About Us

Before starting Rivers Edge Dog Training, Sue participated in competition obedience, rally obedience and agility. Sue began clicker training with her dogs in 1996 and continued to learn more and apply this exciting technology to training her dogs with great success. They achieved multiple titles, many placements and 5 High in Trials.

Sue has had dogs and a variety of other pets all of her life. She also enjoys creative hobbies, cooking and crochet.

Certifications

Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner

The Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior is an intensive 6 month course that teaches how to be a skilled animal trainer using force free methods. KPA teaches and assesses the knowledge, teaching ability and training skills of all graduates through written coursework and in person, hands on assessments. Sue graduated from KPA with distinction in January 2010 and became the first KPA Certified Training Partner in Connecticut.

Clicker Assessment Program

The Competency Assessment Program (CAP) was developed by Brittish trainer and seminar presenter Kay Lawrence. The multi-level program assesses clicker training skills and your ability to train simple to advanced behaviors. Sue earned the CAP3 with distinction, on October 31, 2004 becoming the first person in the US to achieve that level.

Special events

Demonstration at the Harvard Coop

On June 16, 2010 Karen Pryor gave a talk about her latest book, "Reaching the Animal Mind" and held a clicker training workshop at the Harvard Coop. Sue and her Border Collie, Zip demonstrated a 12 behavior chain (12 behaviors, each done on cue, with only one C&T at the end) for the audience.

View a photo on the Karen Pryor Academy's Facebook page.

Zip, Border Collie

Director of Training Systems Analysis

Vice President of Public Relations

Belle, Shetland Sheepdog

VP of Training Systems Analysis

Director of Security

Continuing Education

Some of the seminars and workshops Sue has attended, helping her keep up with the latest training techinques and knowledge.

Managing Separation Anxiety

Debra Horwitz DVM, DACVB

Debbie Martin RVT, VTS (Behavior)

June 10, 2011

A 60 minute webcast covering the three components of managing separation anxiety.

Elevate Your Training
Bob Bailey and Parvene Farhoody
Expect more and get more from your training.

November 7, 2010

From Purgatory to Nirvana: The Path to Enlightened Training
Ken Rameriz
Senior Vice President and Head of Animal Training, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago

July 18, 2010
This one day seminar covered Problem Solving, how to solve training challenges systematically and Non-Food Reinforcers, how to effectively use a variety of reinforcers.

HITT Tracking Workshop
Steve White
Andover, MA
October 6, 7 2007

Hydration Intensified Tracking Training

Clicker Expo: Reaching Higher and Higher
Newport, RI
March 31, April 1, 2 2006

Clicker Expo is a 3 day event featuring presentations from top clicker trainers.

Clicking with Class
Kathy Sdao, M.A.
Littleton, MA

October 14, 2005

Does the Name Pavlov Ring a Bell?
Kathy Sdao, M.A.
Littleton, MA

October 15 & 16, 2005

Clicker Expo
Philadelphia, PA
April 2004

Know Way, Know How: The Science and Art of Clicker Training
Kathy Sdao, M.A.
Boxborough, MA
2003