Brie Blakeman, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA

Reactivity/Aggression, Adolescent Dogs, Cooperative Care/Husbandry, Behavior Modification, Positive Puppy Training

Brie Blakeman, CEO of Noble Woof Dog Training, is a certified canine behavior consultant and certified professional dog trainer. Her unique journey into the world of canine behavior is complemented by her membership in the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Pet Professional Guild’s Shock Free Coalition, underscoring her commitment to compassionate and effective training methods. Brie's professional path began in the Training and Behavior Department at The Oregon Humane Society where she developed a deep passion for not only training dogs but also guiding the humans who care for them.

Her involvement in the rescue community and personal experiences raising two Siberian Huskies with challenging behavior issues equipped Brie with the skills necessary to tackle "out of the box" behavior cases. Her expertise is rooted in a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of behavior modification and learning theory, particularly in addressing complex behavior cases including but not limited to dog reactivity, veterinary/grooming fears, and aggression. Her pursuit of excellence led her to graduate from leading aggression expert Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course and to study cooperative care training with Laura Monaco Torelli; endeavors she continues to this day.

Before dedicating her life to professional dog training and behavior consulting, Brie enjoyed an eclectic career spanning myriad creative and educational disciplines. Brie had an extensive career as a professional circus artist for over a decade. She built and ran a performance booking agency and a community circus, Moon Drop Circus, in Kansas City, Missouri. Brie toured nationally and internationally, teaching self-discovery, self-care, and play through movement and dance, primarily with Wanderlust Yoga Festival, experiences that allowed her to foster community and connection on a large scale.

Deeply inspired by Relational Psychology, Brie integrates the principles of understanding and developing interpersonal relationships into her dog training methodology. This approach emphasizes the critical importance of communication and connection between dogs and their owners, reflecting Brie’s holistic perspective on training.

Brie's diverse background, bridging the worlds of performance, education, psychology, and the arts has profoundly influenced her approach to dog training and behavior consulting. At Noble Woof, she leverages her rich experiences to offer a comprehensive, empathetic approach to helping dogs and their human companions build positive, understanding relationships. Brie’s dedication to enhancing the lives of dogs and their families through training is not just her profession - it's her passion and life’s work. She is a true visionary in the field.

Alongside running her own business, Brie and her two huskies enjoy Skijoring, Rally Obedience, and Trick Training. Her eight year old Siberian Husky Yuka has earned her Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert Trick Dog Titles, (and has even appeared in commercials! Check out our TV & Media page for more!)

Brie’s greatest teachers have and will always be the dogs and humans she has the honor of working with every day.

Brie credits her knowledge and work to Susan Friedman, Karen Pryor, Laura Monaco Torrelli, Leslie McDevitt, Suzanne Clothier, Jean Donaldson, Tanya Roberts, Donna Hill, Emma Parsons, Emily Larson, Annika McDade, Dr. Chris Pachel, Hannah Branigan, Grisha Stewart, Ken Ramirez, Pamela Reid, Patricia B. McConnell and many more!

Credentials:

• Certified Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA), through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

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

• Aggression In Dogs Master Course Graduate

• VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialist Pet First Aid/CPR

• Bachelors of Arts in Business Development, Collaborative Design and Interdisciplinary Arts

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

Meredith Jennings, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

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

Meredith is committed to the well-being of dogs and the people who care for them. Her approach to dog training is rooted in compassion and scientific evidence, aiming to build strong, positive relationships between dogs and their guardians.

Meredith's enthusiasm for dog training started when she was a puppy raiser for a service dog organization in college. After teaching high school for five years, she switched from working with two-legged learners to teaching both two- and four-legged learners as a professional dog trainer. Meredith attended the Karen Pryor Academy where she developed a strong understanding of learning theory, clicker training, and how to shape desired behaviors. As a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed she taught group classes, puppy socials, and private consultations at the Arizona Humane Society along with working on behavior modification for dogs in the shelter.

One of Meredith’s favorite parts of working in a shelter was helping shy or fearful dogs find their confidence to explore the world around them and form bonds with new people!

Meredith followed her joy for both human and canine learners to Texas where she worked with a service dogs organization, training hearing and mobility assistance dogs. She specialized in assessing shelter dogs as possible service dog candidates, teaching basic manners and public access skills, along with advanced task training.

Meredith is passionate about helping dogs and their guardians learn how to communicate harmoniously with each other and build strong life-long bonds. She is dedicated to ongoing education and staying at the forefront of advancements in the field of dog training and behavior.

In her free time Meredith enjoys hiking, camping, and gardening with her husband and their two rescue dogs Winona and Penelope.

Credentials

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

• Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA-CTP)

Katrina Gimbel, FDM (in process)

Director of Operations

Katrina has worked with and been fascinated by dogs since June 2020 when she adopted a California street dog and weeks later started working at a dog daycare.

Katrina is an avid student of all things animal behavior, especially canine, with a special interest in the history and improvement of inter-species relationships.

Katrina’s dog Takaia came into her life with some challenging behavioral codes to crack which led her down the path of study: Reading as many scientifically focused dog training and animal behavior books she could get her paws on and listening to as many science-based training and behavior podcasts she could find. Katrina’s learning journey eventually and fortuitously led her to Brie Blakeman and the incredible and educational content Brie has created and shared with the world via Noble Woof. After completing the Noble Woof Training Foundations Course Katrina reached out to Brie to express her interest in working in the evidence-based, positive reinforcement dog training community and the rest is history!

It’s Katrina’s dream job to be on the Noble Woof team.

When she’s not writing emails, making spreadsheets, or doing other operational stuffs, Katrina can be found (although she tries not to be) adventuring in nature and chasing sunrises with Takaia. You can check out their highlight reel @takaia_quyana

Credentials

• FDM, Family Dog Mediator Certification through Kim Brophey's Applied Ethology L.E.G.S.program (in Progress)

Kaia Wilson, CPDT-KA, SAPT, SAPBC, FDM

Reactivity/Aggression, Separation Anxiety, Adolescent Dogs, Behavior Modification, Positive Puppy Training

Kaia has been working with dogs professionally since 2013. She loves changing the way people see and understand our (captive) canine comrades!

Kaia’s mission as a dog trainer is to provide human dog guardians with a clear understanding of how dogs learn, as well as techniques and protocols for effecting positive behavior change using fun, compassion-centered methods, and to support the human side of the relationship while on the training journey together.

Kaia firmly believes in putting yourself in your dog’s paws. Treat your dog as you would like to be treated. Kaia applies this golden rule to their own dogs and their human and canine clients.

Alongside dog training, Kaia is also a lifelong musician. They are still active in with their band that started in 1993, Team Dresch, and is currently composing a rock opera based on thier wife’s rescue dog, Ponyo. She enjoys merging her love of dogs and music through Canine Freestyle dance moves with her dog Pocket.

Kaia splits their time between Portland and Los Angeles with her wife, Nicole, and their dogs Ponyo (a blind pomchi who is the actual boldest dog I’ve ever known), Pocket (a border collie rescue who has the most sublime submissive smile) and Lirael (a chihuahua who was born feral and who doubles as a fawn).

Credentials:

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

• Separation Anxiety Professional Trainer (SAPT)

• Separation Anxiety Pro Behavior Consultant (SAPBC)

• Family Dog Mediator (FDM) through Kim Brophey's Applied Ethology L.E.G.S.program

Jaime Lockard, CPTD-KA

Noble Woof Group Class Instructor

Jaime thought she knew a few things about caring for and handling animals after spending years working with horses and working as a small animal veterinary assistant. When she and her partner adopted a dog with big feelings and some anxiety about the world she quickly realized she still had much to learn. Her dog Joey inspired her to learn everything she could about canine behavior, training, and behavior modification so Jaime could help her feel more safe, confident, and happy as a dog living in our human world. Jaime was inspired to learn how to communicate with Joey in kinder, more effective ways.

Jaime and Joey enrolled in private training with Noble Woof and the strategies they learned and the progress they made encouraged Jaime to learn more. She enrolled in the Noble Woof Internship Program to better understand canine behavior, learning theory, and positive reinforcement training principles.

Jaime is excited to share the knowledge she’d gained with other dog guardians through coaching beginner training classes for puppies and their people while obtaining her CPDT-KA certification.

Joey’s favorite games are “find it!” (sniffing out hidden treats around the house and yard), splashing in the river, and doing silly obstacle courses in the backyard. When not playing dog games, Jaime is living her best queer life as a tattoo artist, and enjoying hiking, riding bikes, and learning to garden.

Credentials:

• CPTD-KA

• AAS Equine Studies

• BA Applied Anthropology

• NASM-certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist

• Oregon-Licensed Tattoo Artist

Micki Chernyk, CPDT-KA

Noble Woof Day Training and Group Classes Assistant, Puppy Raising, Fearful Dogs, Reactivity

Micki is committed to the study of canine behavior, science-based positive reinforcement methodology, and canine health and welfare.

Micki has a lot of experience caring for her own uniquely challenging dogs who inspired her to learn effective and humane ways to help them navigate this often chaotic human world. In 2021 she was called to join the continually developing and forward-thinking community of dog professionals in Portland, Oregon. Micki is a Whole Dog Academy graduate and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

Micki loves helping dogs and their guardians achieve harmonious cohabitation and values flexibility, openness, and caring attention to the individual needs on both ends of the leash.

An athlete for many years, Micki experienced first-hand how a supportive and motivating coaching approach consistently produced a more cohesive team and more enthusiastic and successful players. These experiences continue to shape her own coaching style and how she relates to all learners, whatever their species. Micki is also fascinated by the complexity of human social behavior and has a B.A. in Sociology.

Micki is passionate about puppy socialization, child and dog safety, youth education, creating support and resources for guardians dealing with behavioral euthanasia, “care with consent”/cooperative care, and creative canine enrichment.

Credentials:

• CPDT-KA, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

• Whole Dog Academy Graduate

• B.A. in Sociology

• Masters in Business Administration

Christina Gray, IAABC-ADT, Ph.D

Reactivity/Behavior Modification, Puppy Training, Puppy Socialization, Adolescent Dog Training, Cooperative Care Training

Christina has worked professionally with dogs for 10+ years as a private trainer, reactivity specialist, board-and-train provider, class instructor, puppy playgroup leader and consultant. She loves behavior science, animal rescue and coaching humans as well as dogs.

Her main specialty and passion is in reactivity training, but she is also extremely knowledgeable in adolescent and puppy behavior. She is the visionary behind and lead trainer of Noble Woof’s Puppy Socials.

Christina is a trained political scientist with a passion for Positive Reinforcement behavior sciences. She was a trainer at Wonder Puppy Parenting Center in Portland for three years and has designed new dog training classes for several companies.

Christina is also an instructor at the acclaimed Whole Dog Academy Dog Training School, and co-founder of Noble Woof’s Mentorship Program.

She has studied in Germany and the USA and worked professionally at the University of Southern California and Occidental College. Christina loves behavior science and teaching humans as well as animals, with professional teaching experience in the arts, higher education, and animal training. She has an advanced degree in the social sciences and a lifelong love of learning from the world around her through observation, practice, and collaboration.

Credentials:

• PhD in Social Sciences (training in social learning and behavior research)

• IAABC-ADT/Accredited Dog Trainer

• Trainer partner, and Instructor at Whole Dog Academy

• Evaluator, AKC/American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen

• American Red Cross Pet First Aid/CPR Certificate

Verena Sutherland, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, FDM, CTRI

Behavior Modification, Fear and Reactivity, Adolescent Dog Training, Cooperative Vet Training, Puppy Training

Verena’s focus is on creating effective communication between dog and handler while meeting the dog’s needs in a human world.

She especially enjoys working with reactive dogs, teaching husbandry behaviors and helping the guardians of adolescent dogs.  

When it comes to training, her more than fifteen years of experience as an instructor for English as a Second Language help Verena break down even complicated concepts so dog owners learn how to best connect with their animals.

Verena holds a training certification through the renowned Karen Pryor Academy where she earned her title as Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP). She is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA).

When Verena is not teaching dogs to be solid citizens or working with clients and their animals, Verena loves spending time hiking, playing, and training with her own dog Ozymandias and working with her formerly feral Mustang Guinevere. (And since clicker training truly works with all species, she's even trained her cats to sit!) She also likes watching competitive baking shows, singing in a punk band, and pen and paper roleplaying games.

Verena finds inspiration from Peggy Hogan, Monty Gwynne, Laura Monaco-Torelli, Bex Tasker, Ken Ramirez

Credentials:

• Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP)

• Certified Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA), through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

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

• Family Dog Mediator (FDM) through Kim Brophey's Applied Ethology L.E.G.S.program

•  M.Ed. English for speakers of other languages

• Instructor at Whole Dog Academy

• CTRI, Certified Instructor, Treat/Retreat, through Suzanne Clotheir’s Relationship Centered Training (RCT)

Clara Ridabock, CPTD-KA, WDA, FDM (in progress)

Noble Woof Puppy Playschool and Group Classes Assistant, Puppy Raising, Fearful Dogs, Reactivity

Animals have always been at the center of Clara’s life. A lifelong Oregonian, she was raised with a deep respect for nature and all living things (by hippies, of course). Her first dog was a black Labrador Retriever named Annie, and she attributes her love and compassion for all animals to the bond they shared. 

Clara has been training dogs since 2020 and graduated from the prestigious Whole Dog Academy trainer certification program and received her CPDT-KA through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in 2023. She loves helping dogs and their guardians build their dream lives together through early socialization, skill training, and creative enrichment. 

As a passionate advocate for animal welfare, Clara has worked actively in dog rescue since 2016. Rescue work has given her the opportunity to work with and care for dogs of every size, age, and temperament. She has a particular affinity for fearful dogs and seniors. 

Prior to becoming a trainer, Clara worked in marketing, non-profit fundraising, and large scale event coordination. In her free time, you can find Clara hiking in the woods with her two dogs, Cedar and Junebug, foraging, gardening, reading, and eating the spiciest foods she can find. 

Credentials: 

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, 2023

• Whole Dog Academy Graduate, 2023

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

Erin Marion, CPTD-KA, KPA-CPT

Deaf and/or Blind Dog Specialist

Erin has over twelve years of experience working with dogs. She is a certified professional dog trainer, (CPDT-KA), a Karen Pryor clicker training partner, and is certified in pet first aid.

Erin brings a positive attitude, tons of enthusiasm, and supportive encouragement for humans and dogs.

Erin loves all dogs and all aspects of working with dogs. She has worked in a wide range of dog-related areas including but not limited to large vet hospitals, daycare facilities, feed stores, dog training academies, and rescue organizations. Throughout the last 12 years she has gained a wide range of knowledge about dog behavior, health, emotional care, training, and nutrition. This broad experience has helped her immensely in understanding dogs and their humans and made her a better trainer.

In 2018, Erin’s training expanded to incorporate special needs dogs when she fostered her first deaf and blind puppy. In 2020 she adopted Darla, who was born with limited hearing and almost no ability to see. In 2022 she adopted Clark, a completely blind Rough Coat Collie.

After fostering multiple disabled dogs and currently having her own blind and deaf dogs, Erin is extremely passionate about helping special needs pets and their guardians connect using force-free training methods.

Credentials:

• Karen Pryor Clicker Training Academy, 2011

• Lead dog trainer and manager for a Portland Oregon Dog Daycare, 2014 - 2016

• Board member and foster home for the rescue Deaf Dogs of Oregon, 2016 - 2019

• Faculty member and teacher at the Portland Oregon Whole Dog Academy, 2016 - 2019

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer ( CCPDT-KA) since 2016

• Pet Expert for Portland Oregon local news channel KPTV; More Good Day Oregon, 2015 - 2019

• All4Paws rescue Training Partner (2020-Current)

• Speak! Rescue and sanctuary Training Partner (2021-Current)

• Administrator of Pandemic Puppy Raising Support Group and Speak! St. Louis Training Support (2020-Current)

• Ambassador for Deaf Dogs Rock (Current)