About Us…

Philosophy of Training

Our techniques are based on the belief that dogs learn by earning what they like, such as food, praise, and play. Much of what we ask of dogs is simply communication, for example, dogs know how to lie down; we want to teach them to lie down when we give them a particular cue (verbal or hand movement).

Training can include teaching the dog self control, confidence, or how to navigate through a task properly (such as safely walking over an A-frame or jumping through a tire).

Our methods do not include causing discomfort or pain to any animal. Although others use these methods of pain avoidance, we have been very successful in building a trusting relationship between dogs and owners.

Dogs will perform behaviors to avoid pain (such as a shock collar or leash correction), but this can damage the trust a canine should have in humans and that trust is paramount.

Jodi Kellar

Lead trainer and owner Jodi Kellar is an exceptional positive motivation trainer. Jodi holds a BA in Psychology and a MA in Education (graduating both Summa Cum Laude), where she extensively studied educational and behavioral theories and published three of her own studies. Following her MA, she graduated from Animal Behavior College (ABC) becoming a Certified Dog Trainer, and now mentors future trainers for ABC.

Jodi is a member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a provisional member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, a certified evaluator for the AKC Canine Good Citizen & AKC STAR Puppy Programs as well as a certified Pet Partner Therapy Dog Team member for the Delta Society with her Beagles, Sweet Jellybean and Miss Maggie Moo. They currently volunteer at Hackensack University Medical Center in the Angels on a Leash Program. 

She is also a proud member of The North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC), Canine Performance Events (CPE), Skyline Agility Club and competes regularly in APDT Rally Obedience, AKC, NADAC and CPE agility events. Jodi received the Readers’ Choice Award on 2008 by NYC ‘s City Tails Magazine. She has earned championships on three of her dogs in APDT Rally and CPE Agility and has trained hundreds of dogs who have excelled in obedience,  agility and therapy skills.

Jodi believes in continuing education. She attended the Clicker Expo in Rhode Island in March of 2009 and a shaping workshop with Pam Dennison in September of 2009. She has had the privilege of working with the gifted positive motivation trainer Pam Dennison, who taught her techniques for helping reactive/aggressive dogs, shaping and clicker training, as well as Rally Obedience. Jodi also learned handling techniques from Arlene Spooner, who is phenomenal on the agility course. Other than these hands on learning opportunities, Jodi’s training techniques are influenced by her studies of DVDs, recorded conferences and books of renowned trainers such as Dr. Ian Dunbar, Terry Ryan, Karen Pryor, Pat Miller, Brenda Aloff, Emma Parsons, Susan Salo and many others.

Dedicated to Canine Companionship

Kellars’ Canine Academy proudly donates annually to the Humane Society of the United States, is a sponsor (monthly contributor) for the ASPCA Angels and offers a discount to animals adopted from animal shelters. We are dedicated to canine companionship and facilitating the human-canine bond and look forward to opportunities to help others in this endeavor.

Please enjoy this video of Jellybean & Jodi’s 2nd CPE Agility Champion run (a clean, but slow run due to Jodi’s broken ankle!):

Lauren Jones Wenzel

Lauren Jones Wenzel is an Honors Graduate of Animal Behavior College and holds a BFA in Theatre from Hofstra University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.  Jodi was Lauren’s mentor trainer in the Animal Behavior College program and hired Lauren to assist her following her graduation.  Lauren is also active at Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City, where she assists in training and rehabilitating the shelter’s dogs, as well as training new volunteers on basic handling, obedience, and behavior modification techniques.