Collin Vito just earned his CCPDT certification!

 

 

If you’re more recent to Philly Unleashed, you may know Collin from private lessons or group classes. Collin joined us in January 2017, working on the farm and assisting with classes. “Philly Unleashed shares the same philosophy as me when it comes to creating bonds between animals and humans,” Collin said. “Through training with Philly Unleashed, I have found it extremely rewarding to help create lifelong bonds between dogs and their humans. The team of trainers is awesome, every single one is friendly and outgoing, which makes me feel at home with Philly Unleashed.”

 

After years of volunteering and fostering dogs–including his “foster fail,” Storm–he knew he wanted to explore a career working with animals.  “Working with animals has always been a passion of mine,” Collin said. “Growing up, we regularly fostered shelter dogs and throughout high school, I volunteered with the local animal shelter. With a background in science and education, I found dog training to be a perfect blend of the two.”

 

After over 500 hours as an intern, then more time as a full trainer with us, Collin took the next step and earned his Certified Professional Dog Trainer Certification through the CCPDT in October. “I believe in lifelong learning and the importance of keeping up-to-date on the world around me,” Collin shared. “In the world of dog training, earning and maintaining a professional certificate with the CCPDT is one of the best ways to stay current on the science and techniques of dog training.”

 

Collin stays busy! When not training dogs, he is teaching high school biology with the School District of Philadelphia.

 

And of course, his future goals involve working with dogs. “I look forward to continuing to educate owners about how best to welcome their dogs/puppies into their home,” he shared. “I also hope to continue to learn as much as possible about the world of dog training. I want to continue to learn how to help dogs with different anxiety and aggression behaviors, and to continue to help form bonds between dogs and their humans.”

 

Yay, Collin! Be sure to congratulate him the next time you see him!