Cindy Rubin

Cindy believes that every dog and handler can find joy and satisfaction in training.

Cindy started teaching for PCOTC in 2000 and had taught for the Kaeley Obedience School in prior years. Her career in dogs started in 1977 when she was employed as a licensed veterinary technician. After working in private practices, she retired from the position of chief surgical nurse for Surgical Animal Welfare League of Westchester County Spay Neuter Clinic in 1979.

Cindy started training in competitive obedience with her English Cocker Spaniel, Muffin, in 1988. She went on to be a CH UD, and at the same time Cindy was training Willie, the first UDX dog in the breed's history. Guy came along and remains the breed's only CH UD MX MXJ. Yes, Cindy has branched out into the world of agility, but she remains committed to obedience. Her Border Collie has a CDX as well as agility titles.

Cindy prides herself at being able to accurately "read" dogs of all breeds and adapt her training methods to best help that dog and handler team. She believes in upbeat, positive methods and her students have gone on to earn over 50 obedience titles. Aside from titles, she wants her students to be happy members of their families and communities.

Cindy takes great joy in recently helping an "untrainable" dog become a happy canine citizen (oh yes, she is also a CGC TDI RE ARCHX ARCHEX CDX-H). She will work through any problem in a consistent, reassuring way, both for the dog and the owner.

Cindy can be reached at rosiesmom@doglover.com 

Nancy Field, CPDT-KA

Nancy Field is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and an Approved Evaluator for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. She began instructing Family Manners classes in 2005.

Her lifelong passion for animals has led to a unique combination of education and experience. During her college years, while completing a B.A. in Biology, Nancy spent summers working for the Children’s Zoo at the Bronx Zoo, and worked with horses as a groom at Finger Lakes Racetrack and at boarding stables in Westchester. She began working professionally with dogs in 1994, after completing a six-month dog training apprenticeship with the ASPCA’s Behavior Department.

Nancy is committed to force-free, reward-based training methods; her goal is to foster and enhance the human/canine relationship while building willing compliance. She continues to expand her knowledge of the latest training methods by attending numerous seminars and workshops covering a wide range of training topics.

She competes in obedience and rally with her Labrador Retriever, Emma (Legacy's Mrs. Peel, RL2) and is currently training Emma for agility competition. She previously competed with her dog Nigel (Matego Nigel CGC, RN, RL3), who was titled to the third (highest) level in APDT rally, and earned an award of excellence and a top-20 national ranking in 2005.

Nancy also offers private training and pet behavior problem-solving in New York City, Westchester, and southern Fairfield, under the name of Harmony Dog Training.

You can reach Nancy via email at info@harmonydogtraining.com 

Jamie McKay, CPDT-KSA

Jamie's early training experience was gained in a shelter, enhancing the adoptability of homeless pets through training and behavioral modification, and training new volunteers to safely handle, train and decipher canine body language. Since 2003, her involvement with the Humane Society of Westchester at New Rochelle’s Train-To-Adopt program has afforded her the opportunity to work with both a diverse group of people and breeds.

Jamie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA), an evaluator for the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program, and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is a former evaluator for Therapy Dogs International. She is the editor of Ask the Trainer: Solutions for Classroom Challenges in the APDT's Chronicles of the Dog, and a contributor to Clean Run magazine.

Jamie regularly attends seminars and is especially interested in learning theory and behavior modification. Jamie has a special interest in working with shy dogs and has over 15 years of experience doing so.

Jamie believes that a solid training foundation leads to a strong bond, develops the dog's focus and work ethic, and ultimately leads to success regardless of what goals each team aspires to.

Jamie currently trains her dogs in Agility. She has achieved titles in Rally, Obedience, Agility, Tricks, and the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program with a variety of breeds. While she enjoys the titles and ribbons her dogs have achieved, she first and foremost treasures the relationship she has with her dogs.

Jamie and her husband Stephen, who is also a Certified Professional Trainer (CPDT-KSA) and fellow PCOTC instructor, own McKay9 Dog Training LLC. Jamie and Stephen share their lives with three Border Collies and a Shetland Sheepdog.

Jamie can be reached at jamiemckay@optonline.net