About Laura
Laura Perkins has a lifetime of hands-on experience working with dogs and a masters of science in behavior analysis.
Laura’s passion is teaching people to solve the behavior problems they have with their pets using positive, science-based training techniques.
In her free time, she practices agility, obedience, and nosework training with her 2 dogs.
In her continual search for better ways to help people and animals learn, Laura has had some amazing experiences:
- She owned and operated Perkins Animal Behavior Consulting in Portland, Oregon before relocating to Michigan.
- She received her Animal Science degree from the University of Illinois. Animal Science covers topics like nutrition, genetics, physiology, husbandry, animal sheltering, and behavior.
- To further pursue the science of learning, she obtained a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas. Behavior Analysis is the science of how people and animals learn.
- Laura worked as the behaviorist on staff for Clackamas County Dog Services in Clackamas, OR. There she worked with approximately 1200 dogs that passed through the shelter over a year an a half. Her role was to get to know each dog in order to understand their behavioral needs. She also provided enrichment and training for the dogs and taught volunteers how to work with the dogs.
- Laura completed an Advanced Animal Training course taught by Dr. Roger Abrantes in Portugal.
- Laura worked as an intern at the Trevor Zoo in Millbrook, NY. She performed daily care of the animals and also helped with training for the kia parrots, river otters, fox, lemurs, red pandas, and alpaca.
- Laura also volunteered at the Herd Museum in McKinney, TX where she worked with lemurs, coati, wallaroos, and capybaras on husbandry behaviors.
- She has attended and co-chaired attended the Art and Science of Animal Training Conference .
- She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and attends conference annually.
- She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) organization.
- Laura is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CCPDT-KA).
- Laura is certified as an evaluator for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen certification.