Danette Johnston, Owner, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP) Trainer and Fear Free Coach, and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM). Prior to becoming a dog trainer and behavior consultant, she worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in the state of Washington. Danette has over 25 years of experience  working with dogs and their humans starting shelters and animal hospitals prior to opening Dog’s Day Out in 2000. She has published articles on dog day care and dog-dog interactions for The Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). She has lectured on dog behavior to Veterinary Technicians and students at the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians conference. Danette is a Licensed Canine Good Citizen and Tricks evaluator for the AKC and worked as a Delta Society Pet Partner’s (animal assisted therapy) Instructor and Team (with her dear departed dog Georgia). She is a Be a Tree presenter for Doggone Safe teaching bite prevention to school age children and is the creator/instructor of Barks & Babes, a specialized class for expecting parents on how to prepare their dog for the family’s upcoming human addition.  Danette started a Shelter Training Program in which she works with shelter and rescue groups educating staff and volunteers working to improve the lives of shelter animals and to innovate modern sheltering. Danette is passionate about learning and continuing education. She attends conferences, workshops and seminars on a regular basis to keep up on advances in canine science and behavior. She has attended seminars by: Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Susan Friedman, Chiraq Patel, Ken Ramirez, Victoria Stilwell, Pat Miller, Emily Larlham and Ken McCort among others.  Currently Danette lectures in person and via webinar on a variety of topics and teaches group classes: The Basics (in-person and virtually for dogs and their humans anywhere!), Beyond Basics, Teens & Tweens and Reactive ReDo  at DDO as well as virtual and in-person private behavior consultations and lessons. Her private behavioral consultations and training  cover a variety of issues including: fearful, reactive and aggressive behaviors as well dog-human (children/baby) dynamics in the home. Danette shares her home with Ernie, a brown tabby with many extra toes, one human teenager, and a very tolerant husband. After losing her beloved Border Collie/Pitbull mix, Rufus to lymphoma, she and her family have now downsized and gone a totally different direction by adopting Boogie, a 20 pound fluffy mop-dog

Our Training Philosophy at Dog’s Day Out:

We follow a scientific, evidence-based approach to training that is Cooperative, Effective, and Fun! We focus on fear-free methods, providing clients with a variety of gentle, kind, and fair techniques to work with their dogs. We do not use leash “corrections” or aversive tools like prong or shock collars. Our goal is to help humans understand how their dogs think, learn, and meet their natural behavioral needs, ensuring both dogs and humans can live happily and peacefully together.