Featured Trainers
A few of the fabulous grads of our Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program and their work with animals and clients across the globe.
November 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Kathie Nureña
Kathie Nureña (she/her), based in Stamford, CT, is co-owner of Alert K9 and completed the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Dog…
October 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Mary Kay Hasseman
Mary Kay Hasseman (she/her), based in Tomball, TX, is the owner of Loving Presence with Horses and completed the Karen…
September 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Nicole Ellis
Nicole Ellis (she/her), based in Altadena, California, is the owner of Tails With Nicole and completed the Karen Pryor Academy…
August 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Liz Mishima
Liz Mishima (she/her), based in Illinois, is the ASB Program Manager & Director of Training at A Sound Beginning Program…
July 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Emma Schneidkraut
Emma Schneidkraut (she/her), based in Haverhill, MA, is the owner of A Dog’s Eye View and completed the Karen Pryor…
June 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Toni Woods
Toni Woods (She/Her), based in Sacramento, CA, currently serves as a mentor for new trainers and a Certified Separation Anxiety…
May 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Shayna Taylor
Shayna Taylor (she/her), based in Oak Lawn, IL, is the owner of Lucky Penny K9s & Felines and is also…
April 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Tanya Sandoval Villalta
Tanya Sandoval Villalta (she/her), based in both Heredia, Costa Rica and Summit, NJ, is the owner of The Comfy Pets…
March 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Pogun In
Pogun In (He/Her), based in Seongbuk and Jongro Seoul, is the owner of Seongbukdong Poodle Poodle and Bubble Bubble Puppy…
February 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Nikoo Najand
Nikoo Najand (she/her), based in Treaty 6 Territory/Edmonton, Canada, is the owner of Wiggle Bottom Canines. She completed the Karen…
January 2026 KPA CTP of the Month: Sami Griffin
Sami Griffin (they/them/theirs), based in Broomfield, Colorado, is the owner of Wise Whiskers Training. They completed the Karen Pryor Academy…
December 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Heather Skinner
Heather Skinner (she/her) from Spokane, WA, is a veterinarian at Indian Trail Animal Hospital. She completed the Karen Pryor Academy…
November 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Sophy Pashley
Sophy Pashley (she/her) from Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, is the owner of Woof Wisdom. She completed the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA)…
October 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Cristina Goi
Cristina Goi (she/her), an Italian living in Luxembourg, is the owner of Maison Dog. She completed the Karen Pryor Academy…
September 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Samantha Portillo
Samantha Portillo (she/her), based in Monroe, North Carolina, is the owner of Trusted Tails Dog Training and Behavior. She completed…
August 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Liv Arent
Liv Arent (she/her), based in Jericho, VT, is the owner of Trail Pups Training. We had the chance to connect…
July 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Khafren Ruiz
Khafren Ruiz (he/him), based in Los Angeles, CA, is the owner of PAW PAW Dog Training & Behavior. He completed…
June 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Karen Backhouse
Karen Backhouse (she/her), based in Essex, UK, is the owner of Guiding Paws. She completed the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA)…
May 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Alisha Bator
Alisha Bator (she/her), a professional trainer based in Enumclaw, Washington, completed the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Dog Trainer Professional (DTP)…
April 2025 KPA CTP of the Month: Ellen Schmidt
Ellen Schmidt (she/her), based in Tijeras, New Mexico, is the founder of Quest Companion Dog Training, LLC and Animal Chaplain…
March KPA CTP of the Month: Ingrid Groeger-Stone
Ingrid Groeger-Stone (she/her), based in Logan Village near Brisbane, Australia, is the owner of Creature Connections. She completed the Karen…
February KPA CTP of the Month: Ryan Cartlidge
Ryan Cartlidge, KPA CTP, of Wellington, New Zealand, runs Animal Training Academy. We met with Ryan virtually to discuss the…
January KPA CTP of the Month: Max Lieberman
Max Elias Lieberman, KPA CTP, of Toronto, Canada, owns and is the head trainer at Lieberdog. Max completed the Karen…
December KPA CTP of the Month: Danielle Winkelman
Danielle Winkelman, KPA CTP, ACDBC, (she/her) of Clyde, North Carolina (near Asheville), owns Intrepid Animal Learning. She offers board-and-train services…
November KPA CTP of the Month: Paul Buescher
A peacetime Navy veteran, Paul Buescher (he/him), KPA CTP, PCT-A, spent many hours at the Houston VA hospital being treated…
October KPA CTP of the Month: Robin Horemans
Robin Horemans, KPA CTP, based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a dedicated animal trainer and owner of Parrot SOS. While…
September KPA CTP of the Month: Keira Moore
Keira Moore, PhD, BCBA-D, KPA CTP, is a trailblazer in the world of animal training, combining her expertise in behavior…
August KPA CTP of the Month: Jennifer Rodzinka
Jenn Rodzinka of Endicott, New York, has dedicated her life to enhancing the lives of both animals and humans through…
July KPA CTP of the Month: Sarah Stoycos
Sarah Stoycos, owner of Laughing Dog Academy in Rockville, Maryland, embarked on a transformative journey in 2009 when she completed…
June KPA CTP of the Month: Nathan Andrews
Nathan Andrews, hailing from Federal Way, WA, graduated from the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program in…
May KPA CTP of the Month: Merissa Kreidler
In the world of dog training, Merissa Kreidler, KPA CTP, is a beacon of knowledge, always willing to share her…
Ken Ramirez Receives ABMA Lifetime Achievement Award
How many lifetime achievement awards in the training field can one person win? At least three! Congratulations to our very…
April KPA CTP of the Month: Anna Wong
In animal training, every journey begins with a story, and the tale of Anna Wong, KPA CTP, is as captivating…