Shaping good dog behavior one human at a time
Paula Weir KPA CPT:
As of April 15, 2009 I officially graduated from the Karen Pryor Academy and am now a Karen Pryor CERTIFIED TRAINING PARTNER- check it out http://www.karenpryoracademy.com . This was a very intense training course and I am very proud and honored to be among the first Texas graduating class and only 1 of 4 total that achieved certification. Read more...
Mickey Schufman: It is my mission - my passion - to let people know that dog training doesn’t have to be punitive. That’s really old school, folks! You can have the dog you’ve always wanted, by using positive reinforcement!
I’m originally from Minnesota, where the winters are really cold, and we say “pop” instead of “soda”. I got my first dog when I was six. He was a mean little Chihuahua named Skipper, and he bit me on a regular basis. My parents didn’t keep him. After Skipper we were dogless for a few years, but for pretty much the rest of my life I have had four-legged companions. In the 70’s my husband and I got into Weimaraners, and were introduced to the world of conformation showing. I also decided to try obedience training with my much-loved “Sassy” and placed first in our first-time ever obedience class.
Back then (in the olden days), compulsion training was really the only thing that was offered. This form of training is the “jerk and release” method. That was just what you did. When it came time to teach the retrieve, I was told that I would have to use an ear pinch to get her to pick up a dumbbell. I refused. I’ve had quite a few dogs in my lifetime, and have done obedience with many of them... but it was always the same old method, and it didn’t make me happy. I thought there had to be a better way. Read more...
Traci Murdock, CPDT:Traci Murdock, CPDT, is a Master Trainer, Canine Behavior Specialist, & Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Traci’s competition in dog sports and experience in print and film media has allowed her to broaden the set of skills and tools that she uses to train dogs and their humans.
Lessons learned while training for Flyball, Agility, Rally, Obedience, Conformation, Herding, Freestyle, Frisbee, and Therapy work translate into enhanced methods of teaching pets to be better companions and family members AND allow us to have fun with them.
Traci also created the Hollywood Dog classes and workshops to teach pet dog owners the skills necessary and provide direct access to allow them to break into show business. These methods also encourage flexibility when training the wide variety of dog types and breeds that complicate simpler training systems. Read more...
Emily (Snider) Hurt:
Michelle del Carpio:Michelle's passion for agility began in 2004 with their Rat Terrier, Katie. Like many other dogs, Katie needed something to do other than sit at home and cause trouble. She needed a JOB! Michelle found an agility school that had two openings, so she convinced her husband to bring their Chihuahua, Tamale along. Tamale was only 5 months old at the time, but they figured Tamale would benefit from some extra training and socialization.
When Katie's agility career was cut short after 6 months due to a hereditary condition that made her loose her eye sight, Michelle somehow convinced her husband that he should hand Tamale's leash over to her. Michelle and Tamale have been inseparable ever since and have earned many titles together.
Michelle has attended numerous Susan Garrett camps and Greg Derrett workshops as well as attending Power Paws Camp. Michelle is a member of APDT and has been taking Behavior Analysis classes at the local university in pursuit of a CPDT certification.
Michelle and her husband live in Corinth, Texas with their 5 dogs, Katie, Taco, Tamale, Flour Tortilla, Chip and Salsa.
Joyce Miller:Joyce Miller has been a teacher, writer and researcher for 40 years, honing her skills at Boston University, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, Northern Telecom, EDS, and many other organizations and national companies. Finding answers, networking with the people who have the answers, and telling others about what she has learned are what she does best. Over the past 15 years, Joyce has focused these skills on the world of dogs. She has taken seminars to learn better techniques to train and care for dogs. She has developed an extensive database of information on the whole dog. She has built a nationwide network of canine professionals that include veterinarians, breeders, kennel owners, trainers, behaviorists, researchers, canine nutritionists, animal communicators, alternative therapists, animal homeopaths, writers, artists, musicians, and many more people who live and work with dogs. Joyce is also an AKC Canine Ambassador and an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) evaluator. Read more...
Scott Harness LMT/CCMT:Scott Harness is a native Texan with over 20 years experience in Canine Massage and Acupressure. He is the owner of the CHI Dog. He is a member of AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) and IAAMB (International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork). Scott specializes in treating hip dysplasia, arthritis, injury rehab and behavior modification. His massages have benefitted older dogs, dogs involved in competitive sports or recovering from injury or surgery. Scott is also a 'people' massage therapist! To read about the benefits of Canine Massage, click here.
Lindsey Hinds: Lindsey has gained a reputation for herself in the world of dog training. She teaches Frisbee classes at Dog City Training Center. She trains all breeds of dogs for a variety of purposes, all using gentle, humane methods that encourage the dog to think, like clicker training. She specializes in training service dogs for their disabled owners as well as using behavior modification to rehabilitate aggressive and/or fearful dogs. She has a passion for dog behavior and takes every opportunity to observe dogs interacting with each other. Read more...