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Ingrid pulled like crazy when we walked her - she really should have been herding Moose in Norway! - so I took her to Sue Sternberg's wonderful obedience class in Central Park. We also trained with Debi Feliziani and Elise Lynch. Elise, and Diane Reid, another New York trainer, helped me get a CD title on Ingrid. I'm grateful to them all; they're very special people in my book, and in Ingrid's as well! After assisting in Diane's class I realized I wanted to become a dog trainer myself. I was fortunate to study with trainer/behaviorist Steve Diller, who runs the Center for Animal Behavior & Canine Training in Elmsford, New York. Steve's another special person to me, as he was instrumental in helping get Dog Trainers' Connection going. I started my own dog training business, Bonnie's Here! in 2001. (www.bonnieshere.com). And while the original idea to start Dog Trainers' Connection was mine, my husband Joel Filderman has been an integral part of the business from its inception. His managerial and creative advice has been invaluable, and I feel very lucky to have him as a partner. How We Got Started Dog training can be isolating both as a profession and as a passion. As a novice trainer I wanted to meet other trainers in my area, and in April 2003 I decided to hold a workshop for local professionals. Steve Diller's insights into dog behavior, health and training made his talk "The Inner Workings of a Dog's Mind" a tremendous success. There was also time for the attendees, who included both new trainers and experienced professionals, to "schmooze" after the presentation. Several people asked me if I was planning more events. Though that had not been part of my original thinking, these questions made me realize there was a need for more workshops. Almost before I knew what was happening, Dog Trainers' Connection had been born. What We Hope to Accomplish There's a big divide today between trainers who use compulsion and those who favor positive reinforcement. My own preference is for the latter, yet I've learned insightful and amazing things from trainers who use different methods than I do. I feel that diversity is as important in dog training as in any other area of our lives, and that we should be able to discuss training methods without attacking one another, without being confrontational. At DTC we will continue to present diverse workshops where, regardless of how we approach training, we can come together to learn because of our love for dogs. I invite you to attend our workshops and events, to let us know how we can be of service to you, and to join in our common goal of helping people and their dogs. Thanks for visiting! Bonnie Brown Dog Trainers’ Connection |
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