Steve Benjamin

About me

First name

Steve

Last name

Benjamin

Summary

Steve Benjamin is the owner of Clicking With Canines in Endicott, NY. He served over 23 years as a Special Agent of the FBI, primarily conducting investigations of large-scale drug trafficking organizations, and six years in management, first at FBI Headquarters as a Unit Chief in the Criminal Investigative Division, and then as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Albany (New York) Division. Steve retired from the FBI in January 2004 to pursue his passion for working with dogs and their owners. Steve specializes in teaching clicker training to his clients, helping them teach their dogs to be socially acceptable, happy, and intelligent family pets.

Bio

Steve's love for animals, and especially dogs, was forged at a young age growing up on a 600 acre farm in western New York State. He learned that the animal's needs always came first and that it was far more effective to reward animals for desired behavior than to punish for undesired behavior. Always the one in the family to help the visiting vet and administer care to any sick animals, Steve's early career goal was to become a vet. That changed in college, however, when Steve developed an interest in law enforcement. Steve joined the FBI in 1976, was later appointed by then-Director William Webster to become an FBI agent, and graduated from the FBI Academy in October of 1980. Steve's management experience included strategic planning, developing and implementing program plans, and budget preparation, as well as developing program policy and procedures for large national investigative programs. Steve retired from the FBI in January 2004 to pursue his passion for working with dogs and their owners. Prior to retirement and in preparation for a new career in dog training, Steve "found" clicker training and spent three years studying under the only local trainer utilizing it. Steve also joined the APDT and began studying for the CPDT, providing free private clicker training lessons to obtain the required hours to qualify for the exam. Steve became a CPDT in November 2003 and started his dog training business "Clicking With Canines" in March 2004. Steve's training philosophy is to have dogs do what is asked of them because the dog wants to, not because it has to. Steve's common sense interpretation of "dog friendly" is simply: "Don't do anything to your dog that you wouldn't do to your best friend." Steve lives outside Binghamton, New York with his three dogs and one cat: Cougar (yellow lab), Nickel (black lab), Kara (lab/pit mix), and Tony (the tiger cat). Steve holds a BA in Mathematics from Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York and a MS in Computer Science from the American University, Washington, D.C.

Services offered

Group classes for Manners, Puppy Kindergarten, Agility, Obedience, Rally-Obedience, as well as in-home consultations, and classes for reactive, shy, and aggressive behaviors in dogs.

Contact information

Street

P.O. Box 5715

City

Endicott

State/Province

NY

Country

USA

Phone number

607-669-4104

Website

Clicking With Canines

Facility & Location Information

Directions

My training facility is approximately 6000 sq. ft. and has two training rooms, a small retail store, a kitchen, and a restroom. It is well lit, matted, and air conditioned. The facility is located behind 111 West Main Street, Endicott, New York. From Route 17 (either east or west bound) take the exit for Endicott (Route 26 north). Follow it west (it is also indicated as Main Street and Route 17C) through Endicott to Nanticoke Avenue ("The Corner Drug Store" is on the corner!). Take a right onto Nanticoke Avenue and almost an immediate left into a parking lot (directly across from Hurricane Riley's restaurant.) Park in the lot (you do not have to feed the meters). The entrance to my classroom is a side door not visible from the parking lot. You can find the entrance by walking toward the rear entrance of Lampy's restaurant (look for their bright purplish/blue awning over the door). As you approach Lampy's, look to your right and you'll see the entrance to "Clicking With Canines" in the corner of the building. The entrance is a glass door, with a banner depicting puppies hanging on the inside of the door. Enter through the door and then take a left down the short flight of stairs.

Hotels & Lodging

For lodging, I recommend the Red Roof Inn in Johnson City which is about 5 miles from my classroom. It is easily accessible from the Rt. 17 (Exit 70 North), directly across from a large mall, and plenty of restaurants within walking distance. All Red Roof Inns are happy to accept pets. There is no additional charges for pets.

Red Roof Inn
590 Fairview Street
Johnson City, NY 13790
(607) 729-8940

Veterinarians Nearby

Dr. Alison Beaulieu
716 Harry L Drive
Johnson City, NY 13790
607-217-5202

The practice is just a few blocks west of the Red Roof Inn.

History

Member for

3 years 2 weeks