Our Team

• Accredited Dog Trainer – International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
• Fear Free Certified Professional
• Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, STAR Puppy Evaluator, Tricks Evaluator

Janice’s passion for animal training began in 1993 after watching Free Willy. She was captivated not only by the incredible behaviors Willy performed but also by the relationship and trust shared between trainer and animal. From that moment on, she knew she wanted to become an animal trainer.

In 2008, Janice graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a degree in Psychology, focusing on animal behavior. She went on to hold a variety of animal care and training positions in the marine mammal field, including roles at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, and Coral World Ocean Park. During those years, her appreciation for positive reinforcement training continued to grow as she witnessed its effectiveness in building both behavior and relationships.

In 2014, Janice discovered Karen and PAWSitively Obedient and immediately connected with the organization’s reward-based approach to helping dogs and their families succeed. She joined the team as a training assistant and, in 2018, became a certified professional dog trainer.

In May 2025, Janice proudly became the owner of PAWSitively Obedient, continuing the company’s commitment to science-based, reward-based training while helping it grow and evolve for future generations of dogs and their guardians.

Today, Janice is passionate about puppy socialization, positive reinforcement training, and helping guardians build strong, lasting relationships with their dogs. She believes training should be enjoyable for both ends of the leash and strives to create a fun, supportive learning environment where dogs and their people can grow together.

As an advocate for fear-free, cooperative training, Janice believes that with consistency, dedication, and motivation, both dogs and their guardians can accomplish great things. As the owner of PAWSitively Obedient, she is committed to fostering a supportive community where dogs and their guardians can learn, grow, and thrive together.

• Professional Member Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed
• Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, STAR Puppy Evaluator, Tricks Evaluator
• Associate Certified Behavior Consultant IAABC

Karen graduated from Becker Junior College in 1976 with an Associate of Science degree in the Veterinary Assistant Program. She then spent nearly seven years working as a veterinary technician at Angell Memorial Hospital.

During that time, Karen adopted a 9-month-old American Eskimo puppy with several behavior challenges. Seeking help, she enrolled in a companion dog training class taught by Dr. Amy Marder, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist at Angell Memorial Hospital. The experience sparked a passion for dog behavior and training that would shape the rest of her career.

After completing the course, Karen began monitoring classes to further her knowledge and was eventually offered a position as a training assistant for Dr. Marder’s programs. She continued to expand her expertise by attending seminars, taking classes, and studying the work of leading trainers and behavior professionals.

Karen’s training philosophy was heavily influenced by the positive reinforcement methods championed by Dr. Ian Dunbar, a renowned veterinarian and animal behaviorist. When Dr. Dunbar founded the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) in 1993, Karen became a member and remains involved with the organization today. The APDT’s mission is to build better trainers through education—a philosophy that Karen has embraced throughout her career.

Karen believes that effective training is rooted in understanding, communication, and positive reinforcement. Through her instruction, she strives to empower guardians with the knowledge and skills needed to build strong, lasting relationships with their dogs.

As the founder of PAWSitively Obedient, Karen built a training program centered on kindness, education, and reward-based methods. Her dedication to helping dogs and their families succeed continues to influence the values and training philosophy of PAWSitively Obedient today.

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed
• Fear Free Certified Professional
• Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, STAR Puppy Evaluator

Jackie has more than 20 years of experience working with dogs in both veterinary medicine and canine behavior. A certified veterinary technician and canine rehabilitation practitioner, she first became involved in behavior and training in 2001 as a training assistant for Karen Lanoue-Lambrecht while simultaneously building her career in veterinary care.

What began as a way to get her “puppy fix” quickly grew into a passion for helping people better understand their dogs’ behavior and learn effective, compassionate ways to address it.

At PAWSitively Obedient, Jackie teaches group obedience classes on Monday nights, helping dogs and their guardians build stronger communication skills and confidence together. She also maintains a full-time position as a certified veterinary technician at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital, where she specializes in canine physical rehabilitation.

You’ll often find Jackie at the training center with her own four-legged “assistant,” Mulligan, by her side.

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Kncowledge Assessed
• Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, STAR Puppy Evaluator, Tricks Evaluator

Growing up, Victoria was passionate about anything and everything dog-related. She loved caring for her family’s dogs and knew from an early age that dogs would always be an important part of her life.

Victoria’s training journey truly began when she adopted Angus, a Staffordshire Terrier mix. Through working with Angus and his behavioral challenges using clicker training and positive reinforcement, she learned the importance of kindness, patience, compassion, and understanding. Watching Angus gain confidence and develop new skills sparked a passion for dog training that would eventually become her career.

Victoria joined PAWSitively Obedient in 2018 as a training assistant and quickly discovered how rewarding it was to help dogs and their guardians build stronger relationships. After earning her Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) certification in 2021, she became a full-time dog trainer.

With nearly 10 years of experience working with dogs as a dog daycare attendant, veterinary assistant, and professional dog trainer, Victoria brings a well-rounded perspective to her work. Her favorite part of teaching is watching dogs and their guardians develop trust, communication, and confidence together. She firmly believes that strong relationships help dogs navigate the world more successfully and enjoy happier, more fulfilling lives.

When she’s not training, Victoria enjoys spending time with her two dogs—Angus, a Staffordshire Terrier mix, and Ahri, a Siberian Husky—as well as her fiancé, Jonathan. You can often find them enjoying outdoor adventures or rewatching episodes of The Office.

• Certified K9 Nose Work® Instructor
• Professional Member Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner
• Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, STAR Puppy Evaluator, Tricks Evaluator

Maureen Dwyer is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) and a Certified K9 Nose Work® Instructor (CNWI). She believes training should be enjoyable for both dogs and their guardians, creating opportunities for learning, enrichment, and stronger relationships.

Maureen earned her KPA-CTP certification alongside her training partner, Abby, a 12-year-old Jack Russell Terrier. Abby proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and the training experience enriched her life throughout her senior years.

As an avid participant and advocate of K9 Nose Work®, Maureen is passionate about introducing new teams to the sport and helping them develop the foundational skills needed for both recreational participation and competition. She enjoys watching dogs build confidence through scent work while strengthening their partnership with their guardians. Maureen and her Australian Shepherd, Bo, earned the Nose Work Level 3 (NW3) title. Her Golden Retriever mix, Arrow, has earned his NW3, AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC), and AKC Community Canine (CGCA) titles.

Dedicated to lifelong learning, Maureen continually expands her knowledge of dog training and behavior through seminars, workshops, and conferences. She is also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

Maureen finds great joy in teaching guardians how to train their dogs using positive reinforcement methods. She loves watching confidence grow, skills develop, and the canine-human bond deepen through training and dog sports.

• Victoria Stillwell Academy Dog Trainer – online certified

Palestina has been surrounded by animals her entire life and has built a diverse career working with them. Her experience includes animal-focused retail, veterinary medicine as a veterinary technician, and a well-rounded background in animal sheltering and rescue.

Although she always had dogs growing up, her passion for dog behavior and training truly began when she adopted her own dog, Kira. A shy, reactive rescue from Puerto Rico, Kira thrived through reward-based training and positive reinforcement. Inspired by Kira’s progress, Palestina immersed herself in learning about canine behavior, training, and confidence-building techniques to help her navigate the world more successfully.

In December 2022, Palestina graduated from the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior. She joined the PAWSitively Obedient team in February 2022 and has enjoyed helping dogs and their guardians build stronger relationships through positive, science-based training methods.

Palestina is passionate about helping dogs gain confidence while teaching guardians how to better understand and communicate with their canine companions. She says, “It brings me so much joy when a dog ‘gets it’ while learning a new behavior. Helping families strengthen their bond with their dogs while addressing unwanted behaviors through positive training is an incredibly rewarding experience.”

When working with clients, Palestina strives to create a supportive and encouraging learning environment where both dogs and their guardians can succeed together.