About the Trainer

Cathy has had a strong connection with animals since memory serves. She has been training dogs and caring for animals for more than 35 years and is one of the founders of Mountain View Dog Training in Amissville, VA. She was an animal health technician in Washington State for 15 years and it was then that she started behavior counseling for pet dog owners. Her first position training dogs was with a security company in 1971; since then she has apprenticed with trainers and instructors, a professional handler and two boarding/training kennels.

She has taught dog obedience classes on her own since 1975 and has been an instructor in other venues as well. In an effort to stay on top of all techniques, Cathy has attended countless continuing education courses, conferences, camps and seminars related to animal care, animal behavior, behavior modification, dog training, and class instruction. If that wasn’t enough, she will be pursuing a degree in animal behavior. She has trained dogs in obedience, conformation, agility, herding, tracking and protection. Her current menagerie consists of a Labrador retriever, a Malinois, and four Border Collies.

Cathy has supported shelters and breed rescues by offering free classes to shelter staff, providing support to new adopters and rehabilitating foster dogs.  She currently provides support to Border Collie and all-breed rescues.

Previous students have remarked about Cathy’s ability to “read” their dogs and her knack for prescribing the right techniques for their individual pets.  She works with other pet professionals when indicated to ensure your dog is getting the best possible treatment. Empathy and a sense of humor are important tools in her training bag.