Katie Brennan, CDBC, CPDT-KA - Trainer
Katie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. She began training dogs professionally in 2011 after having assisted in group classes for about a year. Also in 2011, she began competing in dog sports with her first dog, a highly fearful and reactive Finnish Spitz named Kimma, and has been hooked ever since. Katie's work as a trainer at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center exposed her to developing training plans and meeting certification goals for various high drive and high energy breeds as they were being trained to become search and rescue, explosive/drug detection, medical alert, and patrol dogs. Her passion lies with helping owners in sports foundation work, and in assisting teams who may have some behavioral hurdles to cross before being able to shine in a competition setting. Since Katie has helped her own reactive and fearful dogs excel in many venues, she has the experience necessary to be able to offer support and create appropriate behavior modification plans. Katie also believes that there is a sport out there for every dog - primitive and non-traditional breeds are her specialty!
Katie earned her CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) in March of 2015. In December of 2016, Katie earned the title of Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). With her own dogs, Katie is active in various types of competition and has broken multiple AKC Finnish Spitz breed records. |
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List of Finnish Spitz breed achievements include:
-First Finnish Spitz to earn an AKC Masters Standard and/or Masters Jumpers agility title (Kimma)
-Finnish Spitz with the most MACH points and QQs (Kimma)
-First female Finnish Spitz to be invited to AKC Invitationals (Kimma)
-First Finnish Spitz to title in Barn Hunt (Kimma)
-Among the first Finnish Spitz to earn a Nose Work title (Kimma)
-First Finnish Spitz to pass all 3 NACSW Odor Recognition Tests (Kimma and Jari)
-First Finnish Spitz Trick Dog Champions (Kimma and Jari)
-First Finnish Spitz to earn the AKC Trick Dog Performer title (Kimma and Jari)
-Among only a handful of Finnish Spitz to earn a Rally Excellent title (Kimma)
-First female Finnish Spitz (and second of either gender) to earn an RAE title (Kimma)
-First Finnish Spitz to earn an NW1 through NACSW (Kimma)
Katie uses her background as an educator (she holds her New Jersey Elementary Education Certification with Advanced Standing) to help present information in an effective and easy-to-understand manner. She regularly attends seminars and watches/participates in webinars to stay up to date with the latest in training methods and equipment. In addition, Katie is a Judge with the nose work organization Performance Scent Dogs and travels nationally giving seminars about scent work. Noteworthy trainers Katie has trained under and presenters of seminars she's attended include: Susan Bintliff, Stacy Barnett, John Nys, Marcy Mantel, Kate Bigger, Stefanie Rainer, Anne Andrle, Perry DeWitt, Sue Tovino, Denise Fenzi, Hannah Branigan, and Sophia Yin.
Other professional affiliations and certifications:
-AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, CGCA, CGCU Evaluator
-AKC Trick Dog Evaluator
-Therapy Pets Unlimited Evaluator
-Animal Control Officer with Middletown Township Police Department, Bucks County PA
-Performance Scent Dogs Judge
Molly Sumridge (Sumner), CDBC, CPDT-KSA, CBATI - Trainer
Molly Sumridge (Sumner) is the owner and founder of Kindred Companions LLC. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and has a deep passion for the human-animal bond. It is her vision to make dog training a life changing experience for dog and owner alike.
Molly shares her home with her primitive dogs, who she trains for competition obedience, rally, lure coursing, barn hunt, and animal assisted activities. On July 14th 2013 Molly became the first person to put a competition title on a New Guinea Singing Dog.
Though she has been training dogs for well over a decade, Molly is constantly increasing her education. She attends multiple seminars every year to stay up to date on current methods, equipment and the trade in general. Since starting her career, Molly has earned the following certifications; CPDT-KSA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed), CWRI (Certified Whistle Recall Instructor), CBATI (Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor), CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant).
On July 10th 2015 Molly was appointed to the Board of Directors for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, where she helped shape the profession of animal behavior consulting and it's relationship with the veterinary field. In 2016 Molly earned the certification of Compassion Fatigue Educator and works with pet professionals struggling with the occupational hazard known as Compassion Fatigue. She is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and an AKC Trick Dog Evaluator. Molly is also working on a Master's Degree in Anthrozoology. Molly has received one-on-one instruction from Denise Fenzi, Hannah Branigan, Grisha Stewart, Pamela Dennison, Renee Hall, Terry Walker, Kathy Walker, Diane Goodspeed, Sarah Jacob, Susan Greenbaum, Betsy Scapicchio, Linda Brennan, and Anne Paul.
Molly's accomplishments and professional affiliations include:
-Certified Dog Behavioral Consultant (CDBC)
-Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA)
-Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI)
-Certified Whistle Recall Instructor (CWRI)
-Titled Primitive Dogs in 7 different sports/activities
-Put the first Rally and Nose Work Titles on a New Guinea Singing Dog
-Was invited to compete with 4 of her Primitive Dogs at the All Star Obedience and Rally Tournaments
Molly is located in Frenchtown, New Jersey and is available for dog training, behavioral counseling, and competition sport coaching. She is available for training sessions in the New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania area.
Molly shares her home with her primitive dogs, who she trains for competition obedience, rally, lure coursing, barn hunt, and animal assisted activities. On July 14th 2013 Molly became the first person to put a competition title on a New Guinea Singing Dog.
Though she has been training dogs for well over a decade, Molly is constantly increasing her education. She attends multiple seminars every year to stay up to date on current methods, equipment and the trade in general. Since starting her career, Molly has earned the following certifications; CPDT-KSA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed), CWRI (Certified Whistle Recall Instructor), CBATI (Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor), CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant).
On July 10th 2015 Molly was appointed to the Board of Directors for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, where she helped shape the profession of animal behavior consulting and it's relationship with the veterinary field. In 2016 Molly earned the certification of Compassion Fatigue Educator and works with pet professionals struggling with the occupational hazard known as Compassion Fatigue. She is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and an AKC Trick Dog Evaluator. Molly is also working on a Master's Degree in Anthrozoology. Molly has received one-on-one instruction from Denise Fenzi, Hannah Branigan, Grisha Stewart, Pamela Dennison, Renee Hall, Terry Walker, Kathy Walker, Diane Goodspeed, Sarah Jacob, Susan Greenbaum, Betsy Scapicchio, Linda Brennan, and Anne Paul.
Molly's accomplishments and professional affiliations include:
-Certified Dog Behavioral Consultant (CDBC)
-Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA)
-Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI)
-Certified Whistle Recall Instructor (CWRI)
-Titled Primitive Dogs in 7 different sports/activities
-Put the first Rally and Nose Work Titles on a New Guinea Singing Dog
-Was invited to compete with 4 of her Primitive Dogs at the All Star Obedience and Rally Tournaments
Molly is located in Frenchtown, New Jersey and is available for dog training, behavioral counseling, and competition sport coaching. She is available for training sessions in the New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania area.
