Our Certified Trainers
Jane Kopelman, CPDT-KA
Jane Kopelman is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and owner of All About Dogs. She has an extensive background in evaluating and training dogs, and teaching group classes along with private training and behavior counseling.
An avid believer in the power of therapy dogs, Jane has been doing pet therapy with her own dogs for more than twenty years. She is a certified therapy dog team evaluator for Pet Partners, an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, teaches therapy dog classes here and in New York City, and has evaluated and trained hundreds of therapy dog teams. She serves as a consultant for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s therapy dog program.
Jane owns the Animals for Adoption shelter and has lectured nationally on sheltering and community outreach. In 2014, Jane started a program at Green Chimneys that brings shelter dogs and special needs children together. She is the national director of the Training WheelsÒ shelter outreach program which was featured on ESPN’s Don’t Be Like Mike video. She has also appeared on “It’s Me or the Dog” with Victoria Stillwell.
She was on the behavior staff at the ASPCA in New York City for five years, working on the behavior helpline as well as running volunteer training workshops and classes for the general public. She was appointed by the City of New York to serve on the board of ACC (Animal Care and Control) and has also served on the Board of Directors of Angel on a Leash.
Jean Pavone
Jean has been teaching dog agility classes for 15 years. She completed the 5-day “Instructors Training Course” presented by Dogs of Course in 2006 and has also attended many agility training seminars and workshops. She works at Animals for Adoption where she matches dogs with their forever homes and teaches weekly New Adopter Classes. Jean competes in agility with her dogs, including her newest dog, Frankie. Jean’s focus is on the fun owners can have with their dogs!
Susan Gleeson
Susan has devoted her life to dogs. Over her 30+ years of animal experience, she has worked in everything from show dog kennels to veterinary hospitals throughout the Hudson Valley. Meeting and caring for thousands of animals and their humans along the way, Susan witnessed the many facets of the human animal bond and developed a strong interest in animal behavior and learning theory. She trains both human and dog to enhance their relationship. Susan is a Certified Dog Obedience Instructor and holds certifications in Veterinary Dermatology and Veterinary Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation and attends multiple seminars each year to stay current with the latest force-free training techniques and science based behavioral studies.
Karen Wells
Karen Wells is a certified trainer for The Association of Professional Dog Trainers and a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator for The American Kennel Club. For over 15 years she headed an in-home training business and taught group classes in New York City. Currently she trains and handles animals for film, TV, print, and stage. Handling credits include the TV series Power, The Path, and Girls. Major films include Annie (2014), While We Are Young (starring Ben Stiller) and Marjorie Prime (Tim Robbins and Geena Davis). Karen’s personal pets have done print, stage, commercials, and independent and major films – These include The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Today Show, Humor Me, A Pet's Life, Ralph Lauren, Swiffer, Rachael Ray – to name a few.
Polly Kaplan
Polly Kaplan is the proud owner of Sirius Play Dog Training. Her goal as a dog trainer is to teach owners to relate to their dogs in a way that is appropriate, satisfying and enriching for both dog and themselves. She believed people need to see their dogs for what they are, understand and work with their temperament, personality and demeanor. Polly hopes that your life can be as enriched as hers has been by dogs and wants you to experience the child-like joy that a healthy relationship with your dog can bring. Polly was the first Certified Nosework Instructor in Dutchess County and has benefited from the highest level of experience, instruction and inspiration and would like to pass that on to you during the journey you take with your dog.