Meet the staff
The Academy of Canine Behavior
We have some of the most competent staff taking care of all your pet’s needs, Our dog behaviorists have nearly 30 years of expertise and experience, and would be more than happy to consult with you and your and canine companion.
Trainers
Colleen McDaniel
Owner/Senior Trainer
About Colleen
Colleen, Owner, Head Behaviorist, and Founder 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 McDaniel
Owner/Senior Trainer
Jennifer Lackie
Training Manager/Senior Trainer
About Jennifer
AOCB Team Member since 2002
Jennifer is certified in Training and Behavior and has been working with dogs for almost 20 years. She specializes in aggression and problem behaviors.
Jennifer had the opportunity to work for multiple years with sled dogs, giving her a broader understanding of pack behavior and group training. She has also worked with wild animals. She has hand raised bears and wolves and trained them for use in educational programs.
Becca Callahan
Senior Trainer
About Becca
AOCB Team Member since 2005
Becca is a well-rounded trainer, having started out in 4-H as a young kid she came to us a veteran of the dog world well versed in many areas she has never stopped looking for new adventures to jump into with her dogs. While Becca has experience in several venues her passion is Competition Obedience. She raised a puppy for Canine Companions for Independence who graduated as a Service Dog in 2011.
In 2009 Becca was asked to develop a canine behavior-evaluation test for a Western Washington chapter of the Humane Society to aid in its adoption program. Adopters are able to use the evaluations to consider the temperament of potential adoptees and select the dog that’s right for them. Her system not only helped boost the number of adoptions, Becca says, but more importantly, has helped boost their success rate. Becca worked with the chapter for a year before stepping down, but remains on call as an expert consultant to potential adopters, to shelter staff and to their new evaluator.
The American Kennel Club has designated Becca a certified official evaluator in its Canine Good Citizen Program. As such, she is authorized to test dogs and formally recognize those that meet the AKC’s ten-part standards of good manners both at home and in the larger community. Member of the All Terrier Club of Western Washington and the United States Lakeland Terrier Club.
Veronica Skinner
Assist.Training Manager/Senior Trainer
About Veronica
Veronica started working as a Kennel Technician for 5 months before starting the Apprenticeship program, and quickly becoming a full-time trainer. She owns 4 dogs: A Dalmatian, 2 Pit Bulls, and a miniature Pinscher.
Veronica has always enjoyed working with and being around animals. Growing up on a farm in Oregon, she was able to work with many different kinds of animals. In high school, Veronica got a job working at the local Veterinary clinic until moving to Washington. Veronica pursued her passion to work with animals by attaining degrees in Veterinary Assisting and Dog Training from the Animal Behavior College. She is a volunteer for Pasado’s Safe Haven and helps with the dog training and day to day care of the resident animals.
Carie Taylor
Senior Trainer
About Carie
Carie attended Kansas State University and graduated from the University of New York with a degree in Animal Science. She has worked at a racehorse breeding facility as well as a horse/dog rescue before landing at the Academy where she found her calling as a dog trainer.
Carie is run by a pack of Chinooks (a breed of sled dog) that she breeds and shows in dog events, as well as her Irish Water Spaniel and Saluki.
Carie has been recognized by the American Kennel as an official evaluator in its Canine Good Citizen program. She is also certified in Canine First Aid and is a long-standing member of the Chinook Owner’s Association and the Whidbey Island Kennel Club.
Bill Middlin
Senior Trainer
About Bill
Bill has been training dogs and competing in obedience and conformation for nearly 40 years. He completed our Apprenticeship program and worked full as a dog trainer and instructor from 2004-2009. Now retired, he still works part-time and volunteers as a Senior Dog Trainer with us and rescue organizations.
He is active in training and competing with his own dogs (Belgian Tervuren and Shetland Sheepdog) in American Kennel Club (AKC) Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Herding, and Tracking.
Shaelyn Edwards
Trainer
Jeremy White
Trainer
Ashley Greyell
Trainer
Andy Hardisty
Trainer
Brian Humphrey
Trainer
Speciality Class Instructors
Kandice McClaflin
Agility
Stacy Duncan
Conformation Handling
Kerri Edinger
Conformation Handling
Walter Kilmer
Rally Obedience
Kennel
Dawn Edwards
Kennel Operations Manager
About Dawn
As well as working with dogs, Dawn has trained horses for over 20 years. She has a passion to help people understand and live easier with their pets.
Dawn has a passion for animals of all kinds. Working with and helping animals has been her primary focus throughout her life.
Tesla Gilbertson
Assistant Kennel Operations Manager
About Tesla
Tesla drove a commercial long haul truck for a bit, traveling between Wisconsin and Idaho. She found her calling here in Washington with AOCB! She loves working with all the different breeds and learning new stuff!
She is loved by her cat, Dandy who enjoys wearing seasonal sweaters and cuddling all day.
Charlie
Kennel Operations
Eric
Kennel Operations
Debbie
Kennel Operations
Saroya
Kennel Operations
Traissa
Kennel Operations
Daycare
Dan Clarke
Daycare Manager
About Dan
Dan has worked at the academy for 8 years. He has been around dogs his whole life. He loves interacting with the dogs in a fun and personal environment, getting to know the individual dogs and their personalities.
Dan shares his life with Jackson a 5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Jackson can mostly be found sleeping his life away on his favorite bed (Dan’s bed).
Growing up at home he had a total of 11 dogs, while almost never having less than 2 at a time. Dan has been attending classes with his dogs at the Academy since he was 5 years old (which is why he started working here).
Ashley
Daycare
Jacob
Daycare
Taylor Grilli
Daycare
Reception
Yvonne Mathews
Office Manager
About Yvonne
Yvonne is a retired groomer with over 30 years of experience working with dogs.
She has years of customer service training and loves keeping the office running smooth with her awesome team!
She has 5 years of experience in bed bug dog handling and loves scent training. She has a Toy Fox Terrier and a Belgian Malinois. When she is not working she is at the barn riding, working on her garden, or out hiking.
Kristy
Reception
Anastasia Logan
Reception
Alicia
Reception
Maintenance
Craig Youngberg
Facility Director
About Craig
AOCB Team Member since 1985!
Craig has been with us longer than any other employee! He is married with 3 kids and owns 5 dogs (Pudgy, Rudy, Maggie, Taco, and Louis). His recent addition is Louis, a French Bulldog that will soon be doing some dog shows.
Craig’s hobbies include golfing, woodturning, and fishing.
Jason
Maintenance
Thomas
Maintenance
4705 240th ST SE
Bothell, WA 98021
425-486-9567 (phone)
425-486-9479 (fax)
425-486-9567 (phone)
425-486-9479 (fax)
Monday-Friday: 9AM-6PM
Saturday: 9AM-5PM
Sunday: By appointment only
Holiday Schedule
© Academy of Canine Behavior 2017
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