Born in Budapest, Hungary, Kata's first "dog love" was an Old English Sheepdog.  This relationship taught her that, above all things, she wanted to spend her career enriching the lives of dogs and owners.  Her first dog related job involved training seeing-eye dogs in Budapest, and over the course of her career she has also worked for groomers and as a veterinarian assistant.  Training has always been her passion though, and she loves sharing that passion with anyone who will listen!!!

"Since I am from Hungary and English is my second language, it is easier for me to understand that dogs don't speak English and expecting them to understand what we are saying is a futile effort.  If I told you "fekszik", you wouldn't have a clue what I wanted you to do, even if I keep repeating it over and over or even yell at you.  But if I tell you that "fekszik" means "down" in Hungarian, you then know what I expect.  This is how dogs learn too!  We, as owners, have to translate to/show them what we want them to do.  Basically, we have to look at ourselves from the dog's perspective, not from a human one."

My professional certifications, affiliations and continuing educations include:

• Animal Behavior College, Honors Graduate
• Animal Behavior College Mentor Trainer
  
• Full Member of Association of Pet Dog Trainers
  

• On Leash Reactivity in Dogs: The problem and the program by Sarah Kalnajs (March 2009)
• Dog-Dog Aggression on Leash by Gina Phairas and Veronica Boutelle (November 2008)
  
• Stop Whispering and Speak Up For Your Dog: Debunking the Dominance Myth by Jean Donaldson (July 2008)
  
• Dog-Dog Aggression Q&A by Ian Dunbar (May 2008)
• Canine Aggression by Dr Nicholas Dodman (March 2008)
• AnimalSign To You! Signing Is Not Just for Primates Anymore by Sean Senechal (March 2008)