Advance your career

Why study with us?

Our mission is to provide advanced theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills in science based dog training.  Our students become adept and efficient positive reinforcement dog trainers making a real difference in the world. 
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Our Curriculum

As a graduate you will have:

Theoretical understanding

  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Learning how to build functional behavior assessments for different cases and use that knowledge to change and modify behaviors. Understanding how to design behavior intervention training plans.
  • Classical Conditioning - changing Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) through Counter Conditioning (CC)  and Desensitization (DS). Understanding how emotions and feeling affect the behavior. Learning scientific and proven methods on how to teach the dogs not be afraid of the triggers / stimuli.
  • Operant Conditioning - teaching and modifying operant behaviors. Understanding how every behavior has a function. Learning different behavioral quadrants (R+, R-, P+ and P-), their reasoning and possible fallouts. Deep diving into positive reinforcement (R+) approach, learning about primary and secondary reinforcers, different training methods, schedule of reinforcements, differential reinforcements and more!
  • Theory of dogs - learning about body language, stages of development, multiple pet households, behavior evaluations, canine compulsive disorders and more!
  • Case studies of "problem" behaviors - learning about different  "unwanted" behaviors within ABA and case studies: lunging and barking, fear and anxiety cases, biting, resource guarding and more!
  • Client communication and ethics, business basics - learning about client communication skills, buy-ins and ethics. Discussing next steps and career opportunities.
  • Extensive knowledge in theory to prepare for CCPDT exams.

Hands-on experience

  • The application of acquired theoretical knowledge to change unwanted behaviors in real life using classical and operant conditioning. (Behavior Intervention Cases).
  • Dexterity training operant behaviors using different methods (shaping, luring, capturing). You will apply these techniques to a host of behaviors: recalls, loose leash walking, positions, stays, retrieving and more). (Project Dog Assignments).
  • Applying all of the above with fluidity to competently assist pet parents and other human/canine teams. (Teaching others in a class setting, coaching 1:1, conducting a client consultation). 
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Meet Our Team

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Mac

Instructor
Mac has helped thousands of dogs and their people lead happier lives in each other’s company for the last 10+ years as an accomplished trainer and behavior consultant.

While focusing intently on fear and aggression for several years, Mac developed an insatiable passion for prevention. This is currently evidenced in her leadership of SF Puppy Prep, Outdoor Education SF, and Puppy Talk with Mac, training organizations that support puppies in various stages of development.

Mac loves to teach and talk dog. A 2009 honors graduate of the SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, upon graduation Mac immediately returned to coach students in two subsequent cohorts. Concurrently, she volunteered for over 300 hours, training volunteers, teaching classes, and working directly with shelter dogs needing behavioral modification.

Mac’s continuing education has included courses of study with Bob Bailey and Susan Friedman, as well as a litany of multi-day seminars and conferences throughout her years as a professional trainer.
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Erin

Instructor

Erin has worked with dogs for over 10 years. She brings a love of dogs and a wide perspective of the many aspects of what Bay Area dog life entails into her training. 

With the goal of preparing puppies and dogs for their best lives here in this unique place we call home, she has a special interest in cooperative care and helping adolescent pups learn the many necessary skills ranging from building confidence about town, to loose leash walking and recall - so important! Erin has worn many hats when it comes to working with dogs.

Her background includes grooming, dog sitting, dog walking, you name it! She won Best Pet Sitter in the Bay Area by Bay Woof in 2011. To launch into training, Erin began working at SF Puppy prep in 2020 and attended the Dog Training Internship Academy in 2021. She currently teaches classes at SF Puppy Prep and trains puppies at Outdoor Education SF. She has also started training in dog agility at Golden Gate Dog Sports.

Erin is adamantly committed to learning as much as she can about the ever-growing field of science-based, positive reinforcement dog training, as evidenced by her attendance at a wide variety of training conferences. She readily applies her continued education in her daily life, with the personal goal of creating the most efficient, humane and teachable practices for the betterment of the guardian dog relationship.
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Victoria

Instructor

Victoria is a passionate dog sports enthusiast with over 10 years of experience working with dogs. She has competed in dog agility and competitive obedience in different countries. She has taught performance sport dog classes as well as worked as a dog swim coach, dog hiker and dog daycare supervisor in the past.

She is CPDT-KA certified (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) and always striving for new knowledge and better ways to teach and inspire people to do more enriching and enjoyable activities with their dogs. She is currently working in Behavioral Department at La Plata Humane Society in Durango, Colorado.

Originally from Finland, Victoria holds BS in Accounting and International Business from University of Oulu. Being extremely fascinated by mechanics of behavior in general she continues to study Psychology online at the University of Helsinki. She lives with a husband, 10yo Border Collie Waltsu and a recent shelter puppy Jekku.
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Aishe

Instructor
Aishe began her career as a social worker and soon realized that she would rather be a canine social worker.  Aishe followed her dream and enrolled in the SF SPCA Dog Training Academy in 2002, followed by a post graduate internship in curriculum development and instruction. Aishe worked at the SF SPCA as a trainer/teacher and adoption counselor and in 2004 started SF Puppy Prep with another academy grad, Stephanie Miller. 

Aishe loves teaching and mentoring. Aishe is a people trainer who is dog obsessed. Aishe currently has 2 dogs, a 14 yo miniature poodle, Farfel, who can sneeze on cue, and a 100 year old Muttville Senior Dog named Dolly who is as sassy and strong as her namesake, Dolly Parton.
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Amrit

Instructor
Amrit is a San Francisco native who has had the opportunity to work with thousands of young puppies and parents to build a strong foundation for happy lives together. She holds a BS in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and a Minor in Psychology from The University of California at San Diego (2014).

Growing up in San Francisco, she began her training and animal education career working with exotic animals. 

Starting in 2004, she worked at the San Francisco Zoo, the Suisun Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the Houston Zoo, and at the Living Coast Discovery Center.  After many years working with exotic animals, in 2015, Amrit turned her attention to training dogs (her favorite learners!) as a puppy counselor with SF Puppy Prep’s Puppy DaySchool. 

In 2017, Amrit connected with Mac, graduate of the Jean Donaldson Academy for Dog Trainers and Owner of SF Puppy Prep and Outdoor Education SF. Her extensive mentorship deeply expanded and continues to grow Amrit’s abilities.

Amrit played an instrumental role in the development of the Outdoor Education program, training adolescent dogs and parents all over San Francisco before returning to SF Puppy Prep in a leadership position. She now works as SF Puppy Prep’s Program Director managing dayschool, classes and private training as well as training puppies, parents and staff alike. 
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Jennifer

Instructor

Jen began her animal career in sheltering at Peninsula Humane Society more than 20 years ago.  As Shelter Manager she met thousands of animals learning about dogs and cats as well as pigs, goats, and chickens, and became fascinated with animal health and behavior. After leaving PHS she started Busy Pets, a pet care business caring for animals with special health and behavior needs.

Later on, Jennifer graduated from Academy for Dog Trainers, indulging herself in six weeks of bliss doing nothing but talking about, learning about, and training dogs, which hooked her on training for good.  She opened Happy Home Dog Training specializing in private training for dog aggression.

Jen started working in shelters again, first at Humane Indiana then PAWS Chicago. She worked with shy dogs and those with aggression issues and staffed a behavior helpline.As a people trainer she developed and taught classes about dog behavior evaluations, dog body language, and dog handling to certify volunteers and staff to work with challenging shelter dogs.  She’s also created animal health and dog training protocols and earned a certificate in Workplace Learning and Performance.

Jen became a Certified Behavior Consultant – Canine (CBCC-KA) and has attended multi-day seminars with Ian Dunbar, Susan Friedman, Pat Miller, and graduated from a Wolf Behavior Intensive course. Currently, Jennifer focuses on fostering kittens at home.
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Our Founder

Janis Bradley
Janis Bradley is an expert dog trainer, educator, speaker, and program designer. She was a primary faculty member at The San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, where she spent a decade as an instructor and program developer, preparing more than 400 students for careers as dog professionals. Before this, Janis enjoyed a distinguished twenty-year career in higher education, developing and teaching curriculum for students working to complete BA degrees.
Janis is an author whose published works include Dogs Bite, But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous, an accepted must-read for professionals in the training and animal shelter world, and an oft-cited source for journalists and policy makers. As Director of Communications and Publications for the National Canine Research Council, she lectures widely on human/dog relationships.
From the Grads

"Attending the DTIA program was a wonderful decision. Not only will it advance my career but it has also opened the door to so many other professional possibilities."

- Luba Podolsky, Mutt Manager, Muttville
From the grads

"The wonderful trainers in the Dog Training Internship Academy (DTIA) helped make my dreams a reality. Not only do I have a greater understanding about how animals learn best and many hours of practice under my belt, but I also was given the skills to start my own dog training business right after graduation!"

- Alyssa Hosbach, Owner of Dancing Tails Dog Training
From the grads

"DTIA gave me a real understanding of the how and why of science-based, positive reinforcement training. I now come into new training situations with the ability to pinpoint all the necessary information and make a plan with confidence."We guarantee you an exceptional experience

- Sathid Pankaew, Behavior & Training Coordinator, East Bay SPCA
Have questions? Book a 15min call to discuss your needs.
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