Brandi Barker, MFA, CPDT
Training and Behavior Consultant
Barker Behavior, Inc.
http://www.barkerbehavior.com
brandi@barkerbehavior.com
773.935.2161
With the last name “Barker”, Brandi was destined to work with dogs! A lifelong animal lover; she formally began training dogs in 2001 when she completed her apprenticeship at the Anti-Cruelty Society. In the classroom, she honed her interpretation of canine body language, developed a toolbox of effective behavior modification techniques and fine-tuned her communication skills with dogs and people while only using reward-based techniques.
Brandi completed her Master’s degree in 2006 at DePaul University in Developing Behavior Management Practices to Enhance Understanding in Human/Animal Relationships. She also recently added Certified Pet Dog Trainer to her list of credentials. Brandi's unique achievements gave her a solid foundation in animal learning theory, ethology and operant and classical conditioning. She uses this knowledge in conjunction with the active listening, relationship development and creative problem solving skills she acquired from a decade in the corporate world. Using compassion when diagnosing behavioral issues and designing personalized behavior modification plans to fit her clients’ lifestyles, Brandi provides Chicago canines and their people with tangible training solutions.
Brandi is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, has been published in Chronicle of the Dog and has worked with hundreds of animals. She is currently teaching customized small group classes at Stay Dog Hotel and Wigglyville. When she’s not doing that or curbing Chicagoland canines in private consultations, she enjoys time with her tennis-ball loving best friend named Finn. Her philosophy incorporates attainable goals into every day life with a lot of patience, fairness and fun…for humans and dogs.