Karen Martin has always dreamed of working with dogs. She was drawn to dog training because of her interest in the history of the human-canine bond as well as her love for both dogs and teaching.

A fascination with the English language led Karen to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) from 1999 to 2003. These four years of teaching in several adult education programs in Boston, Cambridge and Brookline have given her an understanding of what it takes to effectively communicate with diverse populations. This experience also helped her to hone the flexible teaching style necessary to make the lesson fit the learner – important skills to have when teaching her human students to “speak dog.�

Karen also gained valuable dog handling skills while working as a professional dog walker in the Greater Boston area from 2003 to 2005. Karen began her dog training apprenticeship with Bette Yip at Picture Perfect Pets in March of 2005. Over the following two years, she observed classes in all three levels of the Picture Perfect Pets dog training program, then began to team-teach courses with Bette and eventually began to teach Level 1 group classes on her own. Karen also earned her Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor certificate in 2006.

As a dog training instructor, Karen is driven by her belief in the ability of positive reinforcement training methods to transform dog training from a chore to an entry into the workings of the canine mind, improving the lives of dogs and the people who love them. Although she does not currently share her life with a dog, Karen plans to adopt a beagle when the right one comes along.

Education Direct, Scranton, PA
Certificate, Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor, 2006

Worldwide Teachers Development Institute, Boston, MA
Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, 1998

Earlham College, Richmond, IN
Psychology, 1971-1975