Irith Bloom, author, presenter, trainer, and teacher, owns The Sophisticated Dog, a company that provides both peer-to-peer and trainer-to-pet-family services worldwide, as well as in-person training to select clients in Los Angeles. Irith is also co-founder of the Freak’n Awesome Dog Project, which helps pet professionals build the businesses of their dreams.

Irith has been training animals since the 1980s and has worked with animals ranging from chickens and rabbits to dogs and horses—not to mention humans. A biologist by training, Irith is fascinated by the science of learning. She is a sought-after presenter at conferences and seminars, and her writing has been published in countless online outlets, as well as in print media including her book “Your Puppy and You: A step-by-step guide to raising a freak'n awesome dog.”

Irith is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA), a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine - Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA), a Canine Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), a Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT), a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP), a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor – Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CBATI-KSA), and a Fear Free Certified Practitioner (FFCP). She is also certified in TAGteach, a positive-reinforcement method for teaching humans, and is on the faculty of Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training.

Irith has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Member of the Board of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), on the Advisory Board for Pets for Vets, on the Expert Review Board for Daily Paws, and Chair Emeritus of the Education Committee of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). She also volunteers for National English Shepherd Rescue.

Irith lives in Los Angeles.  She is between dogs at the moment, but shares her home with a well-behaved spouse.