Valerie Peck, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM (in progress)

Puppy Training and Socialization, Reactivity and Fear, Adolescent Behavior, Adult Basic Manners, Day Training facilitator

Valerie has been enamored with animals since she was a young child teaching her parakeets and cockatiels to talk and whistle tunes. She has been working professionally with dogs since 2018.

Valerie is passionate about understanding the whole dog and providing compassionate and force-free strategies that meet the needs of both people and the animals in their care.

Before working in animal welfare full time she worked as a professional shoe designer in New York City. Her journey from fashion designer to dog trainer began when she moved to Portland to be closer to family and nature. She began volunteering at a local shelter and found so much joy and meaning in helping dogs feel safe, understood, and loved. She spent several years volunteering and fostered many dogs over this time. She enjoyed getting to know each one’s individual personality and helping them learn new ways of coping with the big feelings they had about the sometimes overwhelming world we live in.

She quickly realized her true passion in life was in helping animals and their people and began working full time in animal welfare.

Valerie has extensive experience with Behavior Modification working as the Animal Behavior Manager and Canine Behavior and Training Coordinator for Humane Society of Southwest WA.

Credentials

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

• Whole Dog Academy Graduate, 2019

• FFCP (Fear Free Animal Trainer Certification Program), 2020

• CARS Graduate (Canine Assessment of Risk) Shelter Playgroup Alliance, 2023

• FDM, Family Dog Mediator Certification, (In Progress)

• Bachelor of Arts, Textile Design, UW Madison, Madison, WI, 2004

• Associate of Arts, Accessory Design, FIT, Manhattan, NY, 2005