Born in Ontario, Canada, Sandy Issler, KPA CTP, came to the United States for graduate school. She has lived in the US ever since, becoming a citizen in 2001. A research chemist with a demanding career, Sandy’s lifelong love of dogs (especially golden retrievers) and horses was limited to canine pets at home and training and competing with her dressage horses. Sandy and her dogs attended basic training classes, but Sandy was put off by the choke chains and positive punishment in training that were prevalent at that time.
In 2014, Sandy discovered The Academy of Dog Training and Agility in Newark, Delaware, and enrolled in dog-training classes there. The Academy uses clicker training and was highly recommend by a friend. “I had heard about clicker training, but I began to understand the true nuances of marker-based training in the Academy’s puppy S.T.A.R. class with my puppy, Rosie,” Sandy shares. “The clear communication associated with the clicker used as a marker allowed my little Rosie to learn quickly and excel in her training.” Sandy and Rosie had fun with their clicker training, which encouraged them to attend additional classes at the Academy–Rally Obedience, Freestyle, Agility, and Tricks. Sandy was intrigued by clicker training and wanted to gain more experience, so she volunteered to help teach the Academy’s basic manners classes. As a result, “Rosie began her career as a clicker training demo dog.”
