Dog Training by P.J. - 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.

	Pamela "PJ" Wangsness, CPDT, PDT 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 Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) in September 2002. She is an Accredited Professional Dog Trainer, an Animal Behavior Consultant, Professional Member of the (APDT) Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Member of the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors and Endorsed Professional Dog Trainer of the Int’l Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior and is an AKC CGC Evaluator. PJ is a training mentor for Animal Behavior College and teaches others to become trainers. She regularly volunteers at the local shelters, including the SPCA of Northern Nevada, the Nevada Humane Society and High Sierra Animal Rescue in Portola, CA, is 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. Pamela was formerly the Executive Director/Manager of the Nevada Center for Ethics & Health Policy at the University of Nevada, Reno and was instrumental in writing the Death with Dignity and Caring in Nevada, Plan of Action under the former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa. When PJ is not training, she is active with her horses and dogs, regularly hikes and snowshoes, skis and simply enjoys life. She has had her "wild horses" since they were 8 months old, now 25 years old, has Chihuahuas (does rescue too) and her 'famous' Brittanys: Emme & Einstein. She is passionate about educating and assisting people with their pets, whether dogs, cats or horses.
	Joanna Moritz, CPDT, 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, four lady rats, and two Amazon parrots. She graduated from TMCC with an Associate in Arts degree, and is currently a senior at UNR, majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Art History. She achieved her Certified Pet Dog Trainer status in October of 2008, and is also an AKC CGC Evaluator. She has experience in teaching as well as public speaking. She hikes and snowshoes with the herding dogs, and Maya, the schnauzer, has her CGC certification. Her rats are fully recall trained, and her birds are simply happy to talk, yell, do tricks, and occasionally poke holes in her shirt. She could not imagine life without her little "zoo", and delights in the wonderful animal-person communication and connection created through positive training.
	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.
	Jana Williamson, ABCDT, CPDT, 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.
	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.
	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.
	Heather Robie, ABCDT moved to Fernley, Nevada in 1997 from Anoka, Minnesota to be closer to her family, who had moved to the Carson Valley from their hometown of Burbank, California. Heather’s love of animals began as a two year old. Her home in Burbank was the zoo every child dreams of, boasting a horse, two dogs, puppies, a cat (or three!), rabbits, rats, gerbils, parakeets, snakes, tortoise, chickens & ducks! As a 10 year old, Heather trained her first dog through a class given at the local park. She continued her education by assisting in the training of horses & mules through her teenage years, while showing in all categories, competing as a California Ranger, participating in parades and a couple of endurance rides. Her favorite memories are of riding in the Griffith Park Mountains with her dogs as company. Heather built a career within the Human Resource profession and in May 2007 began to pursue her lifetime dream of working with dogs and educating owners on the benefits and rewards of positive reinforcement training. She began studying for her dog training certificate through Animal Behavior College, graduating in May 2008. She will continue her education while preparing for her certification as a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT.) Heather lives in Fernley with her best friend Hawk, a 9 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Tucker an All American adopted from the Nevada Human Society and her cat Maggie rescued out of a corn field. Her horse, Charlie, and her donkey, Max, live in Paradise Valley, Nevada waiting for the time they can rejoin Heather in Fernley. Heather’s goal is to assist dog owners in building rewarding relationships with their dogs through positive behavioral training methods. Life is so much more fun with a dog sharing the adventure!

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