SMART DOGS - About Me

Dogs are fascinating animals capable of learning a vast number of simple to complex behaviors. I appreciate their intelligence, athleticism, love of life, their ability to stay "in the moment", and the fact that provide us with therapy and companionship. Living with and working with Dogs is an enriching and magical experience.

Working as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Operation Socialization Certified Trainer allows me to combine my Love of Dogs and Dog Training, my Passion for Learning & Teaching, and my Interest in Helping Others.   I am sincerely interested in Helping You Bring out the Best in Your Puppies and Dogs!

I enjoy and recognize the importance of Continuing Education, and attend a variety of Training and Behavior seminars, workshops, classes and camps taught by highly respected and internationally acclaimed Dog and Animal Trainers/Behaviorists/Authors (see Resume page).

I am proud to be the first / only Operation Socialization Certified Trainer (expert Puppy Trainer) in the state of Arkansas, as well as the first Certified Professional Dog Trainer in the Van Buren/Ft Smith area (and one of only seven CPDT's in Arkansas).

I am active in a variety of Dog-Friendly Organizations for Professional Dog Trainers and for Dog Owners including:
         Association of Animal Behavior Professionals,
         Truly Dog-Friendly (and approved/recognized as a TDF-trainer),
         Association of Pet Dog Trainers, where I volunteer as APDT Greeter for Arkansas,
         Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club,
         Therapy Dogs International,
         Doggone Safe Dog Bite Prevention, and
         Dog Scouts of America where I volunteer as a Troop Leader.

I am also a Approved Evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Programs.

Although I have learned and used a wide variety of different methods through the years (see Resume page), I use and teach only Force-Free, Dog-Friendly, Positive Reinforcement-based methods. I am an avid Clicker Trainer.

"Positive training", "Reward-based Training", and "Positive Reinforcement" are buzz words in dog training because the methods work. When correctly applied, the methods not only produce a well-trained dog, but they enrich the relationship between Owner and Dog. The result is a Happy, Obedient Companion, a Happy, Proud Owner and a Harmonious Household.

I have been training dogs for over 14 years (does not include dogs from my childhood) and my Hands-on, Dog Training Experience includes:
         Clicker Training (this is different from "using a clicker while training"),
         Teaching Group Classes,
         Teaching Private Lessons,
         Modification of Aggressive Behavior,
         Modification of Shy Behavior,
         Basic Manners for Family/Pet Dogs,
         Puppy Developement and Socialization,
         Rally Obedience (for "backyard fun" as well as AKC Competitons),
         Formal Obedience (for "backyard fun" as well as AKC Competitons),
         Agility,
         Tracking and Scent Work,
         Introductory Herding,
         TTouch,
         Amazing Tricks, and
         an Abundance of Fun and Games.

My dogs and I enjoy a variety of training and activities. A few of them hold Certifications from the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program and the Therapy Dogs International Therapy Dog organization.   Rocky holds an AKC Rally Novice Title (three consecutive runs, all 1st place scores - 100, 99 and 97 points!), and is one leg away leg from his AKC Companion Dog (CD) Title in formal Obedience (1st and 3rd place scores). Chibi-chan will soon be entering AKC Rally and Obedience trials, and AKC Agility Trials are in the future for several of my dogs.

I have over 12 years experience in the area of Canine Aggression/Reactivity and have a special interest in dogs who exhibit Aggressive behaviors and/or Shy behaviors. Living with and working with these Fiesty Fidos, Reactive Rovers and Cautious Canines has taught me which methods are worthwhile, and which methods make things worse.

Along those lines, I am familiar with the mistakes dog owners all too frequently make which cause an otherwise "good-natured" dog to exhibit undesired behaviors - such as avoidance, anxiety, aggression, shutting down - and want to help you avoid making these mistakes with Your Dog.

Prior to my career as a Professional Dog Trainer, I spent over 19 years in the fields of BioMedical Research and Intellectual Property Law. I have a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics with emphasis on Signal Transduction and Cancer, and am also a Registered Patent Agent with the United States Patent & Trademark Office.  My Analytical Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Teaching Skills and Communication Skills necessary for success in BioMedical Research and for prosecuting Patent Applications  are equally important in my career as a Professional Dog Trainer.