Kelsey first caught the training bug in 2006 during her internship at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. Her first training guinea pig was, well, her pet guinea pig, Gracie. That summer, Gracie learned to target, turn in a circle, and station, and Kelsey was hooked. Since then, she has trained over a dozen species across three zoos, plus her dogs, cats, and chickens at home. She took her passion to the next level in March of 2021 by becoming a full-time dog trainer.
Not only does Kelsey enjoy training, she also loves sharing this skill-set with others. She developed a class for gifted middle school students titled "How To Train Your Dragon (Or More Normal Animals)" and later adapted it to create a workshop for Denver Zoo volunteers. Training isn't a secret superpower: Kelsey wants to show you how you too can be a "dog whisperer" and deepen your bond with your pet by playing fun games that set both you and your pup up for success!