Dana Escobar, CPDT-KA, ABC-DT, PDT
Dana is very passionate about training dogs and their people. As a young girl in North Carolina, she was surrounded by an average of 14 dogs and loved to play and train them. She was always, of her 3 other siblings, the one to bring home strays and other animals in an effort to make the world better for them, much to her mother's chagrin. Her career goals were always animal-oriented and in 2007 she finally channeled her focus specifically into dog training and immersed herself in every book, article, or publication that delved into the subject.
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In 2011, after several years of self-teaching and shadowing under other trainers in her area, she obtained her certification with Animal Behavior College. Since then, she has also recently obtained her Pro Dog Trainer certification through AbsoluteDogs to emphasize concept training using games that promote obedience, while also encouraging dogs to generalize the concepts no matter the environment or distraction, turning their struggles into strengths. She earned her CPDT-KA certification (through the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers) in October of 2019 after sitting for the exam. In order to obtain this certification, a minimum of 300 hours is required working directly with clients before a trainer can even sit for the examination. Dana is also an AKC CGC Evaluator.
She joined Tails-U-Win! in September 2012, initially as a dog day care attendant and dedicated hours to learning and soaking in the enormous amount of knowledge to be shared by the experienced instructors at Tails. Mentored by Leslie Nelson, she spent several years assisting classes, and was thrilled to be asked to become part of the office team, and then soon thereafter, part of the instructing team.
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In 2016, she began working in the office, as well as coordinating the day programs. She designed and implemented the Jump-start Kindergarten program, as well as the Great Expectations Puppy Academy, with the help of an ever resourceful and amazing team of trainers. She emphasizes appropriate socialization in young and adolescent dogs, as well as loves working with dogs that are shy or need confidence building. She credits Tails-U-Win! with bringing her passion for training to life. Her primary areas of interest are: behavioral - fear aggression & resource guarding, psychiatric service dogs for first responders, and foundation training and socialization for puppies in their first year of life.
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In her free time when she isn't training, working on the website, or connecting with clients, she spends time with her daughter; hikes with her dogs, and attends seminars, workshops, webinars to continue to educate herself on any new and up to date information in the dog training world. She also competes with her dogs in Obedience, Scent Work, Barn Hunt, Lure Coursing, Dock Diving, and enjoys dabbling in other various sports including Agility. She currently has 2 dogs. Kiss is a Siberian Husky/Border Collie mix and Tell is an English Shepherd.
