Meet the Staff

Photo by Louis B. Ruediger

Pam Dennison - Owner

Pam Dennison, CDBC is a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America) and is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant with the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and former member of NADOI (National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors). She has written for many local, national and international magazines on a myriad of topics. Many of her books and articles have been nominated over the years for special awards by the DWAA. Pam started her own business, Positive Motivation Dog Training in 1996. Since then she has helped thousands of dogs and handlers build their relationships and solve problems, by teaching basic obedience through competition and working with a myriad of behavioral problems. Pam teaches puppy K, basic obedience through the Canine Good Citizen test, competition obedience, Rally-O and holds regular classes and seminars for aggressive dogs.

Pam is the author five books: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training, Alpha Books, Bringing Light to Shadow; A Dog Training Diary, Dogwise Publishing, How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong, A Roadmap for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs, Alpine Publications, Click Your Way to Rally Obedience, Alpine Publications, and Civilizing the City Dog, Alpine Publications.

She also has four DVD’s: Positive Solutions for Standard Behavior Problems, Camp R.E.W.A.R.D for Aggressive Dogs, Barkleigh Productions; The Magic of Shaping; Explore the Possibilities, Tawzer Dog Videos, Whistle Training the Recall, available from Pam. She speaks on a myriad of topics, including positive training, competition, shaping, Rally obedience and aggression (Camp R.E.W.A.R.D.) to the general public, many Kennel Clubs, Off Lead Training Expo, IAABC in 2005 at their first annual conference, the American Boarding Kennel Association, as well as to Therapy Dog Groups across the country and abroad.

She currently lives with three rescued dogs (Border Collies) and trains them all for competition. She and her Sheltie Cody qualified and competed in the Eastern United States Dog Obedience Championships held in Bethlehem, PA in 1996. Cody was also in a Milkbone print ad. Her Border collie, Beau was in a Mack Truck print ad, Border collie Emma was in an Olympic Paint TV commercial and Beau and Pam were in the movie, I am Legend. Pam competes successfully with all of her dogs in competition obedience and Rally (to date: seven CD titles, four CDX, one UD, two ARCH’s, three ARCHX’s, two ARCHEX’s, three R1MCL, one RL1, one R2MCL and one R2CL, two RL3, with almost every leg in both sports being a placement), and agility, (to date: one NJC, two NAJ and two NA, all first placements) plus three CGC certificates, one TDI and three TSW’s (Canine Water Sports) and she continues to train for competition obedience, sheep herding, tracking and carting. Her training philosophy is a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

Be sure to check out Pam in the kitchen!

Erica Gardner, Instructor

A life-long animal lover, Erica Gardner grew up caring for pets ranging from hedgehogs, ferrets, snakes and mice to the more mainstream cats and dogs. Volunteering at a no-kill shelter in her teenage years sparked a passion for the ethical treatment of animals, in particular dogs.

After adopting Twizz, a young, deaf American Staffordshire Terrier/ Boxer, Erica set out to find a training method that relied solely on positive interaction because trust is so critical in the human-dog relationship, and even more so with a deaf dog. She was aware that physical manipulation, punishment and adversarial methods could severely damage the bond with a dog that relies so heavily on touch, and was excited to begin working with Pam Dennison at Positive Motivation Dog Training.

Several years later, Erica is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and a registered instructor for the APDT Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) program. She has learned the ins and outs of positive training and enthusiastically furthers her understanding of animal behavior and training methods to keep up to date on current techniques and studies.

Erica and Twizz are working towards competing in Rally Obedience, CDSP Obedience and passing the C.L.A.S.S evaluation, despite some physical issues that have delayed progress. Erica recently adopted Primo, an Australian Cattle Dog she had found as a stray, and will be competing in agility, CDSP Obedience and graduating the C.L.A.S.S. program.

The Most Important Members of Our Team!
** Photos by Louis B. Ruediger