Carolyn
Barney, CPDT
 Carolyn
founded Gemini Dog Training & Daycare in
Littleton, MA. in 1991 where she loves to teach
competitive agility classes. Gemini is a full service
dog training, behavior, grooming and daycare center
that uses clicker training techniques in all private
lessons, consultations and 35 classes per week. She
created Gemini's intensive instructor education and
apprenticeship program. Carolyn, along with her senior
instructors, has trained and mentored over 100
potential dog training instructors. Many of her
previous students and staff trained through the
program have graduated on to run their own classes and
businesses. Carolyn's interest in training started in
childhood rearing a foal, training young horses, and
preparing them for competition. It was a natural
transition to start formalizing her interests through
her undergraduate education that included course work
in art education and a minor in psychology. Carolyn
has been an Association of Pet Dog Trainers member
since 1995, having served on the Ethics Committee. In
November 2001, Carolyn and three other Gemini
instructors made history, along with 117 other dog
trainers in the USA, passing the first professional
certification test promoted and developed by APDT
members and a professional testing company.
The pursuit for a better understanding of the canine
mind and behavior has been the motivating factor in
all aspects of her dog experience. Beginning with
traditional training techniques, she knew there just
had to be a better way. Pursuing that better way has
evolved into clicker training and a more thoughtful
and effective use of operant and classical
conditioning. Carolyn believes that training and
behavior modification should be safe, enjoyable, and
successful for both the dog and the humans who love
them. Most importantly, she maintains an open mind to
new information and what every dog has to teach the
human student. Experiences such as breeding English
Springer Spaniels for 10 years, running a boarding and
training kennel, working as a veterinary technician,
apprenticing with Canine Behavior Services in
Northwood, NH, teaching and counseling thousands of
dog owners, training and cultivating her business's
teaching staff, and attending many, many educational
seminars including the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
(APDT) conferences, Tufts Annual Symposium, the Dogs
of Course, Advanced Instructor Training Course, Clean
Run Camps, Bob Bailey's Chicken Camp, and Clicker Expo
have all served as a continuing source of education.
Carolyn,
not only teaches classes at Gemini but is involved in
other areas of training and behavior. She co-teaches
two canine cognition/behavior courses at Harvard
University Extension School each week. These masters
level courses attract people from all over the country
with a flexible distance learning option. This allows
Carolyn to share her knowledge with others outside her
geographic area in addition to conducting seminars on
occasion.
Carolyn
has been writing manuals and curriculum for her
training classes for years and recently decided to
transform her class manual into resource book for the
general public. Her first book, published by Clean Run
Productions, Clicker Basics for Dogs and Puppies
is a handy reference for anyone training a dog as well
as instructors who would like to offer additional
support with their classes or private lessons.
Carolyn, is currently writing her next book that
focuses on agility training.
Carolyn
has always supported responsible breeding and pet
ownership. She was a founding member and the driving
force behind English Springer Spaniel Rescue in New
England for many years. She now continues her work as
a behavior consultant for the MSPCA, providing Rowdy
Rover training classes and behavior therapy for
shelter dogs and their families.
Carolyn
has been training, competing, and titling dogs for
over 20 years in obedience, conformation, tracking,
and earthdog. For the past 8 years she has
concentrated on agility, titling multiple dogs. Her
current competitive agility dog, Parson Russell
Terrier, "Steiff", has completed his USDAA
ADCH title, AKC MACH, NADAC NA, NAJ, NAG JE. He has
qualified for the AKC and USDAA Nationals each year
since 2002 and attended a number of national events.
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