For as long as I can remember, I have loved animals and have had a passion for them to share my life. When I was growing up, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by dogs, cats, horses, and even a skunk! My mother always said that the most important lessons she learned in life were taught to her by her dogs.
It was my mother who showed me the love and special bonds that can be shared with dogs, and how important it is to meet their needs and not just ours. She showed me that dogs need so much more than food, water, and a safe and warm place to sleep. Dogs need to be able to learn, grow, and gain confidence—just like us—and to have safe, loving relationships with humans. Humans are to be trusted and not feared! I have taken these early lessons to heart and have made it a life mission to protect, serve, and enhance the lives of dogs. Thanks, Mom!
When I set out to become a professional dog trainer, the only type of training available used punishment-based methods. By the lat 1980’s I had become a traditional dog trainer, but I quickly realized that using corrections and prong collars was not the way I wanted to train dogs. Inspired by my mother and her philosophies, I continued my search for better and more humane training methods. In the early 1990’s I found positive reinforcement training and I knew that is what I wanted to do.
In 2003 I discovered clicker training. After studying the amazing science behind clicker training, I was hooked! I saw how clear, concise information gives dogs the ability to learn new things quickly and reliably. I also saw how fun and exciting it is for dogs to learn, and I have been a dedicated clicker-trainer ever since. I’m delighted to be a part of the great clicker training tradition of excellence as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP).
For more than 20 years, I have proudly served the canine community as a trainer of service/therapy dogs, in creating healthy, quiet and low-stress kennels through kennel management, and as a provider of training and behavior modification for rescued dogs in the great world of dog rescue!
https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/Tracy_Kelly