Loring Slivinski, BA, CPDT-KA, CTC
Director of Behavior & Training, Instructor

In 2003 Loring graduated from the San Francisco SPCA Dog Training Academy with Honors and is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).  She also holds her B.A. in Human Psychology.  With experience in counseling, public relations, and over 11 years managing a veterinary hospital, she feels she was headed for this career her whole life, even if she didn't know it! 

Her initial interest in dog training was due to behavioral problems she saw in her own dog, Xena, who was what we call a "Growly Dog" - she lunged, barked, and snarled at other dogs while on leash.  Loring also has a keen interest in the workings of both the human and animal minds.

Because pets do so much to enhance our lives, Loring's goal is to foster great bonds between owners and pets, to help people improve their relationships with their pets, and to have FUN in the process.  She enjoys training her dogs Astro and Bella, both Golden Retrievers.

(Loring and Astro on right above)

Laura Sweet
Lead Behavior Consultant, Instructor

Laura is a graduate of the Marin Humane Society’s Canine Behavior and Training Academy.  In addition to her coursework at Marin, Laura worked with People Understanding Pets Dog Training from 2005 until 2007 as a dog training intern.  She has also volunteered for a local dog rescue agency since 1998, fostering over 50 dogs. 

It is her work with rescue dogs that led Laura to pursue dog training and behavior consulting.  Two of her rescue dogs, Jake and Elvis, came to her with “issues” – Jake didn’t get along with other dogs and Elvis was extremely fearful and undersocialized.  In the course of working with her own dogs, and learning how to introduce foster dogs into this existing household, she discovered a talent and a love for working with dog behavior. 

Laura’s goal when working with our clients is to help people keep their dogs in their current home and to help people improve their relationships with their dogs.  And of course, she has a special fondness for working with rescue dogs!  Laura currently shares her home with Jake, a pit-bull mix, Elvis, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Obie, a Ridgeback/Plotthound mix.

(Laura and Obi on left above)

Jane Henner
Instructor

Jane Henner graduated with honors from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers.    Jane is particularly experienced with puppies: she raised 8 puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind and co-taught a puppy-raising group for 10 years.  She has worked as head trainer at San Francisco Puppy Prep.  She continues her dog training education by attending conferences such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Conference, Terry Ryan's Chicken Camps and Clicker Expo.  Her dogs, Deacon and Dazzle enjoy Agility, Freestyle, and have recently begun Scent work.  Jane became interested in dog training when she was 4 years old having successfully lobbied for a family dog.

Our Training Assistants - BIOS COMING SOON!

Nicole Barrera

Yvette Gardner

Sue Isonio

Jean Lanham-Mitchell