Why am I Different?

A simple internet search shows numerous “experts” in the field of animal behavior. The question is, how do you know who’s good, who’s qualified, and who can be most effective for you?  In point of fact, like most questions, there is no simple answer.

Dog trainers are not required to go through any certification or licensing process (other than a business license, which has no relevance regarding skill or knowledge). Anyone can print up cards and call themselves a trainer.  This creates a very wide range of quality and knowledge amongst trainers.

Some trainers are highly educated in the theoretical principles of behavior, but they have not spent a great deal of time (or any) applying those principles in the real world.  Many trainers look at being an expert witness as a way of creating big profit centers for themselves.

So how am I different?  First, I have a very wide range of relevant experience in dog behavior, as well as the pet business in general.  This comprises of training over 9,000 dogs including every recognized AKC breed, working with dog owners for over thirty years, training over nine thousand people to become professional dog trainers, and much more.

One of my companies, Animal Behavior and Training Associates, Inc. (ABTA) was the largest independent dog training company in North America and the exclusive provider of dog obedience classes for the entire Petco chain. Petco bought me out of this in early 2004.  My other company, Animal Behavior College, Inc. (ABC) is a highly respected school with students in all fifty states and every Canadian province.  I also have a successful book and consulting business in the pet industry as well.

Quite simply, I have reached a point in my career where I can afford to offer my services to those causes and/or individuals that I honestly believe can benefit most from them.  It is for this reason that I am making myself available as an expert witness on selected cases.  Since I believe in putting my money where my mouth is, please note my fee schedule and compare it to the competition.  I invite reasonable inquiries and look forward to assisting those organizations and/or individuals looking for justice and in need of my service.
 

Respectfully,

Steve Appelbaum