Kay Laurence

Kay Laurence started Learning About Dogs as a registered business in 2000. Although learning about dogs was her main aim for the previous 25 years, registering the company began the focus of a strong organisation now recognised around the world. Kay has run training classes for many years, beginning in 1978 with the local dog training club, graduating through School for Dogs across the country to Learning About Dogs around the world. Kay is qualified with Certificate in Education and has an extensive background in course development, through Open College Network, City & Guilds, Teaching in Further Education and Assessment Programs in a variety of activities.

The Virtual Teaching and Support Team have graduated through a range of virtual classes and courses. They are experienced in their field of teaching and enthusiastic about this exciting format of learning.

Our business includes book and video publishing, classes, courses and seminars, virtual classes, practical hands-on workshops and the certification of trainers and teachers. We assist in teaching various organisations including assistance dogs, rehabilitation, rescued, re-homing and substance searching dogs.

The combination of practical skills and experience combined with an enthusiasm for reaching those hard to get to places evolved into the Virtual Learning About Dogs courses started in 2008. Today’s technology has brought the whole world to Wag More and this dynamic learning environment is becoming the new option for learning about your dog. You have access to some of the best teachers from around the world.

Chris Bond (Teacher) CAP3

Chris Bond is a Professional Dog Trainer (PDT) and holds a Diploma of Advanced Canine Behavior Science (Dip.ACBS) through Companion Animal Sciences Institute (www.casinstitute.com). She is a member of Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (AABP). She also holds a B.Sc. in computing and an MBA in business technology. Chris has earned CAP3 with distinction, and is a CAP1 and CAP2 assessor.

Chris lives with her husband, Rich, and three border collies in the East Bay area of San Francisco. She owes her interest in clicker training to Spryte, a very clever but also very fearful border collie mix rescued at the age of 5 months, and to the patient guidance of her mentor, Lisa Clifton-Bumpass.

Chris and her dogs compete in various sports, including freestyle, flyball and agility. They also dabble in tracking, nose work, dock diving, skijoring and various other dog activities.

Kate Mallatratt (Teacher) CAP3

Kate shares her life with three dogs, Oscar, an English Springer Spaniel, Merlin, a blue merle Border Collie, and Mabel, a Golden Retriever.  When working in the kennels for GDBA some years ago a lecture by the late John Fisher sparked her interest in positive training methods and she has clicker trained her dogs for a number of years.

Kate has successfully completed several Learning About Dogs courses including virtual classes in Target Training, Reinforcement, Microshaping and Modifier Cues and she holds the Learning About Dogs Teaching Puppy Education Certificate. Kate's other passion in life is playing the guitar.

Susanne Stramm (Mentor and Technical Support) CAP2

Susanne shares her life with German Shepherds: Georgie and Dexter. Her interest in clicker training grew from her keen interest in dog training and behaviour and you will find Konrad Lorenz and Feddersen-Petersen sitting alongside Jean Donaldson in her extensive library of books.  Susanne has successfully competed in Working Trials, gaining a number of titles, and her ongoing education includes regular attendance at seminars and on-line courses, having completed several Learning About Dogs' virtual courses.

Susanne holds a B.Sc in Computer Science and a B.A. in History both from Brock University, Ontario. She has worked as part time lecturer, professional IT trainer and IT support specialist in both permanent and contract positions.

Elizabethanne Stevens (Mentor) CAP3

Elizabethanne learned about clicker training in 1997, when her first poodle, Charley, was 7 months old. On the suggestion of a friend, she read Don’t Shoot The Dog. With no local clicker training opportunities, she embarked on a journey to learn about clicker training from the Internet, books, and videos.  Elizabethanne and her poodles have enjoyed training and competing in a variety of dog sports, including agility, freestyle, tracking, obedience, rally, and conformation. They have also enjoyed drafting and field work and Elizabethanne has used the clicker in connection with canine physical rehabilitation and therapy. Elizabethanne has completed several Learning About Dogs online courses and earned her CAP 1 through 3 with Distinction.

Elizabethanne and her husband, Greg, are attorneys.  They enjoy living in the mountains of Utah where they can cycle, run, swim, and snowshoe.

Maja Ogrizek (Mentor)

Maja with Amélie, a Parson Russell Terrier, and has recently lost her beloved Bajk, a Flat-Coated Retriever, lives in Škofja Loka, a small medieval town in Slovenia. They love learning, playing and hiking and are always willing to explore the magic world of clicker training. Some years ago Maja accidentally received a book written by Kay Laurence (instead of another book) and it immediately sparked her interest. Thanks to Kay's work, her work and communication with dogs as well as understanding the animal mind shifted significantly. Since then, Maja shares her enthusiasm over Kay's work giving lectures on clicker training and instructing.

Maja has completed several Learning About Dogs' virtual courses, she participates in various dog activities and especially likes freestyle. She attended seminars with Attila Szkukalek. She's whole-heartedly fascinated by the limitless possibilities of shaping and microshaping. In her professional life, Maja is an editor of encyclopaedias and lexicons.