Dog Training By PJ

Meet The Trainers

At Dog Training by PJ, our dog trainers are:
     · Certified Professional Dog Trainers-Knowledge Assessed ~ CPDT-KA
     · Professional Members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
     · Professional Members of Association of Animal Behavior
     · Professional Members of the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors
     · AKC-Canine Good Citizen (CGC) & S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluators

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.

Pamela "PJ" Wangsness, AABP-CDT, CPDT-KA was born and raised in Reno. PJ has been training animals since she was 11 years of age beginning with a “wild mustang.” PJ 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, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA.) in 2002. PJ is an Animal Behavior Specialist and "train-the-trainer" trainer who can assist you with your dog’s behavioral issues and training needs. She is a Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a Professional Member of the Pet Professional Guild, a Professional Member of the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through Association of Animal Behavior Professionals, and an Evaluator for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (AKC-CGC) and (AKC) S.T.A.R. Puppy Programs, PJ takes animal training and education seriously and since 2004 has been a Trainer Mentor (Train-the-Trainer) for Animal Behavior College. Just a note: most dog trainers in northern Nevada who've graduated from Animal Behavior College, (ABC-DT) have most likely been trained by PJ.

In 2010, Animal Behavior College spotlighted PJ for training more than thirty dog trainers, and since 2010 has trained nearly 50 new dog trainers. In addition, she is a regular guest speaker/trainer for the Veterinary Technician Program at Truckee Meadows Community College. In February 2014, PJ graduated with Honors from the Certificate Program offered by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers: Canine Socialization and Psychological Development for Puppies. In 2022 PJ earned her Certificate in Comparative Psychology & Animal Cognition. She regularly seeks continued education to remain current on behavior and training for animals. PJ volunteers throughout the area and rescues small dogs with a 501c3 non-profit organization, Chihuahua Rescue Truckee Meadows, Inc. She is active with her horses and dogs. Of course, she enjoys her cats and her donkey, chickens, goats and potbelly pigs, llamas and alpacas. She is passionate about educating and assisting people with their pets, whether dogs, cats or horses and yes, the occasional rabbit." Join a class today and see first-hand why most people, professionals and owners alike, refer to Dog Training by PJ as the number one place to train your dog or get help with behavior issues.

Susie Jensen, ABC-DT, CPDT-KA, CBC was born in Denmark but moved to the US with her family in 2008. They settled in the Reno area where they have lived ever since.

She had her first German Shepherd in 1984 and have owned the breed for more than 30 years. She currently has a German Shepherd and a Pit Bull Terrier. She had trained all her own dogs basic obedience and Agility.

When she came to Reno in 2008, she started volunteering at local animal shelters – she started out by just walking the dogs, but it soon grew into helping with everything concerning the rescue dogs including evaluations and helping dogs with behavior challenges. Susie found her purpose in life helping our four legged friends and she continues to train and help dogs and their owners on a daily basis.

Susie graduated at Animal Behavior College in 2015 and was certified as a CPDT-KA in June 2018; she became a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant (CBC) in April 2022. She is a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers as well as The Pet Professional Guild. She is continuously pursuing to better herself with continued education and has successfully completed with Certification for the following: Canine Behavior Consultant - The Human in the Middle, Canine Cognition, Pet-CPR, Canine Massage, Learning Theory, Lessons in Fear and Aggression, SANE-solutions for Challenging Dog Behavior, Understanding Canine Behavior and will keep going to constantly learn new things about our canine friends.

Susie strongly believes in Positive Reinforcement Training Methods and that we should not do to the dogs what we would not want to have done to us. She wants to make a difference in the lives of owners and their dogs and help them in any way she’s able to assist.

Traci Hopkinson, CPDT-KA was born in Lake Tahoe and moved to the Reno/Sparks area when she was seven years old. She graduated TMCC in 2011 with an AAS in Graphic Communications and got her ISSA personal training certification in 2015. Traci has worked at two separate veterinary clinics and has volunteered at the humane society. Traci has trained many animals over the years and as far back as she can remember, she has always loved and wanted to work with animals. Her dream came true when she began working with Dog Training by PJ. She currently has a beautiful, smart and gentle American Staffordshire Terrier that she is training for her to test for AKC CGC certification (American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen) Traci is a member of APDT, an evaluator with AKC-CGC program and in 2022 became a CPDT-KA.

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