Anna Mefferd, CPDT
Anna's interest in dog training and behavior started when her 8 month old American Bulldog Mix, Bellamy, started to become aggressive with other dogs. Disappointed with old-fashioned punitive training methods, Anna began working with with the Monadnock Canine Academy.
"Using positive reinforcement to change Bellamy's behavior had a huge effect on me as well as my dog. It was quite a light bulb moment for us both!" says Anna.
Anna quickly became engrossed with learning about dog training and behavior. She started attending seminars, reading numerous books about dog training. Utimately, she changed her college major from ecology to animal behavior.
Anna began volunteering at the Monadnock Humane Society which soon turned into a full time job for several years. At MHS Anna worked with various dogs but specialized in the rowdy, jumpy and mouthy adolescents.
She loves taking on the wildest, most out of control dogs and teaching them that they can still get what they want, they just need to work with people instead of barreling through them. It is immensely rewarding seeing these dogs learn self control, which in turn helps them find loving homes.
After attending the Monadnock Canine Academy's 6-day intensive Trainer's Academy, Anna began as an apprentice instructor. After several months of working with instructors, Anna now teaches: Puppy Kindergarten, Everyday Canine Essentials and Reliable Rover I. She loves encourage people. When she sees the light bulb moment for her students, it reminds her of her own light bulb moment. Making a connection with people in class is just as important to Anna as making the connection with their dogs.
This September 2008, Anna passed her Certification Test and has become a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. (CPDT)
Anna is currently the Canine Coordinator at The Windham County Humane Society and is hard at work developing a self control and enrichment programs for the shelter dogs. Anna lives in Vermont with Bellamy (now quite a changed dog) and Cocoa, her new Beagle.
Classes and Seminars Attended:
- Brenda Aloff: Aggression and Get Connected seminars.
- Sue Sternberg: Bite-O-Meter and Safe Dog Handling seminars
- Suzanne Clothier: Holistic Training Seminar
- 6-day intensive, Trainer's Academy at the Monadnock Canine Academy
- Jean Donaldson: Evolution and Genetic Drift
- Constructional Aggression Treatment seminar with Kelly Snider
- Kathy Sdao: Clicker seminar
- Dee Ganley: Scent Games, Changing Fear To Joy, and Safe Dog Handling seminars
- 2008 APDT Conference
Amanda Cote
Amanda began her association with the Monadnock Humane Society in March of 2002 as a volunteer and assistant with the Monadnock Canine Academy.
She worked intensively on the learning theories behind positive reinforcement as well as canine behavior and attending training classes with shelter dogs.
After graduating from the Instructor Training Course through Dogs of Course in November of 2002 she continued to assist in behavior consults, training classes as well as teaching classes.
When Amanda moved away she began working as an assistant to Dr. Amy Marder DVMD, CAAB. in her private practice in Lexington MA. She also spent a year working Veteranarians in Melrose, MA and New York City.
In addition to teaching for the Monadnock Canine Academy, she has worked as a Canine Technician for the Monadnock Humane Society and is now their Canine Behavior Manager.
"I knew from a very early age that I would have a career working with animals. At age 7, Michelle, my best friend at the time, and I started our own pet sitting and dog walking service in our neighborhood. I have been taking care of animals ever since."
My goal has always been to help strengthen relationships between dogs and their human companions, to keep them in safe loving homes and out of shelter environments."
Amanda currently lives in Swanzey, NH with her dog Lucy, a 1 ½ year old hound mix adopted from MHS and her 15 year old cat Bailey.
Continuing Education:
