Vermont Dog Behavior

11/10/2026

I’m so thankful to Good Sit for taking so many great pictures and videos during this workshop!

11/10/2026

Deaf dogs hold a place near and dear to my heart. Bulldozer Billy is no exception! This dude is a bull terrier through and through. He made me laugh so hard I snorted, and he managed to plow through no less than 4 pieces of equipment during our time together. Training a deaf dog isn’t as hard as you might think, and Billy catches on to hand signals quickly. I taught him a visual marker during this training session to improve clarity and communication. He absolutely lit up when introduced to the flirt pole and plays tug like a pro. If you’re interested in learning more about this special boy please contact ARF Hamptons | Animal Shelter & Adoption Center in East Hampton I’m happy to offer a remote session to his adopters to help them learn to live with a deaf dog.

11/06/2026

I’m sure I’ll have a lot to share about my visit to ARF Hamptons | Animal Shelter & Adoption Center in East Hampton but I need to make a whole post about this gorgeous creature. Meet Gargoyle! He’s a big hunk o’ handsome, and he’s got the brains to match. This dude knows how to sit, lay down, give his paw and he makes a heck of a model. I used him to demonstrate the Humane Innovations | Animal Services Solutions harness leash and he was a dream for handling. Gargoyle is available for adoption, and ready to steal your heart, and your couch. If you’re interested in learning more about my new pal, please visit arfhamptons.org

10/21/2026

It seems impossible to wrap up my experience teaching, and learning, at the Protected Contact: Elephant & Camel Training for Dog Professionals workshop last week. I knew this was going to be a unique opportunity, but I had no idea that I would walk away feeling so revitalized.

We had four days filled with presentations, demonstrations, shaping sessions, and deep conversation. Our classroom was a judgement free zone where animal training and behavior was approached with curiosity and collaboration. Aside from getting to work with the elephants and witness their incredible intelligence, we got to experience the awe of simply sharing space with them.

The keepers at the International Conservation Center care for their animals, and each other, deeply. The team, lead by Ayeshah and Tom, is dedicated to creating and maintaining a sustainable conservation program centering the needs of the elephants, camels, and bison that live at the center. That they took the time to welcome us to the facility and share these beautiful animals with us is greatly appreciated.

The opportunity to bring my knowledge and expertise to the table for a diverse group of learners, including the ICC staff, was amazing. I was able to draw so many parallels between protected contact, shaping behavior, and training with kindness and skill, across species. I feel good about the new tools our attendees were able to bring home with them. I feel hopeful about the future of this industry. I am amazed by the people who dedicate their lives to improving the care of captive animals from dogs to elephants.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inaugural session. Ayeshah, Tom, and I are looking forward to offering more educational opportunities in 2027!

10/14/2026

Hello there everyone! I opened instagram only to realize that I hadn’t made a real post about what I’ve been up to since April 😬 Turns out the role of interim shelter manager at HSCC took up most of my calendar and my brain space.

I have endless appreciation for the hard work being done in animal welfare every single day, and fully immersing myself in it was a really special experience. I’m so happy that I was able to step up and provide additional support to the shelter staff and animals this summer.

In the midst of this I somehow managed to fit in consulting for several local municipalities and other welfare organizations. I did have to stop seeing new training and behavior clients, and this will continue until December or January. When I’m working complex cases those families deserve my full attention.

For the rest of 2026 I’m traveling to consult for several new organizations and teach workshops for other professionals. I promise I’ll do a better job of sharing my adventures from here on out. In the meantime, swipe for a few photos of my summer.

08/25/2026

❓What can elephants teach dog trainers? 🐘🐕

More than you might think! Different species… Same behavioral science.🤗

This October, we’re taking dog trainers outside the traditional dog-training classroom for a hands-on look at what we can learn from the way elephants and camels are trained and managed 🐘🐪

✨Protected Contact Elephant & Camel Training✨ brings together elephant husbandry and behavior expertise with decades of canine behavior experience — and asks one very cool question…

❓What happens when we learn across species? 👀

🐘 October 15–18, 2026
📍 International Conservation Center | Fairhope, PA
🎓 30 CEUs available through CCPDT + IAABC

Led by Thomas Bakke, Curator at the International Conservation Center Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium , with Emily Lewis, CDBC, owner of Emily Lewis .

In collaboration with Humane Innovations | Animal Services Solutions 🥰

➡️Swipe through for a peek at what you’ll learn →
Registration + details at the link in bio!

https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/protected-contact-training/

08/24/2026

Want to know how training the world’s largest land mammal can improve your skills for training dogs? Join us for this one of a kind workshop.

We will be creating and implementing training plans with the elephants and their keepers, observing day to day animal husbandry and the incredible protected contact work these folks do, and I’ll be presenting on how we can apply these concepts to fearful and fractious dogs.

CEUs available for IAABC, CCPDT and KPA.

08/06/2026

Protected contact training is critical for any animal care professional. Especially, those working in shelters or with animals who exhibit fearful or aggressive behaviors. At this workshop we will immerse ourselves in the care and training of Bactrian camels and African elephants. Together we will learn how the concepts used to safely work with these giants apply to the handling and training of domestic animals.

CEUs are now available for IAABC, CCPDT, and KPA trainers and behavior consultants. Meals and lodging are included.

Dates: October 15 - 18, 2026

Location: International Conservation Center, Fairhope, PA

To learn more and get signed up: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/protected-contact-training/

07/26/2026

I’m super exited about this learning opportunity. We’re going to be learning from the animals and from each other. It’s a one of its kind event and I can’t wait to see you there. CEUs are available!

Protected Contact Training is critically important for shelters working with dogs who just aren’t ready for touch, for any reason.

Dogs have got to get out of their kennels if they’re going to get better, but we need safe, effective strategies that protect both the dogs and the people working with them.

That’s exactly what this workshop is all about.

I’ll be presenting a session on handling safety, alongside an outstanding group of instructors, and Humane Innovations is proud to be sponsoring the event.

And let’s face it… wouldn’t you love to spend a few days learning alongside elephants? 🐘

If you work in animal shelters, rescue, veterinary medicine, or behavior, I’d encourage you to check it out.

📅 October 15–18, 2026
📍 International Conservation Center, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

More information and registration: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/protected-contact-training/

Vermont Dog Behavior

07/09/2026

We ask a lot of our animal control officers and animal welfare advocates here in Vermont. I am passionate about providing the training that these folks need in order to keep themselves and the animals in their care safe. Thank you to Vermonters Against Animal Cruelty and Abandonment for hosting this workshop, and thank you to each attendee for joining us. My goal was for everyone to walk away with new skills that they could implement immediately in the field.