Meet Our Trainers

Derek has been working with and training dogs for over 35 years. He got his start training when he was 14 years old, for AKC Obedience competitions with his grandmother. Derek studied at Dunbar Academy and specialized in Puppy Development, Reactivity, and Behavior Reshaping.  His training style is balanced, Nonabrasive, and guided by the dog’s personality and ability to learn. 

Meet Tara. As a Animal Behaviorist, she teaches animals of all species how to live happy fulfilled lives with humans, and at the same time, she works with humans to help them understand the needs and wants of animals to make sure the animals are happy and well cared for. Tara has experience working with dogs, cats and ferrets, and also worked with birds, hamsters, rats, rabbits and guinea pigs, along with few wild animals. She studied at Penn Foster and graduated with a degree in Animal Behavior. 

Hi, My name is Kathy Dorsett.  People say you can judge a person’s character by the way a dog reacts to them.  Based on their standing ovations, I must be the greatest person in the world. Or it could be the smell of hot dogs and Braunschweig that I wear as perfume. Working as a veterinary assistant comes with a weird array of daily scent options.

I started working with rescue dogs at the Putnam County Shelter almost 20 years ago as a kennel tech then graduated to training, fostering, and helping with adoption events.   I attended E-Training Dog School. (the E stands for electronic -as in online courses.)  Classes included The Behavior and Theory of Dogs, Training Anxious Dogs, Basic Obedience and CPR for Dogs. I graduated with honor, receiving the highest seal of approval — dog kisses.  I believe dogs deserve the best training they can get to help them navigate the crazy human world they live in. I currently work as a veterinary assistant while I finish school to become a veterinary technician.  I look forward to helping you and your dog throughout your training journey