Three Questions - Katie Moody

By Jamie Damato Migdal, CEO & Pet Industry Entrepreneur

In addition to having a lot of initials following her name - CPDT-KA, MBA, and COO (of FetchFind) - Katie has recently confessed to loving at least one small dog as much as she loves big dogs.

Which dog has taught you the most, and why? I think my current dog Tucker has taught me the most. He's the first dog I raised from a puppy after I became a dog trainer. It has been wonderful witnessing how having a way to communicate with your dog through positive reinforcement creates such an amazing bond. On the flip side, he's also reminded me that dogs are living beings that you don't have 100% control over. He's living proof that even if you do everything by the book when raising a puppy, it doesn't always turn out perfectly. Tucker, although very well socialized as a puppy, can be anxious and reactive in new environments and with new people. He's a great example of the mix of nature and nurture.

How do you “pay it forward”? One of my favorite ways to share my knowledge and experience is by teaching kids about safe interactions with dogs. I have two grade school aged kids and have done many presentations to grade school classes and Girl Scout troops about how to read dog body language and greet dogs safely. I think this is hugely important because I don't think this is something that all parents know to teach their kids, beyond just asking before you pet a dog.

Does being a dog trainer help you to better manage your children? I know it sounds odd, but there are so many parallels. So much of parenting (both dogs and humans) is understanding what behaviors you are reinforcing. If your dog barks and barks and barks and you finally let him out of the crate, it's really the same thing as not listening to your kid until he's whining and annoying you so much that you finally pay attention. In both cases, you have made those behaviors pay off. Noticing the good behavior, even though it is often easy to miss because it's quieter and not as in your face as bad behavior, is key to well behaved dogs and kids!

(Photo of Katie at Wolf Park, courtesy of Katie Moody.)