About (Colette Edwards)

I have trained animals in South Africa for over 27 years.

I have worked with fur seals, sea lions, seals, dolphins, African penguins, sea turtles, sheep, dogs, cats and an elephant or two.

I immigrated to the USA in 2022 and started Good Dawg Training LLC in May 2023.

I offer private dog training within a 15 - 30 mile radius of Santa Rosa, California.

Certification & relevant expertise includes:

Certificate Karen Pryor Academy - Comprehensive Dog Trainer
Certificate Karen Pryor Academy - Puppy Start Right for Instructors
Certificate Karen Pryor Academy (Ken Ramirez) - Snake Avoidance Training for Dogs using Positive Reinforcement
Dog and Cat Ethology cum laude through the Ethology Academy - Pretoria Technikon, South Africa
7 year in-house marine mammal behavior & training certification - The South African Association for Marine Biological Research, South Africa
9 years assistant curator - marine mammals & birds: training trainers & animals; setting, marking trainer exams & assessments
Co-author of numerous papers and posters on marine mammal training, presented training papers at three IMATA conferences

Why choose a marine mammal trainer for dog training?

Ever seen a fur seal on a leash?.... No!

Positive reinforcement training started in the marine mammal industry in 1963. Positive reinforcement training became more mainstream in dog training (thankfully) in the 1990s, moving away from punishment-based training.

During my career, I have worked with large, powerful animals using positive reinforcement, consistency, and trust. Clear communication is key - teams of trainers working with animals consistently and not confusing. This training method allows animals to build confidence, and think for themselves. Amazing things can be achieved if you have patience, and consistency and allow me to guide you.