Pooch Academy : Dog Training : About Us
About Pooch Academy
Pooch Academy is a local Des Moines-based company providing in-home canine behavior lessons and assessments, group classes, and other instructional services. We can also train many advanced subjects upon request such as Narcotics, Scent Detection, and Search and Rescue.
Pooch Academy’s focus is on helping people live happier lives with their dogs. We are experts at solving behavior problems. We do thorough behavior evaluations to find the root cause of problems, and then recommend the solution that will best work for your dog. Because of our trainer’s academic background, we have multiple ways of solving any behavior issue and training any new skill. Most training companies only use one training system, such as a remote collar, a clicker, “all positive”, or “all negative”. No one method works for every dog, owner, or behavior issue. This is where we excel over the competition.
Our TrainerPooch Academy’s owner and trainer is Jessica Lohry, a native Iowan, ISU engineering grad, and lifetime diabetic. She decided to become a dog trainer after she learned about diabetic alert dogs. She tried to get one for a year, but had no luck. She discovered that there are only about a hundred of these dogs in homes in the US. And, the biggest provider, Dogs4Diabetics, gets over 50 requests a day, but cannot keep up with the demand. So, Jessica decided to switch careers and help the cause. She attended the world-renowned Triple Crown Dog Training Academy in Austin, TX. There she earned her degrees as a Certified Canine Behavioral Specialist and Professional Canine Trainer. The academy exposed her to hundreds of different dog breeds, temperaments, and challenges while under the wing of two of the nation’s top dog trainers, Jessy Gabriel and Robert Dunn. The amount and quality of experiential knowledge she gained there is beyond compare, which shows in her knowledge of dog behavior. Jessica is currently training her first two diabetic alert dogs at cost for two lucky individuals. The dogs will be ready to go to their new homes around August of 2011. |
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Our DogsLibbyNickname: the Libbinator Breed: 100% purebred mutt. Best guess: Chihuahua/ Great Dane mix Size: 25lbs Abilities: She can jump like a Jack Russell and run faster than most dogs twice her height. She is an incredibly fast learner and is a master of the clicker. Temperament: Bashful, adorable, playful, loves to lick, incredibly smart Forte: tricks |
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| Alice Nickname: BoBalice Breed: Probably Cattledog/Brittany Spaniel mix Size: 40lbs Abilities: She a phenom. She’s trained in agility, narcotics, search & rescue, advanced obedience, CGC, and is now a certified service dog (Diabetic Alert Dog). Temperament: She’s got springs for legs, ridiculous amounts of energy, raw intelligence, and has the sweetest personality you’ll ever meet. Forte: cuddling and playing fetch |
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Ongoing EducationProfessional Conferences: Our trainer strives to attend at least one national conference per year. This past year, she attended the Diabetic Alert Dog Trainers Conference, held at Wildrose Kennels in Oxford, MS. There she learned advanced techniques in scent training, service dog training, puppy and breed selection, and other valuable skills. In 2010, she attended the IACP conference in Hutto, TX, featuring world renowned trainers and behaviorists such as Temple Grandin and Sue Sternberg. The topics covered ranged from how to diagnose and treat aggression issues to health and nutrition in dogs. Other sources of Education: Lohry also continues her education by reading the IACP and APDT monthly newsletters, reading various dog books, and simply working with as many dogs as possible. She also regularly exchanges questions and answers with her fellow trainers and behaviorists from Triple Crown Academy, which has been an invaluable resource. | |
Recommended LinksProfessional Associations:Pet-Sitting: Boarding & Daycare: Dog Waste Removal: Vets: The Animal Healthcare Center, Urbandale Westfield Veterinary Clinic, Johnston Other: |