CANINE BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT & TRAINING COACH

A qualified canine behavioral consultant and training instructor/coach is one who is well educated by reputable and "gold standard" trainers and institutions in the specialties they are working in, and one who also has a proven track record of experience in successfully achieving the results you are looking to achieve.  

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED CANINE BEHAVIOR COUNSELOR, CCBC (2012)

The Academy of Dog Behavior

I attended The Academy of Dog Behavior when I lived in Northern California.  It was taught by Trish King, who is nationally known and is one of the best canine behaviorists and trainers on the West Coast.  She is retired from teaching live classes, but still offers instruction on-line. I achieved my CCBC, Certified Canine Behavior Counselor, certification which focused on building a solid foundation in understanding canine behavior and training methods, successfully modifying unwanted canine behaviors, and working with clients.   Certification requirements included: Achieving results by successfully modifying serious unwanted behaviors (i.e., aggression) with live dogs 80 hours in-class instruction, plus teaching classes Developing & implementing  behavior modification training plans for clients Passing a final exam Instructional Topics: Canine ethology, social theory, body language, breed differences, safe handling Behavior observation and evaluation, canine learning theory and types of training, equipment Instructing classes and teaching exercises, behavior problems, modifying unwanted behaviors How people learn, successfully working with clients to help them modify their dog's unwanted behaviors To learn more about The Academy of Dog Behavior, click here About Trish King:  You can learn more about her and the academy via her website:  www.canine-behavior-associates.com

THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE, CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE (2014)

Living and Learning With Animals Professional Course, Behavior Works

This 8 week, 50 hour, certificate course was led and taught by Dr Susan Friedman, a psychology professor at Utah State University who has pioneered the application of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to captive and companion animals.  ABA, with it's roots in human learning, offers a scientifically sound teaching technology and ethical standard that improves the lives of all learners.  You can read more about this course here:  LLA Professional Course Overview   Instructional Topics: The fundamental principles of learning and behavior A model for assessing the functional relationships between behavior and environmental conditions The teaching technology of applied behavior analysis and its ethical guidelines for implementation A systematic model for building behavior-change interventions and case studies Course syllabus can be found here: LLA Professional Course Objectives  About Dr. Susan Friedman: she has written chapters on learning and behavior for three veterinary texts and is a frequent contributor to popular magazines.  Susan has presented seminars for a wide variety of professional organizations around the world such as NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and Moorpark College of Exotic Animal Training and Management program.

K9 Nose Work™ Group and Private Classes  Competition Level Training   Experienced teaching at all three levels:  NW1, NW2, & NW3   Behavior Modification and Enrichment (just for fun) Experienced at teaching Introduction to NW taught to shelter staff and volunteers for utilization with shelter dogs, both for the purposes of enrichment and for behavior modification Taught at several shelters in the San Francisco Bay Area     NACSW™ K9 Nose Work Personal Trial Experience Timeline for Titling My Own Dog, Sadie April 2012:             Began NW training (Sadie was 10 months) September 2012:  Passed ORTs for Birch, Anise, Clove October 2012:       NW1 Title, Pronounced In Trial December 2012:   NW2 Title (my husband, Jim, handled Sadie in this trial) February 2013:     Retired from sports due to severe health issues      Pronounced In Trial:  this is a rare and special recognition given to teams for demonstrating exceptional performance and teamwork in all 4 elements during the same trial.         Participation At NACSW K9NW Trials Full-Day Experience At Over 90 Trials:  observed hide placements and how all teams worked all 4 elements (Interior, Vehicle, Exterior, Container) and at all levels (ORT, NW1, NW2, NW3, Elite, and National Level competitions).   Held the following positions during trials:  Element Lead, Judges's Steward, Videographer, Timer, Photographer, Score Runner, Gate Steward, and worked in the Score Room. Judged one mock trial (interior and exterior elements), Co-Host for a second mock trial     Search & Rescue (SAR) and AKC Tracking Experience Trained my working-line GSD for SAR work under several San Francisco Bay Area SAR leaders (they collectively have 80 years SAR experience), until I retired her due to her developing several serious health conditions. Trained my working-line GSD for AKC Tracking under the guidance of several VST & AKC TD judges; trained her to successfully complete an AKC regulation TD track before she needed to be retired due to her poor health.

HANDS-ON EDUCATION

     I've trained with well over 50 different trainers & behaviorists (and the number rises each year) either when I lived in California's San Francisco Bay Area or after I moved to Maryland in late 2014.   

Many of these are individuals considered to be among the best in their respective fields:  

• Canine Search & Rescue, Tracking, Professional Canine Scent Detection, K9 Nose Work
• Canine Behaviorial Assessment and Modification
• Competition Obedience, Manners, Tricks, Clicker Training

     I have been able to learn and apply industry best practices from each of these talented individuals and have seemlessly integrated them into my own repetoire of skill-sets when working with clients and their canine companions.  

     I have also supplemented this hands-on learning, with additional learning experiences through educational DVDs, webinars, & books, some of which are listed in the Continuing Education section at the bottom of this page.  Many of the list of trainers/behaviorists in this category (DVDs & books) are in addition to the individual trainers/behaviorists I mentioned above. 

TEACHING, COACHING & LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH MANY TEMPERAMENTS

I currently live with a shy and quite sensitive high-drive working-line female GSD, Sadie.  Her natural temperament is extremely protective with highly territorial aggressive behaviors and high prey drive, and she has challenging health issues that created some extreme vet phobias.  She also had previously intense handling phobias, intense dog-dog leash aggression, mild resource guarding, and moderate shyness towards/fear of unfamiliar people. And I have been able to successfully modify all of her unwanted behaviors except one, which I intentionally chose to manage.      Sadie has been a wonderful teacher dog and working with her has filled in the gaps in my knowledge of training and behavior modification including learning what doesn't work.  She has also helped to illustrate what methods seem to work in the short term, but instead cause more unwanted behaviors down the road. And despite Sadie's high prey drive, I also successfully integrated her into a household with two elderly cats.   Click here for a video of Sadie in the world, at the age of 2.5 years old.

ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP & TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

     I have almost two decades of experience working in manufacturing, quality, customer service, supply chain, education, human resources, process excellence, and executive leadership roles. I obtained a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and held engineering as well as domestic and global executive leadership roles while working for global corporations in the Pharmaceutical, BioTech, High Tech, and Fine Chemicals industries. 

       I became enamored with teaching and coaching when I took on my first educator role teaching a chemical engineering class while I was a student working on my BS Chemical Engineering degree - and I have held many educator and coaching roles since then.  I also own 3 US Patents and am published in peer-reviewed scientific journals such as Biotechnology & Bioengineering and Journal of Chromatography. 

    Many of the skills I have had the good fortune to develop during these roles are directly translatable to working in the canine behavioral sciences field and in coaching people working with their dogs, such as:

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Below is a selection of some of the more recent seminars I've attended, plus a short selection of some of the books I've read, some of the DVD's I've watched, and a few reference books I find myself referencing more often than others. I have added a Recommended Books section to the Resources page containing the few books I recommend every dog owner takes the time to read.

Seminars/ Courses

• Michael Shikashio and Trish McMillan Loer, Defensive Handling When Working With Aggressive And Fearful Dogs, Sept 2016
• Jason Heng, K9 Nose Work Coaching and Handling, 2 day workshop, Aug 2016
• Dr Lore Haug, DVM, DACVB, Medical Evaluation of the Behavior Patient: Common Medical Problems That Can Affect Behavior, June 2016
• California Narcotics Canine Association and NACSW 2.5 day joint symposium on Professional Working Dog Scent Detection, January 2016, http://cnca.com/nacsw-conference/
• Dr Lore Haug, DVM, DACVB, Nutrients and Behavior: review on some of the research on effects of proteins, fats, and specific micro-nutrientson behavior in dogs.  2.5 hour Lecture, Sept 2015 
• Dr Susan Friedman, Living and Learning With Animals Professional Course: The Fundemental Principles and Procedures of Teaching and Learning, 8 week course, Sept - Nov 2015; repeated this course to deepen my knowledge and fluency of the materials. Took original course in 2014.
• Dr Lore Haug, DVM, DACVB, Drug Therapy For Canine Behavioral Problems: What, When, Why & How.  2.5 hour Lecture, August 2015
• Amy Herot, K9 Nose Work Exteriors with Confidence, 1 day seminar, June 2015
• Amy Herot, K9 Nose Work Vehicles with Confidence, 1 day seminar, June 2015
• Fred Helfers, Identifying and Correcting the 10 Most Common Handler Error/Faults with K9 Nose Work teams, 1 Day seminar, April 2015, www.pnwk9.org
• Dr Susan Friedman, Living and Learning With Animals Professional Course: The Fundemental Principles and Procedures of Teaching and Learning, 8 week course, Sept - Nov 2014.
• John Rogerson, Aggression In Depth, 3 day seminar, August 2014 
• Heidi Meinzer, Aggression And The Law:  What Trainers Need to Know, APDT eLearning Certificate Course, 3 weeks, July 2014; www.meinzerlaw.com
• Pat Miller, Real Solutions To Canine Behavior Problems (From Aggression To Common Everyday Issues), 2 day seminar, June 2014, www.peaceablepaws.com 
• Fred Helfers, The Detection Dog: Understanding Olfaction and Odors, 1 day, February 2014, www.pnwk9.org
• Steve and Jen White: Raising The Bar, 2 day seminar, June 2013, www.ProActiveK9.com
• Grisha Stewart: Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT), 2 day seminar, May 2013, www.empoweredanimals.com
• Amy Herot: K9 Nose Work Teamwork, From Foundation To Trial Day, 1 Day, April 2013, www.k9nosework.com
• Trish King:  attended 35 hours of seminars (in addition to attending the 80 hours of in-class instruction via the Canine Behavior Academy) covering the topics of Fear In Dogs, Dod-Dog Aggression, In-Home Aggression, Multi-Dog Household, Bully Breeds, Adolescent Dogs, Socialization, Dog Parks, Puppy Playgroups, May - August 2012, www.canine-behavior-associates.com

A Few Select DVDs

• Puppies, by Trish King
• Puppies… Are They Really Clean Slates?, by Sue Sternberg
• BATting 1000, by Grisha Stewart
• Play With Your Dog, by Patricia McConnell
• The Language of Dogs, by Sarah Kalnajs
• Crate Games, by Susan Garrett
• The Shape of Bow Wow, by Virginia Broitman

A Few Select Books

• Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller
• Help For Your Fearful Dog, Nicole Wilde
• Click To Calm: Healing The Aggressive Dog, Emma Parsons
• Control Unleashed: Creating A Focused And Confident Dog, Leslie McDevitt
• Behavior Adjustment Training:  BAT For Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs, Grisha Stewart
• Don’t Shoot The Dog: The New Art of Teaching And Training, Karen Pryor
• Parenting Your Dog: Develop Dog-Rearing Skills for a Well-Trained Companion, Trish King

Reference Materials

• Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cat, Dr. Karen Overall, published June 2013
• The Right Dog For You, Daniel F. Tortora, PhD

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

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Happy Tail Dog Training LLC is located in Phoenix MD.  Colleen is available for consultations and private coaching as well as canine training sessions throughout the Greater Baltimore Maryland Area including Baldwin, Cockeysville, Fallston, Fork, Glen Arm, Glencoe, Hunt Valley, Lutherville-Timonium, Montkon, Parkville, Phoenix, Sparks, Towson

HAPPY TAIL DOG TRAINING  &  COLLEEN M GRIFFITH PRODUCTIONS are both owned and operated by Colleen M Griffith, CNWI, CCBS, and Professional Videographer & Photographer.

COLLEEN M GRIFFITH PRODUCTIONS: Colleen is a full-service and versitile professional videographer & photographer providing video production and photography for individuals, events, organizations, and corporations across a wide variety of industries and including both personal and commercial markets. 

Colleen provides video production services in the areas of marketing and selling of business products and services, education, and filming canine sports. She films NW and other canine scent sport venues in the following states: CT, DE, MA, MD, NJ, OH, PA, RI, VA, and WV. To date she has filmed over 200 K9 NW trials at all levels, including NACSW Nationals. She also provides videography and photography services in the areas of corporate advertising and social media video content, head shots, individual and family photo shoots, pets, culinary, fine art, real estate, photo restoration, and events.  

Visit her photography and production websites at www.ColleenMGriffith.com  and  www.ColleenMGriffithProductions.com

HAPPY TAIL DOG TRAINING LLC: Colleen is also a Certified Nose Work Instructor and Certified Canine Behavior Specialist. She provides services ranging from training in K9 Nose Work™ and other scent sport venues, socializing puppies, teaching structured play as a reinforcer within a reward based training system, modifying unwanted behaviors in dogs of all ages and breeds, reducing stress during vet visits, helping shy and fearful dogs, and modifying aggressive behavior.