Veronica Sanchez M.Ed. CABC, CPDT-KA, Michelle McCarthy, CDBC, CTAC and Melissa Winkle, OTR/L, FAOTA, join Kim Merritt, co-founder Good Dog in a Box, to discuss the differences in service dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support animals in the workplace. Join us.
Recorded Thursday, April 11, 2019
Legal definitions of service dog, therapy dog, and emotional support animal.
What employers need to be aware to assist employees with service animals.
Avoiding dog bites with service and therapy dogs.
Founder, Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach certificate program
Veronica Sanchez M.Ed. CABC, CPDT-KA, is the founder of the Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach™ certificate program for dog trainers. She teaches pet dog trainers how to incorporate service dog training in their businesses.
Veronica wrote the book, Service Dog Coaching: A Guide for Pet Dog Trainers, and is a frequent contributor to publications in professional organizations including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants and the Pet Professional Guild. Veronica’s passion for service dogs is personal and professional.
In addition to her experience training service dogs to help people with wide range of needs, Veronica has a disability herself, and she trained her own dogs to assist as service dogs.
President, Dogwood Therapy Services
President, Animal Assisted Intervention International
Melissa Winkle, OTR/L, FAOTA is an occupational therapist in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is president of Dogwood Therapy Services and Animal Assisted Intervention International. She has been training service dogs for people with disabilities and training dogs for healthcare/human service providers for 18 years. Melissa uses positive reinforcement and humane, non-force based training methods.
She is a practitioner, a researcher, and has authored 5 books, available on Amazon. She is a global speaker and consultant about Animal Assisted Interventions and for program development. She is passionate about educating healthcare and human service providers about the advanced knowledge required to include AAIs in practice, and is an advocate for the dogs that work with them.
Owner & Director, Training for K9 Home Schooling
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant – IAABC
Certified Therapy Animal Consultant
I’ve been the Owner and Director of Training for K9 Home Schooling since 1999, which provides force free/clicker training methods in southeast Michigan. My love of all things dog, began when I was a small child with my first dog, a collie named Candy. After raising my 3 children, I decided to pursue a career as a dog professional.
I’m a nationally recognized Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Therapy Animal Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Dog Behavior Consultants are required to demonstrate competency in five core areas including assessment and intervention strategies, counseling skills, behavioral science, knowledge of animal behavior and species-specific knowledge in order to obtain certification through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Therapy Animal Consultants have expertise in all areas of Animal Assisted Therapy including program development . I’ve completed advanced certification programs in canine behavioral studies and stay current by attending seminars by certified trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians and other credentialed experts.
I teach companion obedience, specialized puppy programs, therapy dog training programs, charm school, outdoor adventures, socialization outings for puppies and adult dogs. I offer behavior consultations for puppies and adult dogs. I have 18 years of experience working with complex behavior problems and use science based methods and treatment plans. To support dog professionals in my area, I offer seminars and workshops for dog trainers, training groups, veterinarians, groomers, shelter/rescue workers, dog walkers and daycare workers.
My passion for working as a Therapy Dog Team began in 2000 with my beloved labrador Leo. In 2003 I worked with staff members to develop and launch a Therapy Dog Program at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea called Paws-itive Comfort. The program has grown over the years and remains the most popular program for patients and staff. I coordinated and launched R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog) Programs at the Ann Arbor and Chelsea District Libraries as well as various Elementary Schools. Over the years I’ve been blessed with amazing Therapy Dog Partners, Leo, Faye, Enzo and Marshall. I work as a Training Consultant and Tester for various Service Dog and Therapy Dog Organizations. For the past 10 years I’ve worked closely with medical professionals and educators who utilize a Therapy Dog at their work place or in Animal Assisted Play Therapy. I’ve raised, trained and placed Therapy Dogs who work in medical facilities and private practices around the US.
I’ve lived in Chelsea, Michigan since 2000 where I raised my family and now live with my husband John, Labrador Retriever Clark and Newfoundland Marshall.
Hostess for Good Dog’s Dog Bite Prevention Webinar Summit
Co-Founder Good Dog in a box
Kim Butler is a serial entrepreneur who started her first company, Kim’s Khocolate, at the age of eleven. She was “discovered” by Guy Kawasaki at the age of seventeen after he read about her in a magazine. He invited her to make custom “Khocolate” for Apple, which lead to Kim dealing with other companies such as The Rolling Stones, AT&T, Bausch & Lomb, and Range Rover.
Kim co-founded Good Dog in a Box with her sister, professional dog trainer Jenn Merritt, CPDT-KA, to help educate the general public about dog bite prevention and provide reward based dog training systems and products that could keep more family dogs in their homes, instead of being relinquished to shelters because of “bad behavior and biting.”
In addition to Good Dog in a Box, Kim runs a successful online marketing agency, where she “practices” as The URL Dr, “prescribing” remedies for online success to a variety of clients around the US. You can see Kim speaking and inspiring audiences with her entrepreneurial tales and online marketing strategies at various conferences and events around the country.
Good Dog in a Box is proud to sponsor the Dog Bite Prevention Week Webinar series. Kim is excited to be sharing the “webinar stage” with this powerful and talented group of women. Help us spread the word to keep kids (and adults) SAFE around dogs.
