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I graduated from Seton Hall University in 1992 with a communications degree and have had five very different careers in my life. Finally, I found dog training and my life has never been the same. I now love my job and look forward to getting up and going to work every single day – it’s a great feeling.

I began my dog behavior career at a doggie daycare where I spent my days supervising the daily daycare packs and studying the intricacies of canine communication. I also worked at a holistic pet shop, where I learned about canine nutrition and wellness from Jeff Coltenback. I soon decided to get a more formal education in dogs and got certified in dog training through an online program which I was a little disappointed with, and what was one of my motivations for creating the Make Dogs Your Life course.

I went on to continue my education on my own devouring every book, seminar and trainer’s ear that I could get in front of. I worked hard and in only a couple of years started my own dog training company, FernDog LLC, and shorty after my own non profit, The FernDog Rescue Foundation.

In addition to my private training and consultations, I teach group classes and conduct seminars throughout New Jersey and New York. I am an AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator and a Community Training Partner with the Best Friends Animal Society. After many inquiries from people wanting me to teach them how to do what I do, I developed my one-on-one mentorship program where I teach aspiring dog trainers. The success of that program led me to develop Make Dogs Your Life, so that I can teach people across the country how to become successful dog trainers.

Wanting to share my knowledge on the business side of dog training I created Business of Dog Training, where I provide information and coaching to help dog trainers grow their businesses.

I’m the author of A Better Life with Your Dog, my book on dog behavior, and Dog Spelled Backward, a novel inspired by my pit bull, Hayley.

Most recently, I’ve been asked to be a resident expert on Petocracy, the new online community website for pet owners. On the site I write articles and answer training questions for the members.