Kimberly Simmons, Certified Professional Dog Trainer
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About Me
Kimberly is the Autistic owner and dog trainer at For P.E.T.S. based in Farmington, New Hampshire. She has been training dogs for over 45 years, starting out by helping to train scent-work police dogs, as well as focusing her early education on Animal Science through the Thompson School, at the University of New Hampshire in 1991-1992. Due to the punishment-based nature of the training community in the early '90s, which she found to be abusive, anxiety-inducing, and damaging to the health and well-being of the dogs, Kimberly elected to become a Veterinary Technician, training dogs just for friends, family, and her own enjoyment. Being a Veterinary Technician gave Kimberly the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs, increasing her skills and knowledge. When Kimberly began training (in the 1970s) and for much of her adult life, certification for dog trainers was non-existent. Times change and Kimberly is changing with them by obtaining her Certified Dog Trainer Certificate and working on additional certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Kimberly is also taking full advantage of the many continuing education classes now available on the internet.
Kimberly has trained three service dogs (and is working with her fourth) for her own use, gaining valuable insight and experience in that specialized area of dog training. She is skilled with anxious dogs and rescue dogs that are having difficulty adjusting to home life.
When Kimberly is not working, she enjoys cuddling with her cats, walking with her 4 Huskies, riding and training her horses, photography, reading, writing, gardening, and kayaking.
Continuing Education
Associate Dog Trainer Certificate, International College of Canine Studies
Understanding Canine Behavior, 10 week course. Instructor Barbara Hendelman ME.D.
Basic Dog Training Skills & Theory Using
Positive Methods, 6 week course. Instructor Jan Crary, CPDT-KA, CGC Evaluator
The 6 Week Dog Group Class for Trainers, Rachel Friedman MSW LI
Associate Dog Trainer Certificate, International College of Canine Studies
Understanding Canine Behavior, 10 week course. Instructor Barbara Hendelman ME.D.
Basic Dog Training Skills & Theory Using
Positive Methods, 6 week course. Instructor Jan Crary, CPDT-KA, CGC Evaluator
The 6 Week Dog Group Class for Trainers, Rachel Friedman MSW LISW
S.A.N.E. Solutions for Challenging Dog Behavior® Kathy Cascade, PT,
International Tellington TTouch
Solving Separation Anxiety in Dogs, 9 week course. Instructor: Peggy O. Swagger
The Distracted Dog, instructor: Renea L. Dahms Dip CBST, CDTI, RMT
Learning Theory 101, Instructor: Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
Lessons in Fear and Aggression in Dogs, 7 week course. Instructor Peggy O. Swager
Pet First Aid & CPR Instructor: Sheilagh O’Sullivan (2016)
Animal First Aid and CPR Certification presented by PetTech (2019)
Service Dog Training Lecture: Self-Control Exercises for Service Dog Candidates Speakers: Dee Ganley, and Barbara Hendelman
Puppy Kindergarten Classes For the Real World: How to run the world's best off-leash Puppy Classes! 4 week course.
Instructor: Amanda Gagnon, MSc, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Reactive UrbanK9s – Helping Fearful/Reactive Dogs in a Busy Human World.
Instructor: Megan Stanley, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Dog and Cat Nutrition, instructor Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Doggone Safe Dog Bite Prevention Educator, Presenter, Niki Tudge MBA, PCBC-A, CDBC, CDT
DIFFERENT NEEDS, DIFFERENT BREEDS: Dog Training the Different Breeds Instructor: Sue Alexander, CPDT-KA, CDBC
Working with Dogs who Guard Food and Other Resources, Speaker: Trish McMillan Loehr,
Dog and Cat Nutrition, instructor Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Doggone Safe Dog Bite Prevention Educator, Presenter, Niki Tudge MBA, PCBC-A, CDBC, CDT
DIFFERENT NEEDS, DIFFERENT BREEDS: Dog Training the Different Breeds Instructor: Sue Alexander, CPDT-KA, CDBC
Working with Dogs who Guard Food and Other Resources, Speaker: Trish McMillan Loehr, MSc, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Public Access Behaviors and Service Dog Ethics, Speaker: Jeanne Hampl (and Barbara Handelman, Moderator)
Selecting and Training Service Dogs for Mental Health Disabilities-Part I. Cissy Stamm and Barbara Handelman, M.Ed., LCMHC, CDBC
The Neurobiology of Aggression, instructor Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
Emotional Safety for Us and Our Dogs: Exploring The Notion of Safety for Professional, Client, and The Dogs In Our Care, instructor Andrew Hale, Certified Dog Behaviourist
The Impact of the Pandemic on Canine Emotional Health: how The Lives of Domestic Dogs and Their Caregivers Have Been Affected, instructor Sarah Heath, Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine (United Kingdom)
From Cautious to Confident: Fun and Games for Shy Dogs AND Their People.
Speaker: Christina Young.
Leaving Conflict Behind - Skills to Reduce Intra-Household Aggression Speaker: Christina Young.
A.C.E. Freework Fortnight:
Animal Centred Education (ACE) is an integrated and mutli-modal approach to animal well-being and education. It has
From Cautious to Confident: Fun and Games for Shy Dogs AND Their People.
Speaker: Christina Young.
Leaving Conflict Behind - Skills to Reduce Intra-Household Aggression Speaker: Christina Young.
A.C.E. Freework Fortnight:
Animal Centred Education (ACE) is an integrated and mutli-modal approach to animal well-being and education. It has been developed by animal educator and behaviour advisor, Sarah Fisher.
Animal Centred Education combines observations of the animal’s posture, movement and nervous system responses, ACE Free Work, gentle bodywork, and the introduction of simple educational lessons within a Free Work set up.
Instructor: Sarah Fisher
Effectively Working With Separation Anxiety Clients
Instructor Ness Jones
Resilient, Responsive Social Skills: Intro to BAT 3.0 for Dog Reactivity with Grisha Stewart MA, CPDT-KA, KPACTP
Effectively Working With Separation Anxiety Clients
Instructor Ness Jones
2025 Behavioral Neuroscience for Dogs. 5 week course.
Dr. Marsha Penner, Ph.D., KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Learn Vagabonding With Your Friend, on a 6 Foot Leash - teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash.
Presented by: Zuzanna(Zuzia)Kubica