Meet Sally Kemper, CDBC, CPDT-KA | Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge-Assessed

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sally Kemper, CDBC, CPDT-KA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sally, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My business significantly impacts my community—all of Los Angeles County, to be specific—by helping people, who have adopted a dog with behavioral problems. Whether the goal is to have a companion, protection, service or therapy dog, I help modify any behavioral issue that becomes an obstacle. Since the Pandemic, dog adoption, rescues and fosters have increased at an unprecedented number. Dogs are more conducive for humans who want to nurture a living being but are not ready or able to have children. However, a high percentage of these dogs present some type of hazardous behavior that limits the owner’s ability to keep the them. That’s where I step in and help these pet parents attain their initial objectives and subsequently keep the shelters from overflowing.

What should our readers know about your business?
I operate my business with the utmost “hands-on” services, treating every client’s dog as if he or she were my own. While I have a wonderful assistant, “Sam” Luis Soto, I’m always involved in every aspect of my business—dog training and pet care services. Every dog I interact with is treated as if they are at their own home. All of the dogs’ treat me as if I’m one of their owners.
I pride myself on focusing on the “Total Dog”—meaning, the dog’s overall well-being, including: mental and physical health; nutrition; allergies, and much more are never ignored.
There’s no match for when I experience the happiness and excitement my students display when they see me.
In 2011, I was exiting a very stressful corporate job at one of the Hollywood studios that I had been at for a number of years. I decided that I wanted to pursue my own film production company and adopted a dog at the same time to help me cope with some physical and mental challenges. The vibrant and highly intelligent Jack Russel mix I named Taco Bella not only changed my life, as I trained her as my service dog, but she thrived on additional responsibilities as a dog actor in my short films and other media projects.
It wasn’t long before other friends and people I met at the dog park began asking me to train their dogs. I established a dog walking and pet sitting business to fortify my income and began training those dogs for free. While it was extremely tiresome and challenging, I began studying dog behavior on the side. Within a few months, I completed a two-year dog training and instructor program. Then, I studied for the CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) certification and passed the test. I followed that with the IAABC (International Association of Behavior Consultants) certification. I became an instructor and evaluator for the AKC (American Kennel Club) Canine Good Citizen and joined the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (ADT). Business started booming from referrals coming from all of these organizations; veterinarians; shelters; rescues; and word of mouth. Then I started growing my social media, and as a result, I had to put all of my attention on the dog business. During the Pandemic, it was at an all-time high and has still be going strong.
I recently began filming my training sessions with problematic dogs, who I rehabilitate the correct way, in accordance with LIMA (Least Intrusive/Minimally Aversive) and under the guidelines of the certification boards. I started producing a dog training show that can help educate dog owners while adding some humorous entertainment that every pet parent can relate to. I hope it will be picked up by one of the networks in the near future since there is a lack of content that is conducive with these requirements.

It was not easy at all. I left a very high-paying consistent job for the unknown. The fact that I did not have the stress I had experienced for so many years and was able to fall back on my strong sales and marketing background while doing something I loved and was so passionate about, made it a journey that I was definitely cut out for. I’ve always known that I was a risk-taker, but it wasn’t until after I made the leap that I realized I am a true entrepreneur. When I face challenges, my body and mind go into overdrive. I’m a very hard worker, but I’ve learned how to work smarter rather than harder.
As cliche as it may sound, one lesson I learned along the way is to never to listen to someone who doesn’t have as much to lose as you do or has not walked in your shoes. I’ve followed my gut instincts and the decisions I made and have no regrets.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would send them to the off leash dog parks, such as Dog People in Santa Monica or the Laurel Canyon Dog Park on Mulholland.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT); International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC); American Kennel Club (AKC); James O’Heare, Behaviorologist and Author;; and the late Dr. Suresh Dogra, Veterinarian at Aloro Pet Hospital.

Website: www.mandersbestfriends.com and www.manderfilms.com

Instagram: @sally_mander_dog_trainer

Facebook: @mandersbestfriends

Yelp: Mander’s Best Friends

Image Credits
Sally Kemper