Sherry Antonishen has shifted her career to focus on her life-long love of dogs.
Sherry loved dogs from before she could walk, and loved reading about and researching them prior to Kindergarten! Her love of dogs and education came together when she received her Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers in the spring of 2004, a training program known as the “Harvard for Dog Trainers” because of its emphasis on critical thinking and the science of learning. What was surprising was how much compassion and humanity flowed from the practical, critical skills – important as Sherry loves working with people as much as working with dogs. Fifteen years later, still interested in deepening her professional skills, Sherry studied the principles of learning and Applied Behaviour Analysis with Dr Susan G. Friedman and was again struck by how a deeply skilled understanding of behaviour can lead to force-free, lasting change for our dog companions.
Sherry is a strong advocate for international regulation and professionalization of the dog training industry and holds a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA). The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) sets the world standard in dog training; its certification is based on continuing education, years of experience, and intensive standardized testing. All SmartDog Trainers, regardless of previous certifications, must write and pass the exams and meet the criteria of the CCPDT. Sherry is also a member of the Vancouver Island Animal Training Association (VIATA) and The Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers whose mandates are embodied in SmartDog Training’s philosophy, and was Pet First Aid Certified through Walks N Wags in 2015. She has appeared on the A-Channel and Chek TV, been interviewed repeatedly on C-FAX and CBC radio, and written for several publications on dog behaviour.
With her in-depth training and over 15 years of hands-on experience, Sherry specializes in behaviour modification of fearful and reactive dogs. Her own dogs include rescues that others have found too difficult – she works with all breeds, and knows that under the label ‘difficult to train’, ‘shy’ or even ‘hyper’, is a dog that can be helped with the right skill set and tools. Sherry’s problem-solving skills help her clients manage and modify even the most challenging behaviour issues with practical, humane protocols.
When not running classes or working with clients on behaviour and training, Sherry can usually be found in her agility barn, running her own dogs or coaching others in this exciting, fun sport!
(source: https://www.smartdogtraining.ca/about-htm/)