Katie Brennan, CDBC, CPDT-KA - Owner/TrainerKatie Brennan is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Professional Dog Trainer (CDBC & CPDT-KA). She has been training dogs professionally for over a decade. Her first dog, Kimma, helped forge her deep passion in dog sports. Once a fearful Finnish Spitz, Kimma became the first in her breed to earn numerous titles and hooked Katie on performance sports. Her notable accomplishments include: highest titling agility Finnish Spitz in history (also with the most QQs and MACH points), first female Finnish Spitz to be invited to AKC Agility Invitationals, highest earning Finnish Spitz in AKC Rally, and first female Finnish Spitz Trick Dog Champion.
Katie places a lot of importance on making the learning process fun and exciting for everyone, while still being sure to set up teams for success with proper foundational skills. She has also helped many students find solutions to behavioral hurdles that had previously prevented them from being able to shine in a competition setting. Through her success with her Finnish Spitz (a breed not typically seen competing), Katie has come to believe that there really is a sport out there for everyone. She loves helping owners realize the potential in their dogs. Katie's expertise expands far beyond manners and performance training, as well. Throughout her career she has chosen to expand her knowledge into the working dog world, training Urban Search and Rescue dogs at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center and at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Over the years, she’s found that what she has learned from training USAR dogs applies directly to performance training, as motivation, confidence, and timing are vital parts of successful working and dog sports teams. Along with her two Finnish Spitz, Kimma and Jari (who has broken his own share of breed records!), she also competes with her Sheltie, Sonya Blade, in a variety of venues. She continues to work for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation as a recruiter, helping turn shelter dogs in need of rescue into rescuers. |
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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 Rally Master legs (Kimma) -First Finnish Spitz to earn an NW1 through NACSW and an overall Novice title in PSD (Kimma) Other professional affiliations and certifications: -AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, CGCA, CGCU Evaluator -AKC Trick Dog Evaluator -Therapy Pets Unlimited Evaluator -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 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 completed her Masters Degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College in May 2019. She is currently an Instructor of Anthrozoology at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and is available for remote training sessions.
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 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 completed her Masters Degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College in May 2019. She is currently an Instructor of Anthrozoology at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and is available for remote training sessions.
Caitlin Puskas - Trainer
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Caitlin's love and respect for animals was cultivated as a child, as she grew up on a small horse farm with parents who loved animals. As an accomplished Hunter/Jumper competitor, her journey in to animal training began in her teenage years when she started helping others with their horses. This soon paved the way for her enthusiasm for dog training.
Caitlin got her first dog, a Pug named Kyara, when she was 19 years old. She was able to accelerate through the AKC Agility levels quickly, earning numerous titles and accolades in a short period, including being one of the Top 5 Pugs in the country for four years. Unfortunately, due to injury, Kyara had to retire early, but during the years they were competing, Caitlin started to take on handling clients. She has competed successfully with Border Collies, Shelties, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Australian Shepherds, and mixed breeds. Now, her focus is on her up and coming Sheltie, named Teak, and teaching all levels of agility classes. She loves to work with both dogs and their handlers and believes in an individual approach over a "one size fits all" method. Caitlin is patient and focused, with an enthusiasm for both learning and teaching. She enjoys working on motivation and confidence building, and has a special knack for helping teams develop their play skills with food and toy rewards. In addition to agility, Caitlin creates fun toys, snuffle mats, and leashes through her company Zip Agility Toys. She is currently pursuing her Dog Behavior Consultant certification. |
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