Meet the Staff

Owner, Senior Behaviorist

  • Colleen, Owner and Head Behaviorist Founder and owner of the Academy of Canine Behavior with her husband, Jack McDaniel. Colleen McDaniel has been showing and competing with dogs for over 35 years. She started working with people and their dogs as an obedience class instructor in 1969. She has studied under some of the top behaviorists in the world. Colleen is a certified graduate of both Cornell University’s Canine Behavior Study Course and Level One and Two of John Rogerson’s Behavioral Science Courses (England). She is also a co-author of Pooches and Small Fry, Parenting Skills for Dogs and Kids. Having established one of the most successful breeding programs in the world of Irish Water Spaniels, Colleen has been invited to serve on numerous educational panels for this breed including the production of the Official American Kennel Club Video Standard for The Irish Water Spaniel. Colleen was the interim manager of the Grant County Humane Society and Animal Control Shelter. After serving on the Snohomish County Councils Animal Task Force Committee, she was elected Chairperson for the newly founded Animal Advisory Board of Snohomish County. Colleen continues to be a first contact for many rescues and animal control organizations. Her skill at reading dogs is widely known and well respected. Colleen is a Delegate for the American Kennel Club and is an active member of the Whidbey Island Kennel Club, the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, and the Irish Water Spaniel Club of Puget Sound.
  • Jack, Owner and Operations Manager

Management

  • Craig, Facility Operations Manager
  • Josie, Kennel Manager
  • Becca, Training Manager
  • Debbie, Weekend Kennel Manager
  • Sheila, Grooming Manager
  • Sam, Daycare Manager
  • Gayle, Office Manager

Front Office & Reception

  • Gayle, Office Manager
  • Shyanne, Receptionist

Training Staff

For detailed bios, please see the Training Staff page.

  • Becca, Training Manager
  • Carie, Senior Trainer
  • Bill, Senior Trainer
  • Tada, Senior Trainer
  • Chaya, Senior Trainer
  • Dawn, Trainer
  • Jennifer, Senior Trainer
  • Charlie, Trainer
  • Veronica, Apprentice Trainer

Kennel Staff

  • Josi, Kennel Manager
  • Debbie, Weekend Kennel Manager
  • Kristy, Kennel Technician
  • Charlie, Kennel Technician
  • Veronica, Kennel Technician
  • Mandy, Kennel Technician

Daycare Staff

  • Sam, Daycare Manager
  • Daniel, Daycare Technician
  • Jacob Spencer, Daycare Technician
  • Louis, Daycare Technician
  • Jacob Skinner, Daycare Technician
  • Kevin, Daycare Technician

Maintenance and Groundskeeping

  • Craig, Facility Operations Manager
  • Jason, Maintenance

Class Instructors