Staff

Kim Schiro - Head Trainer

Kim is a Certified Dog Trainer who graduated with honors in 2007 from Animal Behavior College and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). She served in the Best Friends Animal Society Community Training Partner program and currently works as a Mentor Trainer for other students who are completing their ABC Certification Program.

Kim has studied under the guidance of many respected professional trainers learning a wide range of philosophies from each one and regularly supplements her education by attending training seminars and workshops. She is certified in animal nutrition and Dog CPR/First Aid; she also has professional experience with various other animal species. Kim served as president of the Chicago Dachshund Lovers Club for 15 years and actively competes with her dogs in obedience, rally, agility, barnhunt, happy ratters and herding, earning numerous titles in each venue with all of her dogs.

Kim helps dog owners teach their canine companions to be well-behaved, happy members of the family. She specializes in not only obedience, rally, and agility training but also more serious issues including fearfulness, anxiety, nuisance barking and aggression. Her approach to training always emphasizes humane methods and listening to the dogs’ side of the issue.

Kim lives in Chicago with her dogs; Frank, Dean, and Tony. For fun, she can always be found with her dogs competing in obedience, agility, and barnhunt rings or at the farm herding the ducks and sheep.

Jorge Sanchez – Trainer

Jorge is a Certified Dog Trainer who graduated with honors from Animal Behavior College in 2016, and is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). He is certified in Dog CPR/first aid, specializes in obedience/puppy training and heads up our in-home training program. Jorge also owns a successful photography business and serves as a mentor to teens with his church. Jorge lives in Chicago with his wife, Rosa and son, Benjamin, border collie, Mac, Goldendoodle, Cheese, and Panda, the cat.

Cindy Ottensmeyer – Trainer

Cindy is a Certified Dog Trainer who graduated with honors from Animal Behavior College in 2019. She is certified in Dog CPR/first aid and specializes in obedience, rally, agility, and happy ratters training. Cindy was introduced to dog training 7 years ago, and dug deeper into training and behavior after being hired at Anti-Cruelty Society in 2014. Serving as their assistant supervisor of their adoption center, she helped develop a training program for the adoptable dogs. In 2022, she earned her Veterinary Tech Certification and currently practices at Premier Veterinary Emergency Care Group in Chicago. Cindy lives in Chicago, with Nemi and Eddie, her canine companions, Kook, her feline, and has recently entered the world of competition dog sports earning titles in obedience and rally.

Photo Albums

Graduates

Recent

“I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you for everything from jumping through tunnels to walking next to Logan. I have to tell you that I initially questioned the decision in taking an Obedience class again. My friends even wondered why I did it. But somewhere between the first week and the last week of Obedience I realized something; I realized I didn't do it so that Logan could walk better with me, I didn't do it because Logan needed a stronger hand. I did it because I needed to understand how to walk with Logan not the other way around. I did it because I needed to be a stronger leader for my boy. He doesn't need a stronger hand. The class was for me not for him.”
-David