Success Stories

Your future as a dog trainer starts here!  Meet some of the excellent certified dog trainers who have launched careers after studying with CATCH and our renowned curriculum.

Lisa Schroeder, CCDT, CPDT-KA

Owner, Tails of Success, Chatham, NJ

Effective Science-Based Training:

With patient, thoughtful and consistent training, Lisa will help you train your dog to become a well-mannered companion that adds joy, fun and love to the lives of his owners. She is well versed in the science that underlies the principals of animal learning. She uses positive reinforcement and behavioral modification methods that are backed by current scientific research and animal training theory. Her primary goal is to help owners effectively communicate with their dogs in order to elicit desirable behaviors and avoid unwanted and problem behaviors.

Rachel McMichael, CBCC-KA, IAABC-ADT, CCDT & CATCH Mentor

Owner, Upswing Total Pet Care, Butler, Pennsylvania

Rachel’s Passion:

Rachel is super passionate about creating enriching, positive and lasting bonds between pets and their families. She views training as an integral and imperative part of overall wellness for our pets. She is a lifelong dog lover who has been working and volunteering with them for nearly 20 years. Rachel holds a degree in Veterinary Technology, is a CATCH Canine Trainers Academy graduate with distinction (CCDT), as well as a CATCH Trainer Mentor. She has her CBCC-KA and, at the time of this posting, is the only Certified Canine Behavior Consultant in her county. She is also an Accredited Dog Trainer through the IAABC (IAABC-ADT) and is an AKC CGC & Trick Dog Evaluator. In addition, she is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor, a Canine Fitness Conditioning Coach, a Stunt Dog Judge and Animal Actors Evaluator through Do More With Your Dog. Rachel has also studied some alternative and holistic healing methods and is a Usui Ryoho Reiki Master as well as a Certified Animal Reiki Practitioner. Through her business, UpSwing Total Pet Care, she offers an approach to wellness for a dog’s mind, body and spirit – with a heavy focus on the pet/owner relationship.

Barb Pensky,

Basics Pro Graduate,

CPDT-KA

Owner, Laughing Dog Inn, Santa Rosa Valley, CA

The Positive Difference:

Positive training puts the emphasis on teaching dogs what to do, not continually punishing a dog for not doing what we want. What sets apart a really good positive trainer from the rest is not just their ability to teach a dog to do things using reward based teaching, but to use humane techniques to also curb and prevent negative behavior. Positive training builds confidence and builds a strong bond between dog and their owner. It encourages the dog to listen and respond when asked to do something and works well on all kinds of dogs including those “working” dogs with high drive.

Jennifer Herrera, CCDT, CPDT-KA, CDW, MA, & CATCH Mentor

Owner, Hudson Barks, Weehawken, NJ

Training Philosophy:

Jennifer’s approach to dog training and dog walking surrounds complete wellness. Using positive reinforcement methods, the focus is on the dog’s environment, physical and emotional state and behavior. The behaviors that we want to install or modified, are introduce by pairing the desired behaviors with high valued rewards, i.e. food, toys, praise or using environmental elements that dogs like. We are not concerned with dominance or intimidation or having authority over the dog.

Zane Brown, CCDT

Owner, Dog Training by Zane, Atherton, CA

About the Trainer:

Zane is a Bay Area native who grew up on the Peninsula, and has been a dog lover since before he could walk, with his first dogs being 2 Labrador retrievers. Zane is constantly furthering his knowledge and improving his skills as a dog trainer to better serve his clients and their needs. He offers private, in home lessons for those who desire one-on-one individualized attention to address their dog training needs. He specializes in working with high energy dogs, but enjoys working with all breeds and personalities of dogs.

Pam Wittkopp, CCDT, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, & CATCH Mentor

Executive Director & Secretary, Dogs 2 Dogs Tags, Plymouth, WI

Pam’s Initiative:

Pam joined D2DT with many years of experience working with dogs. She is a Nationally Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Nationally Certified Dog Trainer, and Certified Dog Bite Prevention Educator. Prior to coming to Dogs2DogTags, Pam worked with a local Shelter as an Animal Caregiver, Canine Evaluation Specialist, and Canine Volunteer Lead. Pam implemented a volunteer ran Behavior Adjustment Training team to rehabilitate animals struggling with various forms of fears and aggression, implemented a volunteer ran Dog Play Group program and implemented numerous canine-related welfare programs.

Vesna Ader, CCDT

Owner, The Ruff House, Portland, OR

Vesna’s Vision:

After 17 years as a physician assistant, Vesna Ader decided to follow her passion and start working with dogs. After years of rainy, dreary days at the dog park she imagined a better option. A place where her dog can socialize and have fun but where she can also enjoy herself. No longer having to choose between going out after work with friends or spending time with her dog was her inspiration. She wanted to start a place where dog lovers can meet each other. Building community is important to Vesna. And what better way to build community than with our dogs.

Nancy Schumacher, CCDT, CPDT-KA

Owner, Best in Behavior, Short Hills, NJ

A Lifelong Passion:

Nancy combines an instinctive understanding of what motivates animals to behave the way they do with patience and a firm results-oriented manner that dogs and owners alike respond to. Dog training is not a hobby for Nancy – it is the culmination of a lifelong passion. She will approach her work training your dog with the same spirit that guided her years of competitive show horse jumping.

Kate Naito, CDBC, CPDT-KA,  Training & Behavior Combo Graduate

Trainer, Doggie Academy, Brooklyn, NY

Kate’s Training Specialty:

Kate draws upon her extensive experience as a college instructor and force-free dog trainer to create lessons that are accessible and engaging to clients. Kate has a particular interest in helping owners of visually- or hearing-impaired dogs. She is a rescue advocate who has owned and rehabilitated many special-needs pets, including her current dogs, Batman and Beans. Kate’s most memorable rescue was Walter, a blind and deaf Boston Terrier, with whom she communicated using the sense of smell and touch. Walter even learned a few tricks!

Positive Training Solutions for Your Unruly Urban Dog:

If you’re wondering what you can do as a CATCH grad, Kate Naito is another dog lover who is proving that the sky’s the limit! Check out this excellent new training book, BKLN Manners, written by our very own, Kate Naito! She has put together a beautifully designed and well-organized book with great training and behavior guidance for living with your dog in the city. We’re very happy to share her accomplishment with our community! Check out Kate’s website, or click over to Amazon to purchase

Winner of Best Book: Training or Sports by the Dog Writers Association of America!:

Also Now Available: Play Your Way to Good Manners shows you how to approach your dog’s manners training as a collection of cool tricks, exciting sports moves, and interactive games, changing your dog’s attitude from “I have to do it” to “I want to do it.” Kate Naito, CDBC, CPDT-KA, MS, and Sarah Westcott, CPDT-KSA, have drawn extensively from techniques used in canine sports, games, and trick training, and applied them to a positive-reinforcement manners training program that you and your dog can easily follow. Also available to purchase on Amazon

Jaime Juda, CCDT, CPDT-KA, SDC

Owner, My Personal Dog Trainer, Lombard, IL

Professional Qualifications:

I want to take the best care possible of you and your dog, and that means taking good care of my own professional development, even after 19 years on the job. Most recently I completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master course. I am a graduate of CATCH Canine Trainer’s Academy and have my CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed) from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. I am also a certified service dog coach with Cooperative Paws and a certified Doggone Safe instructor.

I am also a proud member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and the Pet Professionals Guild. These organizations strive to create high scientific and ethical standards in a currently unregulated industry. I support their efforts and strive to meet or exceed their expectations. My specialty is behavior modification with a focus on aggression. For this reason I have always taken a scientific approach to training. I regularly seek continuing education opportunities via professional courses, conferences, seminars and reading.

Erika Gonzalez, CCDT, FFCP, BS, & CATCH Mentor

Owner, From Dusk Till Dog, Deptford, NJ

Erika’s Inspiration for Becoming a Trainer:

When I got Jade I realized early on what a strong bond we had and how quickly she learned when I was training her. Her willingness to learn with me inspired me to look into dog training as a career. I am very fortunate to now know what my calling is, and that’s to help pet parents with their dogs (and to help dogs with their pet parents!) I thank CATCH for helping me obtain all the knowledge I would ever need to conduct my own training lessons and build my own business. Dogs love unconditionally, never hold grudges, enjoy all the little things in life, and always live in the moment; we can learn a lot from them! And to Jade, my beautiful, loving best friend, thank you for helping me find a path to truly loving what I do.

Darlene Woodward, CCDT & CATCH Mentor

Owner, Pant the Town Photography, Essex County, MA

How Darlene’s Studies have Changed the Way She Sees Dogs:

My learning experiences in the CATCH program have been invaluable in my day to day life.  Learning about dog behavior and being able to pick up on “reading” signals has benefited me tremendously in my dog walking business. I’ve become much more confident with the dogs I walk and feel bonding with them has become easier. The hands-on activities have been a great addition to my dog walking, too. As for my own rescue pooch, I feel I have a much better understanding of her.

Pamela Brown, CCDT, CPDT-KA, & CATCH Mentor

Owner, Down 4 Paws Dog Training & Consulting, Norwood, MA

Dedicated to Finding Solutions:

Pamela is diligent about achieving goals and resolving negative behavior patterns in dogs. She is adept at assessing root causes of behavior problems, stresses, and social anxieties in dogs both in and outside the home. Pam understands dogs are a big part of the family, because she has been involved in the dog industry volunteering at adoption agencies, training service and rescue dogs, and has two adopted dogs of her own. She is always committed to helping dog owners find the solutions they are looking for to create a calm home environment.

Brianna Hanc, CCDT, CPDT-KA, & CATCH Mentor

Owner, Fluency K9, Houston, Texas

Brianna’s Passion:

Bri began her dog training career in 2014 at PetCo and from there she obtained many promotions that led her into upper level retail management at several stores with a common theme; they were all pet stores. While working in retail, Brianna completed her Associates Degree in General Studies from Wharton County Jr. College and began nursing school afterwards but quickly realized that her passion was not in nursing but was with animals and specifically with training dogs and cats. Alongside her various accolades and accreditation, she has completed the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Comprehensive Course and become a certified AKC Evaluator.

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