Linnea's love and enthusiasm for dogs began at a young age with family pets. By high school, she knew she wanted to train dogs professionally and was given her first German Shepherd for that purpose. Her introduction to professional dog training began as a veterinary assistant where she successfully handled "impossible" dogs rescued from abusive situations. She noticed that her compassion and gentleness had a calming effect on even the "worst" aggressive cases. These experiences led her to National K-9 School for Dog Trainers in Columbus, Ohio, (1998) and then on to North Star K-9 Academy in Sanford, NC, (2001) where she has earned two Master Trainer and Behavioral Specialist Certifications. Since then, she has trained literally thousands of dogs in basic and advanced obedience training, as well as many support dogs for the hearing impaired, personal protection and security canines, narcotics detection canines, and pet therapy. However, she loves the challenge of and specializes in behavioral modification training for problem dogs.
In recent years, Linnea has lectured at Tidewater Community College, in several Virginia Beach and Suffolk grade schools, local AKC breed clubs, neighborhood civic leagues, and has been an expert witness in many court cases. She was an integral part of the founding and organization of the K-9 Strike Team: a Virginia Task Force. Linnea has over sixteen years of training experience and over ten years of pet therapy volunteering in the Hampton Roads area.
Linnea, Joe, their two sons, and two dogs enjoy Volksmarches, camping, hiking, canoeing, rollerblading, and going to the beach in their off hours. The cats usually prefer to stay at home.
Certifications
June 2006 Certified Pet First Aid – American Red Cross
May 2005 Pet Therapy Certified Canine & Handler (Abigail) – Delta Society
July 2003 Certified Canine Massage Therapist - Integrated Touch Therapy Inc. For Animals (Course I & II), Circleville, OH
Feb 2002 Pet Therapy Certified Canine & Handler (Jasper & Sacha) – Therapy Dog International (TDI)
June 2001 Certified Master Trainer & Behavioral Specialist - North Star K-9 Academy, Sanford, NC
May 2001 Certified Pet Care Technician – American Boarding Kennel Association
Dec 2001 Certified Search & Rescue Field Team Member – Department of Emergency Management, Commonwealth of Virginia
May 2000 Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator & Instructor – American Kennel Club (AKC)
July 1998 Pet Therapy Certified Canine & Handler (Jasper) - Delta Society
July 1998 Certified Master Trainer & Behavioral Specialist – National K-9 Training Center, Columbus, OH
Seminars & Workshops
August 2007 Canine Nutrition & Health by author and speaker Wendy Volhard, Lynchburg, Va
August 2007 Bach Flower Remedies for Animals
March 2004 Tellington Touch (“T Touch”) Workshop, Springfield, VA
May 1999 Competition Obedience by Jerry Bradshaw, Sanford, NC
Nov 1999 “Aggression in Dogs” and “The Art of Teaching People” - Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) National Conference, San Diego, CA
Active Memberships
Feb 2002 K-9 Strike Team, a division of the Virginia Task Force
Other Experiences
1998 – 2003 Search & Rescue dog teams and ground pounders - Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs (GARD), VB-EMS SAR Team
1998 – 2003 Obedience, Tracking, and Protection Competitions – United Schutzhund Clubs of America & K-9 Pro Sports
1998 – 2001 K-9 Narcotic Detection Training – Kabler School for Dogs, Va Bch
1998 – 2001 Head Master Trainer - Kabler School for Dogs, Virginia Beach
1998 – 2000 Association of Pet Dog Trainers, previous member
1997 – 2006 Pet Therapy – JCC, Norfolk Senior Center, DePaul Hospital, and the children’s reading program at the Russell Memorial Library (Chesapeake) and the Princess Anne Library (Virginia Beach)
1997 – 1999 Veterinary Assistant, Receptionist, Kennel Personnel – VCA Animal Care Center (Norfolk) and Centerville Animal Hospital (Chesapeake)
Guest Speaker & Lecturer
May 2009 Strawbridge Veterinary, Great Neck Veterinary, & Fur’st Choice Doggie Daycare – “Theory and Methods of Training”
August 2006 Tidewater Pet Sitters Meeting – “How to handle hyperactive, fearful, or aggressive dogs while in your care”
May 2005 Lake Taylor Civic League – “Pet Therapy”
Feb 2005 Kings Fork Middle School (Suffolk) – Career Expo
July 2004 Tidewater Community College, Veterinary Technician Program – “Theory and Methods of Training”
October 2003 Hermitage Elementary School (Va Bch) – K-9 Search & Rescue and Obedience demo
August 2001 Colonial Terrier Club of Tidewater - “Theory and Methods of Training”
2000 – present Several local Veterinary Clinic’s Staff Meetings – “Bite Prevention”
