Susan Waltman discovered positive dog training methods more than 20 years ago. Since then, using only these positive methods, she has earned more than 100 titles with her dogs, including a Utility Dog title on each dog she has owned. Her dogs have earned recognition in obedience, agility, regional & national tournaments, plus other dogsports including herding, lure coursing, and dogscootering. She is currently owned by Puzzle, a 12 year old Saluki, who has competed at the top levels in obedience and agility and Clue her new Saluki. Puzzle also performs service dog (balance/mobility) work for Susan and she is training Clue for similar work. Susan believes that training should be fun for both dog & human, and her instruction for the last 19 years has aimed to enhance that relationship. She was one of the first in the DC Metro area to train using only positive motivational techniques and has continued throughout her training career to pioneer a training method that is both humane and fun for dogs and humans alike. She is endorsed by NADOI (National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors).
Lee-Ann Tracy simply loves dogs. Although her background is in Environmental Affairs and Emergency Management and she has spent the past 15 years working as a consultant for Federal agencies, she realized that being around dogs made her the most happy. She began pursuing training to become a dog trainer more than a year ago and has worked with the expert trainers at C&C PALS to develop her "positive" dog training skills. Even before she really knew about positive training methods, she trained her own dog, Jack, with gentle methods. Lee-Ann rescued Jack more than 9 years ago and they have lived in Arlington since that time. Although not with any formal organization, Jack has visited retirement homes and helped with stream cleanings (Lee-Ann taught him how to retrieve cans and plastic bottles from streams). Lee-Ann is a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and is preparing for one day to sit for her CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer) certification. She can’t wait for the day when she can do dog training fulltime!
Joan MacKenzie discovered her passion for dogs after she retired from a career as an international lawyer for the federal government when she adopted her dog Sandy, a Tibetan Spaniel, who had been thrown out on the road from a car in rural Georgia. Sandy has such a love of learning Joan had to become a trainer to keep up with her! Sandy is a natural athlete so Joan has learned agility; rally obedience, flyball and tracking, to name some of the team’s favorite sports. This rural outdoor dog was not socialized for suburbia, so Joan became experienced in classical conditioning as well, working with Sandy to overcome her fears in her new environment. Joan, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), is preparing to become a certified trainer.
In addition, Joan is pursuing certification in Tellington Touch, a gentile, therapeutic training style that has been very effective helping Sandy overcome her fears. This is an intensive two-year training program that will complement Joan’s experience with obedience and sports training. Joan is using all of her experience to help the neediest dogs at a local animal shelter several days a week.
A lifelong animal lover, Donna Kraemer grew up on a ranch out West training and showing horses and caring for a menagerie of critters. As an adult she moved East, her passion shifted to dogs, and she was thrilled to discover the array of positive dog training techniques that had evolved since her childhood days in a Dog 4-H club. She currently shares her home with her three children, her ever-patient husband, and five dogs -- three Pembroke Welsh Corgis and two special needs foster dogs. Donna is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and regularly attends conferences and seminars to improve her techniques. In addition to her work for C&C PALS, Donna is also employed as an adoption counselor by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and volunteers with the Friends of Homeless Animals shelter in Fairfax.
Melissa Frye has titled dogs in agility, flyball, fieldwork and obedience. She has trained owned and bred multiple champion cockers. She has the #1 Ibizan hound in AKC agility (who is also the first AX AXJ Ibizan) and her daughter who is the #1 ranked Ibizan in flyball. She also has three top ten agility cockers. Her cocker Dice, who tried out for the World Team at the tender age of 2 ½ yr. has already won two Steeplechases and two Grand Prix this year. Her young Border Collie made his agility debut in August, 2006!
Melissa has been teaching dog sport classes for eight years and competing for 13 years now.
Anne Davis has always enjoyed dogs and says she feels very fortunate to be in the "positive" dog training profession. Anne's background is in Physical Education and Special Education and she has also spent 16 years working in the corporate world. After many years Anne is now able to pursue her true love full time of working with dogs and of course their owners. Anne's family in Vienna revolves around her husband, Gene, their two labs, Rudy and Cooper and their German Shepard Dog, Missy. Both of their labs are rescue dogs and Rudy has helped Anne in several ways. At times he is a demo dog for classes at C&C PALS. Anne and Rudy have visited with pre-schools and scout groups to talk with children about dog safety. Rudy has also been the subject of Anne's first children's book, "Rudy's Friends," which describes the joy of children having a variety of playmates. Anne is a member of IACP, International Association of Canine Professionals, and APDT, Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has been exposed to several methods of training and truly believes in the "positive" approach. You can get results without hurting your dog!
Jenny Brawley has been a CPDT (Certified Pat Dog Trainer) since 2006. Her passion for dog learning began when she adopted a “hard ship” dog from a local trainer. “Kenny” had fear aggression issues and his adoption came with a follow-up consultation with his former trainer. Jenny took advantage of the opportunity but the consultation ended with Jenny in tears as the trainer tried to impress the need to administer leash jerks to establish “control” over Kenny. Jenny was convinced there had to be a better way to work through Kenny’s issues instead of using positive punishment. Jenny also figured out quickly that without an understanding of what “triggered” Kenny to be fearful, it is not possible to apply antidotal methods.
Thankfully, Jenny found out about positive reinforcement training based on the theory of animal learning. Jenny immediately applied and was accepted at the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers where she graduated in 2002. Not only did these methods learned at the Academy prove successful with Kenny, but Jenny vowed to apply this new knowledge to help other adult shelter dogs, many of whom are surrendered because they had never received adequate socialization, basic obedience training and manners.
Now Jenny devotes her evenings to her passion of dog training here at C&C PALS. On a volunteer basis, Jenny has been involved with a local shelter since 2001, helping with post-adoption behavioral questions. By day, Jenny is a mortgage fraud investigator. Jenny is also a graduate of the US Secret Service “Train the Trainer” program and this skill has transferred to her ability to teach dog owners how to train their dogs and instill good manners.
Jenny resides with her husband and five “kids” (three adult shelter dogs and two shelter cats) in Vienna. She is a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and is a nationally certified dog trainer with her CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer) certification.
