Success Stories Meet Them Yourself!

Kari Dilts
ABC Certified Dog Trainer

I grew up surrounded by animals, so when I decided to become a dog trainer, it was no big surprise to my friends and family. I was always the kid who would come home with frogs from the pond nearby, or would rescue the birds my cats would try to catch and keep them as pets in my basement, or put the rainbow trout I caught fishing with my dad in my bathtub. I always knew I wanted to work with animals but it took until I participated in puppy training classes at Petsmart with my dog, Bane, to actually figure out what I wanted to do with my life. So, I searched online and found ABC dog training school. I chose ABC because not only because they provide tones of valuable learning online, but they have an externship program which was key for me because the most effective way for me to learn is through performing the cues hands-on. So, six months later, I have my certification and am ready to begin the next chapter of my life. My plan now is to apply at the SPCA in January where I will have the chance to practice everything I've learned through ABC, all while helping rescued dogs have a better chance of being adopted.

Lina Cooke
Owner of “ExecuPet Services Ltd.”

Dogs all day is just how I like it; a far cry from my days in the corporate world. I spent the last 10 years of my career in the exciting world of corporate retail. Although I liked what I was doing, something was lacking – passion. It was time to switch focus and follow my dream of working with animals full time. In April 2007 I started my own pet services business – ExecuPet. Becoming a certified dog trainer was not only important to my business but important to me as well; it gives you credibility in clients' eyes. ABC was just the answer to help me achieve my goal. The program was very informative and convenient, but most importantly, focused on positive based training methods. I especially enjoyed the externship (thanks Julie Smith!) and volunteer portions of the program. Together with my rescue Husky, Oliver, we spread the word that training using positive reinforcement techniques will help keep your pet healthy, happy and of sound temperament.

Elaine McLean
HR/Payroll/Assistant Treasurer and Owner of Dressage "Bon Chien"/"Good Dawg" Dog Training

I chose ABC as it seemed to be the most complete long-distance study course out in the market. I work full time so makes it hard to attend classes in the day so this offers the perfect solution. Study at night. Also the externship was really good. This course was professionally operated and I would and in fact already have recommended the ABC course to others. Now that I have graduated, I intend to slowly start promoting my business. I will be taking early retirement in 2 years and intend to train part time/full time upon retirement. Until my business starts, I intend to work on training some of the shelter dogs with the goal of promoting myself to the organization and have them recommend my training to individuals adopting the dogs.

Terry Blaine
Owner of "Dog Ranch Training & Information Centre"

I began my official quest to become a Certified Pet Dog Trainer a couple of years ago. Actually, two years ago; I finalized my decision to enroll with ABC about one year ago. I chose ABC because of the people I was introduced to – their sincere, friendly and professional manner was truly amazing. From the Admissions Counselors, to my unbelievably perfect Program Managers, to my extraordinary Externship Coordinator, every one of these professionals were always there for me when I needed the help and the encouragement to continue with my program. I truly have them to thank for my success in becoming a dog trainer.

ABC provided me with all the tools I needed to succeed. As I worked through the learning stages I realized how much information I was being provided. The Animal Behaviour College is a program that requires dedication, time and the love of animals, all to which will propel anyone with the desire to become a college graduate and a well informed dog trainer.

I am the proud owner of the Dog Ranch Training & Information Services in Langley, BC Canada. Passionate about dogs since a very young age, I further acquired my skill for canine training and behavioural modification through years of competing in Dog Sports, volunteering many hours at a local animal shelter and attending “Train the Trainer” canine classes and seminars. Before officially opening the Dog Ranch Training and Information Centre, I worked at many volunteer jobs within the pet industry and have been actively involved in training my own three very active high-energy dogs.

Branka Postic

I came to Canada six years ago from Croatia. I have studied English and worked on many jobs during those years. When I decided to go to school, I wanted to find a place where I could do something I liked the most, working with dogs.

Luckily I found ABC. I thought that I know a lot about dogs, but it appears that I didn't know much compared to the knowledge I gained at ABC. The professional people from Animal Behaviour College helped me along the way to reach my goals and graduate.

If anybody asks me about the school and its programs I would definately recommend it.

Marni Dlin

Dogs have always been my passion. For the last 20 years, I have been involved in rescue. I have read extensively about dogs, behaviour and training.

I enroled at Animal Behaviour College because of its intensive, thorough course, which included a lot of practical experience.

Alicia Kryklywyj

I never knew exactly what I wanted to do as a career. I went to college, shuffled jobs frequently, got to where I thought I wanted to be and just found I was still not satisfied and felt like there could be more to life.

I moved to a bigger city thinking maybe this is where it's at, maybe I can find whatever I'm looking for there. Well, I sort of did; I got my second dog, an
Akita, and could not get him to listen to me, so I contacted a trainer. After the training was complete, I started working with my dog and just loved it and decided dog training was something I would like to do. I searched the internet and after checking a few sites, and gathering some information, I contacted Animal Behaviour College. The rest as they say, is history.

I have recently moved back to my home town and have opened a dog training business. I still volunteer at the local animal shelters, and I also plan on expanding my studies. I want to get into training Sled dogs, tracking, and search and rescue.

Down the road I hope to purchase property and create an animal rescue. This was inspired by my girl, Mudd. She is a rescue from a neglectful owner who had abused, dehydrated and half starved her. She was only 8 weeks old when I adopted her. Mudd is now a year old and in perfect health. I want to make my rescue a safe-haven for dogs to see that neglect and abuse no longer happens.

Being more involved with dogs has really opened my eyes to alot of unfortunate crulity that happens to dogs and other animals, I don't think I would have realized if I had not contacted ABC and started my journey to become a dog trainer. I now have a passion and a goal to work towards.

Thanks to ABC, I'm on my way.

Andrea Wiegner

I always loved dogs, but I only had three in my entire life because my mom didn't want a dog. I used to have a Brasilian Fila and a German Shepherd, which were both very difficult dogs.

That's how I got interested in dog training. After my own dogs were "in work", I also co-trained dogs of the so called "difficult breeds", such as pit-bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, Bullterriers, and so forth. In short, those breeds were or are known to cause trouble by biting children or people, fight with every dog they see and just don't enjoy a nice reputation in Germany.

After I came to Canada, I started working in the Mental-Health field and thought that it would be nice to also do some dog training because people commended Cora's (my German Shepherd) good behaviour. I checked the internet and found Animal Behaviour College. I had much fun going through the program. Unfortunately, I had to put Cora down while being involved in the program. I was sad, because she was my companion for more than 12 years.

Fortunately, the hands-on portion of the program started and I had to get a new dog. I bought a Black Russian Terrier named Ulmar. He is a wonderful dog, and I enjoyed working with him in the hands-on part of the program. I enjoy working with any dog because they always seem to be in a good mood. I consider it to be important to support the right relationship between people and their dogs. My Mentor Trainer, Joe, was also very good. Thank you very much ABC!

Heidi McGovern

Animals have always had a facination for me. Be they wild or domestic, I have always found myself wondering about how they think and what makes them do the things they do. In 2003, my husband and I got our first dog, a Great Dane we named DozeR. Watching DozeR grow, develop his personality, and learn to be a part of our household was an inspiring experience. I finally had a direction that I knew was the right one for me. I devoured every book I could get my hands on about how dog's think and different training techniques. And then I stumbled upon Animal Behaviour College's website. The thought that I could do this as a career got into my head and simply wouldn't leave.

Animal Behaviour College's Dog Obedience Instructor Program was exactly what I was looking for. I especially found the hands-on sessions to be invaluable as learning tools. My mentor trainer was fabulous and I learned so much from her about how to communicate effectively and how to read dog's behaviour. Working in the shelter was truly enlightening as well, and taught a lot about having patience! I'm very grateful to all those how helped me through the program, both here at home and at ABC itself.

I have since started my own business here in Eastern Ontario, FuRKiDz, and I know that thanks to ABC I will be able to help numerous dogs and people to understand one another and become a well rounded family.

Jill Turner

Hi! My name is Jill and my dogs are Bits and Bosco. I got Bits, a Pomeranian-Miniature Collie mix, in 1995, when I was in elementary school. I got my second dog, Bosco, a chow/lab mix in January of 2004. Neither of my dogs came from very good backgrounds. Bits was found in a box on a logging road and Bosco was found as stray by the local SPCA.

It wasn’t until I got Bits as a child that I began to have a desire to work with animals. When high school came around, I decided that I wanted to look into dog training. As a part of graduation requirements, I had to do some volunteer hours, so I chose to walk dogs at the local SPCA. That was when I decided that working with dogs was what I really wanted to do.

After graduating in June of 2002, I tried dog grooming for awhile and even helped groom dogs from a local puppy mill. I decided that dog grooming wasn’t for me. I still had my heart set on dog training. That’s when I signed up at Animal Behaviour College.

The ABC curriculum is very interesting to read and informative. I learned a lot throughout the program. I’ve learned that time and patience are BIG factors in dog training, and that there is more to dog training than just trying to train a dog. ABC was a lot of hard work, but, I feel, if you are really willing to try and you really want this for yourself, then this course is for you.

Through what I have learned at Animal Behaviour College, I am now able to answer questions that I am asked with more confidence. It is nice to know that I’m helping a dog and its owner so they can both have a great future together. I am still young and I haven’t yet decided what direction I am going to take next in life. One thing is for sure, no matter where I go or what I decide to do, the things I learned here at ABC will used in my future.

Thanks ABC for making my goal become a reality!

Carol Gallegos

Hi, my name is Carol and this is my wonderful 9 year old Sheltie, Major. I have always loved being around animals and dogs in particular. I first got the idea to train to work full-time with dogs from my sister-in-law and brother-in-law who both vocalized that they felt I had, “a way with dogs.” I started to look at various options for my studies and found ABC online. After research I decided that ABC was the perfect fit for me. Being a stay at home mom of 2, I was able to set my own study times, work at home from my computer, get any help I needed from a simple email and I found the course was affordable. The materials from ABC were challenging and well set out and I really enjoyed and learned a lot during my favorite stage, the hands-on portion of the course. My Mentor Trainer was Mike Musso, a wonderfully talented trainer, and I feel blessed to have been able to learn from him. I hope to continue my studies and ultimately work with service dogs. Thank you ABC for a great start!

Cathie Lee
Owner of Canine Wisdom

As far back as I can remember, I have always felt comfortable working and training dogs. I knew what I really wanted to do in this life is help shelter dogs and owners who were having problems with their dog. I wasn’t sure how to start in the right direction of my goals until I found out about Animal Behaviour College. With their extensive and informative material grouped with the externship and volunteer work makes this a very well rounded program.

The most memorable part of the program was working with my Mentor Trainer, Rhonda Claice, and volunteering at a local shelter. My mentor was very knowledgeable and the volunteer work at the shelter gave me the opportunity to work with the Training and Behaviour Coordinator who introduced me to new training techniques. The volunteer work gave me a wide range of knowledge and experience with different dog breeds. Although I only needed to volunteer 10 hours for my externship, I continue to go in for about 5 hours a week. Now that I have graduated, I have opened up my own dog training company, Canine Wisdom, and am excited to see where my chosen career path will lead in the years ahead.

Dawn Nehrbass
Former Federal Government Worker

I live in rural Central Wisconsin on an 80 acre farm with my husband, Hank, and my Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, Buster. I retired a couple of years ago after 26 plus years of Federal Government service. I’ve always loved animals of all kinds, but I’m especially fond of dogs. I wanted to volunteer at the local County Animal Shelter but was afraid if I did, I’d start bringing too many of the critters home with me.

When I began studying with Animal Behaviour College, an idea started forming in my head. I finally figured out how I could help the animals at the shelter and volunteer in my own way. I now make myself available to help anyone who adopted a dog from our shelter (or any other rescue shelter) with problem solving and basic obedience training on a volunteer basis. I’ve learned a lot from my time with ABC and am very proud of the certification I’ve earned with my graduation. I’m glad I found ABC, and I’m looking forward to whatever the future has in store for me.

Jason Mann

Dogs have been a passion of mine ever since I was five years old. I started training for fun and for friends. After a few years of this, I decided I would like to make dog training my full time living. I already had a deep knowledge of dog training concepts and knew a lot about dogs, but I wanted to expand my knowledge so I could offer well rounded, professional training services to people in my area. That's when I found Animal Behaviour College.

Through ABC, I not only expanded my knowledge, but I had the great pleasure of working with a great Mentor Trainer who I will call friend for years to come.

ABC has helped me achieve my dream of helping people live a more fulfilled life with their dogs and earn a living do it. I highly encourage anyone looking to start a career in the dog training profession to contact ABC.

April Van Iseghem

My name is April Van Iseghem and these are my three dogs. Tavern is a male Cocker Mix, Gunner is a male German Shorthair and Rilley is my special Pitt Bull. I have had a love for animals since I was old enough to hold them. I always had cats growing up; my parents did not want a dog. They always said they were too much work! As I agree with now. When I was 14, my mom and I drove past a sign that said, “Puppies $30.00”, we went to look and ended up with a Black Lab/Dalmatian mix. When he was a pup, we took him to dog training classes, which led to me getting him CGC certified and later Agility. I would have to say from that moment on I wanted a job that dealt with dogs.

I was not sure how to go about it, so I decided I wanted to be a Vet. Of Course that all changed! As I got older, my passion for having an obedient dog and sharing that knowledge grew stronger. I started looking online for dog training colleges, and I stumbled upon ABC. I contacted an Admissions Counselor and we talked for hours. It took me 3 months to actually sign up; I can be skeptical. But, my desire won me over.

I currently train as an in-home trainer, and I am working with my local Humane Society in starting a partnership to train dogs that get adopted out and the dogs in our community. My goal is too keep the shelter numbers down and educate my community with proper training to build a life long companion.

Rose Lesniak

I have always been interested in dog training. Animal Behaviour College has offered me information that was invaluable, which gave me a great structure to follow and allowed me to meet great dog people along the way! I even graduated sooner than expected and was offered a job before my graduation date!

Sharon Brown

For as long as I can remember, I have had love and compassion in my heart for animals. When asked why, the only answer I know is that it must have been a part of my birth. For it is embedded in the heart of who I am. I have had many opportunities to hand raise and rehabilitate wild babies that were abandoned for one reason or another. Among them were squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, foxes, small birds and even a Red Tail Hawk. I could never turn my back on an animal in distress.

But my true passion has always been dogs and horses. I train my own horses using Natural Horsemanship techniques. I am certified in the seven games of Natural Horsemanship. I have been a professional dog groomer for 15 years. I can’t imagine life without one AND the other. My dog, Cricket is half Rat Terrier and half Mountain Cur. She loves to ride in the saddle with me. She can even get on by herself. Dolly, a shelter rescue (half Border Collie and half Black Lab) prefers to trot along on her own 4 feet. But she also loves going along on the trail rides and playing in the creeks.

Through my dog grooming profession, I have seen many dogs re-homed or surrendered to animal shelters due to behavioural problems and lack of training. This was always disheartening to me. Then I realized maybe there is something I can do to help dogs and their owners. That’s when I contacted ABC. I wanted to gain professional knowledge to help people gain a better relationship with their dogs. I know that through basic obedience, their lives could become more meaningful and enjoyable. My dream is for every dog owner to feel what it is like to have their dog look in their eyes and reflect back the love and understanding and true unity that epitomizes “man’s best friend” in every sense of the words.

Thank you ABC for opening that door for me.

Debbie Stezar

I have loved dogs for all my life and have achieved a life-long dream by becoming an ABC Certified Dog Trainer. I look forward to helping others establish as truly a remarkable relationship with their dogs as I have been able to by the use of positive dog training methods.

I share my den with my husband, Ed, (the wind beneath my wings) and our 4 canine companions: Courtney (who
has earned her CGC this year and is a registered Therapy Dog), Sadie (who was rescued as a young puppy from our local Humane Society), Mitch (our Big Boy Boxer) and Sweet Emily (who we adopted 4 months ago from a Boxer Rescue).

I am currently offering both group and private training classes in Basic Obedience. I am also offering Puppy Classes and help with learning the basics of Freestlye to those who have an interest in this sport.

Benjamin Geeslin

When I was young my parents had a Britney mix, unfortunately, all I remember of this dog were negative associations. Most of my life I had no associations with canines until 6 years ago when my wife and I rescued a 3 week old Yellow Labrador, Molly. Even though, I had been in the Customer Service field for 15 years, my listening and understanding skills were not what I thought they were, especially when trying to understand what this dog was trying to convey.

I made a call to a training facility near our home and said, "HELP!! Please teach me to communicate with my dog." The lessons they taught me were invaluable. Not only did we learn together, I learned to speak doggie.....Ha!

When Molly was 7 months of age, we had achieved our Canine Good Citizen (CGC), which opened doors for several fun activities, such as, Agility, Flyball, Search and Rescue, and Hunting Trials.

The Summer of 2005 Molly said, 'Help Others', so I enroled in Animal Behaviour College, to get certified, which I completed the Summer of 2006.

A really great occurence happened while completeing the volunteer phase of ABC's curriculum. I was volunteering at our local animal shelter, and the director asked if I would work with a couple of dogs that had come into the shelter that week. One of them was 2 1/2 month old Yellow Labrador. She was so frightened that it took about 20 minutes before
I got her out of the kennel. Once I did, she showed a little energy but it was not the energy of a lab puppy. Of course with me being a volunteer with the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue, I took her home with me(adopted her). Later that week, I took her to our vet where she was diagnosted with parvo. Four months later, she is a great 6 month old puppy doing quite well.

Thanks ABC from me and my girls!

Jessica Shepherd

I didn’t have many animals growing up, but I always wanted more. When my boyfriend and I moved in together, he had a lab, so we decided to get her a buddy to play with. Then we just kept getting more and more! We now have 8 of our own, and it just seems to keep growing.

I always knew that I wanted to work with animals, just wasn’t sure how to go about it. That was when I found Animal Behaviour College, and jumped right in on the opportunity. It didn’t take long at all, and I met great people along the way. It was a great experience and I would not hesitate to recommend this course to anyone who is interested in becoming a dog trainer or just bettering their knowledge.

Thank you ABC!

J. David White
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Owner of Canine Sight

As with most animal trainer types, my love for animals began at a very early age. I remember when I was six or seven years old, my "dream" was to become a big cat trainer for the circus and, to this day, I have books about big cats at home and in my office. My love for animals has only grown over the years and I began thinking about how I could engage this passion in something of an avocational pursuit and dog training seemed to be a little more logical (and safe) choice than training big cats. To carry this logical thinking forward, I realized that becoming an ABC Certified Dog Trainer would offer me the wonderful experience of working with other people, which I already do in my chosen profession as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Ultimately, to have an opportunity to integrate the work of my counseling and my dog training is something I consider to be a highly complementary and symbiotic relationship that will help me in assisting others as a therapist and a dog trainer. Additionally, my counseling work calls on me to consider a variety of therapeutic techniques by which the client can be "reached" and, by far, one of the most exciting and intriguing of interventions is canine therapy. I personally feel that this field has only begun to harness the potential of its effectiveness and I am thrilled to now be able to utilize the training I received from ABC to help other people. Case in point, I am currently writing my dissertation for my Ph.D. and the topic for this work is using canine therapy as an access point to help people reattach to substantive relationships. I am confident that this work and others like it will continue to shed light on the wonderful profession of dog training and feel blessed to have been educated by ABC.

I have learned in my therapeutic practice that the issues that clients bring to the counseling session are interwoven with other problems in their lives and these problems most often feed one another, creating a negative spiral into counterproductive living. Given this professional experience plus what I have mentioned above, training with ABC was something that I saw to be the best choice for me, as I feel that their curriculum and externship experiences prepared me to view my work from a comprehensive or holistic approach.

Since graduating from Animal Behaviour College, I have started my own dog training business called Canine Sight and my business tagline is "Bringing You Eye to Eye With Your Dog". It is important for me to teach my dog training clients that dogs are dogs and NOT humans, as I feel that this false belief creates most of the problems for dogs today. Anyway, I am currently working on a simple website and hope to have it up and running by the first part of October, so come visit me online at www.caninesight.com around October 1st.

It is exciting to have fulfilled a lifelong dream of training animals, and I want to thank Steven Appelbaum and the wonderful and helpful people at Animal Behaviour College for helping me to reach this goal. It is very satisfying and exhilarating to work with animals in this way! Thank you!

Anita McAllister

I have always loved animals. When I was growing up, we always had pets, mostly dogs. As an adult, this love developed into a desire to seek a more enjoyable career - This is when I found Animal Behaviour College.

Through the process of my ABC training, I began to volunteer with the local Humane Society to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. I am now deeply involved with Second Chance Rescue, a local non-profit organization that fosters homeless dogs and cats, until they can find their "Forever Families". I have been able lend my training expertise in many instances and help unstable dogs become more adoptable. I also maintain their website and assist with fundraising events and mobile adoptions. This is the most rewarding aspect of having gone through and graduated from ABC. I specialize in behavioural problems and help dog parents become leaders so their best friends can become valued members of their families.

Many other opportunities and activities have opened up including helping the local 4-H kids prepare for their annual dog show, competitive obedience, rally obedience and agility. My Pembroke Welsh Corgi "Winnie" is very talented and we are looking forward to a great career showing in obedience and agility.

I currently work as a Mentor Trainer for ABC, helping students just like myself complete their hands-on training and graduate from the course.

I also have two horses and two cats.

Shelly Sturgeon

I had worked outside the home for 15 years and although I learned a lot (and am very thankful for all I learned) I was not totally happy working for someone else, punching a time clock and giving 110% to a job that couldn’t pay me what I was truly worth. I have been in the USAF, Restaurant Management, as well as an Administrative Professional and finally decided I was ready to be my own boss and work from home to spend more quality time with my family.

I have been an animal lover all my life and have always had at least 1 dog and usually a few cats. So, with some soul searching and looking for a home-based, part-time job and hobby, I found ABC.

The entire training experience has been great! I couldn’t wait to finish each stage and take an exam so I could keep moving on. The information I gained was so interesting. The externship was great fun!! Working with the dogs and their owners gave me the confidence I needed to be ready to get started with my own classes upon graduation of ABC. My Golden Retriever (Lacy) went through 6 weeks of the externship with me and she was wonderful. Of course, I had already practiced with her at home with what I had learned from the ABC course manuals. (She was actually ready for intermediate class!!) I have so many new things to learn and build on now, and I am so thankful I signed up with ABC to give me the solid foundation and confidence I need to keep learning and moving forward!! Also, during the Volunteer Stage of my training, my family and I rescued Meadow (Labrador) from the animal shelter in which I was volunteering. She has been so much fun (and a lot of work) for the whole family. I have learned so much from her since she was only 4 months old when we rescued her.

My future plans for ongoing training include Rally-O for Fun, Agility for Fun, Intermediate and Advanced Obedience Classes, as well as Animal Assisted Activities in which my dogs will be helping others in Schools and Nursing Homes.

Beth Grundy

My experience with Animal Behaviour College has truly changed my life. The shelter practicum not only opened many doors to my career as an obedience trainer, but also opened my heart to the special needs of shelter animals. As a volunteer trainer for the Sussex County Friends of Animals in NJ, my main goal is to help teach obedience in our dogs and improve their chances of finding a permanent and loving home. Every interaction with one of these dogs is a lesson of the heart for me as a trainer. The rest, like a career, will certainly follow. Special thanks to the faculty of Animal Behaviour College. It was a pleasure working and learning with you. And thank you Tate (he is so very camera shy). You are my saving Grace.

Paula Via

I have always loved and respected animals and seemed to connect to dogs especially. After being in the computer industry for over 20 years, I began looking towards the future and asked myself what I wanted to do next. I always agreed with the old saying “Do what you love and know best”, so it was a natural decision to want to learn to become a dog trainer. Little did I know that after taking ABC’s program, not only did I become a dog trainer, but, more importantly, a better dog owner.

Through ABC’s program, I have been able to see how the shelters are struggling and in need of many qualified people to help them make their animals adoptable. I have also learned the importance of a “certified” trainer that instructs with positive motivation.
It has given me the interest in continuing my education and studying Animal Behaviourism in hopes to do more service to these shelters - as well as every animal owner who might experience problems with their companion pets.

Right now, I continue to volunteer at our local shelter weekly, and I work part-time as a dog obedience instructor while I continue my software consulting business full time. Because of my education, I feel more confident that I can be a successful dog trainer, and hopefully, a behaviourist in the near future.

Agnes Lingauer

I was born in Budapest, Hungary and I came to the United States approximately 2 years ago. I have always had an interest in animals, especially dogs. My career goal is to become a Veterinary Technician. With this goal in mind, I believe that understanding the behaviour of dogs would complement and assist me on my path.

The knowledge and expertise that I received at ABC was extraordinary. I know that I have learned valuable skills, not just for dog training, but also for my future goals. I plan to train dogs, privately, while I continue toward my final goal. I can only advise anyone who is interested in a career in dog training or related field to take the journey that I did with the ABC program. ABC provides you with thorough knowledge, through assignments and hands-on training, to become the best certified dog trainer. I thank ABC for the opportunity they have given me and for helping me develop my future career.

James Koffel
Owner of Downtown Kennels and Dog Training

Before I enroled at Animal Behaviour College, I was already working as a group obedience trainer. I was taught the old school style of compulsion training and trained about one hundred plus dogs. Through ABC, I learned the techniques of positive reinforcement and that changed everything.

Positive reinforcement, getting the dog motivated to work for a reward, really made a difference for me as a trainer, and I could see how good the dogs response to it was. I really learned a lot from the ABC curriculum; it was filled with not only good methods of training obedience cues, but also invaluable lessons on teaching humans, step by step suggestions on teaching group classes and a section on business building that really helped me to start my own dog training business. The hands on part of the curriculum was probably the best part. I was teamed up with my Mentor Trainer, Lezle Stein, who not only taught me dog obedience and behaviour, but also included me in several different events that added to my learning experience.

Through the ABC course, I learned that there are positive techniques that really work and through the whole program I took my training to a whole new level. Now I have my own dog training business, Downtown Kennels and Dog Training, and hope to educate my students the same way ABC has educated me.

Dennis Dornich

I am a husband, father of two, proud owner of three dogs, etc. As a family man, my lifestyle is never dull. Yet I yearned for more...

I found it at ABC. I'vve leaned more than my expectations, and they has inspired me to train more positively, at both ends of the leash. I see more to come through my education.

Thank you ABC for making my future a lot brighter!

Melanie Walker

Melanie Walker has been around dogs all her life as well as a multitude of other pets. Melanie knew from an early age that she wanted a career involving animals. In 1989 she graduated from Albertson’s College of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with the hope of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. She landed a job at a small animal veterinary hospital and began her career as a veterinary technician eventually leading to emergency medicine. After 10+ years, she left veterinary medicine to concentrate on her family and raising her 3 children.

Two years ago, Melanie began to develop a desire to go back to work feeling a strong pull toward the field of dog behaviour & training. She enroled in Animal Behaviour College, Inc. and graduated earning her Dog Obedience Instructor certificate in April 2006. The education and experience through ABC not only confirmed that this was a perfect match for her but gave her the confidence and knowledge to pursue a career as a professional dog trainer.

Wayne Shaffer
Board of Directors - Valley Humane Society, Casa Grande, Arizona

Dogs transform lives. They are our loyal friends, our protectors, our companions and, sometimes, just make us laugh quietly to ourselves. I became an ABC Certified Dog Trainer to help others enjoy the rewards of those transformations and to find new ways to improve the positive relationship that I have with my dogs - Bailey and Coco.

My ABC training has also allowed me to enhance the lives of dogs at local shelters, and to develop a strong, rewarding relationship with the families that have adopted them. Without the advantage of the training, the educational materials, the attentive staff, and my Mentor Trainer, many of these dogs would never have found a home; today many of them would not even be alive. This would have been an enormous loss for everyone.

My future includes the creation of a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide complimentary and/or inexpensive instruction to families that choose to adopt their pets from shelters, to provide basic training services to shelters, and to promote responsible pet ownership.

Thank you ABC!

Please visit me on-line at http://pawsitivemethods.com

Maureen Leach
Owner of Happily Ever After Dog Training, LLC in Inver Grove Heights, MN

My name is Maureen Leach, and I am making a career change after 30 years as a nurse. Working with patients and families over the years has made me sensitive to people's needs and feelings. This is also a necessary part of training people to work with their dogs. The positive training methods that ABC endorses, helps dogs and people enjoy training and learning!

I have loved and worked with dogs my entire life, and have worked side by side with trainers for the past ten years, fostering and training service dogs for disabled members of our community. Right now I'm fostering and training a yellow Labrador puppy, so I'll have him for about two years before he gets placed with a client.

Even though I've had a fair amount of training experience, the ABC program made me work! I did invest a large amount of time learning how and why these methods of training are effective. I feel I learned a lot from the program.

Jane Hufstader
Petco Canine Obedience Instructor

Growing up we had all sorts of breeds. My Mother showed Yorkshire Terriers, and I would go along and help her at the shows. I learned a great deal and as an adult continued my love of dogs. I own two Airedale Terriers and compete in both Obedience and Agility. I enjoy being around people and dogs and wanted to further my knowledge and start a career as a dog trainer. I researched schools online and was very impressed with ABC. Not only did I learn from the study guides that were required reading, but I also gained a wealth of knowledge from the externship. The hands-on learning both at the shelter working with dogs and the training with an actual trainer gave me the confidence to become the Canine Education Instructor at our local PETCO Store. Thank You ABC!

Andrea Collashaw
Dog Trainer at Pet Peeves

I have been an animal lover my whole life and love all kinds of animals. As a child I wanted to be a vet, but I soon realized that vets had a tough job when it involved sick animals who would not recover.... During school I took a turn career-wise and ended up doing Accounting and Management in Corporate America for 12 years. I had a "great" job - great pay/benefits/respect, but I traveled too much and missed my family and animals at home.

I finally decided to do what I always wanted to do - work with animals. I knew I couldn't be a vet, so I opted for dog training and started researching some schools. ABC was my first choice from the beginning - the externship they offer is extremely valuable and I cannot imagine going into the training world without the hands-on experience it gave me.

In fact, the company that I interned with, Pet Peeves, hired me! Now I train dogs basic obedience in 7 days! The company is great and ABC did everything they promised and more. I am now working and doing what I love with plenty of time for my family. There were sacrifices and risks along the way but they were all worth it. I would advise anyone who is on the edge and undecided to follow their dream and live their life getting paid to do what they love. This career allows me the opportunity to help dogs become more adoptable and family pets to fit into their families. The gratification is immediate when you teach a dog to "sit" and just gets better from there.

In my extra time, I am also able to create pastel portraits of people's pets, which can be viewed at www.fuzzyfuzzy.com. The training company I work for is www.petpeeves.info. Thanks ABC for everything and all the support along the way!

Kathy Bellis

I have had pets my entire life! Everything from dogs, cats, bunnies, frogs, ducks, and turtles. I even had an iguana once. I love animals!! Almost 2 years ago my husband, myself, our 2 cats & 2 dogs adopted another dog, a 2 month old Whippet/Red Heeler mix. Although our 2 other dogs were very well behaved we wanted to train Sam the right way & maybe even do some Agility with him. I went to work studying all the dog training books I could find! At the same time I was working at a job I really didn’t like. It was a desk job doing computer work 8 hours a day. I decided to look for some obedience training classes on the internet, that’s when I came across Animal Behaviour College. I knew right then that I was meant to do this! I enroled within the next couple of days & got started right away!

I just found out today that I have officially graduated from ABC as an ABC Certified Dog Trainer! I can’t wait to give my two weeks notice at my desk job & start living my life working with dogs & the humans that love them! I’m confident, capable & ready to finally start living my life the way I want too! My life has gone to the dogs & I’m very, very happy about that!!!!

Amber Wampler

I am a Graduate from Animal Behaviour College. Being an ABC Certified Dog Trainer, I know I have embarked upon one of the most rewarding careers in this world. Animals have been my passion since I can remember. I have dreamed of saving, protecting and working with animals all my life. ABC has made that dream a reality.

I started riding and showing horsed/ponies in Dressage, Cross-Country and Stadium jumping at the tender age of 7. Living on a horse farm with cats and 3 dogs I learned the nature of animals. Riding my horses and having the dogs along side me daily, I spent more time around the dogs and horses than people until the age of 17 when I left for college, majoring in Veterinarian Medicine and minoring in Equestrian Studies. I worked as a Vet Tech working with mostly dogs and cats. I love all animals but something really pulled me to dogs. Continuing as a Vet Tech for 3 years, I realized I wanted to work much closer to dogs (medicine was not for me). I left school and moved back to Maryland (my home state) and started working a doggie day care. There I found exactly, without a doubt, what I really wanted to do and still be with the animals/dogs.

It was at this point I asked my employer “how does one become a dog trainer?” After all, they have training classes at the doggie day care. The obedience instructor there told me about some schools that had just what I was looking for. I looked online, did my research on the schools that offered a program and Animal Behaviour College had the best and most challenging offerings. I called ABC and applied. I had some trouble finding the finances at first but I must say that ABC’s staff helped me find a way, and here I am. I have never been more pleased, excited and happy about my future and my experience through ABC’s program. The encouragement, feedback and the true concern for students’ learning experience and success in the program is something I will always remember and pass on to anyone that sparks interest in training dogs. I will continue to uphold an honour for everything I have experienced and learned at ABC. Thanks to ABC I am well trained and confident about my future endeavors in the “dog world”. I know I will be successful and I owe this to ABC! Thank you!

Jan van der Els
Co-Owner of Woodstock Kennels

I grew up in the Netherlands where dogs were always a part of my life. My job with a multi-national company brought me to the US in 1993, where I met my wife, Donna, a fellow dog enthusiast. After 11 years of traveling to various locations around the world, our three dogs always in tow, we decided it was time to make a life change.

Through a wish to share my lifelong experience and love of dogs, I began reading up extensively on dog behaviour and training, and later enroled in Animal Behaviour College to become an ABC Certified Dog Trainer. I now provide basic obedience training as well as problem behaviour modification. I also volunteer with the Ulster County SPCA to offer dog-handling guidance to the staff and volunteers. And, since trained dogs are less likely to be returned to a shelter due to behaviour problems, I offer discounted training to families adopting dogs from the SPCA.

My wife and I have also established a boarding kennel at our Woodstock, NY home. The desire to return to a stable home life, as well as to do work which is personally fulfilling, lead to the idea of starting our own business, and the concept of opening a boarding kennel resulted from the belief that we were not alone in our need for a place we could feel good about leaving their dogs when traveling. The result was Woodstock Kennels, which opened for business in March 2006. In addition to providing high-quality boarding that includes plenty of fresh air, excercise and attention, we also sometimes provide temporary space in our kennel to rescue dogs when space elsewhere is limited. We recently fostered a young dog named Chloe Elizabeth for the Ulster County SPCA while she recovered from knee surgery for a month.

What I enjoyed most about the ABC program is the combination of theory and hands-on learning. I think it was also good that some time was spent on safety and good business practices. The ABC staff was fantastic throughout the process, and I was really impressed by the trainer I worked with during my externship. And during the past year I have been putting my ABC training to work on a daily basis since acquiring our newest addition, a Dutch shepherd named Trudie!

Agni Sarmaniote

I love dogs. I always have. For me personally, there is no better companion animal. They love unconditionally. If you want to know how to live life to the fullest, watch a dog playing outside in the sunshine, how they enjoy the simplest of things.

I have a very strong bond with my Pug, Velvet. She came into my life at a period in time when I needed her most. She makes me laugh every day. She comforts me when I need it. All the negatives of a given day are washed away when I walk through that door and see her just so happy to have me home. I want everyone to be able to have this feeling with their dog. When I was laid off from my job in April 2005, I took a long hard look at my life and decided to change careers. I was burnt out after working many years in Administration and Customer Service. I'd always wanted to work with dogs and thought now was the time. So, I enroled with ABC. This was the best decision I could have made. The curriculum is informative, challenging, and thought provoking. The support I received from my Program Manager, Externship Coordinator and Mentor Trainer were beyond my expectations. What I learned from my Mentor could not be learned in books.

Thank you ABC for giving me such a solid foundation and wonderful start to my new career. I feel confident that I can make positive changes in both my client's lives and their dog's!!

Bruno Mithout

Bruno grew up on a farm in the French Alps where he enjoyed the company of many animals and learned how to care for them. One of his fondest childhood memories is a Britany Spaniel named Ruby who lived in and guarded the chicken coop.

While pursuing an acting career and a few stunts in the restaurant business, Bruno had dogs whom he trained as constant companions. Today he lives in New York City with a thirteen month old English pointer mix named Astro whom he trained from puppyhood using the methods of ABC.

Becoming a trainer through ABC has been a rewarding experience, which allows him to take on private clients and successfully teach them how to develop a positive lifetime relationship with their pet.

Brian Monschein

After having dogs as pets during my entire childhood, I was excited to finally get a dog of my own. In October 2003, Riley, an 8-week old Border Collie, joined our family, and I was able to train her from an early age. Riley's training began with the basics such as housebreaking, sit, down and stay, but quickly evolved into more advanced sessions with a special focus on Frisbee (Toss & Fetch). I spent many hours working with Riley, teaching her to catch a Frisbee in the air, at various heights and speeds. Though I always knew I loved dogs, it was my experience with Riley that assured me that dog training was a job I could do well and thoroughly enjoy.

I studied with Animal Behaviour College and received my certification in early 2006. I now work with another trainer conducting obedience classes, and I also do home visits working one-on-one with dogs and their owners to help them master basic commands. In addition, I've spent many hours volunteering at at a local animal shelter in Stratford, CT, training the dogs in basic obedience in order to increase their chances of being placed in a new home.

ABC helped me get my kick-start into dog training, and I'm now working on a new business venture with another trainer to ultimately open our own dog day care and obedience training facility.

Brittany Paquet
Professional Dog Trainer

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved dogs, they are my passion and will always be a part of my life. When I was little I thought that I would become a Veterinarian, but as I got older I knew that I would not be able to stand to see and animal suffer, nor would I ever be able to operate. I thought as I graduated from high school about grooming, but that didn't seem like enough reward for me, so I thought about training and that's what led me to ABC.

I took my first job at a kennel when I was thirteen years old cleaning out kennels and walking dogs. That soon turned into bathing and light grooming. I can honestly say that it was the most rewarding job that I've ever had.

I have gone on to work at several more kennels, and other jobs in between, but something always draws me back to the animals. I have learned a lot from ABC, most of all I have learned that I can take an unwanted dog, because of bad behaviour, and turn him into a dog that someone will love. I enjoyed the hands on part most of all. I was seeing the different breeds, and the personalities of people that pick those breeds.

I presently own four dogs: an Akita, English Bulldog, and two pugs. I hope to one day open my own Kennel and be a founder of a rescue service for unwanted dogs of any breed. I would like to offer services of training both in a group setting and private, along with many other services like grooming and behavioural problem solving, so dogs can be placed in good loving homes.

I truly believe that there is a dog out there to fit everyone's personality and ABC has taught me that.

Thanks ABC, it has been a great experience!

Kimberly Mercy-Wagner

All my life dogs have touched me, both as part of my family and in my experience of day-to-day life. Dogs have a lot of personality; they always find a way to make me smile even when I’m blue.

It was after 9/11, I decided to do something that would contribute to life. I always wanted to work with dogs but didn’t know how? I needed to learn. I applied for work at the Guide Dog Foundation caring for dogs and I was training to be a trainer for their company. However, I decided to set my own goals. I now have my own business, two years later, and it has grown. My business is based on pet sitting, dog walking and dog training.

My experience with ABC has been very interesting and a good beginning into the world of dog training. The materials and hands on training are very intense, but well needed, especially the experience of seeing other trainers work on the skills that are part of the training from ABC. The ABC staff is very nice and helpful when you need it.

Animal Behaviour College is wonderful at educating both trainers and dogs.

Thank you ABC in making my dream come true!

Judy McMullen

I have had dogs all my life. I can’t imagine life without at least one dog. I decided to be a dog trainer because of my love of our four-legged friends and know I will never regret it. Thank you so much, ABC, for an extensive learning program! I truly feel like I’ve received the best education possible for this field.

Bill and Marge Hall

We’re Bill and Marge Hall and both recent graduates of ABC. Our love for our dogs, Adak and Kodiak (American Eskimo’s), and our interest in changing careers in mid life is what brought us to ABC. Both of us have been very impressed with the curriculum, externships and shelter experience we have received. We are looking forward to starting our training business, and sharing the techniques we’ve learned with our students. Our recent move to Billings, MT, from Denver, brings new and exciting changes and opportunities to pursue our doggy business dreams.

Bonnie Hess

For as long as I can remember, I have had a spirit that moves me to nurture children and animals. At 6 years old, I rescued my first cotton tail bunny whose mother had been killed. When I was 7 years old, with no dog of my own, I begged all the neighbors to let me walk theirs, which they permitted gladly. With joy, our family added a shepherd/collie mix to our brood of kids, cats, birds, and tropical fish when I was 8 years old. As I found delight in playing with and training the puppy to bring in the newspaper and mail, my neighbors all swore I would grow up to be a veterinarian.

Things do not always turn out as expected, and I continued my education in psychology rather than veterinary school. Instead of working with animals, I chose to work with and offer support for families of children, ages birth to three, who had delays and disabilities. But, since being given my first dog, I have always had at least one dog and one cat beside me. They keep me centered and remind me of grace and forgiveness. Over the years, I have trained my furry kids, and participated in dog therapy. My rescued BC mix, Nicki, easily earned her CGC and Therapy Dog International by the time she was three years old. She is now 11.

After years of social work, I wanted to put effort into my other passion, my passion for dogs, and I wanted to support families in forming a strong bond with their pet so their pet would be a life long companion. I found Animal Behaviour College to help support me in this goal. It took me two years to decide to enrol, but I am forever thankful that I finally made that leap because ABC gave me the resources I needed to start a business in dog training. Even more, with the support of the dedicated ABC trainers and staff, I was motivated to learn all I could about dogs, behaviour, communication, and training. That part of my life has given me renewed energy and purpose. I am now working part time, rather than full time, with children who have an autism spectrum disorder. I have begun my dog training business and am excited to watch that part of my life grow. One of my goals is to find ways in which dogs can help children, perhaps even in the classrooms here. I also enjoy volunteering with my daughter at the humane league, where we walk the dogs and teach them basics so they may have an easier time in finding a forever family. At home, I enjoy the love of my furry and faithful companions: our 7 year old queen-of-the-house cat, Siki, and our dogs: my sweet natured Nicki, and 6 year old Spirit, my Samoyed who brings challenge and humor to the family. Thank you, ABC, for your fine curriculum which includes hands on training! My dogs thank you as well because they have benefited from what I have learned through your program.

Thomas Hall

enroling in the ABC and helping train dogs has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had the distinct pleasure to train at a facility specifically designed to train service dogs, and I was amazed how much these animals could learn.

After graduating from Animal Behaviour College, my relationship with my two dogs, Stan and Hank, has grown considerably stronger. I now understand how they learn, and I better understand their needs. I am now volunteering my time at rescue leagues to help transition "rescue dogs" into family companions. We have so much to learn ourselves from these great animals...they make us better people!

Monica Oesterling
Human/Dog Interaction Coach at The Canine Club

I never left The Canine Club after my ABC externship.

During daycare hours, I am privileged to observe raw interaction among about 50 dogs. The classes I teach are beginning obedience and also pre-agility where we learn to fine-tune basic obedience. One day, I plan to have my own business.

Jessica Ebel

As is the case with most ABC students, I grew up with dogs. I've always loved being around animals. As a child, we had up to five dachshunds at any given time, and when I was in high school we adopted our first greyhound. My first job was at Petco. I've always tried to find some sort of way to incorporate animals into my life.

After I graduated from college, I quickly became aware that I wanted to find some sort of way to include more time with animals in my life. ABC seemed like the perfect way to do it. Since it was a distance learning program, I knew I could continue to work full time while studying. I was fortunate to be paired up with an excellent mentor trainer who took me under her wing and taught me a great deal. I attended several of her classes at a time and accompanied her on private lessons. I still continue to contact her with questions, as dog training is certainly an ongoing learning process.

As a current adoptive pet owner, I understand how rewarding it is to adopt an animal and watch them progress from a sometimes troublesome animal into a true family pet. And I'm also aware as to how many dogs' lives can be saved with a little basic training and better understanding from their humans. My job as a dog trainer is to help bring together both dogs and their people so both sides can understand each other better.

Sharon Davis

As you can see from the picture, I am not young and this could be a very long article. Fortunately, the story of my involvement with ABC is much shorter.

It began in July of 2002 with the loss of THE dog. You know, the one you never forget, still tell the stories about even though he has been gone for years. His name was Dover and he was a 95 pound black Lab/Dalmatian mix. When it was obvious the end was near for him, I started looking for another dog. I saw a handsome 5-year old male Dalmatian on the Dalmatian rescue web page that turned out to be my first Dalmatian adoption. His name is Brindy, and he is the one in the picture with me.

That adoption was just the beginning of a houseful of “spotty bodies”, some adopted, some just here as a foster home, but all walking in the door with a mountain of emotional baggage. For a couple of years, the pet handling skills I grew up with, a lot of love, and some hard work was enough. Then Merlot came to my house.

Merlot was a beautiful 2-year old black and white Dalmatian male that had been shunted from foster home to foster home and finally came to me. I have always had a talent for getting along with dogs, and Merlot bonded with me the moment he walked in the door.

Two months and several bared teeth and growling episodes followed by very loving behaviour later, Merlot burst out the front door and ran to a horse stable not far from the house. His attack on one of the horses was so vicious that when the farmer came out of the house with a shotgun, I told him if he could get a clear shot, to shoot the dog. But the attack ended as abruptly as it had started, and Merlot calmly trotted to a 10-year old boy who was holding a leash and sat for the leash to be attached to his collar, then walked meekly back to the house with me.

Putting down a physically healthy dog is just not in me, so I took Merlot to be evaluated by a canine behaviour specialist, and the diagnosis was separation anxiety. The recommended course of treatment was 4 to 6 private training sessions, which, after all, doesn’t sound like that much. In addition, Merlot’s adopter would need at least some special help in how to handle him and the prognosis was that Merlot would never be a dog that you could depend on his behaviour. The cost of the treatment would be $600 to $900. To the rescue group with their limited funds, saving Merlot translated to 12 to 18 shelter fees for other dogs that could be saved, dogs that weren’t 60 pounds of dangerous dog.

When I came home from holding Merlot in my arms as he slipped into his final sleep, I went online looking for dog training courses, determined to obtain the skills needed so that the life of the next troubled dog would not depend on the ability of the rescue group to pay for treatment.

As I have acquired skills during my ABC studies, it has been a bittersweet accomplishment, especially when I realize the mistakes I made in handling Merlot that may have contributed to his anxiety. But I take great comfort in knowing that although Merlot never got the chance to be THE dog, he will never be forgotten. Because of him and the excellence of my training with ABC, not only will the troubled dogs get the help they need from me, but the others will have training to make them more desirable to potential adopters.

So, my plan is not to become a professional trainer, but to use these skills to help rescued dogs, and to spare the dogs that I own the things I have been doing so incorrectly for such a very long time.

Nora Anderson
Owner of Anderson Canine Training

I became interested in dog training when I was just a youngster. I spent many years training and playing with the family dog...a long haired Beagle named Susie. During this time I became intrigued with animal behaviour and the psychology of how they think and learn. In my adult life, while earning a Masters in Teaching, I trained and showed my English Pointer, competing in conformation and obedience.

As the years went by, I owned and trained many family dogs from Dobermans and German Shepherds to Terriers and Corgis. Raising three children, earning an Associates degree in Social Work and becoming a Licensed Realtor kept me busy, but I finally came to understand that my true calling was in canine training.

When I first explored the possibility of entering a canine training program, I searched the Internet to find just the right school. After much research, I decided to enrol in Animal Behaviour College and I have sung their praises throughout the entire year of my studies. Everyone made me feel special and offered their advice and services freely. The curriculum was intense and very thorough. I graduated with honours feeling confident that I could go out into the world, and I began my own business called Anderson Canine Training.

I would highly recommend ABC, and have done so, to anyone who is interested in pursuing this rewarding career. Thank you so much for enabling me the opportunity to pursue my life long desire and begin a new journey with canine training.

Sharon Bartlett
Owner of Bartlett's Tail Waggin' Dog Training

My name is Sharon Bartlett. I am a wife, mother of two grown children and the proud grammie of three. I worked as an accounts payable/purchasing clerk for sixteen years, until I left to pursue my dream of working with animals.

I adopted a shelter dog, Ginger, a border collie mix and while working on getting her trained, I discovered that I wanted to help other shelter animals become adopted and live better lives. Also, I wanted to help other people build better relationships with their animals, so they would not end up in shelters.

I have just completed my year- long studies and have graduated from Animal Behaviour College as an ABC Certified Dog Trainer. It has been a very rewarding year. I did all my tests online and then worked with a trainer to do my externship. Part of my training was to work at the local shelter, which I will continue to do. It is very rewarding. I not only help with the cleaning and feeding of the animals, I work with the dogs on learning better behaviours. Most of the dogs now sit for treats, they don’t bark as much and we play in the yard. I have started a program at the shelter that has a letter go with each dog that is adopted. I write it, from the dog to his/her new Mom and Dad. I list all the things they have overcome since they have been at the shelter. I give the new Mom and Dad a few hints on what to continue to work on with the dog…any problems the dog has and suggestions to overcome those problems. I hope that it helps the people treat the dog well and to let them know they can call on me for help.

Anyone thinking about working with animals will find that Animal Behaviour College is the way to do that. The college works with you to overcome any problems, and you make good friends with everyone you work with during your training. My future is looking very bright right now. I can’t wait to start really working with all the animals in the area.

Barbara Richards

After 27 years of working in an office as an Administrative Assistant, I had become frustrated and decided that I needed a career change. My family had 2 dogs throughout my childhood years, and, as a child, I always enjoyed playing with our dogs. However, it was not until I met my husband that I became a true dog lover. His family always had dogs and after spending a lot of time with them, I realized just how much I loved being around dogs.

We got a dog as soon as we were married 22 years ago and have been dog owners ever since then. We had never gone through obedience training with any of our dogs until we got our current dog, Jake, 4 years ago. Jake was 12 weeks old when we brought him home from a shelter, and, as a puppy, he had some obedience issues that we could not resolve on our own. The trainer that helped us was excellent and in no time Jake was a well behaved dog and has even passed the Canine Good Citizen test. The training required a lot of work on our part, but I learned so much and had a lot of fun during our group training sessions.

Throughout the training with Jake, I kept thinking that this would be something I would love to do so that I could help other people train their dogs to become loving and well behaved companions. At that point, I decided to leave my office job to pursue a career in dog obedience training and I contacted Animal Behaviour College to get started with my training. I learned a great deal of information from the in-depth written curriculum and I thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on externship portion of the training. During my externship, I had the opportunity to work with many different breeds of dogs at a local shelter, which allowed me to build my confidence in working with dogs. I also obtained valuable knowledge and experience that will certainly help me in the future.

The entire staff at ABC was wonderful and I especially enjoyed working with my Mentor Trainer, Wendy. I have recently graduated from ABC with honours and am currently working at a Doggie Daycare. I plan to start my own Doggie Daycare / Obedience Training business some time in the very near future. Thank you ABC!

Rebecca King

I have been an animal-lover since birth, and as a child I dreamed of earning a living related to animals. After college, I found employment related to my business major and was content to stay with the company indefinately. However, four years later I was faced with losing my position due to a company take-over. I decided it was time to follow that dream. I
enroled in Animal Behaviour College, got my business license, and began teaching training classes part-time.

One the aspects of the ABC program that impressed me is their balanced approach to training. Other schools I looked into were very biased - either completely compulsion-based methods or purely positive methods. My favorite stage of the ABC program was the hands-on training. My Mentor Trainer (Andrea) is such a talented individual. Working alongside her with the rescued dogs was an amazing experience. It was immensely gratifying to see four of the dogs I worked with be adopted and go to their new forever homes!

I plan to utilize my ABC certification by teaching group training classes full-time through my business. I finally love what I do! I always say now that "I'm going to class" because I hardly consider it "going to work". I am also looking forward to future education opportunities offered through ABC.

Julie Caswell

I moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1995 after retiring from the U.S. Army and am originally from Nebraska. I opened Pawsitive Effects Dog Training, LLC in 2005 while attending the Animal Behaviour College's Obedience Instructor Training Program. I also volunteered at the Hawaiian Humane Society for three years as an adoption counselor for adult dogs and was the shelter manager at the Greenville Humane Society for 1 year.

I have owned dogs all of my life and presently share my home with Wishbone, a 1 1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrier mix; Hershey, a 7 year old Sheltie mix; Little Bit, a 9 year old Chihuahua mix; and Bonnie, a cat. Both Hershey and Little Bit are shelter rescues.

I completed the correspondence portion of the ABC program in November 2005. Next, I spent the required 10 hours at the Anderson County Animal Shelter practicing my training techniques with the shelter dogs. I have continued to volunteer at the shelter 2 to 3 Saturdays a month working with the large adult dogs to make them more adoptable.

Then I spent 6 months training hands-on with a local, experienced clicker dog trainer. During this time, I also attended a basic and advanced agility course with Wishbone, my Jack Russell mix, which also used clicker training.

The hands-on training is where everything really came together for me, and I was very excited that my trainer was experienced with the clicker. The ABC program addressed training with the clicker, and I felt I learned even more during the hands-on portion. Although, I have previously worked with dogs and have owned them my entire life I learned a lot of new information from the ABC program and would definitely recommend it for anyone who is interested in this field.

I now offer basic obedience classes at the Anderson County Animal Shelter on Saturdays and in home training.

Sandra Zahn
Owner of Mannerly Canines

I have taught elementary school children for many years. I have always loved books and reading to my students. This love led to a desire to write a children's book, but I never had a subject that inspired me until my husband and I adopted a puppy from the local animal shelter. This inspiration motivated me to write a series of stories about our adopted dog from her point of view.

I began visiting classrooms with my dog, Hershey, and sharing her stories. In turn, as students began to share pet stories with me, I began to realize how many people are well meaning, but ignorant of how to socialize their pets. I decided that I would combine my experience as an educator with my love of pets and become a dog trainer. My goal was to encourage people to be patient and understanding of the needs of their pets, while teaching the pets to be more compatible to their owners' lifestyles.

Of the different programs I researched, Animal Behaviour College seemed to me to be the most comprehensive one available. Since I am still a full time teacher, I appreciated the fact that I could "go to school" while I was working.

As a teacher, I like how diverse the program is. It covers everything from the history of canines as pets and canine development, to why and how dogs respond to different styles of training. I was also able to actually practice what I had learned through the externship and volunteer portions of the program, and I began to make a difference through the eductaion of pet owners.

The volumes of printed information I received from ABC, and the personal contacts I have made will combine to give me a wealth of reference materials when working with dogs and their owners. I am looking forward to making an even greater impact as an ABC graduate and the owner of Mannerly Canines.

Thomas Falcon

I have had dogs in my life since early childhood. I love and enjoy spending time and working with dogs. That is why I enroled in Animal Behaviour College, to learn as much as I could about dogs. I have enjoyed working and training dogs at the DFW Humane Society. It was a very rewarding experience. Thank You ABC.

Heather Hoge

I have been around all types of animals my whole life from domestic to exotic till this day. Ever since I was a child I was fascinated with animals and their behaviours. I just can’t stay away from animals, so I figured learning more about them and training was my calling.

I joined Animal Behaviour College to gain more knowledge of dogs, which has also helped me realize behaviours of other animals. I am excited to open my own business of training dogs and advance in training different types animals as well. My life objective is to learn and train as many as possible. I look forward to the many challenges ahead of me.

Jennifer Lamb

My name is Jennifer and my three dogs are: Murphy (a Dalmatian), Riely (a hound mix) and Marko (a German Shepherd mix). I am the mother of two children that I home school, and together with my husband, we also live with three cats, a guinea pig and a hamster. Daily life in our home evolves around animals and learning.
Prior to enroling in Animal Behaviour College, I had read many books on dog training, animal behaviour and animal psychology. This was mostly due to rescuing my little hound dog, Riely. While I was able to train basic obedience with Murphy and with Riely, I found I was learning one problem solving technique after another in order to help Riely become a member of our family. I knew I loved teaching and the challenge of solving problems. I also love my children and my dogs so much that when I was ready to pursue a new career, it was important for me to keep all these in mind.
Animal Behaviour College provided the solution. I was able to study on my own time and work around my schedule. I found the program easy to understand and challenging enough to remain excited about it. My dog Marko was added to our family while I was participating in the program. Using Marko and working with my Mentor Trainer, Chris, in the externship part of the program really brought everything together for me. ABC provided an exceptional way to learn a new career.
I graduated with honours in summer 2005. I am pursuing my own business as a private in-home dog trainer, specializing in problem solving, in the Jefferson County, Missouri area. Thank you, ABC, for helping me to bring together the things I love.

Lisa Sylvester

At the age of 5, I participated with my first dog, a Shetland Sheepdog named Calamity, as a junior-junior handler in a local dog show. Calamity & I "dazzled" the judges with a couple of tricks & took home the "Funniest Dog" ribbon & I was hooked! While my life has taken turns unrelated to working with animals, I've always known, albeit subconsciously, that it was what I was meant to do.

A few years ago, I had the chance to spend a lot of time with my uncle while my cousin attended a university near our home. During our frequent conversations, I sometimes talked about being unhappy in my job. He often reminded me that our lives are not rehearsals for the "real thing". He said it's not selfish to want happiness in ALL facets of our lives. Coming from someone who had reached a high level of success & more importantly, his own definition of success, I knew he was right, but I still hesitated.

My uncle's successes lead him to NYC as a bank analyst on the 89th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center...he did not survive the attacks on September 11th. At his memorial service his son read from a note his dad had left him during his last visit. The words he read echoed the guidance my uncle had given me so closely, it was as if he was advising all of us one last time. As I sat there, I silently vowed to myself & to my uncle's spirit that I would always pursue happiness.

I finally found Animal Behaviour College & burst into tears of joy after hanging up the phone when I was accepted into this wonderful program. The last piece of my life that I had yet to find happiness in was still my career. Training dogs and helping owners realize for themselves that they can easily and effectively train their dogs using nothing but positive techniques, is even more rewarding than I could have ever imagined! It's so much fun it's not like work at all! ABC has given me EVERYTHING I need to fulfill the vow I made to myself and enables me to honour my uncle every time I "go to work".

Erin Cooney-Lefort

My experience with ABC unfolded shortly after my dog Fu (mama lying down) and I shared pregnancies! As a psychology major and science-minded woman, I was inspired to pursue the study of canine behaviour with the most accredited school I could find. I have been fascinated with the controversies surrounding breed specific legislation and driven to separate myth from reality from an informed perspective. ABC has been a valid, reliable, and priceless source for understanding canine behaviour.

As my daughter and Puppy have grown together, we have learned so much about the similarities and important differences between human and canine behaviour. The puppy seen here is now 70 pounds, 27" tall and very well socialized. My daughter is now 22 pounds, and 21 months...and giving very clear commands to her companion animals! She is learning both her and her dogs' postures, how to fluctuate her tone of voice, and can even recognize the different types of barking that each of her dogs do, assembling what they mean. Of course, this requires a great deal of consistency, patience, and astute supervision.

Because of the Stage Literature and hands-on experience offered by ABC, my daughter and I have learned how to properly rank our dominant dogs, using appropriate commands and rewards: lessons we will share with dog owners of all breeds.

I look forward to building my business and participating in the international mission of responsible dog ownership.

Kate Jackson

As a full time Dog Trainer, I strive to better my knowledge base and learn as much as possible. I decided to enrol in Animal Behaviour College to improve my skills and knowledge as a trainer. I found ABC very informative and supportive throughout my studies with them. I was able to provide more in depth information to clients and help with more complex problems that I had previously been unable to help. Their course content was very relative to today’s dog training methods and teachings. It helped me review my business, bettering methods and procedures. ABC has been a vital part of the success of my business and my success as a trainer. I will highly recommend them in the future to aspiring trainers.

Terri Bullers

I have always had a passion for dogs. Since I was a little girl I had at least one dog in my life that I referred to as my best friend. Now I am an adult and living with a pack of dogs. It is by no accident that I share my home with five dogs. If you want to learn about the dog, hang with the pack! Three of my dogs were adopted from two different rescue organizations. I also foster a dog in my home for a local rescue occasionally.

My favorite portion of the ABC program was the opportunity I had to observe and participate in basic obedience class instruction with a seasoned dog trainer. I had a great time and walked away with a lot of valuable information.

After receiving my certification from ABC in September 2003, I offered my service for free to local area animal rescues. The rescues were grateful to receive the help and I was grateful to have an opportunity to fine tune my skills and get exposure to many types of dog behaviour problems.

Now I have opened the doors to my very own consultation business, The “Canine Behaviour Center”. I love helping owners and their dogs get past the little bumps in the road.

Diane Riggins

I always had a love for animals. I grew up with Beagles and I happily live with two Beagles of my own. I always longed to work with animals. So, about 6 – 7 years ago, I started to volunteer for the local SPCA, which has been a very rewarding experience for me.

I am currently a special education teacher and have been for the past 12 years. Last fall, I decided I had to make a change in my career because I knew I did not want to teach children for the rest of my life. I wanted to work more with animals, dogs in particular, and apply my teaching education and experience as well. It was at that point I discovered that being a dog trainer was just the profession I was looking for.

Not only has Animal Behaviour College allowed me to start a new career, it has also made me a better guardian to my two dogs. I have learned so much from ABC I wish I had learned of their program years ago.

Presently, I am teaching Basic Obedience classes at the dog training school where I did my externship. I have also started to teach private lessons. I love every moment of it – I am having so much fun, it does not feel like work at all! At this point in time, I plan to be a dog trainer part-time, for the next few years. Then, I plan to “retire early” from teaching, so I can work as a dog trainer on a full-time basis.

Thank you ABC!

Larry Ontiveros

As a child growing up in Southern California, I was exposed to animals at a very young age. In fact, I once owned up to 10 dogs of my own. There is a saying that has been heard for many years which is known as “Man’s Best Friend”. Well, not only are the dogs I own considered my best friends, I am their best companion as well. I have always been able to understand exactly what my dogs want and with the education I received from Animal Behaviour College, I was able to better understand my relationship with other dogs, as well as, communicate the importance of proper training techniques with the owners.

What I found most valuable from ABC is the hands-on training I received during the participation part of the curriculum. I participated in the class with my own dog, as well as, observed and took part in the teaching of the group classes. I now use the tools that ABC gave me to conduct my own group classes. These tools have been invaluable and I want to thank ABC for being my mentor throughout the entire program.

Brenda Free

Hi, my name is Brenda Free. I am a dog lover and guardian of three.

ABC has provided me with education and encouragement to successfully train companion dogs. Thanks to ABC for their detailed information, as well as, the observation and on hands training with a mentor included in this program. I have shared my life with several 4 pawed companions over the years, but now I know so much more and have an understanding of their behaviour.

Thanks to my Program Manager, Jori! She was most helpful and provided an outstanding support for the duration of the program.

Now I can confidently share the importance and knowledge I have learned for shaping behaviour with positive reinforcement for a lifelong desirable relationship with an obedient companion.

With ABC’s program, I have been able to start my own dog training business and has encouraged me to volunteer with a local shelter.

I truly believe through education and training we can decrease the number of shelter animals and we can all benefit from the human / canine relationship.

Jason Kelley

I am not a stranger to bad luck or hard times; however, I can honestly say that my dogs were the only ones to help me through it. After a serious accident in 2001, I took some time to reflect upon my life, and to decide which direction my life was going. I came to the conclusion that animals were the most important thing to me. With the help of my supportive girlfriend, I decided to enrol in Animal Behaviour College. I decided that becoming a dog trainer and devoting my life to educating people on the wonderful nature of canines was the path for my life.

Animal Behaviour College helped me to achieve that goal. My experience was truly challenging and rewarding, and I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in a career with canines. Animal Behaviour College also gave me the tools to open my own business. I am now the owner of Biscuit's Dog Training, and I am very excited about this new path in my life.

Dean Scharf

After working as a creative director in advertising agencies, publishing, and corporate identity companies for 30 years, I decided to quit that high stress career to do something I truly love. I weighed a lot of options from running a bed & breakfast to doing home renovation to opening a mini-storage. However, none of those spoke to my heart. The answer for me was dog training.

Working with dogs is a dream-come-true. I get up every morning and wonder why I waited so long to make the change.

I love helping a dog and owner form a better, tighter relationship based on communication and love. I love being my own boss. I love owning my own company. I love meeting new people. I love being a welcome addition to the rural community that I now live in.

Although my wife and I had trained our own dogs, Timber a Rottweiler and Aroma a mixed breed, I knew that a formal course and certification would help me gain confidence, fill in gaps in my knowledge, hone my skills, and add credibility in the eyes of clients. Once I was committed to starting a new life, I looked for a really good school that would offer just those things.

I found Animal Behaviour College and checked it out with people who had graduated and with other trainers who knew the school’s reputation but had not gone through its program. ABC came out with high marks because of the combination of academics and hands on experience. One without the other is just half the education.

Thanks to ABC I now work with dogs teaching obedience, solving behavioural problems, volunteering at shelters, and will soon open a boarding kennel that specializes in board and train services.

I've never been happier.

Ken Horton

I have loved animals--especially dogs--for as long as I can remember. Actually, I have been admired for my breadth of knowledge on all breeds of dogs, their temperaments, health concerns, and their ideal environments. Fortunately, I work at the Atlanta Humane Society where that knowledge is put to use daily. It is imperative that clients get the best advice possible when selecting a new member of the family. I take pride in helping them find that perfect pet.

With the knowledge that I have received from Animal Behaviour College, my skills have been enhanced tremendously. Now, I am able to assist families after the adoption is complete with issues such as housebreaking, behaviour modification, and other issues that might arise after bringing the new family member home. I now assist co-workers deal with problem animals. I also work directly with the animals that are waiting to be adopted, thereby making them more appealing to potential adopters. The possibilities are endless, and I plan to pursue as many as possible.

Soon, I will be conducting private and group dog training sessions around Atlanta, Georgia. ABC has had a tremendous impact on my future in the dog training business. Thanks.

Kenneth Lips

As a child, I always had a love for animals, but because of my fathers job the pets we were able to get we could never keep for long. This broke my heart as a young boy. Although my interests changed as I became a teenager, I never lost my love for animals; especially dogs. Originally, I wanted to become a veterinarian, but because I had a family at a young age, I sacrificed college to go to tech school so that could provide for their immediate needs. After tech school, I got a job fixing cars. That became the career I followed for the next thirty years. Now that my children are grown and have lives of their own, I can finally follow my dream of working with dogs. Not as a veterinarian, but as a dog trainer and animal behaviourist. I began searching for a school by which to get an education in this field and found Animal Behaviour College on the internet. After checking out their site, I sought to contact a trainer who had graduated from ABC. I heard only good things back from the people I talked to, so I decided to sign up. Over the next ten months, working with my Program Manager, Julie, I completed and graduated from ABC. It has been a very rewarding and intriguing experience. Currently, I am planning to start my own business, but I am already working in the field to gain experience.

Kellie Sadler

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and after many hardships and moving from one place to another and back again, I ended up in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City, MO. I have always loved animals, and dogs stuck out to me for some reason. They were special. They seemed to like me back. I spent my childhood and teen years reading everything I could find on dogs. From pop-up books to biology text books, I fed my head. I always knew I wanted to be a dog trainer. Animal Behaviour Collage made that possible for me, and I'm very thankful for them! I learned everything I could from my mentor trainer (that the program provided) and their books. Now, I'm in a position that I love... one to help the dogs I've grown so fond of. Now, I'm a trainer.

Debra Ekman

Debra Ekman is married with two boys, ages 17 and 19, and 10 dogs. Some are from the local shelter, and others are from the rescue, where she volunteered. Although her youngest will be leaving for college next year, she laughs when friends ask her about her impending "empty nest". Debra is currently volunteering at the Montgomery County, Md. shelter, doing dog training on Friday afternoons and adoptions advising on Saturdays. She is also assisting in training classes in order to continue her dog training education. Her goal is to help rescue and shelter dogs find homes and to offer their owners training classes and advice on problem behaviours, so that these dogs stay in their homes. "I want to help nurture the relationship between owner and dog, so that the dog feels loved and appreciated and the owner feels blessed to have added this dog to the family."

Melinda Weaver

Growing up, I always wanted to be a sports reporter, but when the company I worked for starting restructuring, I realized I wanted something else. I had a dog with aggression toward new people and wanted to learn how to make his life less stressful. When searching on the Internet for dog trainers, I found the ABC site and realized I could go to school to be a dog trainer and begin to train Muggsy myself. Through the ABC apprenticeship program, I met a wonderful trainer who was willing to take me under her wing and help me improve. I currently work for her Los Angeles-based company doing group classes and private lessons.

Christina Bangs
Senior Analysis and Owner of Retrieving Dreams (K-9 Good Behaviour Training)

I have had dogs as members of my family since I was a small child. Dogs have always been an important part of my life and currently my family consists of a senior Golden Retriever and a Border Collie Mix (she is a rescue). I am extremely grateful for all the dogs in my life for giving and teaching me unconditional love. I have never meet a dog I didn’t like and each dog has their own individual personality and traits. I volunteer at the local SPCA and believe that the proper socialization and training will result in a higher likelihood of dogs being adopted.

A graduate of Animal Behaviour College, I was granted ABC Certified Dog Trainer status in March 2005. The course was beneficial in my ability to launch Retrieving Dreams (K-9 Good Behaviour Training). Retrieving Dreams is dedicated to ensuring dog owners and their pets develop and maintain a quality relationship based on understanding and effective humane communication.

I strive to bring a smile to every dog owner's face when they see that their dog has become a well trained, behaved and good mannered family member. Families and their beloved dogs, I believe that this relationship is what makes each day a fulfilled and a happy one.

Lynn Steinman
Flight Attendant

Throughout my childhood much of my time was spent caring for my dogs, cats, and horses. I then went off into the real world to pursue a career as a flight attendant for the past 18 years. My cat and dog allow me to nurture the intense animal connection I so desire. I have also been volunteering at my local no kill animal shelter with the hope of bringing some love, peace, and happiness into their lives. This environment has so obviously shown me the lack of owner bonding and training. I felt compelled to do something. So with a nudge from my wonderful new husband, I went for it. Animal Behaviour College offered the type of training tools to build a solid foundation that I was looking for. My entire learning experience at ABC has been incredibly rewarding. I long to give back to our ever loving canine companions, and ABC has opened that door. It is my ultimate goal to open a doggy day care facility.

Maureen Seiferling

Formerly a technology geek and junkie (well, okay, not so ‘formerly’), I found myself at a crossroads in my professional life and wanted to find an occupation that would re-energize my passion in my profession of choice. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I was spending more and more time fostering kittens. Well I couldn’t stand not having a furry family of my own so I adopted two. My feline family has since grown to 5 and if not for the rather cantankerous personalities of a couple of my four-legged fiends, uh friends, I would have added a couple of dogs to the mix now that I have the space where they would thrive.

So putting two and two together, my professional dilemma led me to the conclusion that happiness awaits in starting my own business (enter Auntie M’s PETicular Care) where my love for animals takes center stage rather than back stage. Then I found ABC and what a wonderful program. Not only are you provided with the latest in theory, methodology and techniques but you are given the invaluable experience with a trained mentor who will forever be an important [local] contact for you. Thank you ABC!

While I will continue to volunteer extensively at various shelters and/or rescue organizations (increasing my feline household as kitten season is upon us), the services I can now provide to them as well as to others has grown significantly with the completion of my education with ABC. This has also positioned me well for the next chapter in my animal education specializing in complex behaviour problems in both dogs and cats.

And…I love humor and love fun. What better profession to do both in when your clients are so entertaining!

(Pictured is foster pup Manny who is recovering from a pelvic fracture. Manny is a 2-year old male Manchester Terrier/Dachshund mix. He is cotton-candy sweet, absolutely loves to just be cuddled (preferrably on your lap) and such a little gentleman despite his current challenges.)

Janet McDonough
Owner of Alpha Dog Training/Real Estate Title Abstractor

I have always had a passion for animals. Even as a young child, I had a lot of patience with them. I had an incredibly close connection with them and was very understanding of them. I knew early on that all I would ever want to do would be to work with animals. I just wasn't sure how I would accomplish it. I didn't think I could stomach being a vet; yet I wasn't sure how I could make a living by just working in a kennel or working for anyone in this industry. So, I tried everything else from psychology to bartending to massage therapy to real estate sales and research.

When I lost one of my dogs last year, it was a real wake-up-call me. I realized that after all that, there was still something missing. I longed to work with animals. I looked into different careers with animals and training was something I used to love to do when I worked at a kennel years ago. So, dog training was what I chose to really look into. I was really excited when I found ABC. It was a perfect fit for me. I lived in Maine, worked full time and couldn't quit my job or move to go to school. ABC's correspondence course was great. I loved that I would still be able to go through a hands-on training as well. I was sold! The information was very informative, the Program Manager that I worked with was a great help, the business forms that were supplied were wonderful guide lines and the hands-on portion of the training was hugely beneficial!

I am now still working full time at my other job and have started my own business training dogs on evenings and weekends. I used to dream of having a job where I could take my dogs with me every day. Thanks to ABC that is looking more and more like a reality every day!

Brenda Voght

I started raising assistance dogs for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) in October of 2000. I had no experience in dog obedience training. I learned as I taught the puppy while attending weekly courses with a local CCI dog trainer. I quickly became hooked and I am now raising my fourth dog for CCI.

In 2003, the changes in the economy led to my full-time engineering position of becoming in jeopardy when a facility move to another state was announced. Since I had no intention of leaving the Pacific Northwest, I started looking for other options. I had increasingly become more interested in dog training and thought maybe a change in career was in store. I started looking into different instructor training courses and Animal Behaviour College seemed to best fit my needs. With the ABC course I could do the course work at my own pace and it wouldn’t interfere with my full-time day job.

Now that I have completed the course, I feel that I have a better understanding of dogs in general and my training techniques have greatly improved. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with those needing assistance with their four-legged canine companions and also applying what I have learned in the training of future CCI assistance dogs.

Che'rie Koronik

I have worked with a wide variety of people with special needs, trying to feel satisfied in my career. When I heard of the course offered by ABC, I knew I could combine my love of animals with my desire and dedication to help people.

The staff at ABC was always helpful and I was able to continue working full time while I took the course. I truly enjoyed the hands on training.

I am excited to help owners have a better understanding of their dogs and also help shelter dogs become more adoptable through volunteer work.

Corey Dowden

Before enroling in Animal Behaviour College, I had just assumed I would only learn the basic obedience commands such as sit, down, and stay. Boy was I in for a treat! There was so much information and all of it so applicable, not only for dog trainers but also pet owners. As much as I enjoyed the entire experience, my favorite part was getting to use everything I had learned by working hands-on during the participation stage. Animal Behaviour College went above and beyond my expectations and I know it will surpass yours too.

Ramona Locke

Hi! My name is Ramona and I live in Rochester, N.H. As you can see these are my dogs. Billy the Kid and Roscoe P. Coltrain for you Dukes of Hazzard fans.

My experience with Animal Behaviour College began in March of 2004 when I learned that I would be losing my job. I have always had dogs in my life and had been through some not so great training experiences, so I decided to check out becoming a trainer myself. My experience was wonderful with ABC. My Program Manager was always responsive to any questions I had, though I didn't have many as everything was very easy to understand. I have learned so much more than what I thought there was to dog training. I have learned the importance of dog training and have decided to pursue a part-time career as a dog trainer and continue to work with the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) of Kennebunk, ME.

Cynthia Bieber

I was in the corporate world for over 10 years working in finance, investment money management and office management before opening Paws Playland, the first Doggy Daycare in Santa Fe, NM. In order to better my understanding of dog behaviour and positive training techniques, I became a Certified Dog Trainer through Animal Behaviour College. The ABC program gave me the confidence to obtain my own dog training clients and the knowledge I needed to be successful in my doggy daycare business!

Heike Warnecke-Williams

Since I spent my childhood years growing up in the rural countryside of Germany, I was always surrounded by animals of all shapes and sizes. When you live in the middle of farmland, you develop certain skills in understanding animal behaviours whether you like it or not. I relished it.

Into my teen years I was hands on with a couple of local farms, helping to feed and clean and exercise their animals. I seemed to grow a sixth sense with dogs, to understand their mentality and how to interact with their behavioural patterns. I felt it just came easy to me.
It finally began to sink in to me that my destiny was to work with dogs and animals in general, when I had a very bad week with animals (in one week, I was bitten by a mouse whilst trying to save it from a flooded field, bitten by a horse during a feed and bitten by a dog attempting to pet the animal). To this day, my family still jokes about my escapades with animals and in particular, my humorous animal interaction of that whole week.

Since that turning point for me, I have tried to understand and predict animal behaviour and have always looked for a way to fulfill my dream of being an animal trainer (i.e. a dog trainer). I am finally fulfilling my dream now.

I have completed some courses over the years, in between raising a family, and now, with some valued spare time, I have engaged Animal Behaviour College to further my goal of becoming an animal trainer. This course has advanced me (and my Bloodhound Muttley) so much that I now feel completely comfortable in my ability as an instructor, a trainer, and a consultant. To now know how to be able to enhance the relationship and experience between owner and dog.

Of course, my experience and activity knowledge will complete me over time, but the whole process with ABC has given me the confidence to finally make the decision between wondering if I really know what I can do to knowing exactly what I can achieve.
I have arrived to where my destiny yearned. Thank you ABC.

Thank you to my ABC Mentor Trainer, Terri, for all your excellent advice, as a teacher, and as a confidante!

Woof Woof…Keep tails wagging…

Elizabeth Lemmel

I always had a love of animals, especially dogs. I was never allowed to have any animals growing up, which is why I now have 2 Black Labs (Dallas & Tuffet), 1 Chocolate Lab (Hershey), an Alaskan Malamute (Timber), and a cat (Mya). My interest in dog training came when I took our first dog, Dallas, to an obedience class 9 years ago. After achieving much success with Dallas, I began helping family and friends with training their furry companions. (My sister calls me "the dog whisperer" because I had such a calming effect on their dog.)

In October 2003, I decided to leave my 17 year career of software developing to pursue my passion. I graduated from the Animal Behaviour College in the Spring of 2004, where I earned my certification in dog training. I enjoyed the course immensely and felt like I was able to further develop my training techniques. I felt the apprenticeship was helpful in that it allowed me to see a different approach.

In the future, I would like to train service dogs for people with disabilities.

ABC - Thanks for the new career! I really love it.

Andrea Bellomo

I never had any dogs until about 5 years ago, and my life has not been the same ever since. He is my best friend and companion. I was at a time in my life where I didn't know what direction I wanted to take my career. I became clear to me that nothing was more rewarding and fun than to do something with animals.

I decided to join Animal Behaviour College so I could not only love my career, but I could help other people understand and train their dog companions. My experience at ABC was fun! The curriculum taught me a lot of valuable information, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I especially enjoyed the hands on training. I also met many other people along the way that love animals as much as I do.

A special thanks to all the people I worked with at the Animal Behaviour College who helped me start my journey to becoming a dog trainer!

Liz Huskey
Pet Trainer

When I first started considering taking a course in dog training, I had already been volunteering at a Humane Society to train dogs in basic commands to help with making them more desirable for adoption. I also helped to walk and socialize the dogs and cats.

I have always loved animals and had a continuous variety of pets since I was 3 years old. I believe in the humane treatment and handling of all pets. So, when choosing a dog training school, I wanted to be assured that positive reinforcement methods were used. I found Animal Behaviour College on-line while looking through the various schools out there. ABC stood out because of its curriculum and professional approach.

Once I began the program, I was thoroughly satisfied with the results. I was assigned a program manager, Julie, who was always available and ready to assist as needed. I had the options of emailing or calling for assistance. This made the program very convenient and reliable. I would recommend ABC to anyone wanting to learn how to work with dogs and in a positive way. The hands-on section of the program allowed me the opportunity to work with a variety of dogs and people. This proved to be very beneficial to the overall process.

Having graduated the program, I feel prepared and ready to continue to build a successful career in a field that I have desired as far back as I can remember….loving and caring for animals.

Jeanette Hill

A year ago I started a quest to become a Certified Dog Trainer. I found information online about ABC and made my call. From that point on, it is a decision I have not regretted. It has been a real experience and a lot of fun to go through the Animal Behaviour College (ABC).

I have loved animals for as long as I can remember; I had a lot when I was a child. I had a Betta fish about a year ago that I enjoyed. I love to watch birds, squirrels and anything else that God put here for us to enjoy. I made a decision to go into dog training to be able to help the dogs who were being put to sleep or given away because the owners could not handle their behaviours and thought there was no hope.

With my ABC Mentor Trainer, Stacy, we were able to work with several different dogs in a shelter program. This was great because each dog had their own temperament, which made it a challenging, yet valuable, learning experience. Working with the dogs week after week, results were obvious almost immediately. The dogs were great students. Through perseverance we accomplished our goal.

In conclusion, I find that the program at ABC has page after page of valuable information, great available trainers in the field and great people who help you begin your journey. This makes for a success in my life to become the best dog trainer in Texas! I would highly recommend this school to anyone who wants to make dog training a full time career, or even part time.

Thank You ABC for giving me the best career I could ask for!

Karla Mathis
Marketing/Real Estate Agent

I have always gravitated to animals, especially dogs. After helping a friend foster 2 Springer Spaniel mix dogs - Samson and Molly – and having to part with Molly to an adoptive family, I knew I couldn’t let Samson go and realized my true passion in life- dogs! I was bored in my full-time job and wanted to do something that allowed me the opportunity to work with these wonderful animals. I did some research on the Internet and happened upon Animal Behaviour College. After signing up and completing the curriculum and hands-on training, I can honestly say that it was one of the best experiences I’ve had and one of the best decisions I have ever made! Jori, my Program Manager, was a delight to work with and very, very helpful. ABC exceeded my expectations in every way! I hope to apply my new knowledge in the very near future and eventually work on a full-time basis with “man’s best friend”.

Maureen Urpani

Before I found Animal Behaviour College, I did not have any formal dog training experience. But I'd always had dogs growing up, even as many as 6 at a time when I was living in Africa. I spent a lot of time animal watching and I volunteered in shelters and sanctuaries. I saw such incredible misunderstanding between dogs and their owners and I thought it such a shame. So I decided to better the odds in my own little way, by becoming a dog trainer.

At ABC I learned the fundamentals of what to do to achieve my goals. ABC showed me how to get where I wanted to be. I especially enjoyed the comprehensive curriculum presented in the program and the special attention showed to me by the Program Manager.

I have such a strong desire to impart all the knowledge I have as fast as I can. So, I am pursuing a training career by researching various training methods and by working for ABTA as Group Class Obedience Instructor. I am very determined and confident that I can use the knowledge and experience that I gained from ABC along with my communication skills to bring the world of dogs and people together.

Nancy Phillips
Breeder of Brittany Spaniels & Rottweilers

I graduated Animal Behaviour College in October of 2000 and was thrilled when I was offered a Group Obedience Instructor position with Petco. I accepted the position and currently teach at two Petco stores in the Houston Metro area.

In the past, I have been a breeder of Brittany Spaniels and Rottweilers, but I have been a dog lover all my life. I decided to become a professional dog trainer after enroling my Weimaraner puppy in an obedience course at Petco. I had always wanted to have a career that involved animals and it became apparent to me that it was a definite possibility after reading the flyer I received when I joined the class.

I feel that I have found the true passion in my life and have plans to advance my training education even further. I have started a Pet Sitting business and am loving it. I enjoy my work more than I ever could have imagined. It is so fulfilling to see how many people are interested in having their dog be a well-mannered member of their family and of society. I believe I am helping Pet Owners make the ‘canine connection’ with their dogs, and these people are a ‘breed’ of their own and should be applauded as being responsible pet owners and citizens.

PJ DiCarlo
Professional Pet Groomer

As a Professional Pet Groomer for over 25 years, I heard innumerable heart breaking stories from my clients about their unsolved pet problems. I always wanted to help them, I just didn’t know how.

One day I read a brochure at Petco about Animal Behaviour & Training Associates, Inc., describing their positive motivational training methods. I called the 800 number listed on the brochure and to my delight I learned about Animal Behaviour College (ABC), a school for dog trainers. I enroled in ABC, completed the course and became a Professional Dog Obedience Trainer.
Words cannot explain how rewarding it is to me, to now be able to help others have happy, healthy relationship with their dogs. My only regret is that I didn’t find out about ABC years ago.

Wendy Walsh
Retail Sales

Years ago I took the public bus to college and every morning there was a man with his seeing eye dog. I would look at the dog and think "What a great career, training dogs to help people." Well years later, stuck working in retail, I thought I really needed to get into something I like doing. At this point my mother started showing Shiba Inu's and asked me if I could help her. At one of the shows they had Search & Rescue dogs, again what a great career. After 4 years of showing dogs I took one of the puppies I kept from one of my litters to an obedience class at Petco. I thought if I could train a Shiba Inu I can train anything!!! I talked to the person training the class who told me to call Animal Behaviour College (ABC). I told them my goal of becoming a professional dog trainer and came to the decision that enroling in ABC would be the first step in the right direction. I successfully completed ABC and am now a full time mom and teach two dog obedience group classes a week at Petco in Woburn MA. I was right, “What a great career!”

Beth
Certified Paralegal

My name is Beth and I became interested in working with dogs almost 10 years ago when I took my Golden Retriever, Bailey, to K-9 Kindergarten and basic obedience. I had so much fun and learned a lot about communicating with dogs. I decided that one day I’d like the opportunity to share that ability so people could enjoy a well-behaved pet in their home. Even though I have a background in travel and a paralegal certification, I can honestly say that dog training gives me the fulfillment I’ve long searched for in a career. There is nothing more rewarding to me than to watch an owner’s face light up when her dog responds to her commands! Most people have had the frustration of having a dog that “just won’t listen”. I’ve learned through training that communication is the key to making that dog listen and knowing that I can help make a difference is a gratifying feeling.

As a recent graduate of ABC (Animal Behaviour College) I can say that the experience has been very enjoyable and ABC has an excellent training program. The information I received through the program was very thorough and the coordinators were helpful. Once I got involved I learned there is so much more I can do with an obedience background. I’d like to develop my skills into the advanced and private training areas and eventually do this full time. I recently “rescued” a Golden/Shepherd mix (Gabriel) from a home where he was badly neglected and in desperate need of love and patience. Coincidentally, I was going through my training when I took Gabe so it didn’t take long to resolve his problems with separation anxiety, dominant aggression and running away. People can hardly believe he’s the same dog! I’m proud to say that with the help of the knowledge I gained from ABC and a little patience, I’ve saved the life of a dog who was headed for the dog pound. Now Gabe is one of the most well-behaved, intelligent and LOVING dogs I’ve met yet! I’d now like to get him involved in agility or a more advanced area of training and am looking forward to working with ABTA to accomplishing that.

Bobbi-Lynn Riley

I became interested in animal behaviour when I hired a professional trainer to help with my 1 ½ year old Siberian Husky, Siam, who was suffering from separation anxiety. The professional trainer I hired worked for Animal Behaviour & Training Associates, Inc. (ABTA) and the results were so great that when I got my second Siberian Husky, I called ABTA again. When speaking with the folks at ABTA I learned about their school for dog trainers, Animal Behaviour College (ABC), and the rest was history. I graduated from the College with honours and accepted a position with ABTA, teaching private in-home lessons. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is serious about a dog training career. The people at ABC keep everything professional and take dog training very seriously. They love and respect dogs, and they strive to impress the same philosophies upon their students.

Gerilynn Baum
Sales Professional

Hi, my name is Gerilynn and this is my wonderful dog, Sam. I am a graduate of Animal Behaviour College. Attending the College was one of the best choices I have ever made for myself. I am now able to help dogs and their families build lasting rewarding relationships through training and education. I truly feel by educating dog owners we can help decrease the numbers of homeless dogs in shelters and rescues. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a professional dog trainer is seeing the happy faces of owners when their best friends are obedient members of the family.

Steve Copeland

I have always had a passion for animals, especially dogs. However, I never imagined I could make a career out of it. I found an adorable puppy at the Long Beach Animal Shelter to give to my fiancée, Monica, for Christmas. But when we arranged for training classes with the local recreation department, Monica was called out of town on business for a month, making me the primary trainer. I worked with our puppy daily and we both made outstanding progress. When the class was over, Sable, the youngest puppy in the class, finished in second place. After seeing how successful the training was with Sable, neighbors and friends began asking me for advice and quick behaviour solutions. After several success stories with neighborhood dogs, I knew I had come across something I had a real passion for, so after taking Sable through an advanced obedience program, I decided to inquire about becoming a trainer at the local Petco store. I found out about Animal Behaviour College (ABC) and quickly signed up for the Dog Obedience Instructor Program. I am so happy I did. I am now an ABC Certified Dog Trainer getting paid to help people and their dogs

Al Rossomando
Retail Banking Business

After twenty-five years of being in the retail baking business, it had lost it's thrill,and I was looking for something different. Over the years I have enjoyed training and working with my own dogs and helping friends train their dogs. One day I had a thought, why not try doing this for a living. I started training part time. After doing part time for five years I'm making the move to full time training and specialized boarding.

The ABC program gave me some new insights and the confidence to take on my new career. It was a pleasure to talk with the ABC staff. They were helpful and knowledgeable of all things dog.

In the years to come I hope to work with dogs and their caretakers to ensure they have long and happy lives together, so that man can truly be dogs best friend.

Chrisi Talen
Aspiring Actress

Originally from Chicago, I came to Los Angeles with the not-so-unheard-of dream of becoming an actress. After spending the majority of my adult life in miserable jobs, I decided I wanted to find work I could ENJOY doing that would also allow me time to pursue acting. As if it had been staring me in the face all along, I remembered my childhood love of animals, especially my family's two golden retrievers. After research and tremendous support from my new husband, Buck, I leapt forward into the world of dogs.

ABC has been a terrific experience. I love helping owners bridge the communication gap between human and canine. The apprenticeship was a great way to work in the class environment with a safety net. I fully intend on stealing my instructor, Linda's great stories to pass on to my future students! I plan to continue in the group setting at Petco, as well as furthering my studies to become a private trainer. I am also in the process of establishing my own Pet Sitting/Dog Walking service called, "What About Fluffy?" I will be focusing on caring for all types of pets in Van Nuys and the surrounding communities

When I found my three cats were immune to my dog training skills, I adopted a stray Golden Retriever/Irish Setter mix, Barnum. He has been my most difficult student, as I have to live with anything I don't instill properly! I also volunteer at the SPCA LA and want to encourage anyone looking for a dog (or cat) to check them out. Just as becoming a trainer has made me see dog behaviour in a clearer light, working for the SPCA has blown all of my preconceived notions about animals in rescues. The majority are there because owners just gave up on them. But I know with the right amount of attention and training, every dog can be a wonderful companion.

Sandra
Professional Pet Sitter

I have been a petsitter for five years. During this time, I saw many of my clients enrol their dogs in obedience classes, go through the sessions and end up with dogs that were still completely untrained. These classes, also, did not address the dogs' behavioural problems that existed. I knew there had to be a better way and decided to become certified in dog training myself.

I always loved dogs but not until I went through the ABC program, did I truly begin to understand them. Having a dog sit or lie down was never a problem for me, that was simple. Reading their body language and getting a better
feel for what was going on inside their mind was something I was lacking.

ABC provided me with this knowledge and it has proven to be invaluable to me. It has allowed me to better help my clients understand their dogs and correct behaviour problems. Being able to turn problem behaviours around and save a pet from ending up in a shelter, has been incredibly rewarding. Without ABC instruction, I would not have been able to do this. Since I graduated
ABC, I have been offering both private and group training classes. I just love the challenge and enjoy helping a dog to become a welcome member of the family.

Stacey
Vet Hospital Employee

I had been out in the business world in management and found it was not rewarding. So I turned to something I love and am passionate about. Dogs. I volunteered in shelters while growing up and all throughout college. One of my goals is to make shelter dogs more popular and attractive to prospective owners so they can get adopted. I also worked in an animal hospital for 2 years before I joined Animal Behaviour College and I am still there. ABC helped me tremendously in that field. I have an advanced understanding of dogs and can now communicate better with them through the tone of my voice.

I have bragged about ABC to a lot of people. The manual was very user friendly and presented the material in a way that was easy to understand. It was nice having a Program Manager throughout the program that I could call whenever I had questions. One of the things I really liked about ABC was learning about the different canine behavioural characteristics. I now have an understanding of the intricacies of canine aggression and factors relating to fearful behaviour.

I am a positive, outgoing and enthusiastic person so I enjoyed the motivational format of the Program. Positive reinforcement was what motivated me to work with people in the first place and it works even better on dogs. The hands-on training was the best part of ABC because you get to use what you learned. My trainer was great and spent extra time with me. And I was fortunate enough to get to see the reviews of the class that I taught so I could see how well I did. I plan to teach group and private training and find homes for more dogs because of what I learned from ABC.

Vicki
School Teacher

Other than always having at least 2 dogs in my family at any given time while growing up, I had no dog training experience at all before I went to Animal Behaviour College. I am currently a school teacher, and take pleasure in working with people. Also, I have always enjoyed working with dogs. Now I can combine the two. It is really more a matter of teaching the owners about their dogs so that they can work in conjunction with each other. ABC gave me a great understanding of dog behaviour and also helped me understand how to teach owners to relate to their dogs.

I thought the "hands-on" was the best part of ABC. I am more of a visual/kinesthetic learner, so this part of the Program was more effective for me than the written material. I eventually want to have my own business, such as a doggie day-care. With the knowledge I gained from attending Animal Behaviour College, I can make that a reality now.

Lana

I always wanted to become a dog trainer because I love animals. But before going through Animal Behaviour College, I didn't have too much knowledge on how to teach others basic obedience except what I had seen on TV and read in books. But of course none of this was as in-depth as ABC.

I am also currently in college to become a veterinarian. Then I will be able to help my clients solve their dog's behaviour problems due to the knowledge I gained from ABC. Also, I figured that being a dog trainer will help when I open m own doggie day-care because I will be able to offer my clients obedience courses. I know I will be successful because I love to work with dogs and their owners.

ABC taught me more in-depth ways of dealing with problem behaviours and also how to teach others how to work properly with their animals. My favorite part of ABC was the obedience classes. I loved seeing the owners' faces when they saw their dogs beginning to learn. I now know how to teach owners the basic obedience cues that will make their dogs better companions.

Nadine Onesti

Before attending Animal Behaviour College the experience I had with dogs was with my own, and as an apprentice for a dog groomer. Because I love dogs I wanted to help the ones that people just "throw away" so I wanted to become an obedience trainer.

I gained so much knowledge and experience from ABC's hands-on training that I will be volunteering with the local Humane Society and working as a professional dog obedience instructor.

The knowledge of one of ABC's Program Managers, Jori, whom I was always able to call for help, was one of my favorite parts of ABC. I would recommend ABC to others because they are so knowledgeable about training and they are always there to help you.

Tony Wolfe
Owner of Tail Waggin

I got my first dog in 1994 and took obedience classes through the local Humane Society. Ever since then I found that working with dogs is something that I really enjoyed doing. I had decided earlier on from my experiences I had with my first dog, that it would be very rewarding to me to be able to teach owners to work with their dogs. In 2003, I had enough of the corporate world and decided to make a career change. So I found Animal Behaviour College on the internet and signed up. In January of 2004, I quit my job at the law firm to finish my studies through ABC and open my own dog training business. When I left my desk job, I had two goals for when I completed the ABC program, one was to open a dog training business (which has became a reality) and the second is to be certified as a Search & Rescue team with my pup, Penny.

I feel that ABC has a great program to offer to people who are looking to get certification as a dog trainer through ABC. With a well written program, to the very rewarding "hands-on" training, I am happy to have found Animal Behaviour College to help me get a step in the right direction as a dog trainer.

Christy Rousseau

As a way to continue my heartfelt desire to help people and my love for animals, I began volunteering at an animal shelter in Alna, Maine. I was searching my mind for how I could do more to help the dogs at the shelter and began researching about dog obedience training. Of interest to me was that many dogs are owner surrendered to shelters due to the perceived “disobedient” nature. I figured this was a great opportunity to expand my horizon and volunteer work at the shelter by training dogs in basic obedience, as well as educating dog owners about their dog and various behaviours.

I chose ABC because it offered a comprehensive learning phase that included basic canine behaviour theory as well as the hands on portion of the program where I could apply the theory. The most rewarding portion of the program for me was being able to do my training at a shelter and see the remarkable improvement each week as the dogs that I worked with became obedient trained. I am happy to say, many of those dogs were adopted! My personal goal is to work with dogs in shelters, educate people about dog obedience and help find shelter dogs loving homes.

Lisa

I've had about 5 dogs throughout my life (all rescues), like Huskies. I have always related well with dogs and seemed to have a knack for training them. Since I really care about dogs and like working with people, I decided to join Animal Behaviour College and become an ABC Certified Dog Trainer.

I really liked the hands-on classes. I enjoyed working with all of the different breeds and personalities of dogs (other than Huskies). Now I have knowledge on how to handle difficult situations with dogs. And I liked working with all of the different people, too. There are a lot of different breeds to train and ABC gave me the experience and knowledge I need to pursue a dog training career and start my own business.

Cheryl

I have owned dogs all my life since I was a child. I have also owned raccoons and have experience in horseback riding as I took a class in college on horsemanship. I own three dogs right now and the things they do every day amaze me. To people that do not have dogs, I would say that they are missing out on unconditional love, loyalty, and great companionship.

I loved the group observation and participation. Actually working with the dogs and receiving an abundance of knowledge from my experienced instructor was a great learning experience for me.

I am very interested in dogs and would like to use the training I received at ABC to train dogs as a second source of income, maybe even having my own business one day. I would like to start out part-time and work my way up, furthering my education as I go.

ABC gave me a new knowledge of what a dog's reaction means, how to treat and train the dogs I have, as well as other dogs. Now I have a greater urge to learn even more. My love for dogs makes me determined to become the best trainer I can be.

Michelle Kimbell
Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City

Like a lot of people, I have had dogs all my life. I am also on the board of Directors for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City which allowed me to realize first hand how dog training could improve the likelihood of adoption for almost every dog.

I think there is an important bond between humans and animals that we can use to enrich our lives. I have never met a dog that I could not find something positive about. For example, I rescued a 1 ½ year old Dalmatian that had been in a shelter for 3 months and within 2 weeks he was perfect and has been the #1 dog in my life. Now I can use the knowledge and experience that I gained from ABC to help other shelter dogs become more adoptable.

I really enjoyed learning about the different personalities of the breeds. The hands-on training was my favorite part of ABC. I was able to see the different personalities of the people and their pets during the hands on training called "Observation" and "Participation".

Right after I completed ABC, I was hired by ABTA as a Professional Dog Obedience Instructor. ABC gave me the knowledge and experience to be a success in the dog industry.