Are you an Aspiring Future Dog Trainer or Behavior Consultant?
We have taken our time to develop our mentorship program. We have been a mentor trainers for Animal Behavior College and CATCH Canine Trainers Academy . We have seen a need for those who are already experienced with dogs and clients who want to get into the behavior realm and for those who want to improve their skills as trainers directly. We are proud to announce our All Big Canines Metorship Program.
Mentorship Program Overview
Mentorship Program Overview
Our mentorship program is designed to prepare aspiring trainers and behavior consultants to build a successful career with confidence and skill. Through a unique blend of hands-on training, competency fluency, and business development, we ensure our mentees are not only prepared for real-world challenges but also equipped to pass professional credentialing exams.
WHY our Mentorship stands out
Skills and Knowledge for Success:
Participants gain a well-rounded education in both dog training and behavior, focusing on evidence-based methods. Our program builds fluency in core competencies that are essential for success in this industry. Beyond just technical skills, you’ll also develop the business acumen needed to navigate client relationships and manage your own training or behavior consulting business.
Preparation for Credentialing:
While this program prepares you to be fully informed about credentialing options and the skills required to succeed, we emphasize making informed decisions. We provide pros and cons of each credentialing organization, so you can choose the path that aligns best with your career goals. Please note, CEUs (Continuing Education Units) may be available, but they are not guaranteed.
WHY our Mentorship stands out
What You’ll Build:
Competency Fluency – Master the foundational and advanced techniques for dog training and behavior consulting, ensuring your ability to confidently work with a variety of clients and situations. Business Skills – Develop the knowledge needed to start and grow your own business, from managing client relationships to navigating marketing and financial planning.Industry Awareness – Gain insight into current industry standards, including areas where the field is evolving and where it still needs to improve. Learn how to leverage your skills to contribute to these changes.
Understanding Industry Challenges:
Lack of DEIJ Work and the Need for Change.
The animal training and behavior industry has been slow to address issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). As part of this mentorship, we openly discuss the lack of progress in this area, and we invite participants to join us in being advocates for change. Together, we can help decolonize the industry and push for more inclusive practices that benefit both trainers and the communities they serve.
Be a Part of the Change:
This mentorship program goes beyond building a career—it’s about becoming part of a movement. You will leave with the skills to excel as a professional and the knowledge to be an agent of change in this field. Our aim is to empower the next generation of trainers and consultants who are committed to inclusive, humane, and effective practices.
Mentorship for Aspiring Dog Trainers and Behavior Consultants
Mentees, both near and far, will begin by observing classes and studying while working individually with animals. As you progress, you'll transition into leading lessons and group classes, all with a strong emphasis on building your skills and developing the confidence to work comfortably with animals. Our approach uses evidence-based training and behavioral interventions to ensure you’re well-prepared for real-world scenarios.
We offer both virtual and in-person mentorships, so no matter where you are in the world, you can still benefit from guided support as you grow your skills.
Dog Training Mentorship
50 hours – $950.00
Current available CEUs upon completion (not guaranteed) :
CCPDT for CPDT-KA: 21 CEUs
PPAB for CCT-A or PCT-A: 20 CEUs
Behavior Mentorship
125 hours – $2,500.00
Current available CEUs upon completion (not guaranteed):
IAABC: 25 CEUs
If you're interested in seeing if this program is the right fit for you, reach out to schedule a call with us. You can pay in full, or choose flexible payment options through Affirm, Afterpay, or Klarna. Additionally, if you need financial assistance, visit
Esperanza Sanctuary’s Community Access Program
for scholarship and grant information.
Don’t miss out—start your journey to becoming a skilled, confident professional today!
Meet the Mentees
Ariel Baber
Fired Up Dog Training
Behavior COnsultant Mentorship Track
Ariel has been working with animals since she was a child, and has been professionally training dogs for 7 years. She found and joined the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) in 2017 and remains a member today. She is one of less than 10 in the United States to earn the prestigious title of Professional Canine Trainer (PCT-A) from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. The testing process for this credential is extremely rigorous, requiring letters of recommendation from clients and a veterinarian, 200 logged training hours over the course of no more than 24 months, 20 hours of approved continuing education units, passing a 100-question written test, and passing a video test including explaining how to teach basic behaviors and demonstrating different ways of eliciting behavior, creating a conditioned emotional response, and videos of coaching a group. Her other credentials include Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) and being an All-Star Trainer of the Year in 2020, Canine Conditioning and Fitness Coach (CCFC), Stunt Dog Judge (SDJ), Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor and assessor, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, and Be a Tree presenter.
Jessica Tebben
Use Your Noodle Training
Dog Trainer Mentorship Track
This is Jessica! Jessica is a long-time dog parent, veterinary technician, and now dog trainer who made the choice to have us walk their journey to becoming a credentialed dog trainer with them.
We are so happy to be working with Jessica, who has already burned through a TON of coursework and is actively applying it with her clients.
Carrie Bakos
My name is Carrie and I live in rural BC with my husband and our deaf AmStaff, Red.
Red was found as a stray and has fear of many, many things. His stress and reactivity were not disclosed to me when we adopted him. Without any knowledge of how to help him and no qualified individuals locally to help, I felt lost and isolated.
Partnering with Tabitha and learning from her has improved Red’s life incredibly. He and I are working together to tackle his fears head on and build a relationship of trust and respect. He is an amazing, resilient dog. He’s even earned his novice trick dog title!
My experience with Red has instilled in me a keen desire to help other people and their pets. I hope to be able to pay forward everything I’ve learned in my journey with Red.
Andrew Donofrio
We are so excited to have Andrew join our Behavior Consultant Mentorship program where he is working to prepare for his behavior consultant credential.
Andrew has spent most of his professional life in leadership positions. At 19, he started his career as a police officer and at 24 was promoted to Sergeant. During his 25 years in law enforcement, Andrew advanced to Lieutenant with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and created and grew a nationally recognized Computer Crimes Unit. Upon retirement, he leveraged this experience to establish his own IT security auditing firm, which he ultimately sold. This experience, along with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in management, has made him extremely proficient as a teacher and in developing skills in others.
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After getting his dog Jackson, Andrew soon realized his passion for training dogs. He also realized that much of the skill involves teaching people how to train their dogs. Combining a passion for teaching with a love of dogs, Andrew knew this was the next chapter in his professional career. He jumped back into school at the Animal Behavior Institute, earning the designation CCTBS – Certified Canine Training and Behavior Specialist. Andrew is also a graduate of Dr. Ian Dunbar’s Science-Based Dog Training program and several Canine Behavior Modification Programs.
Andrew loves working with dogs of all breeds and at all stages of their lives. Yes, you can “teach an old dog new tricks.” He realizes the importance of obedience training and enrichment for the overall health and happiness of dogs as well as improving their relationship with their humans. Andrew is committed to helping dog owners have the dog they want. He focuses on force-free, science-based training and behavior modification techniques that shape a dog's behavior while strengthening the bond with his or her human.
Abby Kinnie
We are THRILLED to welcome Abby to our mentorship program. She is on her way to becoming a credentialed dog trainer.
Abby told us "I've always had dreams of doing something for animals and dogs have been a huge part of my entire life, never lived without one. When I started dedicating time and putting real thought into my dogs' training I saw so much positive change and dove into dog training. I love dogs and I love people who love their dogs. My ultimate goal is to bring positive change to more dogs and their owners, giving them more harmonious and enjoyable lives together. I've done a lot of research independently, but I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to learn from those with real knowledge and experience."
Andrea Collins
Andrea Collins comes to us with a background in working with exotic animals at a conservation garden and zoo. She primarly worked with birds and reptiles and is working toward becoming a credentialed behavior consultant for dogs and cats.
We are super excited to have her join us with her super interesting background and experiences.
Melody Knox
Melody is excited to finally be on the path to becoming a certified dog training professional! She is a private music teacher, a dog walker for a local small business, a long-time animal rights activist, and of course, a dog trainer looking to make a positive impact on her community. Back in 2018, she adopted her very first dog, a Texas stray named Bindi. While Bindi was (and is) a wonderful dog, she came with leash reactivity towards dogs and cats.
Melody knew she was out of her depth, especially because people are far less tolerant of pit bulls exhibiting this behavior. She enlisted the help of a wonderful local trainer who helped Bindi blossom into the neighborhood celebrity that she is today, deeply loved by her dog and human friends alike. This made Melody realize just how life-changing and fulfilling dog training can be.
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Since then, she has learned from trainers in online positive reinforcement training groups and read many recommended books on the subject to improve her knowledge and skills to help both her own dog and her walking clients. After much positive feedback from clients and the realization that pet dogs are such a vulnerable population due to all the misinformation out there, she decided to throw her hat into the ring and officially open her dog training business. She is hoping to eventually become a certified behavior consultant, as reactive dogs truly have her heart.
Business Name: The Positive Pittie
Website: https://thepositivepittie.com/
Jody Treadaway
With over three decades of comprehensive experience in property management, I have cultivated expertise across various facets of the field. My professional journey has predominantly involved overseeing substantial apartment communities for prominent corporations, primarily in the capacity of an Acquisitions Manager. In 2016, I undertook the pivotal role of repositioning a sizable senior mobile home community in Yucca Valley, a project typically spanning 36 months. My commitment to excellence led me to Morongo Valley, where I established roots in 2019, drawn by my profound admiration for the area, catalyzed by my involvement in the local Jeep community and sponsorship at the prestigious King of the Hammers event.
Despite an offer from Caritas Corporation, my employer of 13 years, to relocate to San Jose for a new acquisition venture, I chose to remain rooted in the Morongo Valley, necessitating the exploration of alternative income avenues. Consequently, I embarked on a new venture, founding Sunshine Property Services, specializing in local short-term vacation rentals.
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My passion for canine companionship intersected with my professional pursuits when I encountered a remarkable opportunity with a litter of Cane Corso/Doberman puppies, one of which captured my heart. Embracing the responsibility of owning my first large-breed dog, I diligently pursued education and training, initially engaging a local trainer with the goal of integrating her into my daily life and utilizing her potential to assist with my PTSD. Encountering setbacks with conventional training methods, I took matters into my own hands, leveraging online resources and extensive literature to master advanced obedience training techniques.
My journey is marked not only by professional accomplishments but also by a commitment to personal growth and academic pursuit. In 2000, at the age of 33, I returned to academia, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. During my tenure, I distinguished myself on the speech and debate team, culminating in a notable third-place finish in the national competition in 2003.
Driven by a dedication to excellence, a passion for community engagement, and a commitment to ongoing learning, I am poised to leverage my diverse skill set and experiences to empower individuals and contribute positively to my community.
All Big Canines, LLC.
Larsen Lane
Sky Valley, CA 92241
760-278-4248
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