About
DogPACT
Who is a 'Behaviorist?
 I am often referred to as a
behaviorist since I work with
dogs to resolve serious behavior
problems such as fearfulness,
aggression, and anxieties. When
I tell people that I am not
a “behaviorist,” they
express either surprise or disinterest
as I try and explain why I won’t
call myself a behaviorist. After
all, what matters to them is
that I can help their dog, not
what I call myself.
But it matters to me. Because,
in brief, it is really buyer
beware when one purchases dog
training or behavior modification
services. There is no regulatory
body in my state (CA) that licenses
trainers or helps the public
become educated about who has
the appropriate experience to
work with their dog, whether
that be Pansy the Puppy or Fang,
the resource-guarding, child
biting Man’s Best Friend.
And if someone calls himself
a behaviorist, and yet has no
advanced education or training
in behavior, someone could end
up being very disappointed when
that “behaviorist” can’t
solve their dog’s problem—or
worse, makes it worse—because
they weren’t qualified.
And that makes all trainers
and real behaviorists look bad.
I call myself a “dog trainer
who specializes in resolving
serious behavior problems.” I
feel that the title “behaviorist” belongs
to two groups of people: 1)
a Board-certified veterinarian
who has advanced education and
experience in behavior in addition
to their medical degree, and
they have sat for and passed
their Board exams in behavior
(there are about 48 of these
rare creatures in the U.S.;
go to http://www.dacvb.org/);
and 2) a Certified Applied Animal
Behaviorist (CAAB) who is a
PhD in psychology or animal
behavior and recognized by the
Animal
Behavior Society.
Does this mean that anyone who
isn’t one of these rare
folks is incapable of helping
people with their dogs? Of course
not. The more than 100 hours
of continuing education I devote
every year in keeping abreast
of my field, my CPDT-KA certification,
and my more than 10 years’ direct
experience make me good at what
I do. But I still don’t
try and impress people with
a title that should be reserved
for the folks who have advanced
degrees and who should be respected
for their contribution and commitment
to the field.
There’s room for everyone
when it comes to helping our dogs
live happy, stress-free lives with
their wacky humans—as long
as we do no physical or emotional
harm—and we respect and
acknowledge the contributions
each other has made.
Terry Long, CPDT-KA |
Terry Long,
CPDT-KA, founded DogPACT in
1996 turning a lifelong fascination with
dogs and the study of their behavior
into a new career. Terry's experience
with dogs goes back to early childhood
when she could be found training family
and neighborhood dogs, and later evolved
into working in veterinary hospitals
in a variety of positions. Her keen understanding
of dogs stems from hands-on experience
with hundreds of dogs, as well as her
skill in using operant conditioning to
create new behaviors and to modify others.
Her skills have brought her invitations
to teach in the US, Canada , and Japan.
As a committed practitioner of positive
training methods, Terry logs more than
100 hours of continuing education a year.
Terry has studied operant conditioning
and clicker training with Bob and Marian
Bailey, PhD, and has also been the beneficiary
of the teachings of Dr. Ian Dunbar, Dr.
Karen Overall, VMD, Pam Reid, PhD, Karen
Pryor, Jean Donaldson, and a host of other
contemporaries.
In 2003 Terry became one of 635 trainers
internationally to attain the CPDT-KA (Certified
Pet Dog Trainer) designation, the first
well-recognized certification program for
professional trainers and behavior consultants.
Terry is the former managing editor of The
APDT Chronicle of the Dog, a magazine
for professional dog trainers around
the world. In 2006 her article for The
Chronicle,“Shape for Confidence,” won
a coveted 1st-place Maxwell Award for
Best Feature in a canine newspaper or
newsletter from the Dog Writers Association
of America. It told the story of how
clicker training can be used to help
dogs overcome fearfulness and to build
confidence through trick training. Terry
also authors Dog World magazine’s “About
Agility” column, nominated for
Best Magazine Column of 2006 by the DWAA.
Terry is a member of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and
holds a B.S. degree in business management
and a certificate in public relations from
UCLA. Terry has four dogs, three of whom
have top agility titles, and one whom is
just starting to compete. Terry's skills
with clicker training are obvious when
watching her dogs perform freestyle, tricks,
and agility.
Sandy
Mae | Moki
Jo | Kiwi | Pretzel | Buster's
Memorial
Nikki Myers, CPDT-KA, has
been involved in dogs for more than 20
years. In 1994 she was first introduced
to clicker training. Since then she has
used clicker training in agility, flyball,
obedience, and tricks training. Nikki is
a member of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers and has been an
instructor for DogPACT since 2001, teaching
agility, private, in-home pet manners,
and group pet manners classes.
She is a founding member of the Woof
Gang Flyball club of Orange County
and has traveled across the country to
teach flyball at the Iron
Dogs Sports Camps. Nikki specializes
in motivating dogs and their owners,
and in applying the lessons she teaches
in her classes to real-life settings.
Living with three terriers is both a joy
and a challenge for Nikki. Maggie, a ten
year old Australian Terrier is winding
down her career as agility dog, Flyball
dog, earthdog and just spending time as
pet dog. That’s her favorite sport
of all.
The newest addition, Charm, is now a thriving
3 year old dog training for agility, is
the fastest Silky Terrier in the United
Flyball League, Inc., and has set his
sights on rats, rats, rats. Earthdog tests
are not far off for this young man.
The old matron, Rodi, is now 16 and flourishing
as a pillow and dog bed tester. She demands
new testing materials about every 6 months.
Sierra Smith, CPDT-KA, has
a strong background in Animal Welfare. She
has worked in humane societies in the
areas of humane education, animal behavior
and training, and shelter management. Upon
completion of her dog training apprenticeship
with The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago,
she went on to be an instructor with
their award winning School of Dog Training. After
relocating to the Los Angeles area, Sierra
worked at SPCALA with both shelter dogs
and owned dogs, including teaching Puppy
Classes and Level One Obedience Classes. Sierra
is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
and a member of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
Maryanne Dell, CPDT-KA,
has been in love with dogs all of her life. As a
child, she parented not baby dolls, but
stuffed dogs, which were her favorite playthings
until the real thing came along. She started
working in rescue in 1991, which led her
to as a volunteer with the Seal Beach Animal
Care Center, where she was a member of
the board of directors and from which she
rescued Griffin, the dog who led her to
dog training. In 1997, she and a fellow
trainer founded Pet Lovers Network, which
placed dozens of dogs in loving homes.
Pet Lovers became Shamrock Foundation in
2004, and Maryanne continues to place dogs
in homes, including her own.
Maryanne loves to write and has been
writing for most of her life. Since 1994,
she has written a column about animals,
mostly dogs, for The
Orange County Register, where she
was an editor for 23 years before changing
careers to work full-time with dogs.
Maryanne is an evaluator for the Delta
Society, an international group that
works to further the human-animal bond
through its Pet Partners program, which
provides animal-assisted therapy and
activities to nursing homes, hospitals,
assisted-living facilities, schools and
more. Her dog Piper, a Newfoundland mix,
was a Pet Partner for four years. Now
Jitterbug, a Tibetan spaniel, continues
visiting with Maryanne. Maryanne is also
an evaluator for the American Kennel
Club’s Canine Good Citizen program
and its S.T.A.R.
Puppy Program.
She has been a member of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers since
1997 and attends hours of seminars
and workshops every year to continue
her education. Her goal is to make
the world a better place for dogs by
helping people better understand them.
Through training, behavior modification,
and activities that further the human-animal
bond, she works with people to create
fulfilling lives with their canine
friends.
In addition to Jitterbug, Maryanne shares
her home with Griffin, an Akita-cattle
dog mix; Fly, a chow-Tibetan mastiff mix;
JetBlue, an Australian shepherd; and the
occasional rescue dog on his or her way
to a new home.
Kelli Knowles, CPDT-KA, plays
two critical roles for DogPACT, one as
Terry's right-hand person in the office,
answering your calls, and the other as
one of DogPACT's certified trainers. An
awesome blend of smarts, compassion, and
wit, Kelli knows just what to say when
it comes to people and their dogs, even
in times of stress. One busy lady, Kelli
teaches puppy kindergarten classes, conducts
group and private pet manners training
and housetraining lessons, and is DogPACT’s
SmartDog Walker. Kelli also runs her own
dog-walking and pet-sitting business called
Calling All Paws, ably assisted with her
daycare charges by JoJo, her 7-year-old
German shepherd mix.
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