What Are My Credentials?
In September 2006 I began volunteering at the Potter League for Animals in Middletown, RI. I'm a HeadStart Dog Trainer. As part of the HeadStart Team we give basic obedience training to the dogs who need a little work before becoming adopted. We teach the dogs new behaviors such as sit, stay, touch, wait, leave it, and loose leash walking. I was on the team in 2007 and rejoined in February 2011.
This is where I familiarized myself with a wide variety of breeds. We work with both purebreds and mixes. In addition to my experience at the Potter League, I have the following credentials:
- Insured and Bonded - Pet Sitters Associates, LLC
- References
- Pet First Aid Certified - Rhode Island Red Cross
- HeadStart Trainer Certificate - Potter League For Animals
- B.C.I. Check - Dept. of Attorney General, Providence, RI
- Registered Business - Town of North Kingstown
Who Am I?
My name is Mike Hatch and I live in North Kingstown. I love dogs and have always had a dog in my life. I became interested in dog behavior and training back in the summer of '06. Like many dog lovers, I thought other people train dogs. Like it was some kind of special magical gift other people had. In 2006 my view on this completely changed. A popular TV show opened my eyes and ears to the world of dog behavior and training. Prior to this, I was a typical human being attributing human characteristics to canines. Everything I had thought about dogs was wrong.
Not long after this I began to read books on dogs such as The Other End Of The Leash, The Culture Clash, and Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide. Next, I began to watch several dog behavior/training seminars by many of the world's most renowned dog trainers. The more I learned about dogs the better my relationship with our own little canine friend grew. Walks with our dog became so much more enjoyable. Instead of him pulling and leading me, we now walked side by side.
