I received my training and counseling certificate (CTC) from the Academy for Dog Trainers (known as the Harvard of dog training schools) at the SPCA in San Francisco, CA. Under the direction of Jean Donaldson, trainer extraordinaire and author of Culture Clash and Dogs are from Neptune, I developed a strong sense of how dogs think and what methods work best. Working with several shelter dogs on obedience and behavioral issues strengthened my resolve to become a professional trainer and work with owners to keep their dogs where they belong, in their homes, instead of relinquishing them to shelters or tossing them on the street.

For the past two years I've volunteered at the ASPCA in New York City. In working with the shelter dogs under the guise of the Behavior Department my interest in canine behavior and training grew. The bond formed between dog and trainer/owner/person is so rewarding and I knew training dogs was something I would truly enjoy, my passion for animals making it that much more enjoyable.

Besides my passion for dogs, I also have experience with cats and horses. I've been involved with showing horses and teaching for many years and have been able to apply concepts I've learned in the horse world to training dogs. First and foremost is that one has to work WITH the animal and not against it. Dogs act the way they do for a reason and understanding the roots of their behavior is key to training them.