Stella
A love and fascination towards animals, and especially dogs, has inspired me to a life-long curiosity to learn more about their behaviour!
A love and fascination towards animals, and especially dogs, has inspired me to a life-long curiosity to learn more about their behaviour!
Animals, and especially dogs, have always fascinated me. What intrigued me the most was trying to understand their emotions, cognitive abilities, and later on, connecting it to behaviour. However, before devoting my work life to dogs I worked with children of all ages. I studied at Stockholm University to become an English and P.E. teacher, and worked in this field for several years. But I was gradually more drawn to my interest of dogs and so when the time was right I decided to pursue my dream.
2015 I began studying at Borgå Folkakademi to become a ‘dogconsultant’. During this fulltime one-year education I got loads of practical experience, in addition to the theoretical studies, through practical classes, apprenticing at the Guide Dog School of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired and also by doing some volunteer work at a dog rescue shelter in Israel.
After graduating I began to work with dogs, mostly as an instructor for puppy and various obedience classes. With the desire to expand my knowledge I decided to seek further education abroad. The following year I was studying at the fantastic school COAPE in the UK, learning about feline and canine behaviour and training as well as the unique EMRA method. In September 2017 I graduated at the Level 4 Diploma in the Principles of Companion Animal Behaviour and Training.
My thirst for knowledge motivates me greatly to always be searching for new learning opportunities, and also expand areas of interest to other mammals such as the endangered African wild dog.
Education
COAPE (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology) (UK) – The Principles of Companion Animal Behaviour and Training, 2016-2017
Canine Massage Therapy – Weter, 2016-2017
Dobo instructor – Koirakoulu Kompassi, 2016
Dog Consultant – Borgå Folkakademi, 2015-2016
Dog instructor – Taitoa Tassuihin, 2015
Bachelor of Education – Stockholm University 2005
Various lectures & courses
Master Course in Aggression in Dogs – Aggressive Dog (Michael Shikashio) African Wild Dog Behaviour – COAPE International
Smart Reinforcement – Karen Pryor Academy (Ken Ramirez)
Clicker Expo Luminos – UK (Ramirez, Wood Brown, Dr. Rosales-Ruiz, Parson, Stewart, Friedman)
The Ranch Experience – Karen Pryor National Training Centre, USA (Ken Ramirez)
Think Again – Perspectives & Practises for the Experienced Trainer, Karen Pryor National Training Centre, USA (Ken Ramirez)
Lemonade Conference – IAABC & FDSA (40+ presenters)
ZooSpensefull Online Workshop (Peter Giljam)
Dogs’ impulsive behaviour (Jirka Vierimaa)
Punishment as a training method (Tommy Wirén)
The dog’s cognition (Katriina Tiira)
First aid (Koirakoulu Visio)
Calming Signals (Rakkaat Haukut)
Activation and enrichment (Rakkaat Haukut)