Ann Waterbury

I have been training dogs and providing behavior consultations for 12 years, In January of 2011 a dream was realized and I opened New Dawn Animal Behavior Center in Clearwater. This fabulous training center has 3,000 square feet, air conditioned, and recently updated! I offer group classes and private instruction for dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds. For those that prefer to stay at home, I also offer in- home individual sessions for basic training and or behavior modification.

My educational background includes earning a BS degree from East Carolina University. In 2010 I successfully completed a three year program at Companion Animal Sciences Institute (CASI) for Advanced Canine Behavioral Sciences, thus earning the title of Professional Dog Behavior Consultant (PDBC). I am now involved in the Feline Behavior Department in an in depth program on Domestic Cat Behavior. I have long been fascinated with cats and want to offer my client’s science based cat behavior guidance. The mission of CASI is to provide advanced science based education in animal behavior, training, behavioral change, and consultation. CASI graduates possess academic knowledge complemented by hands-on skill practice which ensures professional competence to an unparalled level.

I have been involved with K9 Nose Work® since 2009 and earned the Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) status in 2012. I am currently the only certified instructor in Pinellas County. New Dawn was the location of the first nationally sanctioned Nose Work competitive event in Florida (ORT) in 2012. In 2013 the national sport founders will be hosted at my center holding seminars and workshops. Their backgrounds include significant time and accomplishment in the world of detection dogs. They have adapted the skills and training for us to have fun with our furry family members. Nose Work is fun for dogs as sniffing is what dogs are all about. Their sense of smell is truly astonishing and in Nose Work ® class dogs get to fine tune their sniffing skills while burning mental and physical energy. Dogs are brilliant problem solvers and Nose Work ® gives them an outlet for their talents.

I am a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and a professional member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. My accomplishments include: AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Delta Society Patron Pet Partner, and level 2 of Clicker Assessment Protocol. I have served on the steering committee for the United States Disc Dog Nationals where I have been involved in the promotion of the importance of safety for canine athletes.

My passion for teaching people, dogs and cats using only animal friendly methods based in positive reinforcement is core to my work. Reading and interpreting our dog’s body language is important in all our interactions with dogs. Understanding and appreciating what dogs are communicating to us will strengthen the human-animal bond. I use clicker training to ensure clear communication and set all dogs up for success. Every dog I have worked with has taught me important lessons such as: living in the moment has benefits; communication is way more than just words, and to have fun every day. We have as much to learn from dogs as we have to teach them! I also use clicker training methods with cats. Cats are great teachers….change your mind frequently, nap in the sun, and take time to gaze out the window often.

Volunteering time with the Humane Society of Pinellas County is very important in my life. As the lead Open Paw® Instructor, I work with volunteers and staff on how to use science-based training methods for shelter dogs, to help the dogs find and stay in their forever homes. I answer Behavior Help Line questions from adopters, and provide guidance to the staff, volunteers and adopters to facilitate the human and animal bond.

I share my world with Rusty, a handsome red border collie from Border Collie Rescue of Tampa Bay. Rusty is a Canine Good Citizen, a Delta Society Pet Partner, and a retired competitive disc dog. Rusty took me to the USDDN World Finals twice! Rusty earned his ORT in K 9 Nose Work in 2011. Recently Rusty and I were joined by O’Riley, a 4 year old red border collie from Animal Services by way of Border Collie Rescue. An outrageous black cat grants Rusty, O’Riley and myself audience at home.

I believe training is about trust and relationships….

Cynthia Lovallo, ABCDT — Intern

Cyndy has always had a deep love for animals. She is the youngest of three children, the first to talk her parents into getting a family dog, beginning a lasting passion for caring for, learning about and training dogs.

Her father guided her into the business world where she worked for his accounting firm. She studied accounting at St. Petersburg College. Working in the accounting field paid the bills, but there was no passion for the work. She continued working in the field until 1995. Cyndy now works at an Engineering firm full time as the office manager.

She continued to have and train her own dogs. She now shares her life with her husband Al and two Dalmatians, Gator and Peanut. While training Gator, she realized she was pretty good at it. Sarah (their trainer) called them her “Dream Team.” Sarah encouraged her to pursue dog training and she enrolled in Animal Behavior College, graduating with honors a year later. Cyndy reads all the training books aimed at positive training that she can find. She also got her pet CPR certification at the Pinellas SPCA. She has been assisting with the AKC Star Puppy and Basic Obedience training classes at a local training center. She is currently interning with New Dawn Animal Behavior Center to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI).

Besides dog training, Cyndy and her husband both enjoy off-road bicycling, making stained glass windows and she also creates fused glass jewelry and other items fired in a kiln.

Cyndy believes in positive training methods that are based on science and research in animal behavior. She wants to help people have a positive relationship with their dog. She feels every dog should have a forever home and become that loving family member that every dog wants to be. It’s been a long time coming, but she now knows what she wants to be when she grows up ;)

Kassandra Zess-Pagel — Intern

My love for animals started when I was very young. My parents and I owned and raised miniature and standard poodles, this is where I learned to love and cherish my dogs with all my heart. While growing up, I also had a passion for all the other animals that did not have a home. Every time I saw a stray, I brought them into our home, made sure they were healthy and found them a wonderful home. My love of animals continued, however I was led to go to the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and major in Business. I have been in Business Management for over 20 years with the last job being Regional Merchandising Manager for Brown Shoe Company. I loved my job, but my passion for learning and training dogs took over, so I decided to leave my profession and embark on a new path.

I have been volunteering at the Humane Society of Pinellas since 2003. I love volunteering at the shelter and watching the dogs find their “forever homes”. I work with the dogs utilizing Open Paw® training techniques. I am also an Instructor of Open Paw 2 for new volunteers. I will continue my volunteer work at HSP until all animals have found that forever home.

I am currently interning at New Dawn Animal Behavior Center to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed ( CPDT-KA) and a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) for K9 Nose Work ®. I have been interning with Ann Waterbury since Oct 2011. I assist with group classes and private sessions at the center and in client’s homes. From puppies and adolescents to seniors, I enjoy working with all dogs.

I want to help all dogs and people form a positive training relationship and believe in positive training methods that are based on research and science. My goal is to make the training fun and to build and strengthen the bond between you and your dog during our time together.

I spend my life with my wonderful husband, Matt and our two boys - Nick and Reilly; both of which have gone off to college. We have two more kids featured above; Charlie is my beloved Bassett Hound and Belle, my beautiful Labrador. Charlie we rescued before going to the shelter and Belle we adopted at HSP. Who do you think would be better at Nosework?