Hello

I started a pet care business in 2003 with my husband and found myself dealing face-first with some challenging dogs. My husband and I consulted with some trainers, even about our own dogs having recall and reactivity issues but the training never felt right. It was corrective, which allowed the unwanted behaviors to happen and then be corrected in the hopes that they would diminish. I started to learn about positive reinforcement training which made so much more sense, preventing the unwanted behavior from happening and training an alternative, incompatible behavior.

A dog cannot pull on the leash and touch your hand at the same time. Why wait for the dog to pull when you can teach them not to in the first place?

Finally, after meeting Martha Francis from Fetch Dog Training I was introduced to the world of positive reinforcement training using rewards to reinforce the behavior you want. It was then that training literally clicked. Bad behaviors extinguished new and good behaviors rewarded and maintained. I was able to have success with client dogs learning that loose leash walking was rewarded and jumping dogs suddenly stopped offering the behavior because I learned how to reward what I wanted them to do instead. I learned that the secret to a good dog becoming great is being proactive instead of reactive.

How My Life Went to the Dogs

A lover of the Boxer breed, in 2013 after suffering the loss of my previous Boxers from a disease that could have been prevented by better breeding practices, I researched getting a Boxer from a reputable breeder who bred away from known health issues. I knew in order to improve the breed I loved, I had to have a hand in helping, and this meant breeding as well as conformation. What I didn't realize is that despite the Boxer I worked so hard to find being genetically and physically everything I dreamed of, I also stumbled into other things I had no idea about but they became my new dreams, dog sports - particularly agility.

Debbie (yes, that is my dog's name) and I quickly found ourselves at agility classes, fully immersed back in the face of positive reinforcement training only this went beyond stopping leash pulling and jumping up inappropriately. Agility showed me that I could get my best friend around an entire course with just the positioning of my body. The level of communication and the bond I built with my dog was incredible, and I wanted to learn more and more.

After being reinspired by many positive reinforcement trainers and having the amazing fortune of attending agility trials with the world-famous positive reinforcement trainer, lecturer, author and guru, Emma Parsons, I decided it was time to formalize my education so I could help more people have wonderfully behaved dogs. We all adore our dogs but we all have that one or few things we wish could "fix". The demand barking, the jumping on visitors, the cute trick you want to show your family. There is always something and I want to help people enjoy every minute with their dogs, they're only with us for a very short chapter in time, why not enjoy every minute with them?

Dogs have literally brought intense meaning to my life, so much so that I met my life partner, and business partner - my husband at a dog park. They have shaped my life, keep me waking up with a smile each morning and inspire me to get out and do things!

I now proudly hold the distinction of a certified professional dog trainer through the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy. I was trained by Emma Parsons and is now proud to be a KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner). I am Fear Free Certified (FFCP) and am also working on completing my training to become a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer so that I can further keep dogs happy and healthy. I am a registered AKC Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, Virtual Manners and an S.T.A.R. puppy instructor and evaluator. I am also an AKC ACT evaluator and AKC Agility judge.

I have continued my studies by attending these seminars and certification courses:

March 2, 2012 - Malena DeMartini-Price, CTC and Gina Phairis, BSC Comms, CTC Fixing the Unfixable: A New Look at Separation Anxiety
Jun 19, 2016 - Amanda Shyne puppy agility at Master Peace
Mar 25, 2017- Amanda Shyne weave poles
Apr 21, 2018 - Amanda Shyne jumps
Apr 22, 2018 - Amanda Shyne weaves poles
May 5, 2018 - Silvia Trkman running contacts
June 9-10, 2018 - Sue Sternberg Dog-Human Environment: Sociability & Aggression & Puppy & Adult Mouthing; Aggression & Safe/Defensive Handling
August 30 2018- Sarah Stremming Push Button starts and consent to work
February 2019- Fitness Trainer Certificate Program through Fenzi Sports Dog Academy
September 2019- Reducing Overarousal and Reactivity via the Circle Method of Leash Walking by Denise Fenzi of Fenzi Sports Dog Academy
October 2019 - Walking with Reactive Dogs by Amy Cook through Fenzi Sports Dog Academy
October 2019- Diane Patterson's String Theory, training yourself to see where your dog is coming from, going to and where it is on an agility course
January 2022- Karen Pryor Clicker Expo

Right From the Start! Agility Skills and Foundations Skills

Training Squats: The Ups and Downs of Shifting Criteria

A Successful Approach: Your Dog Controls the Distance

Fido Loves Fluffy: Creating Calm in a Cat and Dog Household

Right From the Start! Agility Skills and Foundations Skills

Trust Code: Unlocking the Science of Trust

Ready, Set, Oh No! Click to Calm in the Canine Sport Environment

Building Behavior: Shape the Future

Upset to Upbeat

Onwards with Start Buttons

Train that Chain: Behavior Chains

Proof It or Lose it: Building Resilient Behaviors From Home (or Anywhere!)

Managing Energy and Emotions: Getting to Just Right

January 2023 - Cara co-taught Stressed for Success, Recognize and Reduce Stress in Your Agility Journey
January 2023 - Karen Pryor Clicker Expo

Creative Reward Deliveries

How to Walk The Lead: Loose-Lead Training

Power Targeting for Any Training Goal

How to Walk The Lead: Loose-Lead Training

Using Frustration as an Asset

Click to Calm for Agility Competitors

Harnessing Conditioned Emotional Responses (CERs) for Performance

Stimulus Control, Duration, and Other Impossible Dreams

September 2023 - Completed the Fear Free Professional Program to become a Fear Free Certified Professional
September 2024 - AKC Judge's Seminar

Contact

I'm always looking for new and exciting training opportunities. Let's connect.

Looking to book me as an evaluator or judge, click here

cara@getactivepaws.com

781-899-PAWS (7297