I founded Ahimsa Dog Training in Seattle in 2003, growing it to a team of 7 trainers and over 40 classes per week. I eventually moved to Alaska and in 2015, I sold Ahimsa to Wynona Karbo, a fabulous staff member. My Ahimsa team earned many awards, including Best of Seattle and Best of Western Washington, and it continues to do well.

"Ahimsa" is a Buddhist doctrine of nonviolence to all living things, which reflects spiritual life as well as my focus on force-free methods to promote the well-being of dogs and their humans.

[Photo of a BAT leash skills demonstration at a 2019 seminar in China.] 

My first book, "Behavior Adjustment Training: BAT for Aggression, Reactivity, and Fear in Dogs," was published by Dogwise in late 2011. I published my second book, "The Official Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: A Practical, Force-Free Guide to Problem Solving & Manners," in 2012 and updated it in 2014.

I also have also published over a dozen DVDs, with 6 currently in print (and yes, I know that dates me - you can stream them now!). My third book, Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0), was my second book about dog reactivity. It was released in early 2016 and is available to order on my Academy as an eBook or Audio/videobook and from my store as a signed paperback. It's available in lots of other places, but getting it direct from the author is always best! This content replaces the first BAT book. 

The BAT 3.0 book is forthcoming in 2024 and it adds to the BAT 2.0 book, but will not replace it! I currently have a webinar about BAT 3.0 and also the Evolution of BAT 3.0 webinar may be helpful if you're already familiar with 2.0.

[Photo of me teaching in Portugal, 2018, by Mafalda Costa - Haruto Pet Photgraphy.] 

I've been told I am an enthusiastic and entertaining presenter. I create my seminars to accommodate a variety of learning styles. I have had the honor of teaching trainers in dozens of countries and all continents except Africa and Antarctica. My current focus is teaching online, but I do still travel occasionally for seminars. 

Interested in hosting a BAT seminar? 

I mostly stay in Oregon with my dogs, cat, and husband nowadays, but I do travel some. Mostly, I choose to 'travel' online - you can project my live video in your training school for a live seminar. See my hosting page for a list of topics some quotes from seminar hosts. If you don’t host seminars, but want to attend a dog behavior seminar near you, please send a link to the hosting page to a local training club.

More about Me

I have earned a Master’s in Mathematics from Bryn Mawr College and most of a Master’s in Psychology with an emphasis in animal behavior at Antioch University. My first career as a theoretical mathematician and college instructor serves me well in dog training and behavior consultations, because I relies heavily on the problem solving, critical thinking, and teaching skills I gained in that field. 

I adore what I do now, for many reasons. For one, my canine and human students are much more excited about learning than most college math students! I'm happy to make a difference in so many lives.

[Photo with my heart dog Peanut, 2011, by Melissa McDaniel]

Behavior fascinates me and I am highly motivated to help improve dog trainers' techniques for rehabilitating and training dogs. My professional interest in dog reactivity, along with the need to find an efficient rehabilitation technique that would work with my own dog's fear issues, led me to develop BAT. Peanut was the original BAT dog.

I love reading and rock climbing. My husband and I live with two dogs and a cat in Oregon, USA. I have also recently gotten interested in singing and writing music, including my song about BAT, shared in the video below. 

My first album came out in 2019. I'm fascinating by leading songs in community and am delving into the education required to become a grief tender for communal grief ritual. My plan is to bring that to the dog world, for we carry much grief.

Click here for more information about my music.