Tonia Whilden, CPDT-KA

Tonia Whilden is a certified Canine Behavior and Training Specialist.  Tonia has owned and trained dogs as a hobby for many years. She holds a B.A. Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Teaching English.  She turned her hobby into a career when she decided to put her two greatest passions together, teaching and animals. In 2002, she attended Triple Crown Academy for Dog Trainers in greater Austin, Texas.   Triple Crown is hailed as the most comprehensive school for trainers in the nation.       

Since becoming a professional dog trainer, Tonia has worked with a wide variety of breeds and temperaments and has conducted In-home, Private, and Group lessons.  She has trained dogs in basic and advanced obedience, basic and advanced behavior problems, agility, clicker training, search and rescue, tracking, police K-9 personal protection, scent-discrimination, and assistance dogs for the handicapped. Tonia also worked with dogs from rescue organizations to address behavior and training issues so that these dogs could be successfully placed in new loving homes. 

Tonia's Affiliations and Certifications

Colleen Dunlap, CPDT-KA

Colleen has a background in Finance and Accounting, which she studied at the University of Illinois. While living abroad in Holland and the United Kingdom for 5 years, she decided to re-direct her career to something she was passionate about – dogs! She went back to school in the UK and obtained an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behavior Management, and she trained dogs for several years in London while volunteering at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Colleen rescued Ben, her Border Terrier, in 2004.

Colleen trains with positive training methods and believes in the importance of teaching owners practical approaches to training and living with their dogs. Her passion is clicker training, which constantly reminds her of how intelligent dogs are and the learning they are capable of when given prompt, positive feedback. Clicker training has taught Colleen that if the dogs aren't learning something, it’s probably because we’re not teaching them properly!

Colleen's Affiliations and Certifications

Abby Fields

Abigail Fields has been an avid enthusiast of dog training since the age of thirteen, gaining the admiration and respect of professional colleagues across the region. After a rigorous course of self study and experience as a kennel technician at a Houston Pet Resort and apprenticing under several experienced dog trainers, Abby applied to and was accepted at the nationally acclaimed Triple Crown Dog Training Academy in Austin, Texas.  She graduated at the top of her class in agility in the Canine Behavior and Training Specialist Program in November 2008. During the demanding program she trained dogs in agility, obedience, competitive obedience, search and rescue, narcotics, and assistant dogs for the handicapped. She is currently competing in agility with her Australian Shepherd, Angel and her terrier mix, Flash, both of whom she adopted from local shelters.

 Abby is a believer in working within a dog’s personality to naturally develop the best of behaviors and security with its owners, regardless of the dog’s pedigree. She believes that there is not a one-plan-fits-all for dog training, but instead recognizes that each dog is unique and has specific needs, and has a irreplaceable relationship with his owner. Abby plans on fulfilling each of those needs to the best of her ability and helping each owner take their dog on the journey to reach their highest potential.

Abby's Affiliations and Certifications

Delia Fernandez-Lobeto

Delia is from Barcelona Spain, and has a BS in Biology and an MS in Biotechnology. She has always been interested in learning more about animal behavior and when her passion for animals overcame her love for science she changed careers to become an animal behaviorist and trainer. She studied as an intern in the Houston SPCA behavior department and is currently studying to obtain her CPDT certification. Delia continues volunteering at the HSPCA working with animals that have behavioral problems that prevent them being adoptable. She also fosters dogs that need more extensive work in her own home.  Delia’s is a full house with two dogs, Guifre and Tassie, three cats, Hans, Levi and Cassidy and the occasional foster dog.

Guifre has had a major influence in Delia’s life and is indeed responsible for Delia’s career change. Reaching maturity, Guifre showed aggression that obedience training alone could not control. The help and understanding of an animal behaviorist was what allowed Delia to begin to change Guifre’s behavior.  Not surprisingly, the more she learned the more she wanted to know, and the more she was able to help others.

She has trained her own dogs and cats and is passionate about teaching people how to be proactive and to raise their dog to fit perfectly into their family and lifestyle. She is working at the Ranch daycare center and as a trainer. She believes in only positive training and she uses both luring and capturing techniques.

Delia's Affiliations and Certifications