About Nicole Wilde
Nicole Wilde is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in behavior issues. She is the recipient of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ prestigious Ian Dunbar Member of the Year Award for 2006, and a popular speaker at the organization’s conferences.
Nicole is an internationally recognized author and lecturer. Her eight books include So You Want to be a Dog Trainer and Help for Your Fearful Dog (www.phantompub.com). Nicole presents seminars both domestically and internationally for conferences, training clubs, shelters, and other groups.
Nicole writes training and behavior articles for various publications, including an ongoing training column for Modern Dog Magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Dog Star Daily (www.dogstardaily.com). She co-stars in the DVD “Train Your Dog: The Positive Gentle Method,” and co-hosted the “Dog Talk” radio show, where her experience, humor and quick wit were put to good use. She was also featured in the Paul Owens DVD “The Dog Whisperer”(not to be confused with the television show by the same name).
Nicole has always had a special place in her heart for dogs in need. Her experience includes a position as Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles’ Animal Services, where she instructed volunteers in canine handling and behavior, handled hundreds of dogs, and served as adoption counselor. She served as Executive Director for Villalobos Rescue Center, a sanctuary for rescued wolves/wolf hybrids, pit bulls and exotic animals. Nicole’s specialty was socializing fearful wolves who were to live out their lives at the center. She also trained wolves and other canines, and presented seminars for animal control officers, schools and specialty groups. Her experience is rounded out by having worked at a doggy daycare (supervising 40-50 off-leash dogs daily!), a veterinarian’s office, as Editor/Chief Writer for a Get-A-Pet magazine, and teaching group classes as well as private instruction.
Nicole is originally from New York, and moved to Los Angeles in 1987. She has been a professional gymnast, driven motorcycles, played bass guitar in various rock bands, and lived with wolves.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter and read her blog Wilde About Dogs.
About Rayna Barker
For over 17 years, Rayna
has been working with and training dogs professionally. Her expertise includes
dealing with behavior issues and the transitioning of new dogs into the home.
Due to the tremendous over-population of dogs in our society today, many dogs
coming into a new home are from shelters or rescue organizations. These dogs
and families often need extra help with their relationships.
Rayna’s compassion and
love for these “cast-offs” in our society prompted her to help where she could.
She is responsible for helping set up a dog training program at one of L.A.’s
city shelters, and conducting a training class specifically for the shelter dogs
while they are housed there.
In addition, Rayna:
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Volunteers her time and expertise to various rescue groups
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Teaches group dog training classes in Montrose/La Crescenta and Chatsworth, as well as
individual training and private consultations
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Has trained her own dogs in obedience and agility competition, winning a number of awards
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Is a Mentor Trainer for the Animal Behavior College
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Is a volunteer and evaluator for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
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Appears monthly on a local cable TV show as the resident trainer for an animal rescue foundation,
advising on training and behavior issues
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Has been a member and past officer of a local dog obedience club for 19 years
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Has two years past veterinary experience as an apprentice technician
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Is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT)
- Continually attends behavior/training conferences to further her education