Veronica Sanchez M.Ed., CPDT-KA, CDBC is known for her expertise in service dogs. She founded the Service Dog Coach Certificate™ program and wrote the book, Service Dog Coaching: A Guide for Pet Dog Trainers. She is a frequent speaker and writer for professional organizations including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Pet Professional Guild.
Veronica’s career in dog training began in the 1990s and includes working with non-profit service dog programs, helping people with disabilities train their own dogs for service work, and helping thousands of pet owners with a range of issues, from basic manners to serious behavior problems. Her service dog experience includes training service dogs for people with diverse needs, such as mobility, hearing, neurological conditions, mental illness, and even a dual guide-mobility dog.
Veronica’s interest in service work is both personal and professional. She has a neurological movement disorder called dystonia and she trained her own dogs as service dogs. She also enjoys training in various activities and has titled several of her dogs in Rally Obedience. Veronica and her husband live with their collies in Vienna, Virginia.
Veronica’s credentials:
- Masters in education and a Bachelors in psychology from George Mason University.
- Certificate in Brain Research in Education from a Washington University program sponsored by the NIH
- Certifications in training and behavior consulting include the CPDT-KA and the CDBC and CCBC.
Professional Achievements
- Conferences – APDT Conference (2021), Pet Professional Guild “Geek Week” (2021, 2020), Mid Atlantic Positive Dog Trainers (2018), IAABC (2006), PAWS Service Dogs (2004).
- Podcasts –
- Bitey End of the Dog with Michael Shikashio 2024
- PPG Barks Podcast with Niki Tudge 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019
- Animal Training Academy Podcast with Ryan Cartlidge (2020)
- Unleashed Resilience with Colleen Pelar – Service (2019)
- Webinars –
- Four Service Dog Public Access Training Strategies PPG 2023
- Working with Clients with Disabilities APDT 2022
- Good Dog in a Box Summit 2019
- Is Service Dog Training the Right Fit for Your Business PPG 2017
- Navigating the Wild West of Service Dogs APDT 2017
- Curriculum contributor for CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
- Invited Speaker for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (2010) – Front Royal Canine Training Center.
- Previously served as a Vice President of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Veronica founded and chaired the Working Animal Division 2006-2007.
- Managing editor of an internationally distributed newsletter for a non-profit service dog program, A Pawsitive Canine Experience. The newsletter won the Dog Writers of America Award in 2006.
