Ruth LaRocque is a highly experienced dog trainer and animal behaviorist, specializing in the addressing pet fear and aggression issues in family situations. Ruth hold both the CPDT-KA™ and CBCC-KA™ certifications and joined the CCPDT Board in 2013. She was elected President in 2018 and has served as Treasurer since 2014.

Ruth owns Seattle Pet Pals LLC with her partner and provides private, in-home behavior consulting and training services for dogs, cats and other family pets in the Seattle and greater Puget Sound areas of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to her CCPDT certifications, she is a graduate of Jean Donaldson’s Dog Trainer Academy, a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy. Ruth is a presenter for the internationally recognized Family Paws’ Dogs and Storks program for new and expecting families with dogs, as well as the Dog and Baby Connection program.

Ruth completed a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an emphasis in pre-vet studies. When she is not helping to build successful relationships between pet dogs and their human families, she and her border collie compete in agility, qualifying for the USDAA nationals in 2016. She and her partner Tim currently share their home with Sugar (Husky mix), Daisy (Maltese), Seven (Border Collie), and Romeo (beagle).

Amanda Kowalski is the Research Project and Event Coordinator for the Center for Animals and Public Policy and Center for Shelter Dogs at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Amanda is engaged in research that has the potential to vastly improve canine and feline welfare and save the lives of shelter animals. She recently completed her Masters of Science in Animals and Public Policy at the Cummings School and she chairs the CEU and Legislative Committees for CCPDT. Amanda also owns a dog training business, The Scholarly Canine.

Prior to moving to Massachusetts, Amanda had worked for multiple animal welfare organizations working towards improving the behavioral health of shelter animals. As the Manager of Behavior and Training at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, Amanda worked to develop and implement community based programming, a shelter animal training program, a volunteer behavior program, and a behavior center. She has also provided testimony on public policies affecting animal welfare and volunteers with the MSPCA’s Animal Action Team. Amanda strives to positively impact the animal welfare and dog training field through community engagement and collaboration, as well as through her professional and academic endeavors.

Amanda currently lives in the Boston, MA area.

Carol Hutelmyer is a Professional Nurse and dog owner. Over her long nursing career, Carol learned the value of dogs in providing patients with companionship and stress reduction. After retiring in 2008, Carol and her Border Collie/Lab mix Pippin became certified in Animal Assisted Therapy and volunteered in a wide range of settings. Her 3-year old Border collie/Lab mix named Bella was recently certified as a therapy dog and they are currently volunteering at a day care center for seniors. From her own experiences as a dog owner, Carol is keenly aware of the value of dog training and of the need to provide owners a way to find and choose qualified professional dog trainers.

Carol holds BS in Nursing from Georgetown University and a MS in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She and Bella live in Philadelphia, PA.

Kate Anders is the owner of Pretty Good Dog in Minnesota. She has worked as a dog professional since 2005 and ran the behavior and training program for the Minnesota Valley Humane Society before starting her own business. Kate specializes in child-dog conflict cases and loves helping families prepare for, and live successfully with, babies/children and dogs. She has taught hundreds of prenatal/pre-adoption education programs to help get families off to a strong start.

In addition to her CCPDT certifications, Kate is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), and a veteran Family Paws Parent Educator (FPPE). She served 6 years as an officer on the board of directors for a local dog training club.

Kate is also part of a published research team studying canine heart rate variability and its relationship to behavior and aggression.

Steve Austin owns Steve Austin Canine Training, a specialist business providing handling and training services for canine detection, canine conservation, canine and handler training, education seminars, and courses in New South Wales, Australia. He is also a licensed judge for the Australian National Kennel Control’s (ANKC) Field Trials and Gundog Obedience Tests

Steve’s range of dog training services including conservation detection for preservation of wildlife; feral animal detection and management; pest control; quarantine and customs consulting; drugs/narcotics detection; and explosives detection. Steve was chosen to head the NSW Emergency Volunteer Canine Fire and Rescue Unit, which will be deployed to help with recovery efforts during tsunamis, earthquakes, fires and floods. Steve regularly works with individuals, government agencies, the armed forces, and non-profit organizations around the world. He is frequently asked to speak at conferences and is often cited as an expert in media interviews.

Steve lives in New South Wales, Australia and volunteers as the National K9 Director of Defence Community Dogs, which places rescue and shelter dogs with selected inmates from correctional institutions who train them to support soldiers suffering from PTSD.

Irith Bloom is the owner of The Sophisticated Dog, a pet training company based in Los Angeles. She has been training animals since the 1980s and has worked with everything from chickens and rabbits to dogs and horses—not to mention humans. A biologist by training, Irith is fascinated by the science of learning and is a sought-after presenter at conferences and seminars worldwide. Her writing has been published both online and in print and she is the co-chair of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Education Committee.

In addition to her CPDT-KSA certification, Irith is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC); a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP); a Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT); a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI); and is certified in TAGteach, a positive-reinforcement method for teaching humans. She is on the faculty at Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior and DogBiz’s Dog Walking Academy.

Irith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and lives in Southern CA, where she volunteers with National English Shepherd Rescue; the Los Angeles County 2020 Healthy Pets Healthy Families Coalition (a One Health initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of people and their pets throughout Los Angeles County); and Wallis Annenberg PetSpace.

Jennifer Burns has been training dogs since 2004 and is the owner and head trainer of Conscious Dog Training LLC, which was recently named the Best Positive Reinforcement Training Company in Texas. Jennifer and her team of trainers provide a range of dog training services and behavior consultations throughout the Austin, TX, area.

In addition to her CCPDT certifications, Jennifer is a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Fear Free Certified, and a Certified C.A.T.C.H mentor trainer. Her focus is on empowering clients to create a conscious relationship with their dog that is based on clear communication, joyful cooperation, and connection.

Jennifer has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and lives in the Austin, TX area.

James Crosby has professionally trained dogs, taught individual and group obedience classes, and addressed canine behavior problems since 1999. He teaches safe handling, evaluation and rehabilitation of dangerous dogs and the investigation of fatal and serious dog attacks to police, animal control agencies and others across the US, Canada, Italy, the UK, Poland and Australia.

Jim is recognized in and out of court in the US and Canada as an expert on dangerous dogs, canine aggression, fatal dog attacks, and related issues. He has personally investigated over 20 fatal dog attacks on humans and has physically and behaviorally evaluated over 40 dogs involved post-attack. Jim served as chair of the review committee addressing dangerous dog procedures and processes for the government of the Australian Capital Territory in 2017/2018.

He authored two chapters in the textbook Dog Bites: A Multidisciplinary Approach and writes the dog aggression blog “Canine Aggression Issues with Jim Crosby”. Jim served as Animal Control Division Manager of Bay County Animal Control from 2008 to 2010 and has been Division Management Consultant to Jacksonville (FL) Animal Care and Protective Services since 2016.

Jim is a retired Police Lieutenant with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and a certified Animal Control Officer in Jacksonville, FL. He is also an Associate Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a Charter Member of the International Veterinary Forensic Science Association, and a Supporting Member of IAABC. Jim holds a M.S. in Veterinary Forensic Medicine and lives in the Jacksonville, FL area.

Yvonne Ferguson is the owner and head trainer of Quinte Canine located in the Quinte region of Ontario Canada. She is a Scent Detection Judge and Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) Evaluator for the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC); Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) and Certified Stunt Dog Judge with Do More With Your Dog; and a Behaviour Consultant and Course Instructor for Canine Foundations. Yvonne is also an active participant in various dog sports, including Trick and Scent Detection.

Yvonne has trained hundreds of dogs in both group and private classes and has helped countless dogs complete successful, comprehensive science-based behaviour modification programs. She can often be found speaking to groups on various canine topics including ethology, husbandry, learning theory, handling and safety. Yvonne’s ability to infuse fun into professional learning and dog training is of great importance to both the dogs and handlers she assists.

Yvonne holds a Social Service Worker Diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College and her 10 years’ experience in social work allows her to offer programs and services that meet the needs of both the dogs and the people she works with. She also holds canine and behaviour certificates from the Universities of Minnesota, Edinburgh, Melbourne, and Georgian College. Yvonne is a very active volunteer for numerous not-for-profit canine organizations, using her knowledge and skills for the betterment of dogs and the people who love them. Yvonne lives in the Quinte region of Ontario with her spouse and her dog, Wrangler, a German Shepherd who holds multiple titles and championships in Scent Detection, Obedience, and Tricks.

Ashley Foster is a CBCC-KA™ and Professional Dog Trainer who has been training dogs professionally for over 23 years. She is the founder/owner of Complete K-9, which offers force-free, positive in-home behavior and training consultation and group classes. Ashley also provides consultations to veterinary, rehabilitation, and animal-care businesses to develop stress-free and behaviorally sound practices.

She has participated in every facet of the dog training field; including performance, conformation and therapy dog training and program coordination, rescue and shelter work, animal care facility management and consulting, group class instruction, and private behavior modification. She contributed to numerous research projects focusing on the human-animal bond and is the co-author of The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog, the 2009 Dog Writers Association of America – Maxwell Award Winning, Best Care and Health Book.

Ashley shares her life with one aged to perfection Doberman, Breaker, and a German Shorthair, Ducky, who she is training to hunt birds using force-free methods. She received a B.S. in Zoology from Colorado State University and lives on the northern front range of Colorado.

Beth is the owner/founder of Dog Latin Dog Training and Behavior Consulting, which serves the Washington, DC area. She also consults with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, VA, and volunteers with the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, the Washington Animal Rescue League, and Your Dog’s Friend.

Beth is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy, a positive-reinforcement dog -training program. Prior to starting her own business, she was the director of behavior and training for the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC., and a behavior specialist at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. Earlier in her career, Beth was a patient coordinator for behavior veterinarian E. Kathryn Meyer, V.M.D., at the Veterinary Behavior Clinic in Gaithersburg, MD, and an animal trainer for the Montgomery County Humane Society.

Beth has extensive experience in the communications field, having worked as a photo editor for various publications, including U.S. News & World Report. Beth was also the Assistant Director, Media Relations, for the Washington National Cathedral.

Beth shares her home near Bethesda, MD, with her husband and three rescue dogs.

Leigh Sansone, Esq., CPDT-KSA™, has been training dogs professionally for more than a decade. After practicing law for 15 years, she shifted focus from special education advocacy to humane animal training.

While still practicing law in 2006, Leigh began moonlighting with a pet store chain teaching obedience, where she fell in love with dog training and behavior modification. In 2010, she started her own company, Ruff Customers, consulting privately with dog owners about anxiety, fear, and aggression issues and creating and implementing behavior modification plans. Leigh also works with the ASPCA as a canine behavior consultant. She was a senior behavior consultant for NYC-based therapy dog organization The Good Dog Foundation. Leigh’s training tips have been published in APDT’s Top Tips from Top Trainers, a compendium of advice from leading trainers and consultants. In 2014, Leigh achieved a long-time goal, completing all five of Bob Bailey’s Operant Conditioning Chicken Workshops, and in 2015 she returned as an assistant during those workshops.

Leigh received her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University, with double majors in Psychology and English, and received her JD from Vanderbilt University School of Law. She recently moved from NYC to Atlanta and works with the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team.

Bradley Phifer, owner of Bradley Phifer Dog Training, is an Indianapolis-based dog trainer and behavior consultant who has helped countless owners live happier lives with their pets. Dedicated to the professionalization of dog training, he divides his attention between CCPDT and his dog training clients. Bradley has been on the CCPDT Board since 2009 and served as President from 2012 through 2017. He has served as Director of Animal Behavior Programs for the Humane Society of Indianapolis, an open admissions shelter receiving approximately 10,000 animals per year, and the Director of Pet Behavior Services for the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic & Wellness Center.

Bradley has a passion for learning and regularly hosts and attends continuing education seminars for pet care professionals. In 2003, he successfully completed the Purdue University DOGS! Course. He is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed™, Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed™, and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Basenji Club of America. Bradley is active in AKC Conformation shows and professionally handles many breeds, including Basenjis, Briards, and Afghan Hounds. Bradley lives in the Indianapolis, IN area.