6-week Puppy Kindergarten classes (check out our S.T.A.R. Puppy Kindergarten Program!), and 8-week classes for adolescent and adult dogs. I also offer AKC Canine Good Citizen classes to ensure that dogs behave well both in the home and when out in any public setting. Please check out the Group Classes and Directions from all locations. My Professional CredentialsI am a Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Member #160171, as well as a Certified Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants - Dog Division (Member #30). Referring Veterinarians
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