As a trainer, one of Monica’s specialties is in-home work with therapy dogs. “Clicker training has been very helpful when I work with these dogs.” For example, when Monica is training dogs not to jump or lick, she instead teaches them how to curve away from someone to present their backs for petting. In this way, the person’s face is away from the dog’s face, which makes it less likely that there will be licking. Monica herself has a dog that loves to lick. “The clicker lets me mark the specific point when she reaches the person, which helps her orient to me for a treat, and achieves that pretty curve so the person can pet the dog’s back.” Monica notes that in this position she can continue to click/treat the dog, which allows the person to “to get deeper into the pet.” One of the challenges of therapy dog work is teaching the dog to hold still for petting “instead of doing drive-bys.” Clicker training supports this training.

Monica pursued her early interest in therapy dog work with some assistance from Laurie Schlossnagle, KPA CTP. “Laurie was my mentor and trainer when I was getting into therapy work with my personal dogs.” Laurie encouraged Monica to test herself and her dog with the organization Alliance of Therapy Dogs, where Laurie was a Tester/Observer. “Through the years I also became a Tester/Observer, and then joined Laurie on the Board of Directors in 2017.”

One intriguing location where Monica works with her therapy dog is the local airport! “I pretty much grew up hanging out at the airport because both of my parents worked for the airlines. I enjoy traveling and I enjoy the airport environment.” Although she floated the idea to an airport close to where she used to live, there was no interest. However, when Monica moved in 2021 and contacted Myrtle Beach International Airport, they loved the idea! “They had hoped to launch a program earlier, but then COVID-19 hit.” Monica’s outreach was timely. In December of 2021, the MYR P.E.T.S. (Pets Easing Travel Stress) program was launched.

Although there is an airport contact person who runs the program, Monica is the program’s “head volunteer.” Monica and the airport contact meet with anyone who expresses interest in joining the program. In evaluating suitability for onboarding with the program, “we see how the dog feels and behaves at the airport. I look for signs that the dog is comfortable in such a busy, loud location and that the dog has a genuine desire to visit with people. Basic manners, such as polite walking and not jumping, are required as well.”

Monica makes therapy dog visits to other locations, including the local state college during special events and first responder/fire safety visits. “Seeing the effects that the dogs have on people is truly amazing; it can bring tears to your eyes.” However, Monica says that it is extremely important that the dogs want to participate in these visits. Monica and her fellow Directors on the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Board prioritize education focused on both canine body language and advocating for your dog.

Clicker training has been helpful to Monica at home as well as in the work environment. “I have used TAGteaching with my children, working with my daughter when she was learning to tie her shoes, for example.” Monica’s daughter expressed interest in dogs when she was quite young; her daughter was working with a clicker around the age of three. “It has allowed us to bond doing something we both enjoy. First I let her do the clicking while I fed the dogs, and then she learned to click and feed with relatively good mechanics.” Monica has seen that children who want to work with animals are quick learners. “I love being able to demonstrate that dogs and kids can coexist safely when both are shown what we want them to do.”

Staying current since her KPA CTP certification, Monica has attended ClickerExpo conferences and topical seminars from a range of trainers. In 2021, she completed a program from an organization called Family Paws, in part to continue to explore what she calls “a divide in the dog community when it comes to children.” Monica, a young mother and newer trainer, sometimes felt that she did not have a “home” that adequately included her life and hobbies. Perhaps unintentionally, some people made Monica feel that she was not a true dog person because she had children; conversely, Monica struggled to fit in with other moms because she was a dog person! (“Let's face it, we are pretty unique,” she says.). Monica has seen trainers challenged or even stuck when they try to work with families with young children or with expectant parents. “Because I have been in both worlds, I've always been drawn to helping other expectant parents or new parents with their dog training.” She chose the Family Paws program “to fully engulf” herself in the dog/baby world and training perspective. Monica recommends that trainers working with families that include kids of any age complete that or a similar program, especially if the trainers are not parents themselves.

Monica prefers in-person seminars to online learning “because I am more likely to stay focused on topics. With five dogs, two kids, and an equally busy husband, I don't sit down for much!” Seminars offer Monica opportunities to “sneak away from my duties and slow down.”

There are several future goals that Monica considers. Having raised dogs for Leader Dogs for the Blind, she would love to volunteer with another large organization. Another dream would be to work for an ethical service-dog organization within a training or puppy-raising department, but she is not sure that is possible geographically. With her bustling business, Family Fido LLC, where she offers dog-walking, day training, and adventure walks; as a Canine Good Citizen and Tricks evaluator and C-WAGS Rally Judge; and immersed in the activities and needs of her busy family, Monica has plenty of positive training opportunities ahead.