Christy with her mystery mix, Tawny. See Tawny's DNA test results!

I’ve had dogs around since I was eight years old, and I’ve always been interested in teaching them how to be better canine citizens (when I was a teenager, I taught my 13-year-old Dachshund, Fritz, to speak, thereby dispelling the myth that you can't teach an old dog new tricks).

Dissatisfied with the training options available when I was struggling with my own dog problems, I was determined to find something that worked and didn’t make me feel like an animal abuser — a tall order 10-15 years ago. Though my old dog Jaspar died at 17-plus, before I could find that something, I continued to search for answers.

My first glimmer of hope came in the form of UK trainer Jan Fennell (The Dog Listener). Using her principles, I started offering private lessons in 2003.

Locally, I was lucky enough to be introduced to a kindred spirit, trainer Michelle Blount-Jordan of PAWSitive Dog/Human Training, who introduced me to the marvelous work of Patricia McConnell.

When Michelle moved out of state, she wanted to sell her business to someone, but she would only do so if she could find the right person. I am ever grateful that she put her confidence in me. I began teaching her group class curriculum in 2005.

Since then, I’ve been studying, researching, experimenting, and generally trying in every way possible to improve myself, my skills and my training offerings. I’ve blended Fennell’s methods with McConnell’s and many others (everything from "The Dog Whisperer" [that's the ORIGINAL Dog Whisperer, Paul Owens] to "Dog Training for Dummies"), plus my own experience as a professional pet sitter, to form my own brand of teaching.

I’ve also become a registered Canine Good Citizen (AKC CGC) Evaluator, plus I volunteer for and work with Delta Society evaluators to prepare dogs for therapy work in facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.

I continue to work closely with many rescues and shelters throughout Northeast Ohio to help them ready dogs for adoption, and also to help keep adopted dogs in their homes when problems arise.

Of all the work I have done in my life, this fills me up like nothing else. The happiness that I see on owners’ and dogs’ faces when we reach our goals is something I can never get enough of. For me, this is truly a calling.

Read some testimonials.

Jan Fennell - a personal revolution and revelation

Jan Fennell is why I became a trainer. She changed my life, and that is no hyperbole. Several years ago, just like me, Jan was dissatisfied with the training methods of the day, and had had some failures in her own home that resulted in the destruction of one of her dogs.

Jan was transformed when she went to see a demonstration of a unique horse-training method developed by Monty Roberts, "The Man Who Listens to Horses." I have seen him demonstrate his techniques, and so I understand her reaction; for me, it was life-altering to see what he could do with a completely untrained horse, without ever laying a hand on it.

Jan took her amazement a step further. She asked, "Can I do that same thing with dogs?" Quite a wild notion -- dogs and horses are not exactly similar animals. But the seed of an idea grew, and over the next six years, she worked to create her own, unique communication method that uses the dog's own body language and natural instincts to let him know in no uncertain terms what we are asking of him. Once I found her, tried the methods myself and found how beautifully they worked, I was off on a mission to share this discovery with as many people as humanly possible!

Patricia McConnell: Common cause, common sense

Another great influence on me has been U.S. trainer Patricia McConnell. Her work with aggressive dogs is truly impressive, but for me it's her keen ability to read and react to dogs, and how she shares that information that really sets her apart. Her signature work, "The Other End of the Leash," should be required reading for any caring dog owner! Studying her work has allowed me to hit another gear in my training skills. I am truly inspired by her.

Recommended Reading

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