The Dog Trainer and Snack Leader

Hi, my name is Sherry. I am a wife and partner to one amazing human, and a mom, guardian, and snack leader to two awesome Australian Shepherds. I grew up with dogs and cats and have been around them for most of my life. I realized that it’s my passion to learn more about dogs when my first personal dog, Lucy, experienced her first ever “panic attack” during a Rally Foundations class in 2020. She was diagnosed by our veterinarian with canine noise aversion/anxiety. I wanted to understand how it started, or why it started, so I could help her. All the hows and whys led me to pursuing different courses, seminars, and webinars, classes and conferences from various dog trainers and behaviorists all over the world (no kidding!).

I’ve since been following the works and training methodologies of the experts in the field of dog training and canine behavior: Susan Garrett (Recallers, Crate Games, Home School The Dog), Dr. Amy Cook (Play Way), Karen Pryor (Clicker Training), Dr. Karen Overall (Relaxation Protocol), Patricia McConnell (The Other End of the Leash, The Cautious Canine, Feisty Fido, I’ll Be Home Soon, Feeling Outnumbered, etc.), Jean Donaldson (The Culture Clash, Mine!, Fight!, etc.), Grisha Stewart (BAT), Leslie McDevitt (Control Unleashed, The Pattern Games), Suzanne Clothier, Pat Miller, Alexandra Horowitz, Denise Fenzi, Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Michael Shikashio, and others.

I completed Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) for Animal Training & Behavior Dog Trainer Foundations Course in July 2021 and their Comprehensive Dog Trainer Course in March 2022. Several months of studying and working to get my certification, I then became a certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM) through Kim Brophey’s L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Professional Course and graduated as a Certified Dog Trainer through Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior. I LOVE learning all about canine behavior! I LOVE that after all the studying and educating, I am now better at reading canine body language, understanding their behavior and their emotions, and why they do what they do at the time they do it in the environment that they are in.

I love to continue learning and I do so by taking various courses, webinars/seminars, conferences and classes:

• Completed Fear Free Animal Trainer Certification Program (I am a Fear Free Certified Professional or FFCP)

• Completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course (I learned so much, especially leash handling for reactive dogs and how to properly approach dogs displaying aggressive behaviors)

• Certified Trick Dog Instructor and Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach through Kyra Sundance’s Do More With Your Dog! (tricks training is such a fun and enriching activity!)

• Completed “Working Aggression Cases From 10,000 Miles Away” through the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)

• Completed “Toward a New Understanding of C.A.T. (Constructional Aggression Treatment)” through AggressiveDog.com

• Completed The Dog Enrichment Course through Instinct Dog Behavior & Training

• Attends The Lemonade Conference | Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, The Clicker Expo, APDT Conference, Aggression in Dogs Conference, and others

• Current member of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

When I’m not working with client dogs, I would be on my computer working on lesson plans, reading a book, or baking. I especially love spending time with my dogs, Lucy and Linus. We love tricks training!

I would love to be able to share all the knowledge and skills I’ve learned and continue to learn with other dog guardians who are as passionate as I am with anything dog. If you have come this far on my page, THANK YOU! and I look forward to working with you and your canine companion and family member.

Sherry Llana

FFCP, VSA-CDT, FDM, CTDI, CCFC