Several of our instructors are Certified Pet Dog Trainers
and carry the CPDT-KA title.
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Kristi
n, CPDT-KA, Manager/Owner/Training Instructor
Kristin has a degree in Criminal Justice from Western Michigan University. While working as a family service worker for sexually reactive youth, she received extensive training in crisis counseling, mediation, and family counseling.
With a strong background in the food and beverage industry, Kristin moved to Bend in 2002 and managed two restaurants at a local resort. She started working at Dancin’ Woofs part-time in 2004. In 2005, she decided to leave the F&B world to pursue her dream of working full-time with canines and their companions.
While working as the daycare manager, Kristin has also mentored with Mare in the evenings as an assistant trainer. Additionally, she went to Maryland to attend a week-long training with Pat Miller and is taking a canine correspondence course with John Rogerson in England. After gathering enough training hours and skills, she earned the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer in October 2007.
Kristin lives with her sweet, amazing, cuddlicious pup, Stellaluna, and two fabulous cats, Simon and Toby. She spends her free time thinking beautiful thoughts while wandering around Central Oregon.
Mare Shey Peters, CPDT-KA, Dancin’ Woofs Founder/Training Instructor
Mare Shey has a B.A. in Education from Eastern Washington University, majoring in Outdoor Adventure Education, with a concentration in adventure-based counseling and group facilitation. Involved with program development and design from kindergarten through university levels, she has taught community college and university classes in outdoor adventure and leadership as a content expert.
Mare’s love, appreciation, and training of dogs spans over 30 years. Her experience includes basic through advanced obedience training, agility, clicker, behavioral counseling, and Pet Partner training. She is also a consultant for new and established dog daycares and boarding facilities, both nationally and internationally, as well as being an author and a speaker on many dog-business and dog-related subjects.
In her free time, she can often be found on the trails of Central Oregon, playing with her dogs Bali, Bodhi, and Beta, or enjoying one of many outdoor adventure sports.
Learn more about Mare’s certifications, continued education, speaking, community involvement, published works, and product concepts.
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Linda, Daycare Manager/Assistant Instructor
After 20 years in the marketing, sales, and advertising field here in Bend, she decided to craft her passion for animals into her way of life. With a Rope Rescue Certification, Pet Care Technician Certification, she facilitates emergency situations like fire evacuations and criminal calls with PET [Pet Evacuation Team. Linda is a great addition to the staff at Dancin' Woofs Compassionate Dog Daycare.
She enjoys spending time with Ed Bartz, her partner of many years and her family, usually surrounded by great food. She has lived in the Bend area since 1977, riding horseback on most of the Central Oregon trails, enjoying all that Central Oregon has to offer.
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Mary, Daycare Staff
Mary first met Mare when she took a basic companionship class with her Jack Russell Terrier, Sam. This meeting was all it took to re-spark a lifelong dream of working with dogs.
After spending years as a partner in a software development company, the business was sold and Mary was able to make the switch from the “Computer World” to the “Dog World.” As Mary said, “This is an amazing opportunity to spend my days observing, training, and hanging out with dogs. It’s great to be part of the Woof Pack.”
Mary’s business expertise was in training clients, and she is now using these skills to create a happy, healthy, safe, and fun environment for your companions at dog daycare. She has also assisted Mare with both the Puppy 101 and Basic Companionship classes. She enjoys hiking, biking, yoga, reading, and spending time with Sam.
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AJ Kay, Part-time Daycare Staff
AJ Kay is a fun-loving person with an outgoing and bubbly personality. She just moved up to Bend from Tucson, AZ, last August to live and work in the community to gain residency in Oregon so that she can attend the University Of Oregon. She currently has three jobs and loves her busy schedule. One of those jobs is working at the ever-so-amazing Dancin’ Woofs!
AJ loves dogs and everything that they have to offer. She, in fact, grew up with many dogs and loves each one with kindness and compassion. She is very responsible and driven in everything she does, which includes working, free running, snowboarding/skiing, reading, and enjoying hanging out with her friends and her Aunt Mare!
Moving from Tucson to Bend has been a big change in AJ’s life, but she works hard every day and loves every new experience and challenge that comes her way. She is also taking a few classes at COCC to keep her mind ready for when she goes to the U of O.
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Karen, Bookkeeper Extraordinare
I grew up in Indiana and earned a degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University in Bloomington. After working as the Registrar at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis for nearly five hears, my husband Bill and I began an adventure by moving to Oregon in 1977. Going from the cornfields to the mountains was a huge thrill! We immediately learned how to alpine ski and have enjoyed all that Central Oregon has to offer. As my two children became teenagers, I returned to an academic course through Linfield College and earned another Bachelor’s degree, this time in Business Management & Accounting.
Other than during my four years at college, I have always had a dog in my life. My two Wheaten Terriers keep me busy but make my life happier.
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