Carefree Companion: An Advanced Certification Program for Animal Professionals
About Us
Meet the team behind Carefree Companion
Dr. Kristina Spaulding
Holds a Ph.D. in biopsychology — the study of the biological basis of behavior
Irith Bloom
Certified professional trainer and behavior consultant, and certified TAGteacher
Vision
Creating a world where animals in human care receive the compassion and support they need to flourish.
Mission
Empowering caregivers and animal professionals by giving them the tools they need to enhance animal well-being and foster harmonious relationships between animals and their human families.
Values
• The essential role of science in guiding and informing our quest for a better understanding of animal behavior and well-being.
• Compassion and respect for people, other animals, and the environment.
• Accessibility for all to education and resources.
• Empowerment of both human and non-human animals
Kristina
Dr. Spaulding has a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and a PhD in Biopsychology—the study of the biological basis of behavior—and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist.
In addition, she has been in the dog training and behavior profession for over 20 years where she taught family dog training courses and did private behavior consulting.
As part of her graduate training, Dr. Spaulding was formally trained in effective teaching techniques. She fell in love with teaching people and was honored to receive an award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student.
After earning her PhD, Dr. Spaulding’s interest in teaching carried over to her applied behavior work. She currently teaches a variety of online courses and webinars on the science of behavior through her business Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior LLC. In addition to her own courses, she teaches for the IAABC Foundation and is an adjunct professor for Virginia Tech’s graduate program in Animal Behavior and Welfare. Dr. Spaulding is also the author of The Stress Factor in Dogs: Unlocking Resiliency and Enhancing Well-Being.
She is particularly interested in stress, neurobiology, cognition, emotion, and well-being and how to apply these concepts to the prevention, early intervention, and treatment of behavior problems in dogs. In 2019, Dr. Spaulding received the Association of Professional Dog Trainer’s (APDT’s) Member of the Year Award for her work on their education committee. She currently serves as the Vice President of the IAABC Foundation Board.
Irith
Irith Bloom, author, presenter, trainer, and teacher, owns The Sophisticated Dog, a company that provides both peer-to-peer and trainer-to-pet-family services worldwide, as well as in-person training to select clients in Los Angeles.
Irith has been training animals since the 1980s and has worked with animals ranging from chickens and rabbits to dogs and horses—not to mention humans.
A biologist by training, Irith is fascinated by the science of learning. She is a sought-after presenter at conferences and seminars worldwide, and her writing has been published in countless online outlets, as well as in print media including her book Your Puppy and You: A step-by-step guide to raising a freak'n awesome dog.
Irith is a CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, VSPDT, KPA CTP, CSAT, CBATI-KSA, and a Fear Free Certified Practitioner (FFCP - Trainer). She is also certified in TAGteach, a positive-reinforcement method for teaching humans, is on the faculty of Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior, and teaches at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.
Irith has a B.A. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is Vice President of the Board of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), on the Advisory Board for Pets for Vets, on the Expert Review Board for Daily Paws, and Chair Emeritus of the Education Committee of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). She also volunteers for National English Shepherd Rescue.
Irith lives in Los Angeles. She is between dogs at the moment, but shares her home with a well-behaved spouse.
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Help pet parents & companion animals everywhere live better!
ABOUT US
Dr. Kristina Spaulding and Irith Bloom are sought-out speakers and renowned experts in the field of animal behavior.
Irith Bloom is a certified professional trainer and behavior consultant, as well as a certified TAGteacher.
Dr. Spaulding has a Ph.D. in biopsychology — the study of the biological basis of behavior.
Both Irith Bloom and Dr. Kristina Spaulding love the science of behavior and have a wealth of experience teaching both people with companion animals and other pet professionals.
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