Positive Dog Training Education for Adventure Dogs & Their People
Positive Dog Training Education for Adventure Dogs & Their People
At Summit® Dog Training, we believe in cultivating positive, life-long friendships with dogs using motivational, reward-based training, also known as “positive reinforcement.” We believe in using scientific learning principles that promote happy humans and happy, healthy dogs. We believe that by building a relationship founded on trust and friendship, dogs and their humans can have better adventures together.
We offer in-person dog training in Fort Collins, Colorado, and online dog training coaching around the world!
Meet the Summit® Team
Meet the Summit® Team
Summit Dog Training Owner and Head Trainer, Amber Quann, has been training dogs since an early age. Through participation in a 4-H dog club, Amber grew up competing in various dog sports, including rally, agility, obedience, and conformation. Her current adventure partner is Jameson, a Papillon; together, they enjoy hiking, backpacking, walks in the park, hanging out at breweries, and nose work!
Amber is fascinated by the bond that grows between dogs and their owners as they adventure together, and promoting this special connection is a significant part of Summit Dog Training's mission. Amber is a graduate and Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge & Skills Assessed through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Amber also has the TAGteach Level 1 certification, and is an evaluator for the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program. She was voted #1 Dog Trainer in Colorado & #15 Dog Trainer in the USA for 2022.
To learn more about our head trainer, click here for her full bio page.
Sarah has been an animal lover since childhood - she was one of those children always dragging animals home asking “can we keep it?”. Her specific interest in training and behavior started when she co-founded A Soft Place to Land in 2010, a rescue helping breeding dogs from commercial breeding facilities. The special attention these dogs needed prompted Sarah to learn as much as she could about positive reinforcement practices in training. As ASPTL became known as a rescue that would take less-than-easily adoptable dogs with either medical or behavioral needs, Sarah fostered dogs of all shapes, sizes, and behavioral challenges. Sarah is a graduate and Certified Training Partner of the Karen Pryor Academy and a Puppy Start Right Instructor.
Shay grew up exploring the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and has always had a canine partner for all of her outdoor adventures. It was here that she discovered her passion for dogs, and the joy of reward-based training. She believes that whether you are hiking, climbing, camping, or just exploring nature, the trail feels better with a dog by your side. Shay trains with the goal of developing a partnership between you and your dog based on trust and clear communication so that you and your best friend can spend more time doing what you love together. Shay is a graduate and Certified Training Partner of the Karen Pryor Academy and has been training professionally since 2017. She shares her home with Daisy, a spirited and tenacious American Staffordshire Terrier mix. They enjoy exploring the outdoors together, and participating in a variety of sports including rally, agility, and barn hunt.
Angela Murray grew up tagging along and assisting in all aspects of her mother’s dog training business. After studying wolf behavior at Wolf Park in Battleground, Indiana, she decided to pursue a career in canines to make an impact on people’s everyday lives and help dogs stay in their forever homes. She has more than 30 years of experience teaching group classes, private lessons, and working with dogs with behavioral challenges. Angela is a Certified Behavior Consultant through CCPDT, as well as completing the University of Washington’s Applied Animal Behavior course. She has spent the last five years focused on training other professionals and dog enthusiasts by creating and implementing a dog training program at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and she is continuing this work at Aims Community College here in Northern Colorado. She has also been a mentor for the Animal Behavior College & CATCH Training Academy. Angela’s current focus is on dogs social and emotional struggles. Through behavioral therapy she teaches them how to work their feelings independent of humans, allowing them to adapt to various situations. Angela believes in fostering a relationship between people and dogs based on understanding, trust, and security, allowing dogs the unlimited potential to be the best they can be. Angela currently shares her home with partner Dave, two Australian shepherds and a cat.
Dani has been passionate about all things dog since she was a young child. When her rescue German shepherd introduced her to the world of behavior, her path into dog training and behavior became clear. Nearly two decades later, she is a certified Canine Training Partner from the esteemed Karen Pryor Academy, she breeds a line of Australian shepherds competitive in any venue they choose, and she trains and competes with her own and others’ dogs in a variety of sports including agility, rally, herding, disc, nosework, barn hunt, dock diving, fastCAT, earth dog, conformation, and more. Dani was on the admin team for the Puppy Culture Facebook support group, and through her Aussie breeding program, she develops and utilizes her own puppy raising protocols. She was mentored for over a decade by a prominent herding instructor. Dani has been coaching pet parents professionally since 2012.
In her free time, you can find Dani building out her herding training facilities, hiking at Red Feather, or playing tabletop games with friends.
Justine’s dog training journey began in 2019 when she attended mandatory classes in Switzerland with her rescue dogs, Rio & Fynn. From the first class, she experienced the joy of working together and understanding her dogs better. Shortly after, she began mentoring and working for Swiss Dog School providing clients with the skills needed to stimulate, engage and bond with their dogs and prepare them to handle the demands of city life. She is CPDT-KA certified and has attended various seminars including mantrailing, scent differentiation and first aid. Justine also has 12+ years coaching people in various sports, CrossFit and personal training helping them learn new skills and build new habits. She is passionate about helping others navigate the challenges of being a dog owner and learning to enjoy the process of integrating their furry family members into daily life.
Justine grew up in Colorado surrounding herself with as many pets as she was allowed including German Shepards, cats, ducks, rats and fish. She incorporates Rio & Fynn into as many of her hobbies as possible including backpacking/hiking, going to restaurants and working out! She also enjoys seeing her dogs use their talents in sports like mantrailing and agility.
Nick has been an animal lover all his life. From growing up in a house full of dogs, to now having his own pack, it’s truly been a lifetime of experience and companionship! After spending a few years as a hospice/special needs foster for Izzy’s Place Senior Dog Rescue, Nick now spends time supporting his partner in her pursuits in dog sports. With an extensive background in the music industry, he brings a history of administrative communication and event coordination to the Summit Dog Training family. He lives in Fort Collins with his girlfriend, Erica. They share their home with five loving pups, Atlas, Marvin, Lizzy, Lily, and Ruvaak.
Even though Taylor didn’t come from an animal family, she was adamant about having a life surrounded by them. Every single job she's held has been to better the lives of dogs and other species. She has been advocating for animals since she can remember and brings that inspiration into every aspect of her work. In another part of her life, Taylor researches animal-human relationships and animal welfare. Taylor has a master’s degree in Conservation Leadership from CSU where she learned the skills to manage a variety of projects at any given time. She supports the Summit Dog Training team by ensuring everything runs smoothly in the background to guarantee the best services for you and your dog. Taylor calls Fort Collins home with her black lab/german shepherd, Riley.
Certifications, Education & Titles
Certifications, Education & Titles
At Summit® Dog Training, we place a high value on achieving and maintaining industry-recognized certifications for our trainers. The dog training industry is unregulated, and thus anyone who has trained a dog (and even those who haven’t) can call themselves a “dog trainer.” Because of this, we consider it very important that our trainers have industry credentials to assure our clients that the training services they receive are based on current industry standards and scientifically-sound training principles. In addition, these certifications require periodic continuing education in order to remain certified, thus ensuring that our trainers are always learning new things about dogs in order to better serve our clients. One of our core values is that Learning Never Stops - and each of us on the Summit® team is committed to continuing to educate ourselves on the best dog training and behavior modification practices.
Since dog training is an unregulated industry, there is very little standardization of job titles across training companies, so you’ll see a wide range of titles that have very little meaning when compared to each other. At Summit®, we use the terms “Dog Trainer” and “Behavior Therapist” to describe the skills and expertise that our trainers have - but what’s the difference between these two labels? Here’s how we define these terms for our purposes at Summit®:
Dog Trainer: A dog trainer is a professional who specializes in teaching and guiding dogs to exhibit desired behaviors or train for skills related to the goals that their human family members have for them. At Summit®, all of our dog trainers have at least one industry-recognized professional credential.
Behavior Therapist: A behavior therapist is a dog trainer who has pursued specific education or credentials in behavior problem solving and behavior modification support for common and advanced behavior challenges that many dog owners face. At Summit®, all of our dog trainers have a wealth of knowledge for solving many behavior challenges; however, you’ll see the “Behavior Therapist” title added to our team members who specialize in behavior modification and routinely support our most challenging behavior cases.
You can click the + buttons to learn more about each credential.
Trainers with this designation are graduates of the Karen Pryor Academy, a leading proponent of science and behavior-based training methods. These trainers must complete continuing education and renew a code of ethics every year in order to remain a Certified Training Partner with the organization.
Trainers with this designation have passed an independent certification process with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) testing their knowledge and experience with dogs and training. These trainers must complete continuing education and renew a code of ethics every three years to remain a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with the organization.
The KA designation requires passing a vigorous written exam, and the KSA designation requires passing an additional video evaluation of the instructor's hands-on training skills.
Trainers with this designation have passed an independent certification process with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) focused on canine behavior modification. These trainers must complete continuing education and renew a code of ethics every three years to remain a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine with the organization.
A Family Dog Mediator (FDM) is trained in ethology, focusing on the behavior of domesticated animals and their relationship with humans. Using the L.E.G.S. model—Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self—they assess the unique factors shaping a dog's behavior. Rather than just addressing specific issues, FDMs take a holistic approach, meeting dogs and families where they are and providing honest, informed guidance to support a harmonious life together.
Learn more about Family Dog Mediation here.
We're ready when you are... just bring your pup along and we'll get started!
We're ready when you are... just bring your pup along and we'll get started!