Laura Monaco Torelli
About me
- First name
- Laura
- Last name
- Monaco Torelli, CPDT-KA, KPACTP
- Summary
Laura, founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts (ABTC), and the company's training team work in collaboration with clients and animal health professionals to provide high-quality care for the animals in their lives. ABTC focuses on Inspiring Compassionate Animal Care through Positive Interactions. Force-free training principles and guidance are provided through seminars and interactive group and individual sessions. Laura enjoys sharing the many wonderful benefits of positive reinforcement training with various species.
- Bio
Laura began her professional animal training career in 1991 with the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. As a Senior Lead Trainer, she trained beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. In 2000, Laura moved from marine to terrestrial animals, working for the San Diego Zoo and Brookfield Zoo as a Supervisory Keeper. She has trained a wide variety of species, including primates, large cats, birds of prey, horses, parrots, macaws, tree kangaroos, red pandas, and dogs while in the zoological community. Laura's experience with horses has provided numerous opportunities to teach them to cooperate in their daily care.
Laura's belief is that training should be fun, exciting, and educational for both people and their animal companions. Her unique professional background, which encompasses animal training, public and outreach programs, and educational seminars, allows her to create a dynamic and engaging environment for each client class. Laura's personal philosophy and unique skills keep her clients coming back for more training.
In August of 2008, Niabi Zoo (Niabi Zoological Society) invited Laura to be their Animal Training and Behavior Consultant, bringing her career full-circle and back to applying positive reinforcement training with exotic species. She is collaborating with Niabi Zoo staff, focusing on training programs with the primates, large cats, Arctic foxes, and reticulated giraffes.
The APVMA (American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association) invited Laura to speak at the 2009 Symposium hosted by the University of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign-Urbana, and the 2010 Symposium hosted by Purdue University. She presented papers and provided interactive hands-on Labs for students to learn about positive reinforcement, marker-based training. Her continued collaborations include a partnership with veterinary behaviorist Dr. John Ciribassi of Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants.
Laura serves as the Student Application Coordinator for Karen Pryor Academy. She holds a TAGteach Level 1 Certification, and is studying for her graduate degree in biology. Laura continues to volunteer for the Shedd Aquarium as a SCUBA diver for the Wild Reef exhibit and also volunteers as a Delta Society Pet Partner and as a Doggone Safe "Be A Tree" Presenter.
Laura and her husband share their lives with spirited, energetic, and entertaining Rhodesian ridgebacks and lively cats.
- Services offered
Canine: Understanding Canine Behavior, Pre-adoption consultation, Puppy Foundation class, Basic Good Manners, Ongoing Manners, Advanced Skills class, Leash Manners (human and canine!), Games and Activities classes, Play and Train classes, Canine Good Citizen training and testing, Private & in-home sessions for dogs and families with individual needs
Equine: Husbandry Management seminars that promote positive training techniques for daily care. Clinics and private lessons provided at the facility where the horse is boarded.
Contact information
- Street
- 2242 West Harrison Street, Suite 101
- City
- Chicago
- State/Province
- IL
- Country
- USA
- Phone number
- 815-353-0014
- Website
Facility & Location Information
- Directions
Furnetic Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine
History
- Member for
- 2 years 11 weeks