Linda Brennen’s family had dogs when she was growing up ó and how those dogs were treated is one of the reasons she became a dog trainer.”My parents were not the best dog owners,” she said. But, she added, it was typical of that era.”Dogs lived in the backyard, they got shots if you could find a cheap shot clinic, and that was pretty much it,” she said. People didn’t use dog trainers; if a dog had a behavior problem, they got rid of it ó which is what happened in her family.”I was determined that that’s not how I wanted to live with my pets,î she said.Brennen has an associate degree in animal health and a bachelorís degree in zoology. She worked her way through school as a vet tech, a job she did for 10 years. It was while in that job, after graduating, that she attended a seminar by Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and noted dog-behavior expert and founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Dunbar eventually became her mentor.Brennen’s husband was in the U.S. Air Force, and she started dog-training programs at some of the bases as his career took them across the country and overseas. Their time in Germany “and seeing how dogs are included in everybody’s lives there” was a big influence on her, she said. “The expectation there in Germany is you get a dog and your first year you spend training it.”When her husband retired from the military in 2006, they settled in Colorado Springs; while he had never been stationed in the Springs, they had visited and liked it. And Brennen ó who grew up “all over” because her dad was also in the military, the U.S. Navy ñ- noticed that every time they visited Colorado, “People were out with their dogs doing stuff,î she said.She started her dog-training business, Canine Coach, in 2009, teaching classes out of two veterinary clinics in the Briargate area, where she and her husband still live, and also offering private lessons. In 2016, she opened the Canine Coach facility in the heart of Black Forest, near Black Forest and Burgess roads; it has two training rooms, an enclosed, outdoor play area and a retail space for buying training supplies on-site. Affordability was the reason she chose the location and she has been happy with the choice, with the business gaining clients from Black Forest, Monument and the Falcon-Peyton area.Canine Coach has puppy and adult dog classes in the evenings and on weekends, and “dog day school” on weekdays. The training focus is on positive reinforcement.”Some believe in punishment,” Brennen said. She doesnít, which is one reason she doesn’t believe in; for example, the use of choke collars.”It’s all about instead of managing the dog, manage the environment so the dog learns how to make good choices,” she said. “Giving dogs choices empowers them; it creates a more confident dog and one that’s easier to live with.”Clicker training is part of that philosophy. “When you’re working with a shy dog or a fearful dog, clicker training is a great way to get them thinking and help them deal with some of those emotions better,î Brennen said.It is best to start training early, she said.”The younger they are, the easier it is. We like to start puppies in our program at 10 weeks.” It can help to reach out to a trainer even before getting a dog; the trainer can help set up the home and pick the right dog, she said. While Brennen doesn’t think any given dog is bad, she does think there can be a bad fit; for example, an overly energetic dog with an older, sit-at-home owner.In choosing a trainer, keep in mind that the industry is not regulated, she said. ìItís up to the consumer to be very careful when they select a trainer,î she said. ìAsk about their background, check out a class, their education. Make sure it’s someone who stays current in their field.” Her credentials include CPDT-KA, or Certified Professional Dog Trainer ñ Knowledge Assessed. She is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild and the Colorado Dog Trainers Network. Brennen is assisted by several other trainers.To learn more about Canine Coach, visit yourcaninecoach.com.
