Wayside Waifs employees, Autumn Woods, Canine Behavior Evaluator, and Becky Mathia, Volunteer Coordinator, recently earned their Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA®) certification.
The CPDT-KA® measures a broad range of knowledge and skills in ethology, learning theory, dog training technique, and instruction. To be eligible for the examination, you have to:
– Have minimum of 300 hours of experience in dog training within the last 3 years
– Provide a signed confirmation statement from a CCPDT certification recipient or a veterinarian
– File paperwork with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
Once eligible, the exam can be taken at a computer-based testing facility. The exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions.
By earning the certification, Woods and Mathia are showing their knowledge and skills in science-based dog training. On a daily basis, Woods works with dogs who are in need of behavior training. She is able to use skills she’s learned through her certification to help these animals progress into the happy, healthy dogs they should be. Mathia interacts with dogs on a daily basis. She teaches volunteers how to properly handle dogs and she helps individuals taking a dog on a Waifs Day Out adventure. (Waif’s Day Out is Wayside’s field trip program that gives shelter dogs the opportunity to exercise, socialize, and meet potential adopters while gathering information along the way.) 
About Wayside Waifs
As Kansas City’s largest and most comprehensive no kill pet adoption campus, Wayside Waifs prepares pets and people for the bond of their lives. Each year the organization cares for more than 6,000 abandoned, abused, and homeless animals. Wayside is a private, independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. It receives no government funding and is supported entirely by private donations and grants. To see all of the animals available for adoption or to donate, please visit www.WaysideWaifs.org.
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