Karma Dog Training
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His corporation, Karma Dog Training, is a veterinarian endorsed dog training company home to experienced behavior specialists and professional members of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP # A-2598) as well as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT # 77541), an organization which prides itself with a mission toward enhancing the human-canine relationship through education and dog-friendly training.
Jeffrey Brian Liebowitz is also the founder of the not-for-profit educational group, Trainers who Participate in Socialization Parties (TPSP #1), an organization comprised of professional dog trainers and licensed veterinarians who have joined together in the interest of puppies everywhere to help facilitate the all-important socialization process.
In addition, Jeff is the creator of the Dogs in Recovery program, which is a 12-step program/support group for dog owners with aggression issues. Not only that, Jeff has developed a Zen like application for teaching clients called the Karma Dog Training Method, that is considered among his clients to be the most gentle, effective and enlightened approach to puppy/dog training available.
Jeffrey is also quickly becoming a rising star in Hollywood. He and his 3 male pit bulls - Brian, Louis and Scottie - were featured in the full-length documentary entitled, American Pit Bull, produced by Oscar nominated Braverman Productions. His first book entitled, A Walk Towards Heaven, will be published by the end of the year. Most recently, Jeff appeared on The Denise Richards Show on E! Entertainment as her private dog consultant. Click here to see a television trailer produced by Braverman Productions.
When Jeffrey is not running the show at Karma Dog Training, he spends his time fulfilling his love of writing and recording music and can be found on tour with his band, Jeffrey Brian. A documentary about his life is also currently in production entitled, Jeffrey Brian and the Ghost of Zack Havoc.
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Aimee Burton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Growing up with a Veterinarian for a father, she was never without several animals in her household. Adopting both her Grandmother and Mothers’ love for horses, Aimee started riding and eventually training horses as a teenager. Working at her parents’ Animal hospital from junior high school through college, she learned hands on animal behavior and handling, as well as a complete spectrum of animal care.
After getting her own dogs as an adult, Aimee began studying the teachings of top animal trainers such as Paul Owens, Pat Miller, Nicole Wilde and Cesar Milan, taking only what felt right from each method of training.
Soon after, Aimee met Karma Dog Training founder, Jeffrey Brian, after hiring him to assist her with her very frightened, neglected and abused 4 lb. Chihuahua she had rescued from the city pound. She instantly felt a connection to Jeffrey's kind and loving approach to dog handling, and after their first session was invited to accompany Jeffrey on his group and in-home sessions to learn the "Karma Dog" method.
Since that time, Aimee has gone on to become one of the most sought after trainers in the country. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT #75652) and never stops learning. Aimee believes that a positive approach to training combined with setting what she refers to as benevolent boundaries, is the key to a well-behaved, happy dog.
She lives with her 3 dogs; a 7 yr. old Doberman Pinscher, a 3 year old Dachshund/Chihuahua rescue mix, and her little 4 lb. lucky charm that introduced her to Jeffrey, Ginger.
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Hannah McCoy is an avid animal lover with an obsessive interest in their emotions, intelligence and behavior. Originally from Atlanta, she relocated to Los Angeles in 2008 with the love of her life, and her inspiration to begin training dogs, her Corgi/Shepard rescue "Louie Bighead". She has 10 years' experience doing behavior modification and training dogs, as well as experience with cats, birds, horses and wildlife.
After receiving a degree in Veterinary Technology in Atlanta, she passed the American Board Exam for Veterinary Technicians in 2006. She worked as an anesthesia and neurology technician at the University of Georgia's Veterinary Teaching Hospital and was the Neurology Technician at Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta, Georgia. While in Vet Tech School, behavior and communication was hardly touched upon, so Hannah started studying up on her own, knowing this was the area she was most passionate about.
Her eyes were really opened in 2005 when she attended the North American Veterinary Conference. It was during this time that she had the opportunity to hear lectures by many pet behavior experts including, Dr. Karen Overall, and renowned veterinary behavior technician, dog trainer and founder of the Behavior Specialty for Veterinary Technicians, Julie Shaw.
After that, Hannah plunged head on into the science behind learning theory, positive reinforcement training, clicker training, behavior modification, body language and communication, as just going on "good instincts" and hunches was not enough.
In Spring of 2009, she began working with, Dr. Karen Sueda, Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist at VCA West LA Animal Hospital, where she still attends to cases on a volunteer basis. It's here where she has been able to hone her skills with dog body language, communication, behavior modification and formulating practical, realistic approaches for owners to tackle behavior problems. Hannah believes being able to find a balance between positive, science based methods, concepts owners understand and can do practically and educating owners about what their dog's body language is telling them is vital in having a successful owner/dog/trainer relationship.
In addition to the above-mentioned educational experiences, Hannah has traveled to Thailand to work with elephants, as well as Texas for a wildlife rehabilitation internship. She constantly reads, attends seminars, and consults with other professionals to continually push herself and stay in-tune with progressive, positive, science based methods.
When she is not busy training, Hannah advocates for the welfare of farm animals, captive wildlife and is heavily involved in captive elephant welfare awareness and conservation programs. She volunteers at the HOPE clinics at VCA West LA Animal Hospital which offers free veterinary care to homeless people with pets. She also works with rescue horses and shelter dogs in need of training of behavior modification.
In February of 2011, Hannah's soul mate-in-a-dog's-body, "Louie Bighead", passed away suddenly. The loss was almost unbearable, but she didn't want him to pass without leaving as big of a mark on others' hearts as he had on her own. She began the, Louie Fund, a program that uses fund raising dollars from caring dog enthusiasts to provide free behavior modification sessions for dogs with fears, anxieties or phobias belonging to shelters, fosters or owners who otherwise can not afford training.
Hannah's lifelong dream is to open a sanctuary for rescued and retired zoo and circus elephants in Southern California where the public can interact with, learn about and view them in a humane, natural environment.
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Barbara began her career in canine training and behavior in 2003. In 2007, she tested and obtained her CPDT-KA (Certified Pet Dog Trainer). In 2011, she became one of the first trainers in the country to earn the CPDT-KSA designation. (Knowledge and Skills Assessed)
Barbara sits on the Board of Directors of the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and she is a Professional member of APDT, AABP, CCPDT, an Associate Member of IAABC and a Certified AKC-CGC Instructor and Evaluator.
Barbara takes her education quite seriously by attending many conferences and seminars so that she is able to learn the newest information for her clients. She works closely with several veterinarians to help her clients in any possible way.
Barbara is a positive reinforcement trainer, but she refers to herself as a "relationship-based trainer". Her training goal for her clients is to develop a relationship with their canine companion based on mutual respect and trust, not fear and intimidation. Her motto is "Catch Your Dog Doing Something Good", which means...praise the positive behaviors that your dogs put forth. Start paying attention to the good things your dog does...and you will see how quickly your relationship will change.
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Certified by the Council for Professional Dog Trainers, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Alyssa is also a graduate of Triple Crown Dog Training Academy's intensive four month program for professional dog trainers. At Triple Crown, Alyssa studied under two internationally renowned trainers and learned the full spectrum of obedience training methodologies, behavioral issues, and canine sport work: agility, search and rescue, scent detection, tracking and protection.
Alyssa entered the world of professional dog training with a degree in Psychology. She spent four years studying the science of learning, behavior and motivation and built upon this foundation as a counselor and case manager for children and adults that suffer from psychiatric and emotional disorders. For this reason, she is most passionate about working to rehabilitate dogs that exhibit fear, anxiety and/or aggression.
She utilizes a specialized form of behavioral rehabilitation that focuses on integrating canine and human health by improving communication and environmental factors. Alyssa believes that the dog-human relationship is one that has great potential to mutually promote emotional and behavioral well-being.
Alyssa resides with her two dogs; Kodi and Fritz.
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An Animal Behavior College graduate (Class of '06) and also a mentor trainer for ABC, Cyndy Wood is certified by the Council for Certification of Professional Dog Trainers having earned their CPDT-KA designation (Class of '09). She is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She teaches beginning and intermediate obedience classes, CGC test preparation classes, along with puppy kindergarten and socialization classes for all sizes and breeds. Cyndy also does many private behavior modification sessions with clients.
Cyndy is constantly reading and attending seminars to increase her knowledge about dogs and their behavior and the best and most humane ways to train. In October of 2011, she attended the APDT conference in San Diego and spent 5 days learning from the best in the business. In 2010, she attended Ian Dunbar's 4-day seminar. She believes that learning does not end with certification and attends conference, seminars and has a stack of books about dog training, "...that I hope to live long enough to read them all!"
Personally, Cyndy's favorite breed is the Dalmatian and she's had at least one in her household for over 25 years. She has shown in Confirmation to Best of Breed with her boy, "Kramer" (who passed away two years ago at age 15 1/2 years). Also a Dalmatian, Karmer, was a dog show champion and as his handler, Cyndy and Karmer won several AKC Best of Breed awards. She has also done Confirmation and Obedience training with "Olivia" CGC, who is now retired and being the Boss of her at age of 15 years old.
Cyndy believes that communication is the key to living harmoniously with other beings - be it canine or human. "Since we don't speak 'Canine', we need to learn to read our dogs by the many cues they give us and then teach them what we need them to do, using consistency and patience".
Working with dogs is Cyndy's true passion and joy and she is always excited about the next new training opportunity.
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For Judy Becker, dog training is in her nature and is part of her calling to contribute to a better, healthier and kinder plant. She is an excellent teacher and thrives on learning to understand canine learning theory and body language, as well as reinforcement of calming behaviors and skill building in all areas of overcoming challenging problem behaviors. She lives in a home that supports her love of animals and in addition to teaching puppy kindergarten classes for Karma Dog Training, she takes in dogs for "Boarding and Training" as well as regular "Boarding".
At home, Judy strives to provide vegetarian and vegan meals for her family, and hosts a distribution sight in University City for BeWise Ranch organic farm in Escondido. She also volunteers as a facilitator for a symposium called Awakening The Dreamer with the mission statement of "Creating an Environmentally Sustainable, Spiritually Fullfilling and Socially Just Human Presence on the Planet Earth". She is also an active participant in The Unity Center church in Mira Mesa which is about "Inspiring Personal Greatness and Transforming Our World with Love".
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Ellen Naumann grew up in a small rural town in Missouri where horseback riding was often done bareback, dogs usually walked around off-leash, no one had a backyard fence and a giant orange tabby could live outdoors for almost 16 years. But the big city lights were bright and she moved away, landing in Los Angeles and working in the entertainment industry.
Then, after too many years of music and mayhem, she found herself missing the simple life of animals instead of executives, sneakers instead of heels, and hanging with the dogs instead of swimming with the sharks.
Ellen began her quest for learning more about canines by volunteering at the local county animal shelter. It was here that Ellen experienced first hand the tremendous variety of breeds, their temperaments, and individual behavior issues. She wanted to "do right by these dogs" and sought to learn as much as she could. She soon became a member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and followed that by earning her certification as a professional dog trainer, knowledge assessed (CPDT-KA).
Ellen's day is now spent entirely with dogs - she trains them, walks them, visits them and always gives them her love, attention and affection. Almost all of her training clients have remained as general clients - for years in some cases - through her training, walking, pet sitting or boarding services.
Her shelter experience has given her a sensitivity to dog discrimination, so the bully breeds are just as fine with her as the Goldens and Labs. She works with adult fearful dogs (whether expressed in aggression or avoidance) and with the puppies (to prevent those fear issues from developing).
She's a fan of Victoria Stillwell's television show, "It's Me or The Dog," and admires national educators such as Suzanne Clothier, Sue Sternberg, and Trish King. She thrives in "talking shop" with other local trainers and continues her education through APDT conferences, seminars and training videos/books.
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Erica has been training professionally in Los Angeles for the past eight years. In addition to private training, she has worked with various local rescues and shelters to provide training services to animals in order to increase their chances for successful adoption and reintegration into a loving home environment.
Her approach is simple: Each dog and owner is unique, and most importantly, each relationship between dog and owner is unique. Her training method is to develop techniques that the owner can use to form the best possible relationship with their dog. Owning a dog should be enjoyable. Erica likes to think of training as teaching dog and owner to speak the same language.
Erica grew up in Carmel, New York, about an hour or so north of New York City. When she was seventeen, her Dad brought home a Cock-a-poo they named Claude. A little teddy bear of a puppy, shetaught him to sit, lay down and roll over. He in return taught Erica patience and that she really loved training dogs.
In 1992, she moved to Florida and rescued her first shelter dog, Aida. She was a little mixed breed, about 7 months old. It was a no-kill shelter so she'd been returned three times before Erica decided to adopt her. She was shy, scared of men, not housebroken, and would roll over in submission every time she went to pet her. She was quite a challenge. It was a year before Erica could touch her head without her running to a corner. It was slow going, but with patience and training, she worked it out. She turned out to be the greatest dog, happy and friendly, and a joy to all who met her.
In 1995, Erica moved to Los Angeles, looking for a change of scenery. She worked in the corporate world for a few years, but she got burned out and was looking for a new career. Her boyfriend suggested that she become a professional dog trainer. Her friends and co-workers were always coming to her for dog advice so it made a lot of sense.
She started with a course she found on the internet run by a well-known trainer she had seen on TV. Unfortunately (or fortunately), she found the techniques just weren't her style. She didn't like the choke chains, and the "corrections" that went along with them. It was a very harsh program, and she was very uncomfortable with it. Erica decided that she would have to find her own way.
Erica started educating myself on canine behavior. She bought every book she could find, and also looked at her own dogs and thought about how she had helped them to become happy and well-adjusted. She found training was in the every day living. Consistency is key. Routines and practice are crucial. No leash corrections, no pushing around and absolutely no pain. She realized that training behaviors didn't have to be done at the same time every day. Learning comes easier and faster if you practice training intermittently and in many different situations.
In 2001, Erica took her little Pit Bull, Clara, to Cinimon Clark's DWI (Dogs with Issues) class. There she received a lot of insight into the breed. After graduation, she started working with Cinimon, helping with classes and going with her on in-home appointments. It was at this time she became really interested in managing aggression and it's causes, not just in pit bulls but in all breeds. She learned that treating aggression begins with the every day life of the "aggressive" dog. Fear is the bottom line and aggression begets aggression. Teaching your dog to trust your judgment before his own is number one in creating a safe environment for your dog, everywhere you and he may go.
Eric's feeling is that if we want our dogs to respect us, we need to use respect in training them. Most problems with dogs arise because they are trying to tell us something: I'm scared, I'm bored, I'm frustrated, I'm hurting. Dogs, by nature, want our attention. Simply put, as long as you are acknowledging their behavior, good or bad, they will continue that behavior. If we give them the guidance and direction to do what's acceptable to us, then everyone will be much happier in the end.
Today, Erica believes she has the greatest job in the world. She gets to dress in play clothes and spend her time helping dogs and their families. She feels that training can be fun, for you and your dog. And with just a little bit of work, you can end up with a great friend who is happy to do things for you, just because you ask.
"I can help you achieve the relationship that both you and your dog can enjoy, every day", Erica says confidently
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Briana was born and raised in the wonderful city of Austin, Texas.
She has always had a love for animals and a fascination with animal behavior. Growing up, she managed to bring an array of them home with her to "study". Her childhood pets included dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, a red-tail boa, a king snake, ferrets, a cockatoo, an African gray parrot, macaw parrots, horses, chickens and even a water dragon!
Working at the Town Lake Animal Shelter in Austin, Texas, motivated her to become a dog trainer. It became apparent that dogs were being brought to the shelter by their owners because of bad behaviors, which could have been easily corrected with proper dog training. She also had the opportunity to work with a variety of breeds by providing foster care for some of these abandoned dogs.
After working at the shelter, she trained at an Austin area boarding/training/agility facility where she learned the fundamentals of dog training. She then began providing all levels of dog training at a national pet superstore, where she had the opportunity to work with even more wonderful dogs and their owners. After a year of teaching group dog classes there, Briana wanted to provide a wider range of services and activities, including agility classes. In 2003, she started Sublime Canines to better serve her canine friends and their humans.
Today Briana uses modern, proven, positive reinforcement training methods grounded in learning theory in all her dog training classes. She is a strong believer in marker training and in building a relationship with your dog by learning what truly motivates him in life - praise, toys, food, a ride in your truck? "Together we'll create a thinking dog, a dog that makes good decisions on his own without you having to micromanage his every move", she says. Briana finds the dog training method that works best with your dog's personality and learning style and teaches you how to easily implement it into your daily routine.
As as dog trainer, her goal is to create a respectful and loving relationship between you and your canine companion. She states, "Having a well-behaved dog enables you to include your canine companion in your daily activities and in turn gives your dog the opportunity to become more socialized to the world around them. Socializing your dog reduces the risk of unwanted behavior, including aggression."
In order to better serve her clients, she has traveled to numerous dog training seminars and workshops to continue her education, including Ted Turner, Ian Dunbar, Terry Ryan, Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Gail Fisher, Kathy Sdao, and Trish King, just to name a few. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Profesional Dog Trainers, a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the largest organization of positive dog trainers in the world, and a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.
"I truly love what I do! I am deeply committed to improving dogs' abilities and their relationship with their owners through proven positive methods".
Briana shares her home in Austin, Texas with her fifteen-year old Lab, Malik CGC, who has taught her more than anyone (and been even more forgiving while she learned) and her eight-year old Border Collie, Seal AX AXJ AAD, her former agility partner and lap dog. In her free time she volunteers as a dog trainer with the Williamson Country Kids-N-K9s program, helping at-risk youth improve their lives by training shelter dogs for adoption.
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Caitlin began training in 2005 for a pet rescue organization in Arizona while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona. Over the next few years she trained for a number of different doggie daycare and boarding facilities until ultimately deciding to establish her own dog training company.
Caitlin became a CPDT-KA (Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) and a Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in 2007.
In 2008, Caitlin became an AKC "Canine Good Citizen Evaluator" and also started working as a Mentor-Trainer for student trainers studying with Animal Behavior College, which she continues to do today. In the Fall of 2010, Caitlin was invited to film and present a training video for Dog Star TV, a web-based series featuring select trainers called "America's Dog Trainer."
Caitlin's training philosophy is based on developing both human and canine communication skills, through the use of "brain-based, not pain-based" training techniques. In other words, Caitlin aims her focus on every dog's natural intelligence and unique skills to succeed, without using against them their desire to avoid fear, pain and punishment.
Caitlin believes that every person's relationship with their dog can thrive when they help their dog understand (through training) the necessary ingredients for a canine to live a long, happy life in a human's world. Caitlin refers to these ingredients as "Canine Life Skills," which are similar to Karma Dog's "7 Requests for Success."
Possessing strong qualities of a "people person" and "animal person," Caitlin has found that dog training ultimately becomes successful when every lesson is not only easy to learn, but extremely enjoyable for two and four-legged students alike!
Today, Caitlin leads two Puppy Kindergarten and Socialization classes for Karma Dog Training as well as a Basic Obedience class every Sunday afternoon. She also does in-home boarding and training and sees clients privately throughout the week.
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Since childhood, Kelly has always surrounded herself with animals. Growing up in Massachusetts she spent every possible moment at the barn learning everything she could about horses. Her world was expanded exponentially when she was offered a trainer position at Hunters Haven Farm. The barn managers' husband was the "K-9" Police trainer for the local station and he always had a plethora of pups to work with. He opened her eyes to the intricate details of canine body language and signaling.
While "speaking dog" came naturally to her, she read every Patricia Mcconnell and Dr. Ian Dunbar book she could get a hold of to learn the art of training. Itching to spread her wings, Kelly chose to move to the amazing city of Austin and started work at Madrone Ranch. She quickly became the go-to dog sitter for the boarding clients. When the doggie parents came home to a dog that no longer stole cookies off the counter, walked politely on the leash and greeted them politely at the door, she knew there something was there.
Kelly then moved on to Taurus Dog Training to hone her skills. At Taurus, she was introduced to many different breeds of dogs and their unique attributes and quirks. Taurus is a highly social environment where up to ten dogs at a time get to go out and play with friends, so being able to read their temperament in a short period of time was of the utmost importance. Within six months, she was promoted to management and started taking on her own training cases.
Kelly's outgoing and warm personality makes the learning process fun and comfortable for both the dog and owner. Getting to know the families she works with allows her to see the owner's ideal relationship which helps her visualize the path to harmony. Her purely positive training methods are put into play when she finds out what motivates the pup. Some dogs are highly food motivated while some prefer toys or play. One tricky dog was motivated by a water gun.
Kelly has helped pups and their owners overcome such hurdles as separation anxiety, leash aggression, severe stranger danger, resource guarding, jumping, pulling on the leash, puppy training, socializing fearful dogs, counter surfing and more. She loves to work with first time dog owners and has been referred to as a "translator" by many of her clients.
"I honestly love what I do. Helping families find harmony and having fun in the process? For me, there is nothing more rewarding."
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Rachel is a life long animal lover who only realized her true purpose was to work with dogs when she moved from Los Angeles to San Diego when she was 21. She found a lone Jack Russell Terrier on the beach and she was putty in his paw. Since that day she has worked with various animal rescues in both the San Diego and Los Angeles areas, as well as graduating Veterinary Technician school with honors.
Shortly, after finishing Vet tech school, Rachel realized she didn't want to work in veterinary medicine but that instead she wanted to work as a professional dog trainer. She found a ranch in Florence, Texas called The Southern Star Ranch where she learned all about dog training from some of the leading dog trainers in the field of canine scent detection. Rachel left there with a certificate of completion in their Professional Dog Trainer Course and relocated back to the Los Angeles area and to work full time as a dog trainer. It wasn't long after returning to Southern California that Rachel decided to expand her positive reinforcement based training knowledge by enrolling herself at Animal Behavioral College.
Rachel's training methods are rooted in positive reinforcement using lure techniques along with clicker and target training. She believes you can work with a dog without harsh corrections and even get the same results, if not better!
Today Rachel lives with her 3 dogs, Shadow, the Jack Russell Terrier that pointed her toward animal rescue work, Petri, a Chihuahua dachshund mix who is an abused rescue and lastly Sophie, a Toy Rat Terrier who genuinely believes that she is royalty. Also residing in Rachel's home are whatever animal she comes across that needs a temporary home.
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Lalanya was born and raised in California among an absolute menagerie. Among her beloved childhood pets included Dude the Afghan, Christy the cat, BBQ the alleged miniature pig, Boozer the miracle dog and Whiner the horse.
After doing pet sitting for nearly ten years, Lalanya moved to Austin in October 2008 to complete a dog training internship with Karma Dog. She graduated with excellent marks from Animal Behavior College and trained directly alongside Founder of Karma Dog, Jeffrey Brian, for over 6 months as his assistant in his puppy and group classes.
Since that time, Lanlanya has spent two years teaching puppy kindergarten and basic obedience classes to all different types of breeds. Additionally, Lalanya has become a student of Tallgrass Acupressure for animals.
When Lalanya is not doing dog things, she spends her time bicycling, doing yoga, exploring Austin with her family of five and adoring her dogs Milla Cacao and Dr. Gonzo.
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KARMA DOG TRAINER
A Las Vegas native, Tara has lived with and trained animals throughout her life. She began by studying with and training marine mammals, perfecting her ability to use positive reinforcement to accomplish behaviors. She recently relocated from Hawaii, where she was a part of the Training and Education Team at Dolphin Quest. She has carried those positive techniques over to the K9 arena. She now devotes herself completely to dog training.
Tara trains dogs and people in both one on one setting and in-group classes. She teaches beginning and advanced obedience, and has experience training dogs to perform for television and movie roles. She believes that she learns from dogs as much as they learn from her, and continues to bolster her education by taking professional courses.
She has received her certification in Dog Training from The Animal Behavior College and is also a full member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is certified to administer the American Kennel Association’s Canine Good Citizenship test. Her goal is to give EVERY dog a chance at a happy, full life.
Tara’s philosophy of dog training is to find the right methods to apply to each dog as an individual, rather than impose one rigid method on all the dogs she meets. "Obedience is learning to listen to, listening to a dog until you find what is needed, rather than imposing yourself in the name of training". (The Monks of New Skete)
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KARMA DOG TRAINER
David Cardona has lived his entire adult life in Santa Cruz, CA. His interest in animals started at a young age. When growing up his home always included dogs, birds and fish. David also spent time taking care of other peoples animals which included horses, cats, reptiles and dogs. Taking care of animals during his early years helped David strengthen observational skills to their particular behaviors. He believes reading a dog's body language properly is crucial for successful Obedience Training and solving Behavior Issues.
David began his dog profession by starting a Pet Sitting business 12 years ago. The idea came while interviewing walkers for his new puppy, Giovanna. Having come from a career working with under-priviliged youth, the idea of now caring for a different species seemed very natural for him. His initial on-hands training came through his Pet Sitting business when he started offering free training for existing clients. In return, he got the experience of working with a plethora of untrained dogs. Whether it was housetraining or fear-aggression, David welcomed the challenge. He eventually went on to include formal Dog Training within the context of his Pet Sitting business.
Years went by and it was obvious to all who knew David that because of his natural ability to interact with many different dog personalities, helping people with their problem dogs full time was a natural next step for him. He was encouraged to become a dog trainer and has never looked back.
David's beliefs center on encouraging and reinforcing good behavior in dogs by rewarding them. In his early years of studying, he found his philosophy was already supported by many leading Animal Trainers and Animal Behavorists. Some of his favorite experts in the field are Dr. Ian Dunbar, Trish King, Patricia McConnell, PH.D., and Sarah Kalnajs.
Today David happily works with aggressive dogs, especially fear-aggression. In his training, David has found that reactive dogs are usually stressed dogs. He believes most of the cause of stress can be avoided by proper puppy socialization. David believes that lowering dogs stress levels through Desensitization methods are appropriate for reactivity.
David also believes good communication with your dog is mandatory for building a trusting and bonding relationship. When training he always goes back to his roots of observing dogs facial expressions and other body language to understand them. David says, "dogs will always show us how to interact with them and we need to respect that".
David Cardona is a professional member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers. He does voluntary work at Santa Cruz S.P.C.A. and lives with Giovanna his 12 year old 57 pound lab mix.
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KARMA DOG TRAINER
Raised and educated in Southern California, Valli Aman has an ABCDT Degree from Animal Behavior College, is Mentor Trainer for Animal Behavior College students, Trainer for the East Valley Shelter Dog Training Program, writer for Valley Scene's PetPourie Section and a Professional Member of APDT (#74601), IACP (#P-4049), and ASPCA. She also has a lifetime of knowledge and study into metaphysical and spiritual thought.
Producer/Host of the 15 year Radio and Television project “Visions”, as Human Potential Reporter, she interviewed and studied with over 1500 New Age and Human Potential experts, including the Dalai Lama, Ram Dass, Bhaghavan Dass and Ted Andrews (Animal Speak).
“I’ve done so many things in my life, known so many people, sat in the “seat of the learner” and become more humble over time to the vastness of energy! It is to this basic understanding and vibration that I work with dogs. I am placed in a perfect position to help animals and to understand stresses that go along in the life of the human as it relates to pet ownership."
Structure, Focus, Consistency, Calm, Breathing, Listening, Timing, and Love. These are the qualities that Valli says makes her successful with dogs.
"It seems that love has jettisoned me into a career as a “dog intuit” according to clients who tell me that. I am told, after most first visits, that there is a transformative effect on the dog or pup immediately. All I am doing is breathing, feeling and listening to what the dog really is trying to tell us, taking time, training and making minor corrections in behavior. I do what I can to facilitate what we all can do which is understand what another living being truly needs to be happy….in all its simplicity.”
When Valli is not training dogs, she spends her time photographing dogs as she is also the creator and owner of Visions Photography, a Pet Photography service.
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Fun-loving and energetic, Lindsay has always had a strong connection with nature. Not permitted to own a dog as a child, she acquired an intense fascination and appreciation for all animals, owning fish, a hamster, a turtle, a rat, a cockatiel, three cats and a sugar glider. At 19, she adopted an undersocialized Australian Shepherd, named Rusty Bear, who became her best friend, personal shadow and inspiration. Moved by this strong canine/human bond, Lindsay dedicated her entire life and career path to helping others improve and maintain a healthy relationship with their dogs.
Lindsay graduated from the Taurus Training Apprentice Program in 2007 where she also acquired status as a Level II Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician through Pet Care Services Association. In addition, she is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (#78334) and has graduated from Animal Behavior College. She is also near completion of receiving certification from the Council of Pet Dog Trainers. With over 4 years experience in the Austin animal community, she is is a strong believer that any animal can be trained with motivation, love, and patience
In addition to her Australian Shepherd Rusty Bear, Lindsay's family includes a rescued Hairless Chinese Crested named Jack Jack, a rescued Brussels Griffon mix named Wooly Bully, and a toilet trained feline named Damien. An avid vegan and lover of the earth, Lindsay wishes to make a positive impact on the world, one paw at a time.
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Growing up in a home full of rescued dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, iguanas, snakes, and occasionally bull frogs and pet mice, compassion and a love for all animals comes naturally for Crystal. She studied her cats at age 10, writing stories and drawing pictures about their interactions with each other. She borrowed friends’ dogs when she could not have her own, and started learning to train while volunteering at a local shelter. Animal behavior and training didn’t seem like a career option in school, so she established herself in comfortable corporate career for a few years and resolved herself to someday getting back to the animals. Thankfully lay offs are inevitable in modern corporate America, and Crystal found herself with three months hiatus to think. Clarity followed, and so did a new career, reborn from her childhood self.
She started with the shelters, working with some tough dogs and learning from some fantastic people. Two years mentoring under some of Houston’s best trainers and a rigorous study program followed. Eventually Crystal was teaching upwards of 14 full training classes per week, becoming a highly sought after trainer recommended by veterinarians and rescues across Houston.
In 2008, she started her own company, Leaps N’ Hounds, but moved to Austin in 2010 so that she could spend more one-on-one time with her students and develop a more holistic training approach, one that would address the root causes of behavior problems. Crystal’s approach is influenced by greats like vet and behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, however, she notes her biggest training assets as instinct, constant study and some tough dogs that have taught her a lot through the years.
Some of Crystal's career highlights include: Serving as lead advisor to the city of Conroe, working with the Chief of Police and Animal Control towards a no-kill solution and working towards a complete re-design of ethical policies and procedures for the Conroe Animal Shelter. Crystal has also done extensive work in therapy programs, visiting assisted living centers, schools and detention centers. She was an instructor and advisor for The Healing Species of Tx, and works extensively with Love-A-Bull of Austin in training and pit bull behavior.
Crystal’s furry posse of rescue dogs include: Lyla, a Rottie & Shepherd mix who assists in socializing client’s dogs and manners lessons, MoHawk (“Mo”) a Ridgeback/Lab/Pit mix who is her "Demo Dog", Obedience Champ and Classroom assistant and Jack Jack, a Border Collie mix.
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Trainer Angela Lebo is a 7th generation Texan and has lived in Austin for the last 15 years. Angela has an Associate’s Degree from Texas State University and is certified to assist with all levels of obedience, behavior modification, all types of aggression, puppy socialization and clicker training. She is a member A.P.D.T. (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), volunteers at various animal rescue organizations and is certified in First Aid and CPR for dogs.
There are two driving forces in Angela’s life…keeping herself fit and healthy and the love and caring of dogs. One simple fact is that 50% of all dog behavioral problems can be solved through exercise. For the last several years, Angela has spent most of her spare time working with her beloved companions, Xena and Gabby, while keeping up with her own physical fitness. She has been successful at combining these two goals for herself and is anxious to help other dog owners realize the joy and satisfaction of doing the same. Her vision is to transform both the dog owner into healthier, happier and more confident lifestyles. Best of all, a well-trained dog will be able to go anywhere its owner goes! No worries about the dog misbehaving. Dog lovers can have the best of both worlds, whether it’s exercising or running errands, their dog is well-behaved and by their side. This as Angela states, "Is An Awesome Feeling!"
Since joining Karma Dog Training, Angela has excelled at training all types of dogs, big and small, and has become one of Karma Dog's board and train and new puppy specialists. Karma Training Director, Aimee Burton, was so impressed with Angela during their first interview that she immediately hired her on the spot!
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Steve’s training approach is based on Suzanne Clothier’s Relationship Centered Training (RCT). This philosophy emphasizes compassion and communication as a means to creating a healthy relationship.
He specializes in Dog-Dog Socialization, Leash Reactivity / Aggression, Household Problem Solving, and Preparing Your Puppy for the Real World.
Steve strives for achieving those special moments when you and your dog are in complete understanding and cooperation with one another. Using positive reinforcement techniques that help the client watch, listen, and learn from their dog, he puts the family in a position to experience those moments more and more frequently. This helps them take their lives together to heights they never thought possible!
Steve holds certifications in dog training by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA), Pet First Aid, and as an Advanced Pet Care Technician by the Pet Care Services Association. He teaches the Karma Dog Training Advanced group classes.
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Camilla Freitag was born and raised on what was then the outskirts of Austin. Her interest in animals started at a young age. When growing up, her home always included dogs, cats, raccoons, fish and even a possum. Camilla’s family also had a farm outside Lockhart,TX where there were horses, cattle and even a pet rabbit.
When she was young, her grandfather named a cow after her, which was a compliment in her family. Her family loved the outdoors and, even in the hot Texas summers, Camilla walked her dogs through fields and streams. In 1978, Camilla got her Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Texas. Her 20 year career as a Social Worker took her to Austin, Okahoma City, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles, she became a licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her Social Work training held the same beliefs about people that she now uses with dogs; Always coming from a place of encouragement and positive reinforcement. Upon returning to Austin, she took what she learned as a Social Worker and started applying it in the dog world. She started her own pet sitting business. Camilla has always done pet sitting for her friends all over the country. She has traveled to Mexico where she worked to find homes for street dogs.
Since becoming a pet sitter she has been able to find forever homes for dogs who were being rehomed. That is one of the most rewarding things she has been able to do as an animal lover. Her love of dogs brings her great joy. For Camilla, "spending time with dogs is rewarding and fun."
Training the dogs she has taken care of, who were mostly rescues, came naturally. Her dogs became easily socialized in a very low stress setting. Camilla soon found herself watching every dog training tape she could find and attending as many Karma Dog Training classes as she could.
According to Camilla, I have never found a more effective training method than Karma Dog Training. Karma Dog Training founder and CEO, Jeffrey Brian, affectionately refers to her as "Aunt Camilla" and describes her as one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth souls living in Austin, Texas.
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KARMA DOG TRAINER
Tracy's interest in dog training began over 10 years ago after she had adopted a Newfoundland named Bodhi. She got involved in Therapy dog work with him and soon found herself visiting children in schools and patients in Alzheimer's facilities together. From there, she started volunteer training and eventually helped train and test therapy dogs. She was working with Liz Palika, who at the time was the president of the Foundation For Pet Provided Therapy.
With Liz’s support, she rescued a feral German Shepherd, Carly, who had a multitude of behavior issues, including but not limited to aggression towards men, dogs, and severe separation anxiety issues. In Carly, Tracy saw a dog who wanted to please so she began taking her to one class after another and after time and patience, eventually helped earn Carly a Certified Therapy Dog title!
Under Tracy’s tutelage, Carly and Bodhi began visiting facilities together. Carly and Tracy were even featured in an article written by Liz Palika in 2001 for Dog Fancy Magazine about her amazing success story. Tracy went on to write several books and articles about training.
She also began working for the large dog rescue, A Passion for Paws, boarding and training dogs getting them ready for their forever homes. In addition, she starting working for holistic Veterinarian, Dr. Moore, where she learned a great deal about natural medicine and chiropractic treatments for animals and the benefits of each. She was also supervising at a boarding facility, The Animal Keeper, where she learned about the care and management of a diverse group of animals, as well as continued training.
Tracy’s philosophy for training dogs is to train in a natural and positive manner, which creates a positive relationship between owner and dog of mutual respect. She currently reside in North Los Angeles County with her 3 children and 2 dogs, Nemo, a Malamute/Husky and Kahuna a Shepherd/Husky.
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Raquelle Godbey has spent her entire life with animals of various sorts as part of the family, born and growing up in Texas, mostly in a rural environment near La Vernia. She began her dog training career in 1983 in Austin, while training the first dog she would really call her own, Umlaut, a black Lab/Spitz mixed breed rescue dog she adopted on Valentine's Day that year.
Her training methods are based on years of hands-on instruction, study, mentoring with other trainers, and personal practical experience. She approaches lessons using techniques that consider how dogs develop, think and naturally respond to their environment. The way a dog behaves is a product of its environment and experiences.
Raquelle has seen repeatedly in her training how people and their dogs are drawn together for specific reasons, matched together for a purpose. This is why dogs can become our closest animal companions when we connect with them. The training brings both human and animal to a higher level of awareness and sense of balance as that purpose unfolds while working on the issues at hand. Basic obedience exercises are applied using intuitive training to meet the individual needs of every session. Positive redirection is an important part of her training philosophy, showing the dog what is desired and rewarding movement in that direction.
The thing Raquelle loves most about her work is watching the connection develop between human and dog as a result of the training, the joy that comes forth when a handler sees positive change in a troubling situation, and the ease that eventually results when people really apply new methods to their daily living with their canine companions.
Raquelle is the mother of a son and stepdaughter. While not training she spends her time on minor remodel work, volunteer work, and art. Her home has been a haven to a host of creatures; the current family includes Sprocket the dog, and three cats Itty, Purrdy, and Miss Kitty. All of the pets were rescued from neglect or abandonment. Dogs end up unwanted or abandoned because of human inexperience or ignorance, and Raquelle hopes that her work and efforts will help to change this.
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Carol has had an affinity for dogs since early childhood when she told anyone who would listen that she was going to be a veterinarian when she grew up. Her first job as a teenager was in a Veterinary clinic in Connecticut where she walked and fed the boarded and hospitalized pets, and processed lab tests. As a child, she was also the neighborhood pet sitter, teaching dogs parlor tricks on the sly while neighbors vacationed.
In adulthood, Carol finally took heed to her passion and adopted a rescue Rottweiler mix , Sadie, from Tijuana. When Sadie was only six months old, Carol’s job changed and she was required to travel non-stop for almost a year, living in hotels and corporate apartments around the country. With a consistent trainer an impossibility, she had to take on the challenge of training Sadie, for the most part, on her own, with the help of several books and Cesar Milan videos.
Like most rescues, Sadie had some phobias—but hers were extreme. Fearful of mailboxes, the sunlight, garden tools, and at times, other dogs, Sadie’s most difficult fear to overcome was of men. When at a year old, Sadie finally allowed a man to approach and pet her, Carol realized that all of her hard work paid off and that her dog would live a more peaceful life because of her tenacity.
Carol and her roommate have since adopted another fearful rescue and Carol is working successfully to help her overcome a paralyzing fear of traffic and small children. Aside from working with her own dogs, Carol has trained several other dogs, specializing in leash pulling, leash aggression, and separation anxiety.
Carol is also a volunteer with the Los Angeles FACE foundation, an organization that provides funds to critically ill or injured pets for life saving surgeries, and is on a personal mission to educate dog owners on pet insurance. She recently completed “Four Fine Legs: The Dog Parent’s Guide to Orthopedic Surgery Recovery,” an ebook inspired by four major knee surgeries Sadie endured in only an 18 month span, and the difficult road to recovery that ensued.