Judy Moore is the owner of Canine Behavior Counseling, LLC. She is the only Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant in the greater Portland, Maine area (ACDBC). Judy is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator along with an AKC STAR Puppy Instructor. Judy is also the Head Trainer for the Portland Maine Chapter, Pets for Vets Program. Judy specializes in individual private behavior modification sessions and teaches reward based training classes in Falmouth Maine. She is recommended by more than 25 veterinarians, and has volunteered countless hours to many rescue groups in the area. She has been training dogs professionally for over 8 years and can be found listed as a Professional member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, the Society for the Prormotion of Applied Research in Canine Science as well as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
"I am truly fortunate that I discovered a career, as an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. This business is both incredibly rewarding and enjoyable! I have learned over the years that I am able to relate well with both people and animals, and it has become my mission to share that skill in bettering the lives of both. Through Canine Behavior Counseling I am fulfilling that mission in training problem dogs, and improving their relationship with their owners. The resulting pride, joy and happiness in both the dog and owner is what I celebrate most after my counseling sessions."
My animal-loving and training background began as a child growing up on a small Quarter Horse Farm in Cincinnati, Ohio. As the seventh child of eight my beloved parents, Martha and Fran Rapp demonstrated unconditional love for unwanted pets. I was surrounded by all sorts of animals, and cared for many pets. But, growing up on a horse farm meant the primary work was in caring for the horses. I not only cared for registered Quarter Horses, I trained them and competed at the highest levels in AQHA shows and competitions throughout the country for over 20 years. Of course, dogs were always at my side and I also volunteered my time supporting my mother’s efforts at the local Animal Shelter, where she was President. The “problem” dogs that were otherwise hard to find homes for found their way to our house. That’s how I recognized my gift for training dogs, developed my understanding of their behavior, and reapplied the approach of positive reinforcement I utilized effectively raising and training horses.
Understanding and relating well to animals is only half the equation! I also work well with people, and have made a “second” career as a school teacher, professionally licensed youth soccer coach, and mom to my three children -- who are also growing up too fast, but fortunately have the same love of animals that I do! Spring of 1997 I attended sessions called, "STEP", Systematic Training for Effective Parenting and have used these reward based methods of parenting ever since.
Canine Behavior Counseling is now my full-time “passion” outside of my home life. I work with owners and their dogs to find that “joyful balance” in the relationship, I am also the one and only trainer for the Pets for Vets Program in the state of Maine, along with fostering, evaluating and training dogs with a possible bite history. I also seem to find time to volunteer the services of “Annie”, a dog I adopted and trained as a registered Therapy dog, at a local retirement home.
I’m busy, and I absolutely love what I do! If you have a “problem” dog, or simply want to improve the relationship you have with your dog, contact me, as I welcome the opportunity to help. There is nothing that gives me greater joy!
