Kerri Clifford-Mahon, MS, CPDT-KA, FDM
Kerri Clifford-Mahon is the founder of In Sync Canine LLC, which provides adventure day camp, training, boarding, and walks for clients in Olympia and the surrounding areas. Kerri has experience training puppies, lifestyle manners for all ages, specializes in group dog play, multi-dog households, and specializes in reactivity and aggression. Kerri has a hybrid enrichment playgroup program, combined with day training, having the goal of providing your dog optimal mental and physical support, leading to a more relaxed and fulfilled dog at home.
Kerri Clifford-Mahon has spent 10 years compassionately coaching owners through the challenges of puppyhood, the terrible twos of adolescents, and on into adulthood. Kerri is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed through the Council of Certified Professional Dog Trainers and a Family Dog Mediator. Kerri has extensively studied human behavior having completed her Masters in Science, focusing on marriage family therapy and a Master of Science in Art Therapy. Kerri's passion is combining her studies of both human and dog behavior to help facilitate a lasting connection between a human and their dog. She focuses on finding out what it means to allow each individual to feel whole, safe and secure, therefore leading to a better quality of life for both dog and human.
Kerri Follows the guidelines of "LIMA", least intrusive, minimally aversive training methods. She will not use, body manipulation, yelling, stern corrections, prong collars, shock collars, vibration collars, bark collars, etc. She focuses on supporting the dog in front of her, allowing them to make choices, and reframing an internal dialogue of, "he never listens to me," to "how can I support him in a way that he understands?" Her approach is ethical and kind, going at the pace set forth by your dog.
Kerri prides herself on her patience, compassion and competence — and her clients would agree. However, she cannot take all the credit! Kerri works very closely with her assistants, "Tucker" a 9 year old Staffordshire/mini bull terrier mix, and "Meatloaf" an 8 year old American bulldog. They accompany her on many adventures, but they specialize in socialization and couch cuddling with boarding dogs!
