Don’t Worry Be Waggy is run by Vic Gasser, MSc, CPDT-KSA.
Vic with her adopted dogs, Lovely & Dougal
Vic has the best of both worlds: experience and education. She has been training pet dogs professionally for over 15 years, holds a CPDT-KSA, and two degrees in Animal Behavior.
Vic holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Behavior, Training, and Enrichment from Delaware Valley College (2011), and a Master’s of Science in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare from Newcastle University (2012). This formal education sets Vic apart from other dog trainers and has provided her with a strong foundation in canine behavior modification, learning theory, and even human counseling.
She is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and is Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA). She adheres to the code of ethics and follows the LIMA (least invasive, minimally aversive) training philosophy, which means you do not have to worry about whether her methods will harm your dog or your relationship with them.
Vic working with Doberman puppy Trixie
The bulk of Vic’s career has been working in animal shelters as well as volunteering with animal rescues and fostering dogs and cats for many years. Working for 6 different animal shelters around the country, plus offering group classes and private dog training in those communities, has allowed her to experience how different people have different dog problems, and how to help them. Some of the unique situations Vic has been involved with are:
Helping trained fighting dogs in the city learn to live around other dogs safely!
Helping working-line sheep dogs and livestock guardian dogs learn to intergrate from life outside to life in a house.
Helping high prey-driven dogs learn to be trusted off leash, in towns with no leash laws.
Helping terrified dogs from large hoarding cases learn to feel safe in the outside world.
When Vic was learning how to train dogs she was following along with what was popular on TV; lots of force and intimidation. As she continued her studies she realized that the methods she was using not only felt wrong, but didn’t line up with the science. If her classmates were interning at zoos, training lions and elephants without force, surely a pet dog could be trained the same way? Changing one’s beleifs and philosophy doesn’t happen over night, but Vic knew a change was for the best, even if it was difficult at times. It’s important to have enough self-awareness to be able to say “I was wrong, I can and will do better.”
Vic lives with her partner, his 2 kids, their dog Lovely, and Geordie the cat, all of whom have been adopted or rescued (well, not the kids…).
Photos by Fusaro Photography