BIO

Alice is a certified professional dog trainer with a wealth of training and behavior modification experience. She graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior. Alice is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) and Puppy Start Right Instructor. She has also been certified as a CPDT-KA and CSAT. Alice has both the education and hands-on experience to help dog owners, along with a deep love and appreciation for dogs and animal welfare. What makes Alice an exceptional trainer is her commitment to using positive reinforcement methods based on up-to-date scientific research, and her ability to treat both animals and humans with compassion and respect.



Having worked with many adult dogs who struggle with anxiety and reactivity issues, Alice has a special passion for working with puppies to prevent these issues from developing in the first place through her highly personalized Puppy Packages. Behavioral issues she commonly works with include teaching reactive dogs to choose calm behaviors (instead of barking, snapping, and lunging), actively counter-conditioning shy and fearful dogs to new "scary" things (like strangers, children, men, other dogs, bikes, sounds, etc.), and teaching impulse control along with basic manners to high energy dogs and puppies.  In addition to private behavior consultations and teaching large training classes, Alice has a tremendous amount of knowledge and hands-on training from having worked as the lead shelter dog trainer at Tony La Russa's ARF, where she trained an immense variety of breeds, ages, types, and sizes of dogs ranging from huge Great Danes and Pitbulls, to tiny Dachshunds and Chihuahuas on a daily basis.  Alice has experience teaching reactive dog classes, obedience classes for puppies and adult dogs, and leading playgroups for both big and small dogs. She is adept at reading dog body language and managing multiple dogs safely to make sure everyone is learning and having a good time. She is also Pet First Aid Certified, a Certified Pet Care Technician, a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and is fully insured through the Business Insurers of the Carolinas.



Furthermore, Alice prioritizes establishing a positive connection with the human at the other end of the leash as well. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and has her Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University. In the Bay area, she provided individual and group psychotherapy for survivors of trauma at UCSF's Trauma Recovery and Rape Treatment Center. Alice also has her BA in Ethnomusicology from UCLA, bringing a creativity and sensitivity to tailoring training plans to fit an individual client's needs. Alice truly enjoys using her people and dog skills to help her human and dog clients live happier and less stressful lives with each other.

 

Organizations Alice has also worked or volunteered with include: Bravo!Pup, East Bay SPCA, ARF, SIRIUS Dog Training, Muttville, Rocket Dog, Citizen Canine, Paws for Purple Hearts, East Bay Vet Service Puppy Classes, Metro Dog's Leash Monster's Class, and SF SPCA's Reactive Rover Class.