Success Stories
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Laura Curry
Home Maker and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
My name is Laura Curry and I grew up around animals all of my life. I have always had a dog around since I could remember. I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was growing up but that quickly changed when I got married and started having kids. I worked as a vet assistant for a short time and I loved it.
I have 2 dogs right now that I adopted from someone that no longer wanted them. They have traveled with me all over the country and are always by my side. I have trained 2 dogs for therapy work in the past and found it to be very rewarding to volunteer at nursing homes.
I was looking for a school to go to that focused on animal behavior and training and found that ABC offered the most for a great price. They allowed me to work at my own pace and also when it came time, found me the most wonderful mentor I could have had. She taught me a lot and I think by having a mentor, it really helps you understand things better. ABC's curriculum is very good and I have learned so much from the school.
Currently, I am a homemaker that just moved from the East Coast to the West Coast. I am going to volunteer at animal shelters and apply for dog trainer positions at the local pet store to get started. I am currently offering private lessons and will work my way to starting group dog obedience classes. I also plan on teaching people how to get their dog therapy certified. I also want to be an evaluator for CGC (canine good citizen through akc).
Mark Tipton
Wastewater Treatment Operator III. and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
My Success Story
My name is Mark Tipton. I live in Santa Clarita, which is north of Los Angeles. I started as a student with Animal Behavior College in late September of 2008, and completed my studies in early May 2009. I choose ABC because the curriculum is well balanced. It also was convenient to work and study at the same time because of the flexibility.
My wife brought home a six month old puppy 16 years ago from one of the local pounds. She'd been returned by a prior adopter, because she was difficult to handle. In fact, she was a nightmare and had every bad habit a dog could have. Her name was Curly, and she was a very alpha Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Springer Spaniel mix. She was the first dog that either of us had as adults, and we were completely uneducated at the time about how to train her.
We called the number on a brochure that someone gave us. Steven Applebaum, the founder of ABC, arrived at our home to evaluate our puppy. We were astounded, as Curly's attitude and level of respect for Steve was instantaneous. In less than five minutes, Steve had total control over Curly, and we could see that we had some hope.
Steve assigned a trainer to us, who worked with us for a few months. Curly bit the trainer, and wasn't an easy dog to train, due to previous abuse, and her alpha attitude. We worked hard with her every day of her life, showered her with tons of love, and she became a model canine citizen who we could take anywhere. My wife and I attribute most of our "dog skills" to the things that we learned from our trainer and from Curly.
My wife began to rescue dogs nine years ago, and we would foster dogs on occasion. Dogs would come to us with all kinds of "baggage", including aggression issues. We would try our best to work with them, knowing that each dog has to be safe to place in a new home.
My retirement with the City of Los Angeles was around the corner. I began to think about what I would like to do after I retired from being a Wastewater Treatment Operator III. My wife was putting AngelDogs Foundation together, which is a non-profit mobile spay/neuter program.
I decided to check out becoming a dog trainer for my second career. Little did I know that I would absolutely LOVE working with dogs. I firmly believe that this is the greatest thing that I have accomplished so far in my lifetime, besides marrying my wife. It is immensely rewarding to see a dog respond to your leadership and show that he/she trusts you. It is hard to explain the personal satisfaction that I gain from watching a dog progress in his bond, training and trust. My one regret is that dog training was not my first and only career.
I volunteered at Downtown Dog Rescue in Los Angeles for my externship. The founder, Lori Weise, assigned me to Mighty Mike. Mikey is a two year old American Bull Dog/Pit Bull mix. Mikey was with DDR for over a year. He had killed four dogs and injured one severely at the time that I met him. He was rescued from a recycling center, and his leg was broken in an attempt to get him to fight.
I take Mikey to a group dog aggression/agility/socialization class every week run by Cornelius "Dog Man" Austin. Dog Man runs this class alone with anywhere from 20 to 30 students and their dogs attending every week. This class is free to the public, and is held at the Coliseum every Sunday. It’s a wonderful outing and training session for the dogs.
I work Mikey at the kennel when he isn't able to attend class. I'm happy to say that Mikey is ready to find a forever home. I plan to continue to volunteer at Downtown Dog Rescue, as there are so many needy dogs. It's a great way to learn about dog aggression and help rescued dogs find homes.
My Mentor Trainer was Angela DeLuca. She is also is an ABC Program Manger. Angela is very personable and knowledgeable, and has command of the class at all times. I hope to develop the same ability and presence. I plan to attend and assist Angela with her group classes when ever possible.
I am very proud to say that I am an ABC Certified Dog Trainer. The name of my business is AngelDogs Training. Our future plans include moving to a larger property that will allow us to have a kennel where we can assist more rescue dogs that need to be rehabilitated and trained in order to find them homes, and to provide boarding and training for private clients at a reasonable price.
I look forward to a lifetime of helping people and their dogs live happier lives.
Gloria Zuleta
Mechanical Engineer and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
My name is Gloria Zuleta, I hold a certification in “Basic Obedience Dog Training” from Animal Behavior College. My education in dog’s behavior goes beyond that. Besides an intense curiosity of ethology, I have hands-on experience in raising dogs. I have worked my dogs, those of family and friends as well as foster and shelter dogs.
During my lifetime, I have owned several dogs, some I acquired as puppies, others as young adults, and they have all been shelter dogs. They have given me the most accurate education on dog behavior one can hope for. I have observed things like bonding periods between strange dogs and the way adult dogs control the over exited puppy. I have had to rehabilitate problematic behavior and dealt with the struggle of the pecking order. Spending time with my dogs has been my joy and working with other people and their dogs is my passion.
I was drawn to the curriculum and Philosophy of ABC, as well as the fact that they offered hands on experience. Through my study of the ABC program I learned that I did not know as much as I though I did, I gained confidence in myself and found a way to make my dream come true.
I am planning to start my own Dog Training business, which will be called Dog & Master Relationship.
Megan Stead
Grocery Store Cashier and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
Megan Stead
My love for dogs was sparked when I got my first dog Simba a beautiful lab/pointer mix a couple years ago. Before I got Simba I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do in life. I’d explored a few different options but nothing hit me very hard until I started training and working with my own dog. Then I realized this is it! This is what I want to do with my life, train dogs!
I chose ABC because I wanted to be involved in a dog training program that not only taught basic obedience but had a solid foundation about behavior of dogs, how to problem solve, and also business building. ABC had all of that and more, and the price was very reasonable, and so it was the perfect choice. I found ABC while looking online, and then also at my local veterinarian, where an ABC graduate had left her business card. I called her up and had some lessons with her, and asked her about her experience at ABC. Almost every thing I heard was positive, and so I took the plunge and enrolled, and it turned out to be a great choice!
ABC turned out to be the perfect choice and I have learned so much through the program. The pace was perfect and easy to work around a busy schedule. My favorite part of ABC program is the externship. I had the opportunity to work at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary with an amazing mentor. There is nothing more exciting and motivating than when you reach the hands on portion of the program and work closely with a Mentor Trainer.
My plan for the future is to open my own animal rescue, until then I will continue my education with dogs! I would like to express thanks to God for the blessings he has showered me with, and for the people he has placed in my path I want to thank my family for the support they give me in all my doggy dreams, and finally thanks ABC for giving me the tools I need to succeed with my future animal sanctuary.
Randi Miller
Business Owner and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
I believe ABC will help me educate dog owners that with patience, discipline and love most every dog can become a pleasure to be around. I want to teach owners of dogs that they were not born to know how to behave and need humans to develop leadership skills to make that happen so that our shelters will not be so overcrowded.
I owned and operated a business for 21 years in customer service and knew it was time to retire and devote my time to dogs. Thanks to ABC I now know I made the right decision!
Matthew Cochran
Vet Assistant and ABC Dog Trainer
I have always wanted to work with animals, even when I was a little kid. I never had a fear of dogs, I would walk up to every dog and pet them, even if they were supposed to be mean.
This took me in the direction of Veterinary work. When I got to high school I started working for an animal hospital so that I could get an idea of what I was getting into. I loved it, working with animals, being around what I wanted to do, it was awesome. I worked at the clinic all through high school and my first couple years of college. Eventually I moved on to another job but I was still going to college for the pre-Veterinary program. Working with animals was still in the back of my mind.
A couple years ago a friend of mine told me I should look into dog training. This idea became more and more appealing as I went through school and found how much Veterinarian School cost. Then I met the girl of my dreams and got married. Now vet school was a distant idea because of cost and the fact that I would have to move somewhere to attend one. At that time dog training became even more appealing to me.
I looked online and found Animal Behavior College. I checked out their website and decided that I wanted to get more information. I called ABC and through talking with a representative decided that it was what I wanted to do. I talked to my wife and we decided that I would enroll in the Dog Obedience program.
Animal Behavior College sent me the course material and I got to work. I quickly read each chapter of the book work and finished it within 5 months, ready to start the externship. I got started with a great mentor in Winston-Salem. I learned a lot from my mentor and used the things I learned to start my own classes. Finally I was ready to take the final, I took the test and passed with flying colors.
Since then my business has soared. I went from one class, to 5 classes a week and have been having a blast. I plan to host basic obedience levels 1 and 2 classes, puppy classes, agility, tracking, trick classes, distraction classes, earth dog, fly ball, frisbee, and much more. As well as in-board training and eventually board training.
Amy Amos
Stay-at-Home Mom and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
My name is Amy Amos and I have a love for animals, especially dogs. I have worked at a veterinary teaching hospital for 6 years and have learned a lot about animals. I wanted to further my education so I signed up with Animal Behavior College. All the people I talked to were very friendly and helpful. Through ABC I gained a very good knowledge of dogs. I very much enjoyed my hands-on experience with my Mentor Trainer. It was an invaluable experience. I am now staying at home with my two kids and doing dog training as my income. I hope to have a kennel one day and board and train. As for now I am teaching group classes and doing private lessons.
Nee Kang
Radio Broadcaster and Owner of "Cheerfuldogs.com"
Hi, I'm Nee and that goofy Goldie in the picture is Kiyo.
My adventures with dogs started when I was a kid, and Timmy followed me home from school. Timmy was a stray mongrel who came with his little bag of ready tricks: sit up, roll-over, playbow. We grew up together - exploring neighborhood nooks and crannies on lazy walks after school. Then came Benji, a shelter pup, whose brindled coat and smiley brown eyes twinkled with an ET-like intelligence. Duke, a stray beagle mix, was third in the musketeer line. He was succeeded by Shelley, also an adopted shelter pup, and the only girl among the boys. Over the span of more than 30 years, Timmy, Benji, Duke and Shelley, taught me much about dog behavior and how to care for them - perhaps preparing me unconsciously for this next stage of my grand adventure.
Kiyo is the new kid on the block, another shelter rescue. We began our journey together into the fascinating world of formal dog obedience training. As an adolescent dog, Kiyo lacked some manners that cause once-loved dogs to be abandoned. He was notorious for jumping, mouthing, pulling on the leash and bolting. On walks, he would sometimes lunge and bark at passing dogs. It was hard work, but today, Kiyo is quite the changed dog. Otherwise, we could not enjoy the balmy sea breeze at this public beachside park in Singapore nearly as much as we are doing in the picture!
And it's all thanks to the head start provided by ABC's program - even though ABC is located here in the US, and I live in Singapore! When I was looking for a dog trainer school, I wanted one that provided a balanced combination of theory and practical skills as I felt that was the best fit to my own background as a scientist trained in studying animal behavior. The ABC program provided a good foundation of basic dog training methodology using positive reinforcement, from which comparisons could be made to other methods available. It's a fascinating field and one that I will continue to pursue - as tweaking, experimenting and even re-synthesizing solutions from different methodologies can generate new tricks that can help dog owners and their dogs. It certainly helped with Kiyo!
I've thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship with Julie Beller - it was worth every bit of the 18-hour flight and several months of unpaid leave. Thanks, Julie, for the bond shared over our mutual passion to help dogs and their owners learn and communicate with each other in fun and positive ways. I'm privileged to join the ranks of ABC's Honors graduates, and I'll certainly be furthering the cause of canine education in Singapore and wherever life's adventures will take me.
Inge De Rubeis
Owner and Trainer at “GOOD K9s”
Since 2001 I have been working professionally with dogs. Working at a shelter taught me much about fear, stress, anxiety, breed-specific issues, and the "bad behaviors" that dogs can show. From my experiences, I learned: "There is no such thing as a bad dog."
I work for a Guide Dog School where you clearly can see what a difference it makes when, from puppyhood, dogs get the right start and consistent training. I raised four puppies and lived with two adopted shelter dogs who challenged my life. Eggo was one of them.
In 2002 I brought Eggo home from the shelter. He was originally found roaming in the woods, abandoned. When I met him, he already called the shelter his home for 4 years. He was adopted out and then was returned to the shelter because of housebreaking issues, destructive behavior, and aggression towards cats and dogs. He was neither trustworthy nor friendly to humans. Eggo was labeled un-adoptable.
He showed me how to deal with a "bad" dog. I treated him with compassion, I listened to him, I refused to use force in his training – he turned into a wonderful companion.
We had hard times at the beginning, progressed slowly and had setbacks, but we did not give up. I believed in him, and we grew together. Often I had the wish to know more about relationships, leadership, learning theory, and "how to do it, and what not to do". I started to study dog behavior and dog training so that I could help him become the best dog I ever had. Animal Behavior College opened me the opportunity to study next to my fulltime employment. The externship was just tailored to my needs. I am very grateful that I was able to progress fast throughout the learning stages so Eggo was able to celebrate my formal graduation at Animal Behavior College at the age of 14 1/2 years.
Thank you to all at ABC; you made this possible!
As an Honors graduate from Animal Behavior College, I provide part-time Private In-Home Training, with the hope to make a difference in dogs’ and owners’ lives, so that their relationship will be a happy experience.
Kristin Hadacz
Trainer for Leader Dogs for the Blind and ABC Certified Dog Trainer
I always wanted to work in the dog field ever since I could remember. I always thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but then I found out that school was way too long. So, I then thought about becoming a vet tech, until I had a life-changing experience. I got to raise my first puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind. I had so much fun teaching that little pup all the new things that she needed to know to someday lead a visually impaired person. Then, the sad day came when I had to take her back to the school for her to finish her training. Well, I am proud to say that she is out working with a wonderful young man. That is when it all started – I loved training so much.
I kept raising puppies, and after my fourth pup was given to me I got asked by Leader dog staff if I could help them out with a puppy that was donated to their program at 9 months of age. She was very shy and afraid of everything. Well, I took that wonderful dog under my wings and step-by-step she came out of her shell, so I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a dog trainer. I had a gift that I wanted to share with others. I am very proud to say that this dog is back at Leader Dog going through the rest of her training, and I hoping she too will make a difference in someone’s life, and I will know that I helped her along the way. I am also proud to say that the other three dogs I have raised for Leader Dog are out working as well. My fourth one is still at home with me until the summer of 2009, and then she will go back and finish her training at Leader Dog.
ABC was a great choice for me. I have had a wonderful experience with everyone at ABC. My Program Manager encouraged me every step of the way (thank you Josh Sunga). I also had a wonderful Mentor Trainer (thank you Angela Hoover & Trainer’s Academy). I know I have made the right choice. I hope to open my own training center, and my ultimate goal is work as a trainer for Leader Dogs for the Blind, so I can watch the visually impaired take that first step out into the world with their dog (their eyes) and know anything is now possible.
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