Meet The Trainers
The
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers serves to establish and
maintain a series of standards for professional competence in professional dog
training by certifying dog training professionals. Standards are based
on humane practices and the latest scientific knowledge. Competence in
training practices is promoted through the re-certification of qualified professionals.
www.ccpdt.com
All of our trainers
are current members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and are accredited
pet dog trainers.
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Pamela "PJ" Wangsness, CPDT. PJ Wangsness, CPDT was the first trainer in Northern Nevada to earn an international Level I certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) in September 2002. PJ is an Accredited Professional Dog Trainer and Animal Behavior Consultant, Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Member of the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors and endorsed professional trainer of the Int’l Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior. She is a training mentor for other trainers learning to train for the Animal Behavior College. PJ regularly volunteers at the local shelters, including the SPCA of Northern Nevada, the Nevada Humane Society and High Sierra Animal Rescue in Portola. Additionally, she volunteers her time for the Pups on Parole (PUPS) Program for the State of Nevada, Department of Corrections in cooperation with the NHS and SPCA. PJ offers many seminars throughout the community for people wanting to more about training their dogs through education, not domination. Additionally, Pamela "PJ" stays current on training trends, methods and handling by attending seminars and conferences regularly; she generally earns 20-30 hours of continued educational credits each year. Pamela “PJ” was formerly the Executive Director/Manager of the Nevada Center for Ethics & Health Policy at the University of Nevada, Reno. She was instrumental in writing the Death with Dignity and Caring in Nevada, Plan of Action under the former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa. Additionally, PJ and Dog Training by PJ generously gives dog training classes for many fund raising, charitable organizations' events, including The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She is proud to be a candidate for Man, Woman, Celebrity of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and feels through the efforts of everyone a cure can be found for blood cancers and more. One of Pamela’s favorite inspirational quotes, by Margaret Mead, is: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." |
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Joanna Moritz, came to Reno from London, Ontario, Canada in 2003. She has been training animals since she was about 10, when she discovered that her rat would do tricks for treats. She's had experience with just about every type of animal during her life and she is currently owned by the many rescued creatures that seem to find her: a deaf Border Collie, a Queensland Heeler, a Border Collie mix, a miniature Schnauzer, three tabby cats, and two Amazon parrots. She graduated from TMCC with an Associate in Arts degree, and is currently a junior at UNR, majoring in Art History, with a minor in Psychology. She has experience in teaching as well as public speaking, tutors English at TMCC, and is also working toward her CPDT. Joanna is a AKC CGC Evaluator. She does Agility with the herding dogs, and pet therapy with Maya, the schnauzer, who has her CGC certification. Her birds are simply happy to sing and do tricks, and occasionally steal food. She could not imagine life without her little "zoo", and delights in the wonderful animal person communication and connection created through positive training. |
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Erin Whipple, CTC,
moved to Reno from the Bay Area 3 years ago. There she volunteered
for the Peninsula Humane Society, trained her own mixed breed, and worked
in a high end pet supply and grooming store. She is a graduate,
with a certificate in behavior and and training, of the San Francisco
Dog Trainers Academy, taught by Jean Donaldson and Janis Bradley http://www.sfspca.org/academy/
. Since the age of 18 she has worked in various pet supply stores
and is very knowledgeable on foods and products. She owns an Australian
Shepherd who competes in dock diving. In addition to her Australian
Shepherd, Erin has a mixed-breed rescue and her husband has a German
Shepherd. Her first child was born at the beginning of 2006.
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Noelle Cota, CPDT, earned her certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in November of 2005 and is now a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. In 1995, she moved to Wellington, Nevada from Santa Barbara, California, where she lived with her mother, a German Shepherd, several Golden Retrievers, and a few Chihuahuas. At the age of 12, Noelle obedience trained her first Chihuahua through Utility level in AKC Obedience. Noelle is an AKC certified CGC test evaluator. Additionally, she breeds Australian Shepherds. Her Aussies have titles in Conformation, Obedience, Rally, and Agility. She is also active in Australian Shepherd Rescue. Noelle is an advocate for responsible dog ownership and enjoys teaching owners how to have fun with their dogs by using positive reinforcement training methods that enhance the dog's personality. |
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Jana Williamson, ABCDT, moved to Reno about 8 years ago with her husband Dean, two of their five children, and all her four legged friends. She hails from Bishop, California, where she was born and raised. Jana has owned dogs and horses all her life and has spent much of her time riding in the back country with her black labs at her horse's heels. She began to show and train horses on a daily basis, and her dogs were always with her to help during her down time. From an early age, Jana has been passionate about training, and when the time came, she pursued it. She found that if she integrated what she learned from her younger years of using positive reinforcement methods with horses, she could develop a unique style of dog training. In 2007 Jana graduated from the Animal Behavior College with her Certificate in Positive Dog Training Methods and Behavioral Studies http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/ . She will continue her education while preparing for her certification as a CPDT. Jana is an AKC certified CCGC test evaluator. Jana continues to work with a local veterinarian, so her education never stops. She shares her home with her husband, Dean, one daughter, two Dachshunds, a Viszla, 15 canaries, 10 finches and one blue headed pionus. She dedicates her burning passion to her American Bull Dog named Rajah, who passed over to Rainbow Bridge. |
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Beth Williams, P.T., G.C.S., M.A., has been a physical therapist since 1985, and in 1995 became the first board certified specialist in geriatric physical therapy. in Nevada. She has successfully completed her education in veterinary rehabilitation sponsored by the American and Canadian Physical Therapy Association, and since 1998 has been treating 4-legged clients upon veterinary referral. Beth co-teaches our Fido 'n Me Fitness Classes, and is the Physical Therapist partner in the K9 Wellness Center, located next to Dog Training by P.J. The K9 Wellness Center was designed for physical conditioning and therapy. |
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Dale Rands, ABCDT, moved to Reno in 1996 with her Golden Retrievers Sunny and Sierra. For most of the 12 years she lived in the area she supported her little family working in the Megajackpots Department at IGT. In early 2007, Dale, dreaming of a more fulfilling career involving her passion for dogs, began studying Positive Reinforcement Based Dog Training at Animal Behavior College. She graduated with honors in February 2008. Equipped with her certificate from ABC and 30 years of living with and training her own dogs she is now embarking on a new adventure training dogs with Dog Training by PJ. Dale will also continue her volunteer work for Nevada Humane Society and will continue studying for her Certification for CPDT. Dale currently resides in Washoe Valley with her Australian Shepherd Jackson and her newly adopted SPCA puppy Race. |
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