Featured Student
Our students are the future of dog training and the heart of our school.
That’s why we regularly take a moment to recognize one of our top aspiring trainers here.
Our Featured Student this month is Kaitlin Evaston, a recent CATCH graduate who is already making her mark on the dog training world!
A Word from Kaitlin:
My Favorite Recent Study Topics:
Kaitlin showing some love to her service dog, Finn.
My top 3 favorite study topics were body language, aggression, and how dogs think and learn. I had a very good basis before starting CATCH, but the dog body language studies was so helpful as I began my career. It has also been helpful with my own dogs and dogs at the vet clinic I work at. The aggression training got me interested in helping and working with dogs with aggression and motivated me to take Michael Shikashio’s master course on aggression to dive more into the topic and hopefully gain my behavior consultant certification in the future. How dogs think and learn is imperative to everything I do as a dog trainer and although sometimes it was very scientific, learning through a dog’s eyes was so important for me to teach clients that dogs learn differently and that’s ok!
My Favorite Recent Hands-On Activity:
I truly loved working with and training my dog Finn. I started training him at the beginning of my program through to the end and now he’s on his way to becoming my psychiatric service dog! I was learning through CATCH and so was he!
How My Studies Have Changed the Way I See Dogs:
My learning experience completely changed the way I viewed training. I used to think it was about commanding my dogs to do things, but through gentle, rewarding methods I learned that I can achieve all the same goals for my dogs and have dogs that can make their own choices and have free will. I learned about the fact that respect goes both ways and that is KEY to an amazing bond with your dog.
What I Like About CATCH:
CATCH was the best program I could have taken. It prepared me to train all types of dogs using positive, rewarding methods. I learned about myself and my natural ability with dogs and going through the program only confirmed and made that belief stronger. Shoutout to my program director Justine who was always there to answer questions before, during, and even after I finished the program. If you want to be a dog trainer, this program is where everyone should start
How CATCH helped in my professional career:
CATCH supported me as I began my business. I learned not only how to train dogs through the program, but also how to start a business. I reached out to my program director multiple times during my transition and she was always able to answer my questions or find someone who could help me. They helped me prepare for my first conference (by sending me the invite AND telling me what to wear because I had never been!), supported me as I started my business Kay’s K9s, LLC, and answered questions about my service dog training as well. It’s just been an awesome experience all around!
Way to go, Kaitlin! We’re proud to have you as a CATCH graduate!
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