ABOUT

Licensed Family Dog Mediator - Sheltering Division 

I completed a course that applied the L.E.G.S. (Life, Environment, Genetics, Self) framework to dog training and behavior. The course covered a wide range of topics, including ethology, evolution, animal welfare, and the science behind dog behavior. It explored how human and dog worlds intersect, the impact of genetics and environment on behavior, and the challenges of captivity. The course also addressed behavior problems as symptoms of deeper issues and the importance of family dog mediation. It provided practical insights into socialization, learning, communication, and the relationship between operant and classical conditioning, emphasizing the need for compassionate and scientifically informed solutions.

Licensed Dial Guide - The Dial Method

I completed a licensing course focused on enhancing family dog training by integrating The Dial Method. The curriculum covered key aspects such as understanding the "anatomy of the dial" to maximize benefits for clients, filling in gaps that make family dog training challenging, and using family-friendly language to make complex concepts accessible. The course emphasized rebooting family mindsets to secure full buy-in, identifying "hook questions" for deeper understanding, and pairing science with fun to explain dogs' evolutionary needs. It also provided strategies for combating dog bites, setting kid-friendly rules, and creating practical, customized training plans for busy parents. Additionally, the course offered solutions for common training struggles and ensured smooth integration of The Dial Method into family dog training plans.

Licensed Family Paws® Parent Educator

As a Licensed Family Paws® Parent Educator, I completed an intensive licensing program focused on supporting families with dogs as they prepare for life with babies and toddlers. The course covered canine body language, child development stages, family dynamics, and safety strategies to prevent dog bites and reduce stress for both dogs and children. I learned how to guide parents through proactive management techniques, enrichment strategies, and success stations tailored to each family’s unique setup. Through case studies, mentorship, and hands-on resources, I gained the tools to deliver Family Paws' nationally recognized programs—Dogs & Storks® and Dogs & Toddlers™—with empathy, clarity, and a focus on preserving the human-animal bond during major life transitions.

 

Aggression in Dogs Master Course by Mike Shikashio

This is a specialized course focused on managing and treating aggression in dogs. The curriculum covered the flow of an aggression case, safety management, and handling techniques, including breaking up dog fights and understanding dog body language specific to aggression. It also emphasized client communication, prognosis assessment, and managing compassion fatigue. The course included expert presentations on ethology, medical considerations, and behavior modification for various types of aggression, including dog-to-human, dog-to-dog, and resource guarding.

Canine Essential 101 by BHARCS

This course focused on understanding and communicating with free-living dogs, or "street dogs," in India. The course emphasized using natural, non-verbal cues like body language, gestures, eye contact, and tone—focusing on what dogs naturally understand. It explored stress in dogs, its causes, recognition, and alleviation without relying on training or restraint. The course also debunked the dominance myth, examined fear-related behaviors, and introduced the BHARCS method for setting boundaries and managing dogs without punishment, yelling, or training. Additionally, it covered ergonomic equipment, outdoor management, and stress-free leash handling using the same non-verbal communication approach.

Somatic Self-Resilience for Worried & Traumatized Dogs 2024 by Laura Donaldson

I completed a 6-week online course focused on introducing transformational, body-based strategies for addressing canine anxiety, stress, and trauma. The course explored techniques such as Grounding, Breathwork, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tapping, and Touch & Breathe, which are adapted from methods used to treat traumatic stress in humans. The course emphasized the importance of somatic self-resilience in dogs, highlighting the role of innate, body-centered resources in regaining a sense of agency and control after traumatic experiences. By recognizing and developing these somatic resources, the course aimed to equip participants with tools to help dogs heal from trauma.

ACE Module One + Two with Sarah Fisher and Sarah Whiffen 

I completed a course in Animal Centred Education (ACE), an integrated multi-modal approach to animal education and wellbeing. Developed at Tilley Farm and inspired by various animal education professionals, ACE focuses on observing an animal’s posture, movement, and nervous system responses and incorporates ACE Free Work, which involves sensory, educational, and enriching activities. The course emphasized giving dogs a choice and a voice within the limits of appropriate options and promoted a rewarding, outcome-independent approach to learning that helps dogs and their guardians develop a love for education.

In addition to Ace Module One, I also participated in ACEing Essentials and Introduction to ACE for Reactivity with Penny Leedal and Sonia Catherall. 

RAT - Relationship Assessment Tool by Suzanne Clothier

I am currently enrolled in a course covering the Relationship Assessment Tool (RAT), which provides a new framework for rapidly assessing the dog/handler relationship. RAT examines the patterns of interaction between both the dog and handler, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. It specifically evaluates factors such as pulling, check-in behavior, equipment use, orchestration, directability, accommodation, use of space, arousal, resilience, handler communication, dog-to-dog interactions, and overall connection. The RAT scoresheet offers a clear reflection of these dynamics and guides the development of a Triage Training Plan (TTP) for improving the relationship.

Introduction to CARAT Fall 2024

I am currently enrolled in the Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool (CARAT) course, developed by Suzanne Clothier in 2007. CARAT is a comprehensive assessment system that categorizes behavior traits into multiple intuitive and practical components. It evaluates core traits such as arousal, resilience, and energy, as well as social traits like sociability, social tolerance, and social use of space. The assessment also considers sensory and persistence traits across visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and olfactory modalities. Additionally, CARAT assesses interactive traits like patience and biddability, along with complex traits including social confidence, environmental confidence, and self-modulation.

Resolving Challenging Behavior by Karolina Westlund, phD 

In this course, students explored two common behavioral challenges faced by animal caregivers and diverse strategies for addressing and preventing them. We examined how moods influence perception, decision-making, and behavior, focusing on methods to improve an animal's overall mood through enrichment. The course covered various exposure techniques, such as habituation, systematic desensitization, counterconditioning, and biofeedback, to alter emotional responses to triggers. We also discussed operant techniques like antecedent strategies, non-contingent reinforcement, and the Premack Principle, alongside the differences between operant and respondent extinction.

Each module featured in-depth chapters on topics like stereotypies, functional analyses, and separation anxiety, with a detailed focus on the fallout of punishment. This multidisciplinary course combined ethological, affective, and behavior-analytical perspectives and included 10 bonus case studies with renowned experts.

 

Aggression and Anxiety Mentorship with Dr. Camille Ward by IAABC

This 8-week mentorship, led by Dr. Camille Ward (MS, PhD, CAAB), explored evidence-based approaches to addressing challenging canine behaviors. Topics included human-directed aggression, leash reactivity, fears and phobias (including separation anxiety), multi-dog household conflict, unruly behaviors, abnormal repetitive behaviors, and strategies for stress-free veterinary visits. Designed for professionals, this program provided practical tools and insights to enhance behavior modification and management skills.

 

Beginning Behavior Consulting Mentorship with Sarah Filipiak by IAABC

Completed an 8-week mentorship program on behavior consulting, focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis, LIMA, humane hierarchies, and behavioral interventions. The course covered best practices for client intake, training plans, record-keeping, marketing, and professional development, with weekly live discussions, assignments, and expert mentorship.

Behavior Explorer

Constructional Teaching
This course introduced me to the constructional approach to behavior change—focusing on building desired skills rather than fixing problems. I learned how to identify and harness meaningful reinforcers, assess a learner's current repertoire, and design teaching plans that support progress toward specific goals. The course included real-world case studies with both humans and animals, and concluded with a Q&A session led by Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz.

Reinforcement Systems 101
In this hands-on class, I deepened my understanding of reinforcement systems by using PORTL (Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab) to explore how reinforcement delivery and timing affect learning. I also gained practical experience designing and refining reinforcement systems tailored to individual learners, ensuring that the systems I create are effective, learner-centered, and grounded in behavioral science.