Guest Trainers
All trainers that volunteer or offer focused fun classes through You and Your Dog Training & Services follow the same training methodology of evidence based training. Each trainer that joins You and Your Dog brings their own fun style and experience to strengthen the bond between dogs and their people.
No trainer hired through You and Your Dog uses any forced based training, in specific, we do not use shock collars, pinch collars, or choke chains.
Not only do we stay up to date on the current research in canine behavior, but we all believe that learning should not be scary, painful, or intimidating.
Debi Ford, CPDT-KA
Debi Ford is a compassionate and dedicated dog trainer certified by the Council of Certified Professional Dog Trainers. This certification ensures she has extensive training experience and has passed a rigorous exam focused on the science of dog behavior. As a licensed Family Dog Mediator, shelter division, Debi embraces an ethology-based approach to dogs, understanding them deeply from a behavioral and ecological perspective.
Debi's journey includes graduating from the Victoria Stilwell Academy of Training and Behavior in 2019 and completing Michael Shikashio’s Master Course in Aggression in 2022. She has also enriched her expertise with Susan Friedman's LLA course, which delves into learning theory and behavior analysis, and proudly holds the title of Empowered Animals! Dog Pro.
With 11 years of experience working with shelter dogs, Debi's heart lies in helping these animals overcome in-shelter struggles and aiding people in better understanding their beloved four-legged companions. Her background as a retail and training manager has honed her people skills, which beautifully translate into fostering strong, positive relationships between people and their dogs.
Not only can Debi be found at You and Your Dog Training & Services, but she is also the Manager of Training and Behavior at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua. She offers both private and group dog classes, dedicating her expertise to helping dogs and their families build strong, positive relationships.
At home, she shares her life with Alfie, a three-year-old Lurcher from Ireland, who brings joy and inspiration to her every day.
Certifications
Kristine Thurston, CPDT-KA
Kristine’s interest in animal training started at a young age when her family brought home their first dog, an English Setter named Max. She enjoyed teaching the family dogs to do tricks and participate in homemade agility courses around the house and always dreamed of having a dog of her own. In 2016, she and her husband adopted their first family dog, Layla, an American Staffordshire Terrier mix. After they brought Layla home, Kristine’s interest in dog training became a passion and they have pursued obedience training, agility, nose work, and trick training together. In 2018, Kristine decided to make her dream of becoming a dog trainer a reality and started teaching group classes and working at a service dog kennel, helping to train rescue dogs to work with veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Prior to this, Kristine was working with children and young adults with Autism in a variety of settings including schools, a residential program, and in their homes. She pursued her Master’s degree in Applied BehaviorAnalysis (ABA) and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for a small company that provides in-home services to families. By completing her degree, she has the advantage of a thorough understanding of behavior and behavior change strategies. Kristine’s time with her clients was an extremely rewarding experience that taught her about patience, kindness, and perseverance in challenging situations.
As Kristine began to dive more into her new career, she found it was the perfect blend between dog training and teaching people. She enjoys helping dogs and their people come together and work as a team. She believes effective communication, respect, and kindness is the key to a strong bond with your dog. She is excited to be a part of the You and Your DogTraining team and is looking forward to bettering the lives of dogs and their people.
