Jeanne Thomas has been teaching pet dog training in the
Grand Rapids area since 1994. A lifelong animal lover,
her work with dogs began in 1990 when she needed training
for her own out-of-control puppy and enrolled in community
education classes in Grand Rapids. Many classes, books
and seminars (and several years of assisting in classrooms)
later, she has become well grounded in learning theory
and pet dog behavior and is still fascinated with the
challenge of teaching humans and dogs how to communicate
and cooperate.
Jeanne’s goal is to help people improve their dog
training and handling skills using reward based, dog friendly
training techniques. Her primary expertise is teaching
family pet manners and household behavior management from
the puppy stage through the intermediate levels of training.
Her approach to dog handling is strongly influenced by
internationally known trainers and behaviorists such as
Pat Miller, Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Sue Ailsby
and Jean Donaldson.
Jeanne is a certified evaluator for the American Kennel
Club’s Canine Good Citizen program and has recently
become one of west Michigan’s first Certified Pet
Dog Trainers (CPDT), successfully completing testing through
the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers.
She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers,
the Grand Rapids Dog Training Club, and West Michigan
Therapy Dogs.
Jeanne also offers private lessons or in-home consultations
for specific training or behavioral problems.
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