Company Profile

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: I have had my own business since 1989.

Q: Where are you located and what areas do you service?
A: I am in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California . I work in the Valley, on the West side (Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, etc.) Beverly Hills , Bel Air, and the East part of Ventura County. I have traveled as far as Glendora, West Covina and Palmdale to train Pot-Bellied pigs.

Q: What types of services do you provide?
A: I do private, in-home lessons and group classes for obedience & tricks. This includes basic obedience, behavior modification, problem solving.

Q: How did you get started?
A: As long as I can remember I have always wanted to train animals. The problem was that I didn't know how to go about it. So I almost made the mistake of finishing a degree in Physical Therapy. Then I heard about a program at Moorpark College. So I spent 2 years at this animal compound learning about Operant & Classical Conditioning, animal husbandry, handling & management. The problem was that the only domestic animal I worked with was a pony. After graduation dogs were still fairly new to me. From there I got my first job as a private trainer to train a Pot-bellied pig, and 2 weeks after that Universal Studios called me to work at the animal show for the summer. I left Universal when the busy season was over, and my business continued to grow through word of mouth. Then a friend of mine said that Karl Miller (Cujo, K-9, Beethoven & Babe) was looking for part-time help. I jumped at the chance to work with him. Watching Karl work was amazing - he is truly a master. I stopped working for Karl after 1 and a 1/2 years and continued to build my business.

Q: Who or what was the biggest influence on you as a trainer?
A: My animals have been the biggest influence. When I trained animals in school there was no way to put a choke chain on a Tapir or a Kinkajou, but they still were easy to train and for the most part, willing to learn. So I got out of school & started reading books about dog training and some of the things that were recommended. I did them, but I kept thinking to myself "there's got to be a better way, a nicer way". One day it occurred to me that my dogs were ALWAYS happy & excited about doing the tricks I taught them. They did them fast, reliably & with enthusiasm. Yet when I would try to teach them to heel, or come, the way the books said to, they put their heads down and weren't quite so happy to do so. Needless to say it finally hit me (like a ton of bricks).

Q: Describe your personal training philosophy or approach.
A: Above all I would have to say it is be nice to the animal, and do what ever I can to keep the dog in the home. Many people come to me when they are sure the dog is a maniac & can't be fixed. They just want me to tell them they are right in wanting to get rid of this "bad apple". I feel that it is up to me to make the dog seem more "normal", and explain that they ALL do this or that. But most importantly that it can be worked on and they will end up with a family pet.

Q: Describe the most difficult/challenging part of your job as a trainer?
A: It is VERY difficult for me to work with people who don't see their dogs the way I do. The ones who don't see them as a member of the family. As just an animal who is supposed to have this innate ability to know what is acceptable behavior to us. And who think that the way to teach a dog it has done something wrong is rub his nose in it, stick his head in the trash can he got into 3 hours earlier, or beat on him for not coming when called. I takes a great deal out of me to try to hang on to my patience in order to try to get through to these people.

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