About Us
Our EXTENSIVE EDUCATION AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE provide safe, humane methods for modifying pet behavior. Every aspect of our practice is informed by the strongly held belief that teaching better behavior must be EFFECTIVE AND FUN for pets and their families.
Christine Hibbard CTC
Christine graduated with honors from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, earning her Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) credential. She studied with Jean Donaldson ("Culture Clash", "Mine", "Fight"), and Janis Bradley ("Dogs Bite"). She has completed advanced work in animal behavior, learning theory, dog/dog aggression, instructional design, and communications. Christine specializes in private behavior consultations. Her passion and creativity bring fun, inventive training solutions to challenging behavior problems.
- JEAN DONALDSON
San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers
James has a Master’s degree in Biology from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in Zoology with a specialization in animal behavior from Colorado State University. He is currently a Research Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington. His academic research interests are in learning more about the social behavior of animals including primates, crows, and killer whales. Jim has demonstrated consistent success in applying the knowledge he's gained from his academic career to domestic animals living in an ever more urbanized world. Jim’s problem solving skills and teaching ability allow him to accurately diagnose problem behaviors and apply the most effective solutions for both owners and their pets.
Dr. Louisa Beal is a veterinarian with a passion for helping owners solve behavior problems that they're experience with their dogs and cats. She graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. In her last year of veterinary school, she interned with three of the top animal behaviorists in the field; Dr. Victoria Voith, Dr. Katherine Houpt and Dr. Peter Borchelt. Her keen interest in animal behavior stayed with her throughout her 10-year ownership of a veterinary clinic. In 1996, she sold her veterinary practice and founded Veterinary Behavior Consultations.
Dr. Beal is a member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and remains current on the latest research and techniques for treating behavior problems. She combines a unique blend of medical and pharmacological knowledge with expertise in applying ethology and animal learning theory in diagnosing and treating animal behavior problems.
She completed Legacy Canine Behavior and Training Workshop on Operant Conditioning in 2001 where she learned the fine points of clicker training. She also attended the University of Georgia Veterinary Psychopharmacology Seminar in 2003 that taught an in-depth course on the workings of medications on the brain and behavior.
One of her joys in life is to dance with her dog. They visit a nursing home once a month to perform for the residents. Louisa, her dog, and the nursing home residents all love sharing canine freestyle dancing together.
Greta Kaplan CDBC, CPDT
Greta is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and Associate Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Counselors, working toward her certification as a Certified Dog Behavior Counselor. Greta is an experienced clicker trainer who has completed all four sessions of the Cross-Species Operant Conditioning Training Workshop taught by Bob Bailey - popularly known as "chicken camp." If Greta can train a chicken to do agility, she can teach dogs to do almost anything. She has extensive experience evaluating and remediating dog behavior issues, and in coaching owners to help their dogs both feel and behave better.
Greta's specialty is performing private behavior consultations. She teaches leash aggression and other behavior-issue classes as well as puppy and adult manners classes at various Portland area locations. In addition, she coaches and races flyball with the Portland Tail Blazers Flyball Club, and teaches flyball classes for all levels with the support of the team. state.
Carly Loyer BA, CPDT
Carly has been an "animal person" since she rode bareback and diapered on Moose, the unflappable yellow lab she grew up with. She has since come to the conclusion that there may be other, better things to do with dogs, and has mapped out her life accordingly. Graduating from the University of Washington in 2007 with a BA in Psychology (with an emphasis on Animal Behavior), she took a year off of school and is currently a trainer at PetSmart, getting hands-on experience while applying to graduate programs in Animal Behavior. She plans to eventually branch out to train more exotic animals and is interested in training as it applies to environmental enrichment programs for captive animals.
Miles Bensky BA
Miles graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Washington. While there he developed a passion for both human psychology and animal behavior. Since graduating he has worked jobs in both the community mental health and animal fields. He is now taking steps to meet his ultimate goal of becoming a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist where he can combine his interests of helping both people and their animals. He is very excited to be attending the San Francisco SPCA Academy of Dog Trainers in the fall to earn his Certificate of Training and Counseling (CTC).
Behavior Counseling by the
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