I should start this off by saying every time I say "we" when referring to K9 Manners Matter I really mean me and my pack of dogs.  I don't have other employees or independent contractors who are going to be training your dogs or helping you out, you're going to get me, the owner (with some canine input along the way).  Because let's face it, I wouldn't want someone else training my dog, I would want the owner of a company too, and that's exactly what you get.  So why do I keep saying we?  Well because I'll be the first to admit I don't know everything there is to know, I'm always learning, and my dogs teach me new things everyday.  The things I've learned from them in the past and the things they are still teaching me are what has lead me to where I am now, so K9 Manners Matter is a "we" company because it's about me and the dogs... both the ones I own and the ones I help.
 

 The next question then is who am I.  Well, I'm a girl who grew up training dogs with her dad and always had a love for animals.  I went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to get my bachelors degree in animal science and graduated with honors and with a concentration in veterinary science.  As my senior project I started a dog training program at the school where students fostered behaviorally challenged shelter dogs and I taught them to train them until they became adoptable.  After graduating I realized that while I loved veterinary medicine, I could truly make a difference in dogs' lives with training.  Behavior problems are the main reason why dogs are surrendered to shelters or abandoned and then euthanized and I want to be able to do what I can for as many dogs as I can.  When I graduated from Cal Poly I got my certification in dog training because I believe it is extremely important to take your dog to a credible trainer.  I am also certified in dog CPR and a certified veterinary assistant. 
 

What does who I am mean for you?  You can trust that you are entrusting your dog to someone who truly cares about his or her wellbeing.  My goal is to better the relationships between dogs and their humans and help keep dogs from being surrendered to shelters or abandoned due to behavioral issues.  Secondly, you can trust that I'm not just anybody offering to train your dog.  As a certified dog trainer and an animal science graduate I have multiple college educations under my belt that focus on animal behavior and health.  And thirdly, I am going to make you a deal right here... that if for some reason I don't feel as though I can help you, I will help you find someone who can.
 

Dog training isn't magic, it takes just a little bit of know how and a LOT of determination.

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Colleen Lange
Owner / Trainer K9 Manners Matter