Meet Your Trainer
Koby Stern BA, CCDT.
My passion for dogs started when I was 10 years old with my own dog Sooky. I knew from an early age that dogs would always be a big part of my life. In 2008 I started volunteering at the New Rochelle Humane Society and my passion for shelter work really took off. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Geography and Environmental Science from Syracuse University while still volunteering on weekends and evenings at a local rescue “Helping Hounds Dog Rescue”. After college I went right back to the New Rochelle Humane Society without missing a beat!
In 2017 I enrolled in CATCH Canine Trainers Academy to become a certified trainer utilizing the most modern up to date, scientifically backed training methods. Less than two weeks later I started working at not one, but two different private dog daycare and boarding businesses. I spent the next two years caring for up to 50 dogs at a time at a large facility. My responsibilities included picking dogs up from their homes in the morning, exercising them during the day, feeding, cleaning, and caring for them, and then driving them home in the afternoon. Then I would go to another dog boarding business and spend the night with 10-20 dogs, sharing the bed with and keeping them safe and comfortable overnight. It was an invaluable experience as a trainer to be able to observe and interact with so many different breeds, sizes, and dog personalities all in one location!
I was doing all this while also building my own dog walking business and completing my extensive CATCH Certification. The CATCH certification involved many hands on assignments, extensive evaluations and exams, and a requirement to train a “student dog” a list of behaviors which were evaluated by another trainer and graded accordingly, as well as shadowing a professional trainer during their own lessons.
Continuing education is very important in any evolving field especially animal training. I am dedicated to constantly stay up to date on the most modern humane and scientifically sound training methods. I am always in the process of expanding my list of credentials and certifications so dog owners can rest assure their furry loved ones are in good hands. The following are my current levels of achievement and will continue to grow over time.
Certifications
-Syracuse University- Bachelors of Arts, Geography
-CATCH Certified Dog Trainer
-Fear Free Certified Professional
-Aggression in Dogs- Michael Shikashio CDBC
-Pet (Dog and Cat) First Aid and CPR Certified
