Meet Amelia Wieber

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amelia Wieber. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Amelia, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
It is such a common misconception that animals must be trained with punishment. So many pet parents, dog parents especially, have been misguided by television shows featuring trainers who use nothing but their own personal bias and experience with no educational foundation or credentials to back up their claims. Studies have shown that trainers who frequently use aversive methods not only damage the trust between you and your pet, they can cause learned helplessness, confusion, fear, and aggression in an otherwise typical dog. People who are unaware of the fact that these training methods (ie dominance/alpha wolf theory, Monks of New Skeet, Balanced Training) have either been disproven by science or shown to cause unnecessary stress and behavioral fall out may feel that my force free and cooperative methodology simply wont work or their dog or cat. That they need a “heavier hand”, as some would say “spare the rod, spoil the child” or “children are best seen and not heard”. We balk at those sayings for children now, but we still apply them to our pets.
We can make greater strides teaching our pets what we want them to do by reinforcing behavior we like, and setting them up for success through environmental management so they are not able to practice the behaviors we want to extinguish. It is also important to consider an animals fear responses, and how the instinct to survive may be causing one’s pet to act in a defensive or offensive manner. Punishing behavior does not change the underlying emotional cause of the behavior, however utilizing desensitization with counter conditioning can not only do that, it will improve your pet’s overall quality of life as well as your own!
I persist with my methodology because I know I am doing good work and am helping animals and their people live better lives. My training plans may take longer to show “progress” due to the nature of emotional behavior change, however, pet parents can be assured that the results will be long lasting and side effect free (unless you see having a happier dog a side effect) ;0)

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Behavior from the University of Connecticut in 2005 and I have dedicated my life and career to improving the lives of animals under human care, from domestic dogs and cats in homes to big cats and wolves in sanctuary settings.

I achieved the Certification for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA) in 2013 and gained another certification of Small Animal Low Stress Handling through veterinarian Dr. Sophia Yin in 2015. I taught these behavior conscious techniques to CSU Veterinary students, and currently teaches Applied Companion Animal Behavior at Front Range Community College. I am also a Fear Free Professional which means I can be trusted to help your pet become more comfortable with Veterinary visits.

I became a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant though the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants in January of 2020. I continue to finely craft my love for feline behavior by volunteering my cat behavior consulting and training to Animal Friends Alliance in Fort Collins. I lead their “B-Mod Squad” volunteer training program so that volunteers can modify shelter cat behavior and comfort to promote faster adoption rates.

I have extensive experience helping cats and dogs with behavior disorders and continues to work alongside Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorists in Colorado so I am familiar with the medications often recommended, their uses, and side effects. I am confident in my ability to guide you through the rehabilitation of your pet whether they are struggling with aggression, anxiety, and/or impulse control.

I also enjoy working with clients who are simply seeking assistance in teaching their pet foundation behaviors and mediating behavior problems. I offer group Canine Good Citizen classes and many other AKC programs. I am also PACFA certified so I can train your dog in your absence, helping you out while you are at work, on vacation, or needing extra help with training.

I look forward to bringing my experience of, and passion for, animal behavior to your home. I regard every pet I meet with compassion and respect. Using reward-based force free training techniques, I will help bridge the communication gap, and strengthen the bond, between you and your pet.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
At the beginning of my career I volunteered under a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and assisted in her group classes. I learned so much about force free dog training assisting and observing Janine Pierce of J9’s K9’s in southern California. After I moved to Colorado, I gained my cat experience from volunteering at Fort Collins Cat Rescue (now Animal Friends Alliance) working to improve the comfort of the cats staying there. I got to work with a large variety of cases all in once place, and I was personally reinforced through seeing cats get adopted who may have otherwise been looked over due to their original behavior. I also recommend any dog or cat behavior consultant to work for or shadow a board certified veterinary behaviorist. You will gain invaluable experience about behavior and brain chemistry, and how medications can improve brain health and learning in some cases. I have worked with Dr. Christensen DACVB in Castle Pines, and now I work with Dr. Fagen DACVB in Boulder. https://www.dacvb.org/

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am a Fear Free Coach and I would love to work with Veterinarians, dog daycare and boarding facilities, pet stores, shelters and rescues, sanctuaries and Zoos to train their staff to become more effective, considerate, and humane animal handlers and caretakers.

I offer special discounts on consultations for non-profits, fosters, and recently rescued pets nationwide in order to help keep adopted pets in homes and increase the adoption rates of dogs, cats, rats, and ferrets. I can be reached by the contact information provided.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,