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 Lisa O’Brien of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lisa is currently in Phase 8 of the Master Class and is doing an incredible job!
A Word from Lisa:
My Favorite Recent Study Topics:
Lisa working with a student dog learning cooperative care methods.
I love learning about canine behavior and body language. I have a special interest in dogs who need a little extra help feeling comfortable in the world, so learning more about how dogs develop socially over time and how they interpret the world is fascinating to me.
My Favorite Recent Hands-On Activity:
I loved observing how my body language affected my dogs. Each of my dogs has a very interesting pre-adoption history and missed out on different milestones during early development (removed from littermates and mother very early for example), so their reactions to my body language were varied and incredibly interesting!
How My Studies Have Changed the Way I See Dogs:
For me, understanding how dogs learn is incredibly valuable when interpreting behavior and when creating training plans tailored to each student. I appreciate CATCH’s detailed approach to teaching the students about the stages of canine development and the principles of motivation in training. This is helpful not only when approaching student dogs, but also their owners – educating owners is one of the most important aspects of dog training, and helping them understand their dog’s perspective is invaluable.
What I Like About CATCH:
I am continually impressed by the responsiveness of the CATCH team to my questions and feedback. My program director, Hannah, is very helpful and enthusiastic. I can’t stress enough how grateful I am that she is willing to discuss methodologies and new research as I move through the phases of study. This program is perfect for a student who wishes to challenge themselves and “think outside the box” – and who wishes to engage with staff and constantly learn about what is growing and changing in the field of dog behavior and training techniques.
Way to go, Lisa, we’re so proud of your amazing progress!
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