Meet the Trainers

Mackenzie Holmes, CPDT-KA

Pronouns: She/Her

Mackenzie’s first professional training experience was in 2001 with Tooey, a lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo. That was her introduction to clicker training and shaping behaviors, and thus to training as a cooperative task shared by learner and teacher. When she began training dogs professionally in 2011, Mackenzie found that cooperation just as compelling. Facilitating partnerships between dogs and humans and seeing teams become extensions of one another made her love the work.

Her current household includes two dogs, two tarantulas, and an eight year old human child. Mackenzie describes her goal as simple: to create joy. Training should be a joyful experience for both the human and the dog. She believes that great things are possible when everyone is having fun, and when training is consensual.

Mackenzie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, receiving her accreditation through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

Mackenzie is an IDPKA-certified dog parkour instructor and evaluator, an AKC CGC and Trick Dog Evaluator, and a certified Drink With Your Dog Instructor an Evaluator

Mackenzie and Rime

Mackenzie and baby Rime

Backpacking

Mackenzie and Rime

Earning AKC STAR Puppy Award

Anne Strouse, CPDT-KA

Pronouns: She/Her

Anne has been training dogs professionally since 2009, but she first became serious about dogs in 2003 when she adopted Mozart, an adult mix with some known behavior issues. By working on these issues, Anne learned to interact appropriately with Mozart, read his body language, and help him feel secure in his new home. This process sparked an interest in understanding dog behavior and learning techniques for training and living together. Over the course of their 12-year relationship, Anne worked closely with trainers and behaviorists, learning all she could from them–and, of course, from Mozart.

These days, Anne lives with one cat, two chickens, and three dogs. She has also fostered 30+ dogs as they waited to find their forever homes. Anne has been actively involved in dog rescue since 2005 and facilitated the rescue and adoption of hundreds of dogs. Moreover, she spent four years serving on the Adoption Team and on the Board of Directors with Basset Buddies Rescue. She has trained her personal dogs in obedience, CGC, agility, scent work, and parkour.

Anne is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, receiving her accreditation through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Anne is a certified Drink With Your Dog Instructor and Evaluator and is a LIMA compliant trainer.

A person with short hair and glasses stands beside a short, long, wiry-coated dog.