Mission Statement
Our mission is to empower Greater Raleigh area pets and their people through every stage of life, from building fun foundations to navigating complex behavior challenges.
By blending advanced veterinary behavior expertise with a lighthearted, supportive approach, we provide science-driven, humane solutions that make training easy and effective.
Whether we’re teaching everyday manners or managing deep-seated fears, our goal is to create a collaborative Dream Team where every pet feels safe and every owner feels supported.
Certified dog trainer & dog behavior expert in clayton, nc
monica henderson
RVT, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA, Elite FFCP®, CCUI
Communications Liaison for pets & their people
You may be wondering what all of those letters behind my name mean, and why it matters for your pet training needs.
In a nutshell, this means you and your best friend benefit from my extensive experience & education.
You're working side-by-side with a professional who has dedicated thousands of hours to understanding the complexity and nuance of dogs, cats, training, and their behavior. We'll focus on setting up your pet to make good choices and reinforcing those, instead of waiting for them to make mistakes. You get current best practices in modern, humane, ethical training.
You also get the benefit of working with a registered veterinary technician with over two decades of veterinary medical experience. It makes communication with your pet's veterinarian, when warranted, seamless!
Over the past decade, I have:
- Taught group dog training classes in the Greater Raleigh area.
- Developed and led a successful dog day training, behavior consulting & behavior modification program at a Raleigh veterinary hospital.
- Offered private in-home dog training & behavior modification to clients in Clayton, Garner, and Raleigh NC.
You can expect honesty, zero judgment, and a partner in your pet's progress. I’m here to empower you with the 'why' behind the 'how,' giving you the tools to maintain the pet of your dreams... even on the days they’re acting like a nightmare.
When not helping people help their pets, you can find me practicing Pilates, watching college football, or training my own dogs in the sports of Scent Work, Rally, Barn Hunt, and Tricks. You can check out their bios below!
credentials
- Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
- Board Eligible: Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians
- Certified Behavior Consultant Canine - Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA)
- Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP)
- Fear Free Certified Professional - Veterinary (FFCP)
- Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI)
- American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen, STAR Puppy, Trick Dog, Fit Dog, Virtual Home Manners, Fetch and Temperament Test Evaluator
DOOZY ri, tkn, rato
Born August 2022
Doozy is a purpose-bred sportmix from a phenomenal breeder in OR.
Her mom is a Belgian malinois, and her dad is a Belgian malinois/border terrier/border collie/whippet mix.
This girl is by far the easiest dog I've ever had, and she loves training and trialing in Rally and Barn Hunt! You may even meet her during a session, as she often "clocks in" to help with leash reactive dog training.
Fun Fact: She and zOiNkS! have the same mom.
angerbiscuit & tippie cgc
Born December 2018
Lovingly referred to as the Craigslist Mutts, and forever known as The Puppies (despite their age), these two are siblings that we picked up after losing our small scruffy pup.
While they don't formally compete in dog sports, they are Champions in Digging Up the Yard and Being Absurdly Cute.
They love training and learning! Angerbiscuit loves Rally & Scent Work skills, and Tippie is happy to try whatever generates the most treats.
We celebrate all wins here. 🙂
zoinks!
Born November 2024
zOiNkS! is my first foray into Belgian shepherds, and I couldn't have asked for a better fit. He is incredibly social and loves everyone he meets, which makes him perfect for his favorite job: helping fourth-year veterinary students learn about clicker training and teaching dogs new skills.
In the future, we have goals to play in scent work, rally, obedience, and barn hunt.
(not so) Fun Fact: zOiNkS! experiences leash frustration, so he gets the same gold-star training that our clients do.