Shannon Riley (Coyner) is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Registered Veterinary Technician, Wellness Coach, and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West.
Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shannon has also spoken at the Annual APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) conferences and covered topics such as "Compassion Fatigue" and "What Is Your Dog's Currency?" In 2021, she spoke at Pet Professional Guilds Geek Week Australia.
Shannon's dog training philosophy revolves around force free, positive reinforcement, however, her ultimate goal is for healthy happy relationship between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment and training all play significant roles in achieving this goal. Shannon spent many years as the head dog trainer for PAWS for Healing, a pet assisted therapy organization. She performed temperament testing and assisted in the training of therapy dogs who visited hospitals, veteran groups, special educational facilities and convalescent homes. She believes strongly in the benefits of developing the human animal bond and can assist in coaching for pets and their human companions to develop that connection. Shannon can provide assistance with training, weight management, exercise and other behavior modifications for your dog or other pets in the Ventura area.
Shannon is a past President for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians, an Allied Industry Member of Arizona Veterinary Medical Association and sponsor of California Registered Veterinary Technician Association.
Shannon created, The Backyard Pet Talk Podcast, for pet lovers! Whether you are a professional in the animal field or a pet parent this podcast is for you! Do you have a question about training your dog? Here’s your chance to ask Shannon at no cost! Submit your question here and Shannon will answer this during our next Ask The Animal Trainer YouTube LIVE!
Shannon was interviewed by Bloom TV with Gayle Guyardo and Daytime TV with Maggie Rodriguez
Shannon's Book "The Evolution of Dog Training" is now available in print, audio and Ebook on Amazon or Barnes & Noble ! Starting in 2023, eBook: The Evolution of Dog Training is now in Spanish!
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