Tail of the Boss
Lee Desmarais is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Professional Dog Trainer Program, is a Certified Dog Trainer (CDT-KSA) through INTOdogs, a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator, Certified Level-1 Applied Behavior Analysis Accredited Practitioner (ABAP-1), and has also completed 60 hours in Dr. Susan Friedman's Learning and Living with Animals course and holds a certificate in Emotional CPR (eCPR) through Behaviour Aid. In addition she is a Licensed Family Dog Mediator through Kim Brophey's, L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Professional Course® and holds a certificate of completion in Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course.
(Scroll down to see certifications)
Lee is an organizational member of INTOdogs as well as the Pet Professional Guild, International Initiative for Force-Free Dog Trainers and Progressive Reinforcement Training. Lee is a “positive based”, “force-free”, “aversive-free” trainer; Certified Fear-Free Professional, whose primary style of teaching is based in ethical and scientifically proven training approaches, according to the ethical guidelines and humane practices as defined by:
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Linda Michaels' Hierarchy of Dog Needs
The Pet Professional Guild
Lee understands fully that the methods of training chosen to work with dogs will shape the relationships and emotional well-being those dogs have with both their owners and their environment, for their lifetime. Lee is often heard saying “we don’t hurt dogs, not even their feelings,” but this isn’t just a catchy tag line, it is her philosophy 100% of the time. Because of that, she is committed to her continued education in order to stay informed on the most current behavioral approaches, most ethical practices, and most positive reinforcement techniques of the day. Dog training isn’t about obedience and commands, in fact those words are not in her training vocabulary; Lee believes training is about building a relationship with your dog, much like that between humans; one that is based on love and trust, give & take, as well as mutual understanding.
Lee maintains that pet owners should have access to transparency when choosing a trainer, and often their websites, literature and come-ons deliberately hide their use of shock, prong, and choke collars, by describing their training style as 'Balanced'. It doesn’t occur to pet owners that this harmonious word ‘balanced’ includes the use of force and pain. In an effort to end the use of frightening and painful electric shocks to train and manage animals, Lee has signed the pledge and joined the "NO Shock Coalition". Similarly, Lee has never held a certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA), or the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) due to their support of LIMA and/or their position on the use of shock collars.
Additionally, Lee is a proud participant in Project tRade, the Pet Professional Guild's (PPG) international advocacy program that promotes the use of force-free pet training equipment by asking pet guardians to swap choke, prong and shock collars (and any other devices that are designed to change behavior through pain or fear), in exchange for discounted training services.
OTHER AREAS OF INDEPENDENT STUDY
Amy Cook-The Play Way
Karen Deeds-Reactive Integration Protocol
Laura Donaldson -Slow Thinking is Life Saving for Dogs
Laura Donaldson-Somatic Self-Resilience
Diane Garrod-Stress Release For Dogs: The Canine Emotional Detox
Kelly Snider-Constructional Aggression Treatment (CAT)
Grisha Stewart-Behavioral Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0)
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