Meet the Wiggle Butt Team
We take wiggle butts seriously.
Our founder, Nicole Kohanski, CTC, CDBC, CBCC-KA, Dip CBST, ADT-IAABC, CPDT-KA, devoted years to earning an education worthy of your pets. Nicole graduated with honors from the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, earning a Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC). She also earned a Diploma in Canine Behavior, Science and Technology (Dip CBST) from Companion Animal Sciences Institute. She is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and an Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT-IAABC) from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a Fear Free Certified Professional and completed the Aggression in Dogs Masters Course. She is a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) from the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers. She is also Puppy Start Right instructor. Nicole's undergraduate education is a Bachelor's of Science in Business and Ethics. She earned her MBA from the Jindal School of Business at the University of Texas at Dallas.
CTC, with honors
Known as the "Harvard" of dog training schools, the Academy offers this two year comprehensive program with in- depth education in dog training, behavior modification and client counseling.
Academy studies "focus on two main themes: how animals learn and how best to change their behavior; and how to work with the people who will be your clients. For the dog training component, this includes training obedience behaviors and understanding basic behavior problems, but also includes working with fearful and aggressive dogs."
CBCC-KA
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine - Knowledge Assessed is an advanced certification for dog trainers that offer behavior modification as part of their services. To obtain this certification, trainers must have a minimum of 300 hours of experience dealing specifically with behavior issues (such as phobias, anxieties and aggression), have a reference from a CCPDT certificant or veterinarian, and agree to the certification council's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least-Intrusive Minimally-Aversive (LIMA) Behavior Intervention Philosophy. They have also passed a 180-question exam that tests them on applied behavior analysis, consulting skills and best practices, ethology, body language, observational skills, canine health, development, life stages, anatomy and physiology.
Certified Professional
Completing the Fear Free Animal Trainer Program allows trainers to work in partnership with veterinary teams to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress and improve an animal’s emotional wellbeing during veterinary care and home care. This certification program is designed to give qualified animal trainers the knowledge and tools required to begin implementing Fear Free techniques with their clients’ pets at the veterinary hospital, through in-clinic training classes for puppies and kittens, and in day-to-day training of animals in the home.
Professional Member
The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) "was founded based on a commitment to provide educational resources to pet care providers and the public coupled with an emphasis on building collaboration among force-free pet trainers and professional pet care providers and advocates for mutually agreed guiding principles for the pet care industry. PPG partners, members and affiliates focus on each pet’s physical, mental, environmental and nutritional well-being adhering to a holistic approach to the care and training of family pets."
Dip. CBST
"The Canine Behavior Science and Technology program is our (CASI's) flagship program. It is a rigorous/intensive 500–hour (560–hour with specialization track)/1–year program.
The program addresses all key topics in behavior change project management in great depth including the principles of behavior; tactics, strategies, and procedures in non-coercive animal training; functional behavioral assessment of problematic behaviors; contingency engineering; professional activities; case management; and professional ethics."
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ADT
IAABC's Accredited Dog Trainer program requires two years of experience, written discussion of two scenarios, completion of two training questions, and completion of questions regarding terminology, techniques, assessment, and history taking.
Applicants must score 80% or greater on each of the following to be accepted as an Accredited Member: learning science, scenarios, training questions, entire application.
Instructor
"This is a comprehensive course covering puppy socialization, growth and development, basic training, problem-solving, and problem prevention."
CDBC
CDBC stands for Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Overseen by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, this third-party certification has extensive requirements. Applicants are encouraged to have a minimum of at least 3 years and 500 hours of experience in behavior consulting practice, at least 400 hours of coursework related to the association's Core Areas of Competency, and submit 3 written case studies, 4 written discussion of case study analysis, and pass an exam covering terminology, techniques, assessment, and history taking.
CPDT-KA
CPDT-KA stands for Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed. Those with this certification have at least 300 hours of dog training experience within the previous three years, obtain a reference from another CPDT-KA trainer or veterinarian, and agree to the certification council's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least-Intrusive Minimally-Aversive (LIMA) Behavior Intervention Philosophy. They have also passed a 180-question exam that tests them on instruction skills, learning theory, ethology, training equipment and animal husbandry. To maintain certification status, trainers must complete continued education credits or re-take the exam every three years.
Completed
Fear Free "created the Fear Free Shelter Program to improve the experiences of animals by educating shelter and rescue employees and volunteers about their emotional needs."
our promise to you
We will treat you and your dogs with kindness and compassion. We will never shock, choke or otherwise cause fear or pain to your pet. We will use the science of animal learning to efficiently change behavior and develop your dog's skills. We will provide clear assessments of behavior and thorough plans to drive change.