07/06/2025
There are many new certifications out there now by organizations that didn't exist 30 years ago that charge hefty fees for them.
I'm proud to have attended this 2 year full-time program at an accredited college. It was the only one in the country at the time.
We slept on campus doing night watches, woke up early for 6 A.M. shifts to feed and clean before classes, spent most of our free time with the animals training and offering enrichment. Many students don't make it to the end and drop out early.
You won't see all the letters behind my name from these new organizations certifications because I do not believe in paying them hundreds and even thousands of dollars for them. I've got over 30 years of hands-on experience with both exotic and domestic animals which is worth more than any certifications by third parties.
I had a special interest with birds of prey and was a falconer. I worked for several years on TV and movie sets as an animal trainer. I have all the while been working independently with family dogs, helping people raise puppies and solving behavioral problems of older dogs. As a lifelong equestrian horses have always been my passion and I have expanded my services to include them. The horse industry desperately needs a shift to positive reinforcement training practices.
Learning to train exotics from the get-go, I got very good at using positive reinforcement methods because that is the only option. If we can train exotic animals in the zoo this way, there is no reason we need to use aversives with domestic animals. I am committed to using ethical training practices and educating others on how to do so as well. I am continually striving to understand animals better and to never stop learning!
