Teah Anders

Teah Anders is owner and trainer for Gentle Touch Pet Training. She has earned her certified pet dog trainer (CPDT) certification through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) where she has been a member for over five years. She currently teaches puppy, beginning and intermediate clicker training classes and does private in-home training and behavior sessions where she has successfully taught hundreds of people the clicker training method. Teah holds a B.S. degree in business and an M.A. degree in Natural Resources Policy, Communications and Management. Although Teah originally learned clicker training from Gary Wilkes in 1989, it was when she made the move to the Central Coast of California that she had the opportunity to move from the corporate arena, where she worked with environmental issues, and start working hands on helping people live happier lives with their dogs.

Teah lives with her husband, Chuck, six dogs, two cats, two birds, ten llamas and two goats. Pictured here with Chuck and Teah are Chili, a Dachshund, Corgi, Australian Shepherd (and who knows what else) mix from the streets of Mexico; a new puppy, Sahara, an Anatolian Shepherd; Crystal Moon, Wags (recently deceased), both Lhasa Apsos; Skye, a Cairn Terrier; and Kiko, a Keeshond-Collie mix adopted from the Humane Society. Not pictured is their newest addition to the family a little Pug named Halcyon.

 

          Ivy Underdahl

Ivy Underdahl is one of the trainers at Gentle Touch Pet Training in Arroyo Grande, California. After taking her dogs through Gentle Touch Training from Puppy Kindergarten to advanced training, she began interning with the owner of GT, Teah Anders. After a year or so of internship, she began assisting in the classes. Eventually Teah recommended Ivy start teaching one of the beginning classes.

During her journey through this amazing art of “clicker training” using the science of operant conditioning, and positive methods to train animals, (the same methods used in Sea World to train killer whales!) her career has blossomed. She now teaches the Basic Clicker Training Class each week, as well as assisting people in their homes with their dogs through private sessions. Each year she attends the Clicker Expo to further her knowledge and stay on the cutting edge of the training methods, as well as attending the Association of Pet Dog Trainers conferences, and many other seminars. She is now a member of APDT, and is studying to pass her certification test for pet dog trainers.Ivy has always maintained that if it were not for this method of training coming into her life when it did, she would probably not own dogs. Clicker training and the use of positive reinforcement has definitely changed her life, especially since these methods can also be used in daily interactions with her own species!All of her dogs have been trained since the age of about 9 weeks using Clicker Training, and the two older dogs have their herding certificates, Canine Good Citizen awards, and did exceedingly well at their specialty in herding, obedience, conformation showing, and agility.

Her eldest dog, Blaze, is the dog-love of her life, and the two of them travel to agility shows, enjoying the agility runs as well as hanging out in the motel room together. They have traveled many hours to attend herding workshops, as well as Rally-O, and clicker seminars. She attributes her dog’s trainability not only to the breed (Swedish Vallhunds—a herding breed) but to the amazing gift of positive reinforcement and the use of clicker training. It has changed her relationship with animals, and fostered a communication previously unimaginable to her.

 

          Katie Hawkins

Katie was raised around dogs and has spent her entire life in their company. As a child her Mother had boxers that she showed in conformation and obedience. In the early 1990s Katie served on the board of directors of Woods Humane Society.

Katie has rescued several dogs with behavioral problems and done a great job of rehabilitating them. Currently Katie lives with four dogs. Two are rescues including Scarlet, a Bulldog terrier cross and Skye, a Pitbull Whippet cross. Quinn, a Rough-Coated Collie is Katie’s ever-present companion and working dog who competes in agility, obedience, Rally-O, herding and participates in Freestyle demonstrations. Echo, a four-year old Sheltie has recently joined her family and has a promising career in agility as well as other sports.

Katie has worked with dogs and training for many years and was introduced to clicker training with her rescue dog Scarlet. She has worked with Gentle Touch Pet Training assisting classes and now teaches both group clicker classes and conducts private training sessions in client’s homes. Her love of dogs and training knowledge combined make Katie an excellent instructor.

I asked Katie to sum up her feelings on dogs in a few sentences to which she responded: “I think dogs are amazing creatures and can't imagine my life without them. I love learning about them and clicker training has opened a whole new world for me. “

 

           Mia Grant

 

Mia Grant has been teaching agility for the past 6 years for Goleta Valley Dog Club and facilities in Ventura County. She's worked with dogs her entire life and discovered agility in 2000.  She has had the pleasure to help a diverse variety of dogs and people.  She feels the fun of the sport is the most important thing for both the dog and the handler.  Mia focuses on positive training methods for agility,  using lots of toys and cookies (for the dogs ;-)).  She has attended many seminars/workshops/private lessons with top level trainers and continues to do so, to stay on top of the latest developments in the sport. 

Mia presently shares her home with three dogs, Max, Starlet and Vic.  Nine year old Max is an australian cattledog/border collie mix and has been a tremendous first agility dog, allowing Mia to really develop her handling techniques.  He is now one of the all-time top ranked Mixed Breed in the history of USDAA.  Starlet is a gorgeous 4 year old border collie that came to Mia as a rehome when she was 11 months old.  She has been the teacher of many lessons, coming to Mia with many confidence issues.  By learning how to play and lots of high value cookies, Starlet has really blossomed.  The newest dog to the crew is puppy Vic, a darling border collie.  With his outgoing personality and sense of fun, Mia has high hopes for their future agility fun. 

Before all of these dogs was Roxanne, a pound rescue who hadn't had the best start in life.  She is the dog that taught Mia the joys of positive training and remains Mia's inspiration in teaching others.  In addition to her own dogs, Mia has also had the pleasure of training/handling a very talented aussie (Finn) for Betty Brooks.  He has also been the teacher of many lessons, but his enthusiasm and power have always been fun to work with. 

 

          Diane Baley