About the Trainer
Dorothy Turley, CPDT-KA
I have been training dogs for over 10 years. I started like many people by taking basic classes with my own dogs. My first dog, Mocha (a small Bernese Mountain Dog), loved training and we really enjoyed our classes and training time together.
My next dog, Gambit, was also a great student but eventually developed some dog and people aggression issues. These problems forced me to go beyond basic training and I got to learn about dog behavior in order to help Gambit. He made great progress and both dogs taught me so much that it literally changed my life.
Above: Dorothy Turley with Lucky, 2007
Below: Dorothy hones her training skills
by training chickens at Bob Bailey's
Chicken Camp.
My love of working with my own dogs rapidly spread to other dogs and I got involved in shelter and rescue work. I quickly realized that this experience was valuable but I also needed more education in order to improve my skills. I was fortunate when, early on, I attended a Karen Pryor seminar. I knew that I had to find someone who used those methods.
I met Kathy Sdao, MA of Bright Spot Dog Training and eventually assisted her in classes and in private lessons. I also assisted Rachelle Bailey-Austin of About Face K-9 Academy for several years in her training practice. During my first half year of actively transitioning to a working professional dog trainer, I spent over two hundred hours at different seminars and instructor’s workshops.
Today I continue the mentor relationships with Kathy and Rachelle. I travel nationally with Kathy and assist in her workshops. I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (http://www.apdt.com). In 2006, I became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (http://www.ccpdt.org).
I also regularly attend conferences and seminars to continue to improve my education and skills. In 2007, I graduated from sessions one and two of Bob Bailey’s Chicken Camp. I will be attending session three in November. In 2007 I was honored to win the Dogwise John Fisher Essay award through The Association of Pet Dog Trainers for an essay I submitted. To read the essay, go to:
http://apdt.com/about/prog/awards/2007AwardWinners.aspx
I continue to work and volunteer with my local shelter and rescue organizations. I currently share my life with my husband, Chuck, and our four dogs (Garth, Gracie, Bear and Zoey).