NEW MEXICO DOG TRAINER
Get to know Kelly
Born in Alaska to a multigenerational family of homesteaders, Kelly carries an ancestral connection to the land and the wild. Her family roots in frontier living shaped her values of self-reliance, resilience, and respect for the raw intelligence and order of nature. With over 40 years of experience in handling, training, and competing with dogs, Kelly’s expertise has evolved through her unique perspective of living alongside a large pack for more than 25 years. Her home is shared with 17 dogs of varying breeds and backgrounds, from elderly street Chihuahuas to Schipperkes to a rare Livestock Guardian Dog from Turkmenistan, each contributing to her rich, hands-on understanding of canine behavior.
Notable accomplishments and experiences
Foundational Training in Animal Behavior
Kelly’s journey into professional dog training began in 1997 when she had the privilege of studying under Keller Breland and Marion Breland Bailey, former students of B.F. Skinner, learning the fundamentals of operant conditioning and clicker training. Kelly has been a certified trainer throughout the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and she was also a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. She currently practices independent of these organizations.
Extensive Breed and Behavior Experience
Over the years, Kelly has rehabilitated, trained and shared her home with nearly every breed imaginable. She has experience with Jag and Patterdale Terriers, Belgian Malinois, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Chinese Crested, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Lagatto Romagnolo, Border Collie, Standard poodles, Caucasian Ovcharka, Leonberger, and every shelter dog mix and feral dog you can imagine. She has exceptional knowledge and first-hand experience in the genetic purpose of almost every breed and uses that to inform her approach to training and behavior modification.
Connecting to the Human Experience
Kelly has dedicated herself to cultivating human behavior awareness with a strong focus on the therapeutic aspects of personal growth. She has completed the transformative 9-day Byron Katie “The Work” program and participated in in-person discussions with influential figures such as Eckhart Tolle and the Dalai Lama. Kelly has also benefitted from several years of coaching and mentorship under Timothy Tate, a psychotherapist and consultant to the North Face’s elite athlete team. Additionally, Kelly is a First Degree Reiki Practitioner in the Usui Reiki System of Natural Healing.
Canine Behavior Specialist & Dog Trainer
Kelly’s training experience spans Search and Rescue, versatility hunt training and testing, Falconry with dogs, nose work, aggression rehabilitation, pack therapy, sled dogs, agility and off-leash backcountry training. Since her move to New Mexico, Kelly and a training colleague are focusing on a Feral Dog Project, studying and living with feral dogs with the goal of building a program to effectively rehabilitate feral dogs and help other trainers grow their skillset by offering workshops and clinics.
Kelly is one of just a handful of trainers in the world that was trained by Marion Breland Bailey, BF Skinner’s graduate student and the first Applied Animal Psychologist in the US, in Operant Conditioning and the introduction of the clicker for marker training.
Kelly uses her own pack of dogs to evaluate client dogs and offer a stable pack environment for dogs in the rehabilitation process.
Founder & Operator of Montana’s Largest Dog Behavior Facility
Kelly founded and operated Know Thy Dog, a premier training, boarding, and daycare facility in Bozeman, MT, for nine years, serving clients from across the U.S. and Canada. During that time, she and her team trained hundreds of dogs, tackling a wide spectrum of behavioral challenges and with a focus on training off-leash safety in the Montana backcountry.
Her expertise became highly sought after in nearby regions, leading her to regularly travel to work with clients in Jackson Hole, WY, and Big Sky/Yellowstone Club. Know Thy Dog was featured in Explore Big Sky magazine and The Bozeman Daily Chronicle for its impact on the local community.
Kelly also served on the board of the Stafford Animal Shelter in Livingston, MT for four years, further deepening her commitment to canine welfare and community education.
Humanitarian Work
In 2005, Kelly was recognized on The Oprah Winfrey Show for her vital role in the rescue efforts following Hurricane Katrina. She spent over a year working on and off the ground in New Orleans—rescuing displaced dogs, rehabilitating aggression cases in partnership with the Louisiana Humane Society, and assisting HSUS in removing dogs from the nation’s largest animal cruelty case involving Katrina dogs.
Today, Kelly continues that commitment in under-resourced New Mexico shelters, where she evaluates dogs, supports placement efforts for feral and behaviorally complex cases, and champions the cause of senior shelter dogs. She is a passionate advocate for senior dog hospice placement and awareness, and always keeps a rotation of elderly, fragile Chihuahuas in her home—offering them comfort, dignity, and love in their final chapter.
Film & Commercial Trainer
Kelly was the head dog trainer and handler for two major films shot in Montana, Certain Women and God’s Country. Both movies required the dogs to play lead roles and included review from the American Humane Association (AHA) who monitors the ethical treatment of animals on film sets. Additionally, she spent 5 years as the exclusive trainer and provider of dogs for West Paw Dog Toys, carefully selecting and training dogs to showcase their products. Kelly’s dogs have been featured on the cover of their catalog and continue to be featured on their website.
Photographer
Ready to Transform Your Relationship with Your Dog?
Real change starts with the first step. Whether you’re dealing with behavioral challenges, seeking a New Mexico dog trainer, or looking for guidance as a fellow trainer, I’m here to help. Let’s figure out the best path forward.