Greater Hazleton's ONLY certified professional and Fear Free® dog trainer and behavior consultant!

 

Work With Marine Mammals
I began my animal training career 17 years ago as an Animal Care and Training Intern for the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego, CA. While working for the Navy, I gained valuable hands-on experience with training and caring for Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions. I went on to graduate from Penn State University with a B.S. in Psychology.

 

Work With Service Dogs
I carried my marine mammal training knowledge to Train Rite, Inc., a non-profit service dog organization in Carlsbad, CA that rescued and trained shelter dogs to help people with disabilities maintain, or regain, independence. A Hazleton native, and far from home, I began to feel  horrible pangs of homesickness and made the decision to return east to be with my family.
 

Force-Free Pet Dog Trainer
When I arrived back in PA I was unable to find any pet businesses in the area that used the modern and humane animal training methods I used in California. Unwilling to use outdated training methods that depend on using force, pain, fear and intimidation to train animals, I started my own dog training business using scientifically-proven and evidence-based training methods (specifically, clicker training and positive-reinforcement). Convinced that people would rather not force or punish their loyal, furry friends into behaving politely, I was determined to help dog owners learn how to get their dogs to behave politely without the use of force, fear, pain or intimidation.  

 

How Can I Help You?

My experience includes helping owners successfully resolve their dog's typical problem behaviors like house-soiling, jumping, nipping, barking, and chewing, but I have also worked with owners to resolve more serious issues like dog-dog aggression, fear issues, reactivity, resource guarding, and separation anxiety.  

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Certified Human Trainer (a.k.a. Teacher)
In an effort to be a better human trainer (because training humans is the hardest part), I went back to school to earn my teaching certification from King’s College in 2012. I stay up to date on the most modern training techniques through regular attendance at training seminars and workshops. I have attended four ClickerExpos, taken multiple online courses, attended workshops and seminars by world-renowned trainers, and earned my Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) title through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) as well as my Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) title from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
 

Memberships:

I am a Proud Member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, a Certified Member of the IAABC, and Fear Free®.

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Contact Me:    courteouscaninesinc@gmail.com