What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Audrey Estep
498 Mountain Rd., Strasburg, VA
EDUCATION
London Hanover University, United Kingdom
Master of Science: Canine Developmental Science 2018
London Hanover University, United Kingdom
Master of Science: Canine Developmental Science 2019
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
B.A. Foreign Languages, Concentration in Spanish 2005
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Culpeper, VA
Operational Instructor for a Basic Handling School for a new canine handler. 2018
Jasper County, SC
Teaching Assistant to Chris Aycock Ph.D - Advanced School 2017
RELATED EXPERIENCE
AKC CGC (CANINE GOOD CITIZEN) Evaluator 2023-Present
AKC STAR PUPPY INSTRUCTOR 2023-PRESENT
Master Trainer Certification, American Society of Canine Trainers International
2015 – 2020
Formal education in training concepts, problem solving, basic, basic teaching and instruction principals, liability, and administrative record keeping.
Certified to train canines for narcotic detection, patrol, apprehension, tracking, and explosives detection.
Qualified to issue certification exams to any K9 team and teach basic handling course.
Responsible for training, care, and performance for multiple canines at various levels of development.
Contract negotiation with government agencies.
Maintaining daily exercise and training programs for multiple dogs.
Notating daily training logs to maintain national certification standards.
Experienced in methods for training canines for narcotic detection per interstate and highway interdiction means.
Skilled in techniques for training canine alerts and reward consequences. Specifically alert builds, interdiction time gas exigency, narcotic time decay and gas behavior, cash seizures for narcotic odor detection, door handle vs. seams, approach court testimony attacks.
North Mountain Kennels
Owner
2010 - Present
Competitor in IGP (SCHUTZHUND). Training and titling sport dogs at club level and regional trials.
Specializing in the development of puppies to adult dual purpose trained, law enforcement canines.
Training and socializing puppies. Curating platforms for puppy cognitive development.
Training basic obedience behaviors for pet obedience clients. Maintaining client relationships post training for long term client success and longevity of trained behaviors.
Oversees all financial responsibilities regarding the accounts receivable.
Ensures the proper care and safety for clients pets in my care and addresses any concerns over health and behavior with pet owner.
Creates all marketing materials targeted to specific clientele.
Tracks all social media campaigns to engage new client base: public and private sectors.
Provides boarding for public clientele as well as training for the pet companion.
Uses only positive training approaches with an emphasis on self-discovery learning.
Structures all training in real life contextual scenarios best suited for each dog's area of expertise.
PUBLISHED WORK
K-9 COP MAGAZINE, Strategies for Hard Surface Tracking: Issue 50. June/July, 2018.
LANGUAGES
English-native language
Spanish-read and write with basic competence
MEMBERSHIPS
The Thin Green Line
Jane Goodall Institute
ASPCA
Johann Platt Schutzhund Verein
How did you get started doing this type of work?
I had always wanted a Doberman and I was living in Fairfax putting myself through college. I knew I needed to wait until I graduated to be able to give 100% of myself to my new best friend. I got started in training classes with a professional and it grew from there. The intelligence and determination of the breed kept me wanting and needing to learn more to satisfy my dogs ambition to learn more. From there we grew together and my life changed forever. Now, my entire world revolves around dogs.
Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
Most recently, I trained a German Shepherd puppy from my own breeding in a family household where the mother was in the early stages of Dementia. She is a staunch German lady herself and her daughter wanted to bring a GSD back into the home to help her mom's mood and memory. It gave her mom something to look forward during the time Rommel was in training and keeps her mind occupied with activities involving Rommel throughout the day.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
I would say, the 2 week programs are E collar based and known as "turn and burns" in the training community. While I am not against E collars. They do have their place and I have no problem using them. For certain things. I say, that an E collar on a young dog or puppy is NOT TRAINING. E collars take the relationship away between dog and human. This is lazy way of so called training. Time and energy investment pays in dividends. A push of a button does not. I'm old school and put time and energy into a dog. I can use E collars yes. but its not my go to.