Valerie got a service dog (Bella) from Katherine at the Animal Psychology Center several years ago. She has done an excellent job of writing about Bella and what she has meant in her life.
She has many wonderful pictures which help depict just what a Service Dog is and how they become an integral part of someone’s life.
You can read more about Valerie and Bella, then come back to learn more about what Animal Psychology Center can do for you.
My dogs were not even able to be in the same room after they fought a few times. Katherine came to my house and helped assess my dogs. We had a serious alpha problem. My dogs were fighting to be the alpha when we should have been the alpha. So we basically had to take control over them and show them that we're the leaders of the pack. To do so we took their power away. So they were put on muzzles - we took their power to bite us and each other. They were put on choker collars for a hard correction if their behavior was unacceptable. Continuing to do this day in and day out until they were okay being around each other.
Eventually they got back into the same living space and we became a family again. Shortly after, Katherine suggested that they could take the AKC Canine Good Citizens test. I was worried they wouldn't pass and I honestly thought it was going to be too much for them. But Katherine assured me that I could trust them. So I took her advice and went to the classes. I truly learned so much from her and the class. They both ended up passing the first time they took the test. Now they are both AKC Good Canine Citizens. If it wasn't for Katherine teaching us how to speak our dogs' language we would have lost them eventually.
So I highly recommend her services. We were at a loss and she helped our family stay together.
~ Ashley Moya
My dear Katherine!!! I don't even know how to say thank you! Althea is such an amazing little being who has brought SO much joy not just to our home but to me personally! I cant even begin to describe all the things she does and how many people have commented not just on her beauty but also her behavior and personality! In fact a few of them were so impressed they asked me for your number! Thank you, thank you, thank you! It is not enough to tell you how grateful I am that you showed up at the perfect time and brought this little Goddess into our life!
~ Melissa Stetser
Katherine is wonderful! I am amazed at how much we learned in a handful of classes. It has had a huge impact on me and my beloved pup. Great job, as always!! Thank you!
~ Golnesa
I had a good feeling about Katherine from the first conversation we had over the phone. Olive, our three and a half year old lab mix, developed an aggressive fearfulness of other dogs when she was two that worsened to the point that we knew we needed a professional.
Olive presented with some challenging behaviors Katherine had never seen before. “Oh no!” we thought. Alas, Katherine’s patience, intuition and readiness to think outside the box turned our pup’s predicament completely around.
“This is Olive’s journey and we are there to support her”, she said at our first session. Our fearful dog needed a kind and supportive pack leader and to remember how to interact with other dogs.
We worked with Katherine and her pack for about a week and we are not sure who changed more; us or the dog. We, as a pack, even enjoyed the dog park which is something we never thought we could ever do again! We continue our homework and continue to see Olive’s (and our) confidence grow! Thank you Katherine and Consuelo!
~ Ellen
I can't say enough good things about working with Katherine at the Animal Psychology Center. She not only is fantastic at training dogs, she is great at matching the correct dog to the correct owner. I found her to be very fussy when determining that Orion and I were a good fit.
I felt very comfortable knowing she wasn't just trying to sell me a dog, but the perfect dog for me. I have had Orion as my service dog for a couple months now. I am very pleased and thought I should get word out to anyone looking for a dog. Orion has completely changed my life.
I can now go out again. I feel very comfortable recommending reaching out to Katherine to answer any of your pet needs. Thanks Katherine!!!
~ Jerry Utecht
"I got my frenchie pug puppy, FeniQs, from Katherine and he is a golden boy! He is highly trainable, attentive and eager to please. So far he's had no accidents and no overnight accidents he's a very fast learner and plays great with our older dogs. He's not afraid of loud sounds or shocked by the weather or other dogs. He's a HUGE love bug! He even waits on my move before he moves and can already walk on a leash the proper way. Katherine and her team are extremely responsive and responsible and super loving and caring about her animals and her passion. If you are choosing to buy a pet that's highly trainable then Katherine's animals at the Animal Psychology Center are a certain success!! Give her a call or text she's very responsive and will answer any questions. She offers reliable help with transporting your pet as well so no distance is too far."
"I brought my aggressive bully to Katherine and she helped me make him into a good boy. Two months ago my Dozer couldn’t even look at another dog on TV without going crazy and now we have a puppy at home. We are able to take him places and I’ve gained knowledge for the future. I couldn’t have done this without her. She is a very easy going and confident woman. I recommend her over any other trainer."
"We got our precious Frug from Katherine a couple of weeks ago. Katherine was professional and kind in all our transactions. Her true dedication to breeding is evident in how well socialized our pup is to people and animals. He gets along great with our 11 year old pug. I think he will add quality life to our pug and to us. We are so delighted to have this inquisitive, playful and smart little guy in our home. Thank you Katherine for giving him a great start to life."
"My puppy arrived from Katherine Andrews a few weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier!!! He adjusted really easily to my home, including my 2 crazy loud kids. Nothing seems to phase this guy - the vacuum, the piano, or squirrels in the backyard. He is very laid back and very sweet. While we were waiting for him to be old enough to come home, Katherine sent weekly photos and videos so that we could watch him grow up. She even connected me with a "flight nanny" who brought him from South Dakota to our home in California. THANK YOU KATHERINE! We love our new puppy!"
"I purchased a Frenchie-Pug puppy from Katherine. What a wonderful experience. I contacted Katherine prior to the puppies being born. Once the puppies were born, Katherine kept in contact weekly. She picked the perfect puppy for our family. Katherine informed me, prior to Dorothy being ready for pick up, what food to feed her and a potty plan. Katherine started training Dorothy prior to 8 weeks! She was already sitting and focused when she moved in with us. Katherine also assisted with transport plans. Katherine did everything and more than I expected."
I rescued The Bug from a dysfunctional household, where she lived behind a couch amid domestic strife and drug trafficking. When dog food was provided it was a standard brand perfectly appropriate for a Great Dane.
For The Bug, every kernel exceeded the span of her tiny teeth and she developed mouth sores and an infection so severe it earned her the name “Stinky” from her owners. I was called on to intervene — and took her home, treated her infections, fed her broth and boiled chicken, and hoped she would survive.
And survive she did – becoming a bright and happy dog that was social, loving and accomplished in tricks and charm. Mad about kittens, fearless with dogs many times her size, and totally accepting of humans despite her early mistreatment, The Bug was a tiny package of everything that makes us love dogs.
“All this horse does is sleep and mope” his owner told me when she called. “What are we doing wrong?” The vet had been out and couldn’t find a physical cause.
I researched his history a little more, and found out that Buckley had been relocated after the death of his previous owner. The new owners had taken a “hands off” approach while they waited for him to adjust to his new surroundings, but that was exactly the opposite of what this horse needed.
Grieving and insecure in new and unfamiliar surroundings, he needed extra attention and interaction to help him bond with his new owners. We developed a schedule for daily grooming and riding, and they followed my advice to include him, as much as they could, in outdoor family activities. In a few weeks, Buckley was a different horse and interacting well in his new situation.
I received a call from Jinx’s owner, Jenny, after he had lunged at her little boy, giving him a black eye. “You need to do something right now” I told her, “the next time he could bite.” And it was was clear from his attitude when I entered the house, that this dog was a danger.
Jenny was pregnant, newly relocated to Rapid City, and her husband was deployed to Iraq. The dog was missing the family member he most respected, disturbed over the move, and a classic example of a dog filled with fear and confusion reacting with mounting hostility and aggression.
Jinx’s reactions were so fear-based and persistent that they suggested a chemical imbalance so I treated him with drops of pear and orange flower essences.
We also had multiple sessions – sometimes difficult at first — reinforcing to the dog that his role was subordinate to that of Jenny and her toddler.
After some training and behavioral work, Jinx became a more secure and relaxed dog, giving up his threatening behavior towards family members and visitors.
Wendy had an experience that’s not all that unusual. When you rescue a stray it can seem docile and gentle at first only to become after while, well, a whole different animal.
In poor physical condition and initially keeping a low profile in his new household, Midnight seemed like he would fit right in. But as his strength increased, so did his attitude. Soon he exhibited an unhappy tendency to unprovoked biting.
We had to teach Midnight the difference between good behavior and bad behavior — praising him lavishly for the former and using a form of kitty “time out” for the latter.
Soon he was a rehabilitated cat and living harmoniously with his new clan.
My passion is to train and rehabilitate dogs with behavioral issues. Some even call me a "dog whisperer" thanks to my ability to work through particularly tough behavior problems and help with aggressive dogs, even when other trainers have failed and owners have nearly given up.
Through my early love for animals, I developed it into a lifetime career and commitment. Backed with 20 years of animal training experience, I take pride in making life better for people and pets through my animal psychology services.
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