Heather Steiner, KPA-CTP, has been involved in dog training for over 20 years. Her main focus has been on training and rehabilitating rescue and shelter dogs before establishing HALO Dog Training. She is an R+ positive reinforcement dog trainer and communicator, specializing in creating training plans for puppies and behavior modification plans for dogs of all ages. Heather is particularly interested in early learning and socialization for puppies, as well as addressing problem behaviors to help dogs stay in loving homes.
Certifications:
KPA-CTP
Designation: Trainer and Behavior Consultant
Training Philosophy: HALO Dog Training is committed to ‘Shaping the Dog of Your Dreams’ through positive reinforcement and motivation-based clicker training. The approach recognizes dogs as sentient beings and aims to improve communication with them.
Locations Served: Philadelphia, Center City, Main Line, Manayunk, Roxborough, South Jersey
Languages: English
Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University and is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP), which is considered the gold standard in clicker training. She graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy and is the only KPA-CTP clicker trainer in Center City Philadelphia. Heather advocates for a humane, force-free training method based on the science of animal learning, firmly believing in training without pain. She is dedicated to clicker training, which is intrinsically reinforcing and builds trust and understanding between the teacher and the learner.
Heather is a Professional Premium Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and practices a LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) technique of training. She is also a Supporting Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and a member of Philadelphia Ethical Pet Professionals. Living in Philadelphia with her husband, Julius, and two rescue Akitas, Ava (KPA Partner Dog) and Zsa Zsa (Canine Good Citizen), Heather also volunteers with PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) and works with dogs in training as K9 Officers and Search and Rescue dogs at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. Additionally, she is involved in rescuing and training Akitas for Big East Akita Rescue (BEAR). In her free time, Heather enjoys hiking with her pack.
