Ode to a great dog trainer and colleague
By Laure-Anne Visele, 11 August 2015
OhMyDog!’s latest behaviour coach
It’s difficult for me to write Tommaso with any objectivity. In the few months that we have worked together, he has not only managed to become an esteemed colleague, but also a good friend. But let me try:
Tommie & Teddy
I want to officially congratulate Tommaso on completing his internship with flying colours. During his official evaluation, he passed every criterion, and more, with brio. Tommaso is now officially an OhMyDog! Behaviour Coach, giving students expert advice and one-to-one attention during group classes.
Tommaso and Teddy, his rescue dog
A few months ago, Tommaso had contacted us from Italy, to just watch one of our lessons. He hit it off with the team, students and dogs like he’d known us all for years. We chatted and found out:
- He held a widely respected dog behaviour certification,
- Had run his own behaviour coaching business in Italy,
- Had collaborated with vet behaviourists on complex cases,
- Shared our vision of an evidence-based and ethical approach to dog education and…
- Was moving to The Netherlands!
After he came back the next week, we knew we had to ask: would he be interested in a behaviour coach internship? To our relief, he said yes and he has been our trusted colleague since.
Tommaso and Teddy enjoying the dog-man relationship that only a cognitive approach will allow
Throughout his internship, Tommaso has impressed us with his grasp of the theory and technique, with his keen eye for improvements, with his quick reactions to dog body language, and with his unfailing sense of initiative.
But what makes Tommaso Tommaso is his respectful-yet-cheeky approach to dogs and owners. He knows how to keep things light and fun, even when coaching on serious problems. And I always look forward to his official lesson segments, which he gives in his typical “I did my background research preparation perfectly, but nobody said it had to be boring” delivery.
We have offered Tommaso to use his theoretical, technical, practical and human skills to lead his own puppy classes, and are proud to announce that Tommaso will join the ranks of OhMyDog! Head Trainers as of September 2015.
Welcome to the team, Tommaso! And I am proud to count you as a colleague and a friend.
About the author: certified dog trainer in The Hague
Canis bonus: Laure-Anne Visele
My name is Laure-Anne and I help with dog behaviour problems around The Hague (Canis bonus). I am also Head Trainer at OhMyDog! (dog training school in The Hague). I graduated in Zoology, and am a certified dog trainer and applied animal behaviourist. If you live close to The Hague and are getting worried or annoyed about your dog’s behaviour, tell me about the problem. I’ll get back to you within two business days. You can always read up a little on how it works first if you’re not sure.