Our Story
Fingers and Paws Dog Training has relocated to Australia and is up and running! Maya made the trip too, and has adapted to her completely new and different life with amazing grace, continuing to embody the power of preparative training for even senior dogs. For those that know Maya personally, you know this has been a long journey in more ways than one. I couldn’t be more proud of her. Bandit has a new and lovely family with teens and loves all the attention that he gets and deserves.
Fingers and Paws Dog Training was founded in 2012, after I became a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training partner (KPA CTP) and just before I achieved the national independent certification of Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT_KA). Inspired by my previous experience in training others, I realized that my strength was in my patience with new learners, both canine and human, and my experience as a mom juggling the needs of dogs and children. I continue to be a licensed consultant for the international organization Family Paws Parent Education (FPPE) and delight in helping families to become more Dog Aware through education and training.
My philosophy is that education makes for better training and that training should be fun for all involved. To that end, my teaching is infused with healthy doses of humor and patience, in a judgment-free atmosphere. I am a positive reinforcement trainer that employs a variety of marking signals to let the dog know when he or she gets it right and am generous in my praise of both the dogs and their people. The training method I use is evidence-based and is sensitive to, and supportive of, the learners’ needs - both animal and human. My ultimate goal isn’t that your dog sits on cue! I want to facilitate a deepening bond between you and your dog that is based on honesty, trust, understanding, and clear communication through established cues.
My own education is ongoing, both as required to be a CPDT-KA and a KPA CTP, and because the scientific body of knowledge about animal behavior and training is ever evolving. I strive to follow trends and developments through my memberships in the APDT -US and Australia, the IAABC, the CPPDT, KPA, and FPPE, as well as participation in conferences, webinars, and events. My goal is to share what I learn in every venue available to me, including posts and cross-posts on Facebook. Like my business page and stay tuned!
