Laura has a Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern University with double majors in Communication and Psychology and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT - KA). Her reactive rescue dog Kubo originally led her to Ahimsa as a client, where she got hooked on the unique, deep communication between dog and handler that is an integral part of force free training. She volunteers at the Seattle Animal Shelter, working with dogs with more challenging behaviors, and is a supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She continues her education with courses and seminars from Erica Fauerbacher, Susan L. Freidman, IAABC, and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Laura also offers training support for human-animal interaction research through Oregon State that examines the impact of pet dog training on the emotional well-being of children. Her specific training interests are in puppy socialization, reactivity and fear behavior adjustment training, and helping to establish empathetic, healthy dog-human relationships.
