Education designed by pet professionals for pet professionals
Meet our Program Alumni
Erin Schneider
Class of October 2010
Erin grew up all over the United States, spending parts of her childhood in Oregon, Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin and South Dakota. One thing that followed her and her family anywhere they went was a love of dogs. From an early age, Erin understood what an important role pets can play in family life and experienced the richness that can come from good human/canine relationships. Erin’s bond with her family’s Dalmatian, Millie, was very strong and helped inspire a lifelong interest in and enthusiasm for animals. Her passion for dogs and the richness of those human/canine relationships are something that Erin has always sought to share with others. She would want every dog owner to experience the same kind of joy she has.
In 2003, Erin earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Hofstra University in New York. She moved to Chicago in 2004 and has worked in magazine publishing, selling advertising space. In 2005, Erin brought home her Westie, Bailey, and fell in love immediately. Bailey helped reignite her passion and Erin knew she wanted to work with dogs and help others have the same kind of joy she has with her pets. Opportunity presented itself when Erin met Jamie at an AnimalSense Total Recall class with Bailey. Soon after, Erin enrolled in AnimalSense Academy and graduated from the program in 2010. The immersion in animal behavior courses combined with months of interacting directly with people and their dogs in training sessions has profoundly changed her life. Always seeking to learn and grow, Erin is continuously inspired and excited to work with clients and their dogs. As a senior trainer with AnimalSense, Erin is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with dogs and fulfill her dream of helping dogs and people live better lives together. Erin lives in Chicago with her wonderful husband, Jim, and her fabulous Westie, Bailey.
Our Successful Graduates
"CanineLink was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much, made wonderful friends, and most importantly, found my passion. I now live a more complete life and have an even better relationship with my own dog. I would recommend CanineLink to anyone who has a passion for dogs."
We are proud of the over 50 individuals who have successfully completed one of our many programs. Below is a sample of what some of these folks have gone on to do following their experience at CanineLink Academy:
Lindsay Rapp
Class of January 2010
Lindsay grew up in Chicago’s northwest suburbs surrounded by lots of loved animals, from dogs and cats to horses. She competitively jumped horses in her youth before attending University of Kansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Event Planning. Upon moving home to Chicago, she worked in residential real estate for the next five years.
Wanting a career change, Lindsay followed her heart and pursued a new path working with animals. She knew she wanted to have a dog business, but she wanted to do it right. Having heard great reviews about CanineLink Training & Behavior Academy, she enrolled in the six-month program designed for people interested in becoming professional dog trainers. Along with the wisdom she gained from Academy, she also found a whole new family of people who shared her beliefs in positive reinforcement dog training.
Lindsay was the voice of AnimalSense for the greater part of 2010 in the role of Client Service Coordinator. With her sights set on owning and operating a dog business, Lindsay became the proud owner of AnimalSense Canine Training and Behavior Services, Inc in June 2011. It’s truly a match made in heaven. Lindsay says she is lucky to have such a wonderful staff who are all dedicated to helping dogs and their owners build a forever bond.
In her free time, she loves playing with her three dogs: Dolce, Moxie and Kayla, working out, reading, developing her camera skills and enjoying the city. She is also a member of Young Professionals of Chicago, Bucktown Community Organization and on the Metro board of Metropolitan Family Services, which provides a high level of support for disadvantaged families.
"It was the best thing that could have happened to me. It gave me the knowledge and insight to open a fun, but also safe, dog business."
Carol Kuhn
Class of March 2011
Not surprisingly, Carol Kuhn has been a dog lover her whole life. Pets were always a welcome addition to her family, and through the years included a rescued cat, an English Cocker Spaniel, a deaf Dalmatian, a bunny, a Beagle, and a turtle. She became a client of AnimalSense Canine Training & Behavior in 2008 when searching for help for a behavior problem for one of her dogs, a large hound mix named Murphy. Through working with AnimalSense to learn more about Murphy and his behavior, Carol quickly became a fan of the practices and methods of AnimalSense and positive reinforcement training. The CanineLink Academy was recommended to Carol, and she soon found herself enrolled in 2010.
As a March 2011 Academy graduate, Carol is looking forward to bringing her learning experiences and enthusiasm to her work, and to becoming more involved in the pet community throughout Chicagoland. She is constantly seeking out new opportunities to volunteer and help make the city a better place for dogs and their people. Carol is proud to serve AnimalSense as both a Junior Trainer and the Client Services Coordinator – that happy voice on the phone line when you call our office with questions.
Before taking the leap to CanineLink and AnimalSense, Carol spent several years in the corporate world, working in Marketing and Administration. She can frequently be found in the bleachers at Wrigley Field, taking in a concert somewhere in the city, or stirring up trouble with her husband, Matt, and their beagle mix, Lulu.
Not surprisingly, Carol Kuhn has been a dog lover her whole life.
