Pawsitive Reactions is owned and operated by Debby McMullen. Debby McMullen is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC (more info below). Debby began her training career in 1998 as a volunteer instructor at Animal Friends in Pittsburgh. She has been teaching various group classes at the shelter on a regular basis since that date. She currently teaches the Companion Dog Manners class there, as well as assisting with other classes as needed. She has been doing private consultations for several years through Pawsitive Reactions. Debby's training methods are primarily positive reinforcement based and dog-friendly, using proven scientific techniques for effective and humane training. Debby has 4 dogs of her own in residence and typically has a foster dog or two as well.

Debby believes in building a strong relationship with the canines in our lives. Everything flows from that point on. If you clearly communicate with your dog what you desire, then it effectively improves the relationship, resulting in a more complete harmony all around. Debby's goal is to give you the skills that you need to achieve this harmony. She believes in imparting the knowledge that you need in order to help make you a better dog guardian as a whole. Your dog will thank you for taking the time to understand the human/canine relationship needs!

Debby believes in training without pain and supports methods that do just that. For more information on what this entails, please see Truly Dog Friendly.

To locate a trainer near you who subscribes to these methods, please see Dog Friendly Trainers.

Professional memberships and affiliations:

• Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) - professional member since 1999
• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) - certified member

Debby is also the founder and President of Damon's Den Dobe Rescue of Western PA, a not-for-profit group which rescues abandoned, displaced and unwanted Dobermans and places them into loving and caring indoor homes.

Pet (and human!) pencil portraits

Debby is a member of the No Shock Collar Coalition.