Kris' Certifications & Other Qualifications

I'm a certified dog trainer: I have earned my CPDT-KA credential from CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers), which is the leading independent certifying organization for dog trainers worldwide.

I'm a member of The Pet Professional Guild: I'm also a proud member of The Pet Professional Guild—No Pain, No Force, No Fear! (© The Pet Professional Guild)

I'm a member of the APDT: I'm a proud member of the APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers), where to love a dog is to love the dog's trainer. (© APDT)

I'm a Certified Dog Parkour Instructor: I'm certified as a dog parkour instructor by the International Dog Parkour Association.

I'm a former public school teacher: I have more than 25 years of high school teaching experience; I most recently taught AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) Psychology.  I have a deep understanding of behaviorism and positive reinforcement, in both theory and application.

I have rescue experience: I work with both fosters and adopters to provide support in helping to manage and overcome problem behaviors. I conduct classes for volunteers, fosters, and adopters as well as work with individual dogs. (Lifeline Animal Project)

I'm a dog mom: I have fostered many dogs over the years, and I currently have three dogs—all rescues.  I have experience with puppies, teens, large dogs, fearful dogs, and hyper / over-stimulated dogs.

                                 

What is dog training certification?

Dog training is an unregulated industry, meaning there are no licensing requirements or regulatory oversight. Literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. So how, do you, as a make the right choice when picking a dog trainer for you and your dog? One way is to look for independent certification.

I am certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the leading independent testing and certification organization for the dog training profession.

Being certified by the CCPDT means that I have:

• Logged hundreds of hours of hands-on dog training experience
• Passed a rigorous exam testing my dog-training knowledge
• Signed a pledge to follow a strict Code of Ethics for my personal and business conduct
• Demonstrated a commitment to continuing education and professional development
• Exemplified a commitment to professional excellence

What is the CCPDT?

The CCPDT is an independent, nonprofit credentialing organization. Its purpose is to assess, test, and evaluate dog training and behavior professionals through a set of standardized tests.

Thousands of dog trainers worldwide maintain the CCPDT's certifications to demonstrate their mastery of humane, science-based dog training practices. Learn more about the CCPDT.