Throughout the years, Sally has worked as a trail guide, stable hand (groom) for small and large riding stables along with racing and breeding farms. Sally first learned to care for horses at the age of 15. She answered an ad in the local paper for a groom on a Saddlebred racing farm. There she learned the importance of “basic horse care.” Her daily activities included feeding, mucking stalls using straw, swimming horses, harnessing horses, jogging horses, paddocking a horse for a race, wrapping legs and even the use of medication.

Her knowledge grew while she enjoyed riding lessons, being a trail guide and eventually buying her first horse at the age of 18. Every time Sally steps into a barn to care for a horse she relies on this knowledge to do the right thing for horses, no matter how long it takes. In 2000 Sally learned the art of Equine Massage. Her greatest talent is listening through her touch and locating where the horse is hurting and bringing relief.  In 2013 Sally released her first published book “How to Pick a Pet for You and Your Family”
She is a member of Pet Sitters International and regularly cares for others’ horses and other animals.

She teaches the course: Horse Care Basics for Pet Sitters and Enthusiasts

Janice Koler-Matznick has a Bachelor degree in Biology, a Masters in environmental science, an associate certification in applied animal behavior (Board of Professional Certification of the Animal Behavior Society), and 45 years experience as a dog trainer. She is a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Canid Specialist Group and has authored/co-authored journal papers on the New Guinea dingo, dog origin, dog cognition, and the uses of dogs. Her special interest subjects are the origin of the dog, dingoes and aboriginal village dogs.  In addition, she has consulted on, and been featured in, several documentaries, including National Geographic’s The Search For The First Dog, Discover Channel’s The Ultimate Guide: Dogs, and Dogs that Changed the World for PBS.

Two decades ago, Janice’s knowledge and hands-on experience with dogs and captive wild canids led her to the conclusion the dog is not, as commonly believed, a domesticated gray wolf. As part of her research, for 20 years Janice kept and studied one of the most primitive dogs, the New Guinea dingo (also called the Singing Dog). Their behavior was very different from that of the gray wolf. In 1996 Janice founded the New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society, a non-profit group dedicated to research about and preservation of these unique dingoes.

In her 7 years as proprietor of a dog grooming business, 30 years as a professional dog trainer, and an additional 10 as an applied dog behaviorist, Janice has had hands-on experience with many hundreds of dogs of every type. She also has personal experience with captive wolves and coyotes. Since 1972 Janice’s hobby has been showing and breeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks under the kennel name Kandu.

Ashley Miller earned her PhD in integrative biology and then did a post graduate course in science education with a BSc from the University of Guelph. She has a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication and is interested in fostering public understanding of science. Dr. Miller has been doog training for over six years and is interested in working towards her CPDT-KA.

Sheilagh O’Sullivan has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in educational psychology from York University, Glendon College, and a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. Sheilagh is a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO 04386). Sheilagh has 35 years teaching experience and over 40 years experience in the animal industry. A successful junior career on the hunter / jumper circuit in Ontario and throughout the USA followed by upper level Eventing training in England, qualification as a British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor, and the management of equine facilities in breeding, racing, training and showing ensures a well-rounded and knowledgeable approach not only to rehabilitation, but the specific needs and demands of a wide variety of disciplines. Throughout her careers as an athlete, coach, educator, and health care professional Sheilagh witnessed and experienced first-hand the extraordinary mental health demands of working with animals. This spawned an interest in Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, and Burnout. Sheilagh delved deeply into this work during the completion of her MA in Counselling Psychology, and now offers full and half day psychoeducational workshops as well as specialized one to one psychotherapy to all health care professionals grappling with Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, and Burnout.

Sheilagh is deliberate in her self-care, and amongst many activities she most enjoys exploring the back country with her Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses. Prior to retirement to being back country adventurers the canine crew participated in the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program as well as a number of canine activities including tracking, agility, freestyle and trick training. Sheilagh has obtained ITEC qualifications through training at The Complementary Therapies School in Gerrards Cross, England. Sheilagh is past President of the Canadian Animal Massage and Bodyworkers Association (CAMBA), and she is a Professor for E-training for Dogs in Wyoming, USA.

Sheilagh’s courses include: Pet First Aid and CPR, Herbal Remedies and Aromatherapy, Canine Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Canine Massage, Advanced Canine Massage, Equine Anatomy and Physiology, and Equine Massage.

Also: Canine Professional Compassion Fatigue – Building Resiliency

Biography: Dr. Pike graduated from Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2003.  After graduation, she was commissioned as a Captain into the United States Army Veterinary Corps. It was dealing with the Military Working Dogs that spurred her initial interest in behavior medicine. After getting off of active duty in 2006, Dr. Pike worked exclusively in small animal practice where she furthered her love of behavior medicine by seeing cases and teaching puppy socialization classes. In 2011, the Pike family was stationed in the St. Louis area at Scott Air Force Base where Dr. Pike started seeing behavior referrals in a Residency program officially approved by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) under the mentorship of Dr. Debra Horwitz, DACVB. In October 2015, Dr. Pike passed the ACVB certifying examination, officially becoming a boarded veterinary behaviorist. Dr. Pike is the owner of Veterinary Behavior Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky where she sees referral behavior cases. Dr. Pike is a member of the Fear Free Advisory Committee, advising general practitioners on the art of practicing “Fear Free”. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her family, including her Active Duty Army husband, their two kids, ages 2 and 7, a Scottie, a Mini Schnauzer, a Devon Rex kitten, and an African Ring Neck Parrot.