Learn more about MuttSchool's training methods:
The dog training industry is unregulated with no licensing requirements or regulatory oversight. This makes it difficult to know who to trust when searching for training for your furry family member. That's why MuttSchool believes that a certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers is so important for our staff. A CPDT certification gives you a way to distinguish dog training professionals whose education, experience, knowledge and skills have stood up to rigorous testing.
We are dedicated to helping dogs and their people build relationships based on trust, compassion, and understanding. MuttSchool instructors have trained over 5,000 Kansas dogs since our business began in 2007. Together our team has over 170 years of combined experience working with animals. Our owner, Mary, has more than 30 years of dog training experience and imparts this in designing MuttSchool's curriculum and training plans. That's experience you can trust.
There is not a one size fits all dog training solution. Every dog has individual training needs. And, each owner has their own lifestyle requirements. Finding a way to meld these together so you and your dog can be successful is why MuttSchool offers a variety of services for you to choose from. Let us develop an individualized training plan just for you and your dog!
MuttSchool's instructors have completed professional dog training schools, have university degrees or are in the process of completing their formal education. Several of our certified trainers are graduates of the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy. A few trainers have Certificates in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. Other instructors have completed their education from Animal Behavior College (ABC). MuttSchool is also an ABC Mentor Training Facility. In addition, all of our instructors are expected to attend yearly professional development seminars to stay on the forefront of the dog training field.
Training your dog makes good financial sense. Untrained dogs can be a risk to other people and dogs. If you think training is expensive, simply envision the veterinary bill if your dog is hit by a car because he refused to come to you. Or the civil court payouts if the dog bites someone or attacks another dog. You risk lawsuits, medical care, veterinarian care, legal fees and animal control fines. You are investing in training for your dog now to prevent challenging behaviors and to avoid those costs later.
While we are not veterinarians, we spend time with your dog and can be a watchful eye to report if we see health concerns that may require veterinary care. All of our employees are required to complete the American Red Cross Cat & Dog First Aid course as part of our on-boarding process. Rest assured that your MuttSchool trainers are knowledgable on what to do for a pet in an emergency situation prior to getting veterinary care.
You have a team of professional trainers
working for you and your dog.
Below are a few of the organizations we are associated with and certifications our trainers have achieved:
For over 35 years, Mary has taught private lessons and all levels of group classes in obedience, rally, conformation, trick training, flyball and agility in Phoenix, AZ, Seattle, WA and now with MuttSchool. Over the years, she has also titled her personal dogs to high levels in all of those sports. She was a 4H dog leader and ran a kids and dogs summer camp In the Seattle area. Mary has also worked with a wide range of canine behavioral challenges including shyness, reactivity, aggression, and separation
anxiety.
Mary graduated from Kansas State University, pursued a master's degree in business marketing at Arizona State University and had a very successful career in marketing and graphic design. But, her dream was always to work with dogs. After moving back to Manhattan in 2010, Mary saw the need for a quality dog training facility in this area and brought her dream to reality.
Mary is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge and Skills Assessed, a Karen Pryor Academy honors graduate and a KPA Certified Training Partner. She is also a Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, an AKC CGC evaluator, a Certified Fear Free Pet Professional and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Mary is a big proponent of life-long learning and continuously takes classes to further her dog training and behavior education.
CPDT-KA • ABCDT • CGC EVALUATOR • BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT • IAABC-ADT
Dawn started with MuttSchool as an Animal Behavior College (ABC) extern in 2010. Throughout her time at MuttSchool, she found her passion is working with dogs with behavioral challenges. Dawn also teaches private lessons, group classes, day training and works with our therapy and service dogs. She is certified CPDT-KA and is an AKC CGC evaluator. She has also volunteered for Helping Hands Humane Society training dogs with behavior issues to make them more adoptable. She is an accredited dog trainer with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
CPDT-KA
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B.S., ANIMAL SCIENCE • KPA FOUNDATIONS • UW CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Carissa has worked with all kinds of animals from farm animals to orangutans and elephants. She hails from the flint hills of KS on a beef cow-calf ranch and farm. Her passion for training dogs started early in high school when she took her farm dog, Max through a therapy dog program and was able to escort him to school and nursing home visits for the next 2 years. She ended up writing her senior thesis on the affects of therapy dogs used in nursing homes and graduated Kansas State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Animal Science and Industries. Carissa also holds a certification of Applied Animal Behavior through the University of Washington. She started her training here as an intern and is the smiling face your dog sees when they attend day school. Carissa has taken her own dog through all of Muttschool's classes and has received an intermediate trick dog title, as well as the CGC Urban certification. Her favorite part about working at Mutt School is getting to know all the dogs and their personalities while watching them learn.
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Marina started training her first Border Collie in Obedience in Schweinfurt Germany back in 1999. Since then she has worked for Contented Canines' from 2007 – 2010 in various care and training of owners dogs. She continued working on obedience and started agility training back in 2001 to present. The various Border Collies that Marina has owned over the years have racked up hundreds of ribbons and received numerous titles from CGC, Therapy Dogs, and Companion Dog Excellent all the way to Master Agility Titles. Marina has fostered and trained approximately 50 dogs for Purple Paws over the last 7 years to facilitate them in the search for their forever home. Her ultimate goal is to continue training her 3 current Border Collies in Agility, Obedience and Frisbee. One of her biggest personal achievements is her ability to impress upon her husband to continue working after his first retirement so that he can support her dog addiction. LOL
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Laysha has grown up with dogs her entire life. She's owned many different breeds including great danes, shepherds, pugs, a greyhound, rottweilers and now a Hokkaido Ken (a rare, medium-sized dog from Japan)! She is excited to start training and showing her puppy. Before joining MuttSchool, Laysha worked in a doggy day care and did grooming. She is working toward getting her CPDT to become a certified trainer.
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B.S. • CGC EVALUATOR
Marcia is a retired teacher who trained two therapy dogs and brought them into her classroom. Her first dog was a10 month old yellow lab. Camry was part of the school community for 14 years. She also trained a Saint Bernadoodle who also spent several years in school. She found many ways for her dogs to play strong support roles with her special needs students as well as students that just needed a friend to hug, read to or sit with while taking a test. She has been a strong advocate for the importance of dogs in the schools and was a leader in setting up the bi-laws for her school district and educating staff on how therapy dogs can support students. These experiences led her to a new career. After retirement, she started classes and training to become an instructor. She teaches classes as well as training and certifying therapy dog teams. Marcia is a CGC evaluator and continues to attend workshops, and trainings to perfect her skills and earn additional certifications.
She enjoys teaching classes for Muttschool and finds great satisfaction in helping people grow in a positive relationship with their canine friend. Marcia now has Teddy a family pet and Ayven ( Bernedoodle) that she is training for Therapy dog Certification.
M.S. • CGC EVALUATOR
McKayla has always had a passion for dogs and dog behavior and has over 10 years of dog training experience. As a child and young adult, McKayla enjoyed showing and training her first dog in 4-H, exhibiting various breeds for others in the AKC show ring, and volunteering in many other capacities, including animal shelters, 4-H Dog Project Leader, and more. McKayla currently owns two Australian Shepherds and enjoys training for MuttSchool. Her favorite part is educating families about dog behavior and helping them implement practical solutions to find success and harmony in their home.
Want to become a dog trainer?
Learn animal behavior through a MuttSchool internship.
This is an unpaid position. To receive college credit, you will need to get approval through your university advisor. The internship requires a commitment of 10-20 hours per week including Sunday availability. MuttSchool accepts 2 interns per spring, summer, and fall cohorts.
May 15 to August 18, 2023
Careers at MuttSchool
We are looking for:
CPDT-certified dog trainer — Muttschool is seeking a highly skilled and passionate CPDT dog trainer to join our team. The CPDT dog trainer will be responsible for working in our DaySchool, providing private training sessions, group classes, and behavior modification programs for dogs of all ages and breeds. MuttSchool utilzes a Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention Philosophy. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of canine behavior, training techniques, and a strong commitment to positive reinforcement. The work schedule for this position is flexible and can be either full-time or part-time based on the candidate's work-life balance requirements. However, the job may require working weekends and some evenings as these are the periods of high client demand for training services. The compensation package will be commensurate with the candidate's prior experience in training and handling dogs.
Training support staff —This is our entry level position on the path to becoming a dog trainer. MuttSchool has a tiered system of advancement to teach you to become a certified dog trainer. Applicant should be highly self-motivated and enthusiastic about working in a fast-paced, pet-focused, team environment. Only individuals with pet care experience and animal handling skills with all sizes and breeds of dogs will be considered. This position requires your full attention while on the job. The health, happiness and safety of our guests depend on your dog care knowledge, keen observation skills and attention to detail. If you are concerned about getting dirty - don't apply. All of our employees clean up mud, urine and feces. Your clothing will be covered in dog hair. The position is physically demanding and requires a great deal of stamina lifting and moving heavy equipment and kennels. This position helps to maintain a safe, organized, clean and sanitary facility for people and animals, manages small individual playgroups of dogs, cares for dogs including providing food and water, interacting, bathing and exercising, manages a wide variety of customer service and administrative tasks as needed. This position may also be required to complete janitorial duties such as taking out the garbage, sweeping, mopping, laundry, cleaning kennels and restocking supplies as needed and assists trainers with training client dogs.