Sarah Shelanski

Owner & Head Trainer

For the past 11 years, I have been gaining experience in order to reach my goal of becoming a professional dog trainer and behavior specialist with a focus on working dogs. My past has included working as a dog trainer at multiple facilities, completing well-known dog training courses, completing internships, attending workshops and seminars, working as a K9 Officer, K9 SAR handler, and competing with my dog in multiple sports.

Currently, I am a student at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and the K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy. I am always continuing my studies of training techniques, methods, theories, skills, and everything canine with coursework, seminars, and hands-on learning. I also attend annual continuing education via in-person seminars and online webinars, so that I am always learning best practices and new training protocols. I am also the K9 Officer on a local, non-profit search and rescue team, where I am in charge of the SAR K9 program (making me responsible for the training and upkeep of our working dogs).

Read about my current K9 partner, Lux, here.

Past experience:

  • Worked as a trainer for multiple companies, specializing in behavioral modification and obedience training through private lessons and board and train (2019-2024).
  • Worked as an in-house dog trainer, overnight handler, and enrichment specialist at different local canine care facilities. 
  • Interned at a local R+ dog training facility for 2 months. 
  • Trained under a local balanced trainer for 3 weeks.
  • Volunteered with local service dog programs.
  • Completed reputable dog training courses from CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and Karen Pryor Academy.
  • Attended dog-specific workshops, seminars, and conferences on topics such as search and rescue, canine sports, behavior modification, canine first aid/CPR, and canine stunt training. 
  • Pet Rescuer (CPR) Certified through the RECOVER Initiative

I was also in charge of dog handling and leading demonstrations for the Canine Handler Academy of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center as a counselor, where I also learned a lot about working dogs in general, as well as the training process, handling, and care of said dogs for 3 summers.

Affiliations:

  • Associate Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals
  • AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
  • Certified Trick Dog Evaluator and Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach through Do More With Your Dog! 
  • Member & K9 Officer of Pennsylvania Wilderness Search and Rescue (PaWSAR)
  • Member of the United Schutzhund Club of America
  • Member of the National Association of Search and Rescue