Beth Peterson, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Delaware Certified Volunteer Administrator, Level-2 Tellington Bodywork Practitioner, Level-2 Reiki Practitioner, Canine Good Citizen & Therapy Dog evaluator, Delta Pet Partner & Licensed Evaluator, and Certified Pet First Aid Instructor, is the owner and instructor of Positive Pups & Ponies Learning Center. She began her career in dogs in 1974 as a Veterinary Assistant and later became a Licensed Animal Technician. During her years as a Vet Tech, Beth began developing her ability to work with dogs and their owners in many areas including effective communication, behavior modification, health maintenance and physical conditioning. It was at this time that she was first asked by her Veterinarians to work, one-on-one, with clients and their "problem" dogs. Beth analyzed inappropriate behaviors and explained why she believed the behaviors were being displayed. This helped clients understand their dogs - which allowed the successful modification of their dog's actions into appropriate (and much appreciated!) behavior. In 1976, Beth became the instructor of the local dog clubs’ first Puppy Class, an assistant in the Novice obedience classes, and a helper in the Open and Utility obedience classes.

In 1988, Beth moved to Delaware and began teaching Basic Dog Care and Obedience at Dover Air Force Base. In early 1991 she developed her training classes into the positive reinforcement-based Good Dog! Training, offering Basic Manners, Introduction to Agility and Novice Obedience classes. A friend took over Good Dog! in the late 1990’s and has since retired. Beth began teaching group classes again in 2002 for the Kent County SPCA, resumed training classes at Dover Air Force Base in November 2003, began offering Therapy (Animal Assisted Activities) Dog classes at the State Hospital Grounds in 2004 as well as participating with her dogs in scheduled therapy (Animal Assisted Therapy) programs with the providers at the Center for Behavioral Health.

Beth enjoys presenting demonstrations and seminars designed specifically for children at the Kent County SPCA Summer Camps and Dover Air Force Base, as well as teaching conformation handling workshops in Germany. Her German students and their dogs - with 200 dogs being shown a day - have been awarded class placements, class wins, multiple Reserve Winners, Winners Dogs, Winners Bitchs, Best of Winners, Best of Opposit Sex (Intact and Altered) and Best of Breed (Intact and Altered) awards.

Beth and Roopy helped Junior Girl Scout Troop 1057 earn their Pet Care Badge at the Kent County SPCA. In response to multiple requests, Beth began providing BARK (Be Aware Responsible & Kind) Dog Bite Prevention classes in the Dover area in the Spring of 2002, and Pet First Aid classes in 2004. Roopy and Beth attended the Dover Public Library Read-A-Loud program with a record attendence of 40 pre-schoolers and their parents! Roopy, Coal (a English Self Cavy), Lola (a Tortie Abyssinian Cavy) and Beth look forward to meeting with the YMCA pre-schoolers this Spring.

You can find Beth participating in Visiting Emotional Therapy and/or Animal Assisted Therapy every week. She's a member of Therapy Dogs International, Incorporated (TDI, located in NJ,the oldest and original registry for visiting emotional therapy dogs) since the late 1980’s and one of their Certified Therapy Dog Evaluators. Three of her dogs earned the highest level designation of Active Emotional Therapy offered by TDI - Therapy Dog International Active Outstanding Volunteer (TDIAOV) in 2002. Beth has been a Delta Society Pet Partner since 2003 when she brought Cavy home from the local SPCA and realized they would be outstanding Emotional Visitors. The Cavy - Coal and Lola - and her Aussie Roopy passed their evaluations and are now Delta Pet Partners. Beth has been the point-of-contact for two in-State canine Visiting Emotional Therapy programs since the early 1990’s and is the Program Manager for Pets Uplifting People Society (PUPS), a Dover-based Visiting Pet / Animal Assisted Activities group. Please click here to e-mail Beth if you're interested in learning more about Visiting or in becoming part of PUPS - Pets Uplifting People Society - Delaware's Contact for Animal Assisted Therapy.

Beth has been a member of Delaware State-mandated, 5-person Delaware Dog Control Panel (often called the 'Dangerous Dog Panel") since its inception in 1999, and the chairperson since 2004. This State mandated panel was created by law makers to preside over all dog bite/dog injury cases in the state of Delaware. Panel members, all experts on dog handling and control, work in conjunction with the State Attorney when a dog has threatened, bitten or damaged a person or their animal(s). The State presents their case, allowing the defendant to present their defense, with the Panel determines if the dog is dangerous, potentially dangerous or not dangerous based on the evidence presented. After the designation has been decided, the Panel then determines the appropriate penalty according to DE law. To view the actual "Dangerous and Potentially Dangerous" dog law, please go to The Dog Code

Beth finished her Tellington TTouch training to become a Certified Tellington (TTouch) Method Practitioner in February 2005 after over 350 hours of training, and finished the requirements for Level-2 Practitioner in October 2006.The Tellington Method is a unique approach to behavioral modification developed by internationally known animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones. Based on cooperation, understanding, compassion and respect for our animals, these techniques support veterinary care, training and behavior modification by building self-confidence which eliminates fearful or inappropriate responses. Recognized worldwide, this systematic method is easy to learn and brings quick lasting results. Tellington Method can deepen the bond between you and your companion animal. A combination of focus, touches, lifts and strokes are used to induce a state of relaxation and increased body awareness, while ground exercises assist the animal to be more focused and build confidence. Learn how you can apply TTouch to eliminate inappropriate behaviors, encourage appropriate behaviors, assist with recovery from injury and illness, or just enhance the quality of your animal’s life. Please click here to learn more about TTouch and what services Beth can offer your animal companion and/or your club or organization.

Beth is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), a Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator, a Therapy Dogs International, Incorporated (TDI, Inc) Evaluator and an AHSI Pet First Aid Instructor. Please click here to view our current classes and workshops. Beth has been a member of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) since 1976. She was an active member of the ASCA Conformation and Hall of Fame Committees 1999-2004, co-developed the Altered Conformation Championship program and was elected as Conformation Committee Chairperson 2003-2004. She and her husband, Paul, are known for their ASCA/AKC/UKC registered and titled dogs, the Australian Shepherds of Dragon Run. Their Aussies (and other breeds) hold titles in conformation, emotional therapy, temperament tests, as well as in stockdog, rally and obedience.

A description of Positive Pups would not be complete without including Beths' husband, Paul Peterson. Paul grew up with dogs as constant companions. Siberian Husky’s were his family’s breed, but he soon opted for hunting Beagles, pointers, setters and spaniels. After 22 years in the Air Force, and an unexpected introduction to Australian Shepherds, Paul was hooked on dogs, training, showing and trialing. He has since been part of the rehabilitation of 4-year-old kennel dog, a 2-year-old, one-time, juvenile delinquent, and our very special blue girl - Papi. He gave these troubled dogs the leadership they needed to become great companions and display their talents in stock dog work, obedience, agility, conformation, therapy visitation and rally. Paul is a past-president of the Blue Ridge Australian Shepherd Club and is a member of the Therapy Dogs International. Paul’s dogs have earned their TDI and TDIA levels of therapy visitation. He is our chief agility and obedience course constructor and builds equipment in his spare time. Paul is a Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator and an alternate member for the Delaware Dog Control Panel.