North Coast Dogs is a team of dog trainers and pet behavior specialists serving Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Together we represent a depth of knowledge and a breadth of experience in the field of canine behavior. Individually, we are each dedicated to the strengthening and preservation of the cherished canine-human bond.
North Coast Dogs uses operant and classical conditioning to train dogs and shape their behavior. The results are impressive. And, we're happy to say, there's a century of laboratory and real-life evidence to back us up. B.F. Skinner became one of the best-known pioneers of behaviorism in the 1930s. Students of the behaviorist school took Skinner's work into the real world and trained all sorts of animals for circuses and TV. Operant conditioning has always been the method of choice for sea mammal trainers. If you've ever seen a dolphin show, they were trained the same way we train dogs!
Skinner was passionate about not using punishment while conditioning animals (or humans for that matter). North Coast Dogs shares that passion. Our methods are 100% nonviolent. We do not advocate the use of shock collars, prong collars, choke collars, squirt bottles, air horns, shake cans, hitting, pinching nor any other form of physical or psychological attack. Dogs deserve better than that.
Mary Basu
Professional Specialties: Currently, Mary is teaching at our Lakewood/Cleveland location. Mary teaches our Family Dog and Family Puppy classes as well as our Agility classes.
Experience: Mary started teaching at North Coast Dogs during the summer of 2005. She began her career as a reward-based trainer, learning the fundamentals of behavioral training while working as an apprentice animal trainer at Sea World of Ohio in the early 90's. A reward-based trainer from the start, Mary has been using the clicker to train dogs since 1993 and continues to seek out new and innovative training ideas.
Education: Mary has attended seminars by well known positive animal trainers such as Pat Miller and Sue Ailsby and nationally known animal behaviorists such as Patricia McConnell and Pamela Reid. She has also participated in puppy foundation and agility seminars held at the acclaimed SayYes! Training center that is run by Susan Garrett in Ancaster, Ontario as well as being an active participant in an online training forum hosted by Jo Sermon.
Personal Interests: Mary has four dogs of her own, and enjoys competing in obedience, rally, and agility with them.
Ed Dickson, CPDT
Professional Specialties: Ed has taught several levels of classes at our Lakewood/Cleveland location, and also specialized in private training sessions both in homes and in the Lakewood facility, dealing with a wide range of issues such as basic obedience, separation anxiety, and aggression.
Experience: Ed began teaching classes with North Coast Dogs in 2003 and purchased the company in 2004. Prior to coming to North Coast Dogs, Ed worked in a shelter environment at the Cleveland Animal Protective Leaugue as Animal Care Supervisor.
Education: Ed has attended and hosted many seminars with well known speakers such as Patricia McConnell, Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Emily Weiss, Sue Sternberg, Steve White and Trish King. He has also attended the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) annual conference and Clicker Expo 2007 held in Cleveland.
Certification / Honors: Certified Evaluator for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate, Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), and Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
Laura Evans, CPDT
Professional Specialties: Laura is currently teaching various classes at our Lakewood/Cleveland location. She is also available for private sessions as available.
Experience: On arriving in Cleveland in 2004, Laura started volunteering at the Cleveland Animal Protective League. In this position, Laura gained extensive experience working with dogs of various breeds and temperaments. In 2006, the APL began a training program for both dogs in the shelter and families. Laura happily spent time as a volunteer assistant for these classes. In time she was asked to teach her own classes until the APL program was disbanded. She joined the North Coast Dogs team in January 2007, and purchased the company in July 2010.
Education: BS and MS from Northwestern University. Laura attended Clicker Expo 2007 in Cleveland which included such dynamic speakers as Karen Pryor, Kathy Sdao, Steve White and many more. She continues to enhance her knowledge of animal training and behavior by attending seminars and volunteering as a Canine Enrichment Specialist / Foster Parent at the APL as time allows.
Certification / Honors: Certified Evaluator for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate, Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), and Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).
Dan Klotzsche
Professional Specialties: Dan is currently teaching Family Dog, Family Puppy, and Loose Leash Walking Classes at our Lakewood/Cleveland location.
Experience: Dan began teaching classes with North Coast Dogs in 2006.
Education: Dan attended Animal Behavior College and continues to further his education through seminars, lectures, reading, and on-line courses.
Melissa Miller
Professional Specialties: Melissa is currently teaching Family Dog and Family Puppy classes at our Lakewood/Cleveland location.
Experience: Melissa started training shelter dogs at the Cleveland Animal Protective League in 2005. She then spent many hours as a volunteer assistant in group obedience classes at the shelter before teaching classes of her own. While volunteering at the shelter, Melissa read and studied extensively about animal behavior while gaining invaluable hands on experience. She has been with North Coast Dogs since January 2007.
Education: BA from The American University and Masters in Urban Planning from Cleveland State University. Melissa has attended many seminars related to dog training and behavior and is currently working towards the achievement of Certified Pet Dog Trainer.
Certification / Honors: Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. (APDT)
Personal Interests: After living with several rescued dogs throughout the years, Melissa decided to begin volunteering at a local shelter as a canine adoption counselor. It was through this experience that Melissa became interested in dog behavior and training. It was in this time that she developed a specific interest in teaching children how to be safe around dogs. She enjoys teaching families how to build strong relationships between their children and dogs as well as teaching families how to successfully integrate a dog into the household. She worked with the shelter behavior and training manager on developing and presenting a seminar on children and dogs.
All North Coast Dogs employees are professional members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Each of our trainers is required to fulfill a minimum of 16 hours continuing education annually.
Last updated: 8/28/2010