KPA News and Press Releases

Laura Monaco Torelli, a Chicago-based graduate of KPA and Animal Training and Behavioral Consultant for Niabi Zoo, made headlines this week when Quad-Cities Online featured a story on the Niabi Zoo's clicker training program.

 To read the full article, click here.

Waltham, MA, January 12, 2010—The organizing committee for the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (AVBT) and the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (SVBT) scholarship committee are proud to once again offer AVBT "Faith" Scholarships to the Dog Trainer Program at Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior.

Waltham, MA, January 12, 2010—Karen Pryor Academy announces the immediate availability of B.F. Skinner Memorial scholarships to Karen Pryor Academy’s Dog Trainer Program. The scholarships, each in the amount of $300, honor and celebrate the life and work of B.F. Skinner, and coincide with the 20th anniversary of the B.F. Skinner Foundation.

Waltham, MA, December 29, 2009—Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA) is pleased to announce that Ms. Debbie Martin has joined the KPA faculty and will be based in Baton Rouge, LA.

Judy Luther was named "Best Dog Trainer" for the second year in a row by St. Louis Tails magazine's Readers' Choice Awards for 2009.

Waltham, MA, November 6, 2009—Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) is proud to announce that Michele Pouliot, 2009 World Canine Freestyle Champion, has once again achieved a perfect score of double 10's (10 points for artistic and 10 points for technical) in the World Canine Freestyle Organization (WCFO) event hosted by freestyle club Dogs Gone Dancin' in Corvallis, Oregon.

Waltham, MA, November 2, 2009—Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior is pleased to announce the following graduates from the Dog Trainer Program, each earning the title of Certified Training Partner: 

Laura Monaco Torelli was named "Best Dog Trainer" by Chicagoland Tails magazine's Readers' Choice Awards for 2009.

Ms. Torelli is the founder and owner of Animal Behavior Training Concepts (ABTC), where training teams work in collaboration with clients and animal health professionals to provide high-quality care for the animals in their lives. She is a graduate and Certified Training Partner of Karen Pryor Academy.

Karen Pryor Clickertraining (KPCT) is pleased to announce that Jenna F. Summerfield will join the company as Marketing Manager. Most recently Ms. Summerfield was an Account Manager with Blitz, a media agency serving clients in a wide range of industries.

The reach of clicker training and Karen Pryor continues to stretch globally, thanks to Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) Lynn Martin. Back in April, we received an inquiry from Ingo Schnabel, the director of the Himalaya Rescue Dog Squad Nepal (HRDSN). His organization provides search and rescue teams in the wake of natural disasters, or when people are missing.

The Foster Dog Chronicles, a company co-owned by KPA graduate Alyson Rice, was recently profiled in the Watertown (NY) Daily Times. Alyson Rice and Patrick Danforth co-own the business that trains and rehabilitates dogs with challenging behaviors. Most of the dogs that Alyson trains are obtained from animal control and the SPCA. To read the full article, click here.

Recently Jules Nye, Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Certified Training Partner (CTP), was selected as a finalist in the BBB Greater Maryland's 2009 Torch Awards for Marketplace Excellence.

Finalists Announced in Better Business Bureau
Greater Maryland's 2009 Torch Awards for Marketplace Excellence

Our very own Casey Lomonaco, Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Certified Training Partner (CTP) and KPCT contributor, has been awarded the APDT Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award for 2009. This award is given yearly by APDT for the essay about modern positive reinforcement dog training that best illustrates this quote from John Fisher:

Lori Stevens, graduate of Karen Pryor Academy, will be appearing on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams on Wednesday evening, May 13, 2009. Lori will be included in the "Making a Difference" segment for her work training service dogs for returning vets.

Waltham, MA, March 27, 2009—The members of the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (AVBT) and the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (SVBT) scholarship committee are pleased to announce Elizabeth (Liz) Drennan of Michigan as the first recipient of the AVBT “Faith” Scholarship to the Dog Trainer Program at Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA).

Waltham, MA, February 5, 2009—Karen Pryor Academy announces the immediate availability of twelve B.F. Skinner Memorial scholarships to Karen Pryor Academy’s Dog Trainer Program. The scholarships, each in the amount of $500, honor and celebrate the life and work of B.F. Skinner, and coincide with the 20th anniversary of the B.F. Skinner Foundation.

Waltham, MA, October 16, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA) is pleased to welcome Laurie Luck to the KPA faculty.

Waltham, MA, October 7, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior is pleased to announce the following graduates from the Dog Trainer Program, each earning the title of Certified Training Partner:

Waltham, MA, September 29, 2008—The organizing committee for the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (AVBT) and the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (SVBT) scholarship committee are proud to introduce the AVBT "Faith" Scholarship to the Dog Trainer Program at Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior.

Waltham, MA, April 18, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior is pleased to announce the following graduates from the Dog Trainer Program, each earning the title of Certified Training Partner:

Waltham, MA, April 18, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy is pleased to announce that KONG Company is sponsoring scholarships to Karen Pryor Academy’s flagship Dog Trainer Program. The $4,000 in KONG Company scholarship funds will support eight students with scholarships of $500 each.

KONG, a leader in the dog and cat toy industry, supports the expansion of the educational experience offered by Karen Pryor Academy. The scholarships will make the Dog Trainer Program's educational benefits more accessible to greater numbers of students in the shortest period of time.

Waltham, MA, April 2, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy is pleased to announce that Bravo! is sponsoring scholarships to Karen Pryor Academy’s flagship Dog Trainer Program. The $4,000 in Bravo! scholarship funds will support eight students with scholarships of $500 each.

Waltham, MA, February 28, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior is pleased to announce the following graduates from the Dog Trainer Program, each earning the title of Certified Training Partner:

Waltham, MA, Feb 14, 2008—Sixteen $500 "Klinghammer" scholarships have been announced for students of the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Program.

Waltham, MA, February 12, 2008—Karen Pryor Academy announces the launch of the international version of its Dog Trainer Program, specifically designed for dog trainers living outside North America who are looking for education and certification from world-renowned trainer, author, and behavioral biologist Karen Pryor, a pioneer of force-free training technology. The first class of International students hails from Hong Kong, Australia, Israel, Taiwan, and Finland.