Informative letter about socialization and puppy training. CLICK HERE to view Dr. R K Anderson's open letter to his colleagues, encouraging them to advise their clients to prioritize socializing their puppies.

Roseann Burrets-Baars CPDT-KA, CVT, CCRP an ardent advocate for progressive, reward-based dog training, has been training all ages, breeds of dog, and mixes with positive reinforcement, and compassionately educating their families full-time professionally, in Monmouth County for 16 years. She currently holds two prestigious dog training certifications. These credentials include, a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) awarded by the Certification Counsel For Pet Dog Trainers and a Purdue University certification, earned under Dr. Andrew Luescher, the director of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, at Purdue University. This unique specialty certification allows her to work side-by-side with her client’s veterinary behavior specialist, to implement the recommendations that are made for modifying their dog’s behavior. Earning this required a veterinarian proctor her exam. She was also one of the first of 136 certified by the CCPDT in the US and Canada (click here to check out the press release).

Passionate about learning all she possibly can about dogs, and excited to add knowing about them from the inside out to her existing knowledge she enrolled in the Veterinary Technology program at Camden County College. Her very recent completion of the course work required to become a credentialed vet nurse, culminated in Roseann graduating from that program at the top of her class with honors. She was also the recipient of their coveted, departmental excellence award. This degree added an additional Associates in Science to her academic achievements, this time in Animal Science. The foundation for her understanding of the science of dog behavior is rooted in her love for the study of biology. A serious student, her previously achieved AS degree (in Biology), was also one of high honors. (click here if you would like to read about a canine medical emergency, known commonly as bloat).

She has the following certifications, academic achievements and memberships:

-CPDT-KA (certified professional dog trainer knowledge assessed)
    -CCRP Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
    -Association of Pet Dog Trainers member
    -Purdue University Certified
    -Certified CGC Evaluator
    -Certified in Canine First Aid and CPR: American Red Cross
    -Certified Hospice Volunteer, therapy dog visits
    -CVT (credentialed veterinary technician), ASC-AAS (Camden County College)
    -Associates in Science Degree (Biology) Brookdale Community College
    -American Canine Sports Medicine Member
    -New England Sled Dog Club Member

Early in her journey, Roseann honed her husbandry, handling, reading and dog training skills, at Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption in Accord, N. Y., under world-renowned shelter expert Sue Sternberg. During this positively enlightening two-year stint her work focused on training, exercising and socializing dogs waiting for their forever homes. She relished and enthusiastically participated in the innovative training programs RVAA developed for dogs surrendered to the shelter, because their comprehensive enrichment programs, allowed homeless dogs to be adopted quicker and remain in their new homes. She also participated in developing a wide-range of class curricula, for the classes she taught there, including Puppy Kindergarten, Beginner Dog Obedience, Canine Good Citizen (a specialty class), and Just For Fun Agility, in which the focus was on foundation exercises for her puppy students. Her concern about the welfare of shelter dogs and the importance of training for them, is the motivation for her providing a partial tuition scholarship to people with dogs that have been adopted. Her personal commitment is evident in her actions. All of her dogs are and will always be, adopted.

Being a life-long learner and extremely conscientious about keeping up with developments in her field, she subsequently went on to study with and continues to study with a veritable list of "who's who" in the Animal Training and Behavior fields, such as: Jean Donaldson (a week long camp for instructors), Ted Turner, Dr. Roger Abrantes, Dr. Ian Dunbar (a puppy trainers workshop), Dr. Raymond Coppinger, Temple Grandin, Dr. Patricia McConnell, Dr. Pamela Reid, Dr. Andrew Luescher, John Fisher and John Rogerson (a week long camp for instructors camp x 2). She is also a graduate of the Dog’s Of Course, Instructors Training Camp. Last but certainly not least, Roseann attended the very first clicker training conference Karen Pryor presented to dog trainers!

Her heartfelt desire to improve the well being of every dog she meets and the bond between dogs and their people, dedicates her to a holistic approach. Through her dog training she endeavors to enhance the quality of both their lives. She holds steadfast to the belief that all dogs should be treated humanely, while being trained, stressing the value and importance of starting the journey during puppyhood, while what you do has the most profound influence on a dog’s cognitive and behavioral development. She is truly devoted to dogs, her clients and her own, and delights in seeing the joy in the eye of her canine student’s human companion, when their dogs successfully responds to their requests.

An fervent advocate for adoption, Roseann lives with, loves immensely, and continuously learns from, her three adopted dogs: Trey, an extraordinarily sweet and handsome German Shepherd Dog. Trey comes from Leader Dogs For The Blind, located in Michigan. Aoife the dog she refers to as her black and tan bundle of joy and inspiration, is an adopted mixed breed. Adopted from Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption. And Joad, her youngest dog, a mischievous Husky mix. He was also, adopted from Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, in NY.

Her affiliations with and respect from within the Veterinary community (click here to view a recommendation letter from Red Bank Veterinary Hospital) and the Animal Care Industry (click here to see a recommendation letter from Ursula Goetz-Director of the Monmouth County SPCA) set her apart from the field. When she is not training dogs and helping their people, you can find her playing with her own, on the trails, in the woods, and on the field. Her favorite dog sports, those being whichever her dogs are keen for, currently include, bikejoring, Frisbee, agility, dog sledding, canicross, tracking, mountain scootering and hiking.

click here to read about the modern standard for maintaining canine welfare in dog training.