Debbie has worked as a professional dog trainer since 1999.

She is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers headed by world-renowned trainer & behavior specialist, Jean Donaldson. She received her CTC (certification in training and behavior counseling) from the Academy in 2000. The Academy's education in behavior, training, behavior modification, and teaching and counseling is widely considered to be unrivaled.

Debbie is a long-time member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Pet Professional Guild - two of the largest professional dog training organizations in the world.

She currently teaches a variety of group training classes including Puppy, Basic, Beyond Basics, Canine Good Citizen, Tricks, and Performance classes. In addition to the group classes, she provides personalized in-home training for most behavior and training needs including but not limited to - puppy biting/mouthing, fear, reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, and resource guarding. 

In addition to her certification from the Academy for Dog Trainers, she is a Certified Canine Conditioning Coach, Certified Trick Dog Instructor and has been an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) evaluator for over 20 years.

Debbie has created the curriculum for most of her group classes through the years, her favorites being her innovative tricks and circus dog classes. Her tricks crews have performed tricks shows at the Chicago are training facility For Your K9, the International Kennel Club's shows, and at assisted living facilities.

Debbie's own dog, a mixed breed named Pinky, trains in agility, rally-free, tricks, weight pulling and most importantly, how to lay down calmly and assist with demonstrations while Debbie teaches her classes. 

Her older pup (waiting for Debbie over the rainbow bridge), mixed breed Ludo, has appeared in commercials for Walmart and Gatorade, and is a Champion Trick Dog.

Debbie has been on the staff (over a decade) of Camp Dogwood, an overnight camp for owners and their dogs. She has developed and teaches a variety of classes including coaching reactive dogs to success, recall, tricks, rally free, parkour, and many others through the years.

Some of Debbie’s thoughts about methods/techniques:

"Dogs learn best and bond faster/deeper with their owners if the training is WITHOUT fear, intimidation, pain, startle, and other techniques that have the potential for behavioral fall out.

All dogs require motivation to do what we would like them to do. Finding out what motivates our individual dog is integral in the training process and should be the first order of business when we train our canine companions.

Food, fun, and access to those things that dogs love - these are the motivators that should be used in any effective and humane dog training program.”