Caitlin Coberly, PhD
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant | Fear Free Certified Trainer
Falconer, horse trainer, Bird dog trainer, and so much more!
About me
Hi There!
You can call me Kate. I work with dogs. Big dogs, bitey dogs, and itty-bitty puppy dogs. All breeds. Most issues. Here’s a little more about me, and how I got where I am.
My approach to dog training is a little bit different from most other trainers and behavior consultants. I like to call it an emotional-rational perspective. Basically, I believe that dogs generally love us and want to be with us. They want to live with us conflict free. But they have needs and wants and fears (just like we do). Sometimes, they have a hard time communicating those needs and wants with us in a way we understand, or they communicate in ways that are dangerous or inappropriate. We can fix that! I work on helping you understand your dog and communicate in a way that makes sense to her, and on teaching her ways to communicate with you that are polite and pleasant and (relatively) easy to understand. I will teach you skills that you can apply over and over again, in different situations, so that your relationship grows day by day and year by year. 
Early years, experience and philosophy
I have been working with animals since I was a tiny tot. We had turtles and guinea pigs and mice and lots and lots of dogs. When I was only 12, I started training horses professionally by starting green mounts for a local trainer and lending a hand (and a few ribs) to anyone who needed a horse “broke”. I once followed a man across the country–and became a falconer, learning everything I could about birds of prey–because he had really amazing birds. In about 2011, my career took a dramatic turn when I decided (for a fun personal challenge!) to see if I could train naturally, without equipment or tools. 
I had been riding bareback for years, but by riding bridle-less and allowing the horses freedom to come and go (no fences or stalls) our relationships blossomed. My horses started to ask to work, and my dogs started to recall like Lassie. Working with more freedom made me more attuned to my animals emotions and needs. I had to rely on deepening my relationship with my four-legged friends. When I tried out these new ideas with client dogs, I was astounded by how well they responded–almost as though they were thirsting for the same emotional connection that I was.
My discovery prompted a decade long deep-dive into emotional health and well-being, for dogs and humans, and how that relates to problem behaviors such as aggression, compulsive disorders, reactivity, basic manners and fear related issues. Through this study, I was able to tie together the scientific “why” with the practical “how to” of animal behavior. This integrated approach forms the backbone of my daily work with challenging dogs. We build trust, communication, kindness, and (when needed) respect.
When you work with me, we will conduct a lifestyle analysis, prioritize safety and mutual trust, and build courtesy through humor and games. Your journey should be one of mutual growth and joy.
From my family to yours
In my private life, I currently play around with animal mental health and wellness on my small farm. I have 3 horses, 2 cats, 7 elderly pointers, and one large human. We juggle two professional careers, health issues, and all the challenges of modern life while aiming for grace, compassion and joy on a daily basis.
I bring my passion to my daily happiness-walks, thinking about new approaches and methods to help you, and your family, reach your best life. You can see some of my musings on our YouTube channel, and you can find blogs and articles on practical stuff and theoretical geeky stuff HERE. For a quick easy introduction, check out my foundational exercises on HOUSETRAINING and PUPPY BITING.
I am passionate about dog happiness, and your happiness is central to that. Your dog will not be happy if you aren’t happy. It’s all about building a happy family.
Certifications
I am Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), as well as a Fear Free(tm) Certified Trainer. I hold additional certificates from many training classes and contiue to build my knowledge base through going education. Additionally, I hold a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and a Certificate in teaching from Duke University. My geek factor ranges into the odd and unusual, training dogs, falcons, horses, fish, and even spiders (not to mention assorted farm animals). I love diving into the literature on “why we do what we do” to bring that understanding to our work with dogs.
Ethics
I believe in treating human and dogs with respect and courtesy. You, the human half, are critically important. Your experience and happiness is paramount to achieving a good quality of life for your dog.
I have been force and fear free since 2011. I adhere to the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultant’s policy on Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) strategies. We are committed to the Fear Free™ mission to provide education on emotional wellbeing, targeted enrichment, and the reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress in pets and their humans. I am also passionate about ethics–writing the before-it’s-time article on the ethics of online dog training for IAABC.
Additional Support
Our flagship group on Facebook, Dog Training 101, is available for support and community. It’s where I and my team help thousands of families with their dogs. It’s also where some of my student trainers practice. Note, if you are a trainer, I am available for mentoring. I have many pro students who seek my help to solve unique and difficult behavior problems with out-of-the-box solutions, or grow their knowledge with a solid foundation in science, history, psychology, molecular and neurobiology, and my all-time favorite, evolutionary biology. I fundamentally believe in peer-to-peer collaboration and support–we all need a supportive coach sometimes!
Let’s get started!
I love what I do, and I believe you should to. Today is not to late to start enjoying your best friend. Let’s get started!
Click HERE to send me a message, or HERE if you are ready to dive in. Note: Please contact me directly (via email or text) before paying for your training to make sure it is a good fit and practically achievable. Occasionally I will refer you to another trainer either due to skill-set or location. Trainers I refer to are of the highest quality.
