MEET THE TRAINER: Maddie Speirs SAPT

Growing up, I took every opportunity to work with animals that I could find. I volunteered at shelters, worked to ride at the barn, and got my first real job as a doggy daycare attendant in high school. When I got to college, where I chose to dual major in Animal and Environmental Studies, I joined a wildlife rescue team and have saved seabirds, birds of prey, squirrels, possums, and more.
On a camping trip during my sophomore year of college, I found a dog who had been dumped on the side of the road. Knowing I couldn’t leave her there, I took her in, and when I couldn’t find her owner or a willing home, I decided to keep her. That dog threw me into the world of dog training, and I never looked back. Both of the dogs that I have shared my life with have come to me with significant behavioral issues, so I have developed plenty of empathy for dog guardians who are struggling with their dog.
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I know how hard it can be to share your life with a dog who is having a hard time, and I am excited to make life easier for both you and your dog! I am a certified SA Pro, so if your dog struggles with alone time or being separated from ‘their person,’ I am here to help! Helping dogs and their people through separation anxiety and similar behaviors is a passion of mine because comfortable alone time is often such a relief for both the humans and the dogs. Because I know how hard life can be with difficult dogs, I am also really passionate about working with dogs through puppyhood and adolescence to create stable and resilient adult dogs. I have become a firm believer in positive reinforcement and consent based training. I want the dogs that I work with to be enthusiastic and unafraid learners who feel comfortable showing me how they really feel. I am a lifelong learner, and I am dedicated to continuing my education, and staying up to date on the most humane and effective ways to train.
NOW SERVING PENNSYLVANIA IN-PERSON: Swarthmore (19081), Wallingford (19086), Rose Valley (19063), Media (19065, 19091), Bryn Mawr (19010), Radnor (19008), Wayne (19087), Villanova (19085), Wynnewood (19096), Haverford (19041), and Ardmore (19003)
FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS
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Eckerd College
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Senior (graduating spring of 2023)
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Dual major in Animal and Environmental Studies
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Undergraduate Research Assistant - Conservation, Behavior, and Population Ecology
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Certified Separation Anxiety Pro (Cert. SAPT)​
EXPERIENCE
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Volunteer
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Providence Animal Center (2017-2019)
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Red Paw Emergency Relief Team (2019)
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SPCA Tampa Bay (2021- Present)
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SWFL House Rabbit Rescue (2021-Present)
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Research
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NOAA Atlantic Sturgeon Population Research Assistant (2020)
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Eckerd Student Research Bioacoustics Lab (2021)
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Eckerd Student Research Animal Cognition Lab (2022)
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Work
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Stable Hand and Riding Instructor, Ashford Farm (2014-2019)
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Doggy Daycare Attendant, Kiwi Dogz (2018-2019)
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Rescuer and Rehabber, Birds in Helping Hands (2019-Present)
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​CONTINUING EDUCATION
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Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
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Management for Reactive Dogs
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Dealing with the Bogeyman: Helping Reactive and Fearful Dogs- The Play Way!
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Crate Training Dogs: Happy Crating for Life
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The Power of YES: Consent in Dog Training
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The Lemonade Virtual Conference (2022)
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Michael Shikashio - Aggression in Dogs
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3 day Workshop (2022)
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Trish McMillan
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Losing Lulu - Making the Decision for Families (2021)
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Penn Vet Working Dog Porgram (2023)​
​AS SEEN ON
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Pawsitive Futures Blog
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SniffSpot 2023 Best Dog Trainers Contest - Georgia's + Florida's Top Trainer List
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Pawsitively Dog-Powered Podcast Adventure Dogs

