TEAM
We make no bones about it!
We take great care of our students because we have a team that cares a great deal about our students.
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Get Certified
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Courses
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Dog Trainer Professional
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Dog Trainer Comprehensive
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Dog Trainer Foundations
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Dog Sports Essentials
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Puppy Start Right for Instructors
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Shelter Training and Enrichment
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Canine Freestyle
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Smart Reinforcement
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Better Veterinary Visits
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Train Your Cat
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Concept Training: Let’s Get Started
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Concept Training: Modifier Cues
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Find a Trainer
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About Us
COURSELOGIN
CTPLOGIN
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Get Certified
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Courses
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Course Overview
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Dog Trainer Professional
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Dog Trainer Comprehensive
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Dog Trainer Foundations
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Dog Sports Essentials
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Puppy Start Right for Instructors
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Shelter Training and Enrichment
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Canine Freestyle
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Smart Reinforcement
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Better Veterinary Visits
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Train Your Cat
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Concept Training: Let’s Get Started
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Concept Training: Modifier Cues
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Find a Trainer
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About Us
Shelly is one of the curriculum developers at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA), is a KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP), and a KPA faculty member. Shelly began her professional animal training career in 1999 training dolphins and sea lions in the Florida Keys. She continued in marine mammal training for ten years before making the switch to training companion animals. Accepting the honor of teaching the Dog Trainer Professional program was one of the highlights of Shelly’s career. Shelly enjoys meeting students and their dogs, and watching their skillset expand. In 2013, the process of relocating back to her home state of Minnesota provided an exciting opportunity to join the KPA team full-time. Combining her expertise in animal training with her passion for creating written and visual content, Shelly is extremely happy with her role as curriculum developer at KPA.
Lindsay is a Curriculum Developer at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and is a KPA faculty member. She is also a KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP). Lindsay is a board-certified applied animal behaviorist (ACAAB) with a master’s degree in animal behavior from Hunter College. She loves to teach trainers, support animal shelters, and think about behavior—all day, every day. Lindsay has a long history of leadership and of building high-functioning teams within animal shelters. She served as the Director of Operations for Lynchburg Humane Society in Virginia and as the Director of Animal Training and Behavior for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Colorado. Lindsay enjoys teaching her two young daughters about animals, nature, and behavior on camping trips, hikes, and backyard scavenger hunts.
Gretchen is Associate Director of Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and a KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP). She was hired as the first Alumni Relations Manager for KPA in 2011 and she completed the Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program with her Boston terrier, Daisy, in 2012. Gretchen’s main focus now is growing the DTP program. She loves working with the KPA faculty and staff as well as traveling to industry conferences. Gretchen lives in New England but holds tight to her Midwestern roots as an avid Green Bay Packer fan. When she isn’t working (or traveling), Gretchen enjoys playing sports with her friends, spending time with her family, and having fun with her dogs. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor of science degree in Business.
Aaron is the Chief Executive Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training. In 2007, he launched Karen Pryor Academy with the eponymous Karen Pryor. Today, Aaron co-leads the organizations with Ken Ramirez. Historically a “big-dog guy,” Aaron's heart has been taken hostage recently by a Havanese named Zoe. It's an adjustment! Aaron is a native of Massachusetts and still resides there. He is the lucky father of two wonderful young women! Aaron cycles and skis, loves the beach, and is a bit of a foodie. His Pan Mass Challenge bicycle team, founded in memory of his wife, Wendy, and close friend, Bob Freeman, has raised more than $1,000,000 to fund cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Aaron is a graduate of Brown University with a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science; he earned his MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College—much longer ago than he would like to admit. Aaron’s favorite time of year is ClickerExpo time!
Sam Haeussner is the Alumni Relations Coordinator at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and is a KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP) herself. Growing up as a military brat, she spent a good portion of her childhood in northwest Germany. Sam now resides in southwest Colorado where she has an in-home dog training business called Pawsitive Marks. Sam is passionate about being a KPA CTP and is even more passionate about connecting with and supporting her fellow CTPs from KPA graduation and beyond. She has a bachelors of arts degree from Fort Lewis College in Sociology as well as Gender & Women's Studies and has a special interest in furthering her education in Human Animals Studies.
Ken is the EVP and Chief Training Officer at Karen Pryor Clicker Training, co-leading the company with Aaron Clayton. Ken oversees the vision for, and development of, training education programs. You will usually find Ken teaching at a ClickerExpo conference, leading a course at the Karen Pryor National Training Center (The Ranch), or teaching one of the Karen Pryor Academy courses.
A 40+ year veteran of animal care and training, Ken is a biologist and behaviorist who has supervised the the development care and training of more than 40,000 species. He has worked with organizations across the globe to improve animal training, program effectiveness, and animal health and welfare. Ken’s diverse body of contributions includes designing and implementing conservation projects for elephant protection and spearheading projects to train everything from komodo dragons to butterflies. Ken’s extensive canine work includes working with trainers, organizations, and federal and state agencies on training procedures for topics including aggression, search-and-rescue, and scent detection. He’s written/edited two successful books, taught at a major university, hosted two successful seasons of the television series Talk to the Animals and was EVP of animal care and training at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. When he’s not doing cool stuff with animals and people, you might find Ken at a NY theater or any movie screening.
Erin is the Communications Coordinator at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and is a KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP). She enjoys helping students, answering inquiries about KPA courses, and generally helping out wherever she’s needed. Erin also helps out locally by running the Story County 4H dog project and volunteering for various shelters and rescue organizations.
Erin came to KPA from a career in veterinary-professional reference publishing, but has always spent her free time teaching and training dogs. She graduated from Iowa State University and still resides in the Ames area where she owns and operates Topp Canine Solutions. Erin enjoys training and lounging with her four older dogs as well as teaching her young daughter about training and interacting with animals.
Annie Chastain is the Application and Enrollment Coordinator at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and is a KPA Certified Training Partner (CPT). Annie enjoys meeting students and helping them achieve their goals to become positive reinforcement trainers. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in management and is always looking for opportunities to further her education by attending conferences and seminars. Prior to joining the KPA team, Annie worked in administration for the film industry and a professional photography workshop. Annie resides in New Mexico where she enjoys baking, knitting, traveling, and cheering on the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Her favorite travel destination is wherever the next ClickerExpo is being held.
Kelly Leisten is the Coordinator of Academic Affairs at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and is a KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP). In this role, she enjoys listening to, coaching, and guiding students on their journey to become KPA CTPs. Kelly is the owner and head Trainer of Applaud the Dog, where she provides customized private training and classes to dogs who are fearful, reactive, or impulsive in their surroundings. (She has one of each!) She also devotes her time to evaluating rescue dogs for adoption and providing training for their new families. For several years, she was a head trainer teaching reactive dog classes at a major animal rescue organization. Kelly resides in Connecticut with her family.