Rent safe and private dog parks hosted by locals

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David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

Sarah Connor

Dog trainer in Norfolk

#314 in United States, #10 in Virginia, #1 in Norfolk

United States

Norfolk

https://clever-critters.com/sarah/

Service areas:

Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, North Suffolk

I am a 26-year old Accredited Dog Trainer with a passion for helping dogs and their humans live their best lives together.

In September of 2018, I founded a dog walking and pet-sitting business that I dubbed "Barks and Rec." I had begun attending CATCH Canine Trainer's Academy the month before in pursuit of a dog training certification. For several months, I attended both a local university (for film & theatre) and CATCH as a full-time student for both schools. In January 2019, after feeling dissatisfied with how dogs were being handled at the establishment I worked at, I decided to hit "pause" on my university education and dedicate all of my focus to completing my program with CATCH.

In August 2019, I took a leap and quit my part-time job to pursue running Barks and Rec full-time. I graduated from CATCH Canine Trainer's Academy in March 2020, with a Certificate in Dog Training and Behavior.

I very quickly fell in love with dog training, but soon realized that my education did not equip her to work with more severe behavioral issues. With a strong desire to help the dogs that seemed "hopeless," I set out looking for another avenue of education to give myself the tools I needed to address more complex behavior cases.

In July 2020, I joined the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and dove headfirst into the wealth of material that was provided to supporting members. Still, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to test my skills and further my knowledge in the field. So I decided to get accredited. After paying a fee and spending a grueling 60 days working on the extensive test, I passed with a score of 98 out of 100. I received my Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT) standing through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) on January 21, 2021.

In May of 2022, I accepted a job with Clever Critters, LLC. and now have the privilege of working with the most incredible group of women. I am continuing to see Behavior Modification and Basic Obedience cases through Clever Critters, and I am loving every second of it.

I am continuing to further my education and knowledge in the field every day through seminars, conferences, reading the most up-to-date, science-backed materials, and more. Dog training is my passion, and I owe all of it to my boy, Duke.

Certifications:

IAABC Accredited Dog Trainer, Graduate of CATCH Canine Trainer's Academy, Pet First Aid Certified

Dog training services include

  • Aggressive dog training
  • Reactive dog training
  • Puppy dog training
  • In home dog training

More info about Sarah Connor's dog training:

Basic Obedience; Behavior Modification; Puppy Training

Behavioral issue focus:

Fear-Based Aggression; Reactivity; Generalized Anxiety; Separation-Related Behaviors; Noise Phobias/Sound Sensitivities; Situational Phobias; Resource Guarding

Dog training methods:

I utilize a Force-Free, Positive Reinforcement training approach. My methodology is based off of up-to-date scientific research and the belief that all individuals (human or dog) have a right to learn in an intimidation-free setting.

Why I became a dog trainer:

Duke is the reason I decided to pursue dog training as a career. Duke was six months old when my family adopted him on December 31, 2014. Duke was terrified of everything, and despite his emaciated frame, he was so shut down that he didn't even want the hot dogs that were offered to him during the shelter visit. I promised Duke that I would do whatever it took to help him learn to love life again. This spurred my journey into studying canine psychology and behavior, and unknown to myself at the time, opened the door to a whole new career. It is because of Duke that I am where I am today. On December 16, 2020, Duke crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He began having complications with his prostate in October, and despite all the effort to save him, his health continued to decline. He's missed more than words can possibly express, but his legacy will live on forever. Because of Duke, I have dedicated my life to helping dogs just like him.


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David Adams

July 10, 2024

Dog Trainers

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