We are a dog training company for all ages, sizes and temperaments. We service customers both in and out of state. We train service dogs, therapy dogs and companion dogs as well as offer specialized services such as breed and puppy selection. We also work with local rescues to rehabilitate dogs for placement in loving homes.
Owner BIO:
Starting in Jr High, Kelly shadowed veterinarians as a vet tech in the hopes of becoming a Vet. Later, she entered Penn State’s Animal Bioscience program for Veterinary medicine. Though she eventually changed majors to Business Logistics with a minor in international business; her love of animals remained. Coming full circle, when her husband was diagnosed with ALS, she again found her calling in a need to train him a specialized service animal.
starting in 2005, Kelly apprenticed for 2 years with the Phoenix location of Sit Means Sit dog training. During this time, she ran beginner and advanced off-leash group classes as well as assisted with their “board and train” program. Concurrently, she trained her husband’s service animal utilizing the training materials from Top Dog service training company.
The Teacher’s Pet LLC was formed in 2007 as a service, therapy & pet dog training company. Over the past 17 years it has grown to include boarding and breeding.
She was a member of the Phoenix Schutzhund club for 5 years where she trained client’s dogs as well as her personal protection dogs.
Her training has resulted in dogs entering the school system with school psychologists/principals for children with special needs as well as in the library program for the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation helping kids want to read books.
Additionally from 2015-2020, The Teacher’s Pet was contacted by Valleywise Health ‘s therapy dog program (aka county hospital or MIHS) to be their Therapy company of choice. The uniqueness of volunteering there is that they are the 3rd largest hospital in AZ, the 2nd largest burn center in the US & have a full scale Behavioral Health Annex.
She is also approved by Desert Harbor Doberman Rescue (DHDR) as a foster and works with other rescues training dogs for quicker home placement.
She has been requested to speak at eldercare facilities in the valley on the differences between service and therapy animals.
She has been a breeder of quality Golden Retrievers, & less frequently Shepherds, for over a decade
Most recently, she is employed as a teacher at a College Prep charter school running their Service Dog training program.
Professional affiliations:
IAADP – International Association of Assistance Dog Partners
IACP – International Association of Canine Professionals