I caught the dog training bug seventeen years ago and began to actively compete with my dogs in performance events seven years ago, so far obtaining over twenty titles with my dogs in Obedience, Agility, Rally Obedience, and Hunt Testing.  Training for competition, while not always relevant to 'real life' tasks, means that you have to train for a higher level of understanding and reliability in performing the commands than you ever would need to come close to in daily life where you are able to help your dog out by giving extra signals or verbal commands.

My dogs are also trained to perform Tracking (following where a person has walked) and Service Dog tasks such as opening & closing doors, turning on/off lights, and retrieving dropped items.  Dogs are supposed to be, and historically have been, useful companion animals.  Dogs do best when we fulfill that historical role and give them a purpose by giving them jobs to do for us.  The jobs may be true work like Search & Rescue or "just tricks" - dogs don't see that distinction the way people do.

My current pets include four dogs ( three Vizsla, one Boxer), and one cat.  I usually will have one foster dog as well as dogs in for vacation boarding or board & training.  Besides Fusion Dog Training, I also work for Grus Construction Personnel as a Recruiter part-time.  I originally moved to Cincinnati to work for this company (had to be able to come home at lunch to let the puppy out), but it is now a work at home position.

I have taught group dog obedience classes for six years, including Pet Manners classes, Puppy classes, CGC (Canine Good Citizen) classes, Rally Obedience classes, Tricks, Competition Obedience, and various levels of Agility. Most of my instructor experience comes from my time at Big Times Kennels in Centerville, OH before I moved to the Cincinnati area.  I am a member of Hamilton Dog Training Club (HDTC) and Queen City Dog Training Club (QCDTC).   I currently assist with the beginning agility class at Hamilton Dog Training Club and previously taught the Novice Competition Obedience classes as well as being their Newsletter Editor (both volunteer positions), before I became too busy with my schedule with Fusion Dog Training.  I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and am an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.  I obtained Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT - KA) certification in April 2010.  Dogs fascinate me and I appreciate every insight I can get into the way their minds work.  I regularly attend seminars given by the country's leading dog trainers. 

My past experience includes being a volunteer dog walker for the Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton, two years working for SICSA (a limited intake shelter in the Dayton area) as a dog kenneler and trainer, working with hundreds of dogs of all breeds; one year working as a veterinary assistant and dog kenneler for boarding kennels; two years volunteering for Pet Behavior & Training Services (a non-profit organization that operates under a certified veterinary behaviorist) as a behavior counselor; and two years volunteering my time to provide solid online behavioral and training advice for Doggiedoor.com & K9U.com.  

Having instructed and assisted so many beginner's level classes over the years I have noticed that the highest drop out rate is for owners who have the hardest time catching onto the mechanical and timing skills that dog training entails.  The instructor's role in a group class is to teach you how to train your dog - not to actually train your dog themselves.  Having a dog that is untrained and hyper combined with an owner that  is having those issues results in a frustrated and confused dog and a frustrated and embarrassed owner and very little progress is made even if they continue with classes.  The same owner, when given a trained dog to handle, is not only able to get the dog to work for them, but also has an easier time learning the mechanical and timing skills needed to handle their own dogs.  I feel it is in the best interest for some owners to have their dog trained professionally for them due to these reasons, and is a suitable option for any owner who simply doesn't want to or can't spend the time to learn how to train their own dog.   This is my job - it doesn't have to be yours

I am a better dog trainer than a human teacher but have worked hard on my ability to communicate clearly with people as well as dogs.  As a naturally shy person I have had to overcome my fear of public speaking and performing to teach group classes and compete in performance events.  Owning and caring for dogs will make you a better person!  While I feel I still have more to learn on the human component, using a combination of verbal explanation and demonstrating with their dog what to do, along with written instructions to refer to, normally makes it possible for owners to take over with great results!

Angie Pullano, CPDT-KA

Continuing Education/Seminars Attended

2010                                    Connie Cleveland Obedience Seminar "Dogs are Problem Solvers"

2010                                    obtained CPDT-KA certification CCPDT

2009                                    Lori Drouin Obedience Seminar “Proofing the Pieces”

2009                                    AKC Representative Obedience & Rally Rules Seminar

2009                                    Sandra Ladwig Obedience Seminar

2005                                    Sue Ailsby Training Levels Seminar

2004                                    Suzanne Clothier Behavior/Obedience Seminar

2004                                    Kathy Monroe Water Trial Workshop

2002                                    Deb Jones Clicker/Obedience Seminar

2001                                    Shirley Chong Clicker/Obedience Seminar

2000                                    Patricia McConnell Seminar at Animal Behavior Conference