
Ken Carpenter
Principal Trainer, Behavior Modification Specialist
Ken Carpenter’s introduction to dog training occurred in 2000 when he adopted a 1-year old 80lb German Shepherd name Cruz. From the onset it was clear that Cruz needed not only basic obedience, structure and boundaries, but also behavior modification. Cruz was leash reactive toward some people and dogs, and an escape artist extraordinaire! Ken enlisted the help of trainer Bonnie Brown Cali, and together they helped Cruz become a fantastic companion. This was Ken’s first introduction to dog training, and he was hooked. The skills he learned with Cruz helped him train his next puppy named Roxi, a dynamite Belgian Malinois. Roxi’s intuition and desire to learn lit the fire in Ken to become a professional dog trainer. Ken had a one-year intensive internship with a San Francisco dog training company. He also attended Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers in Santa Rosa where he received a sound foundation in training theory and methods. He enjoys staying informed in the dog training world and attends yearly seminars and workshops, most notably with Julien Ryckenbusch an IGP trainer from France. Ken comes from a diverse work background. Originally a professional cyclist representing the US in two Olympics, and later an Institutional Banker at a boutique firm in San Francisco. This diversity and dedication helped him gain unique instinctual, observational and analytical skills which he puts to good use training dogs and their owners. In his free time Ken practices his other passion, Jiu Jitsu, and finds that it compliments dog training immensely. Keeping calm, thinking through problems and puzzles are necessary in both martial arts and dog training. In addition, he trains French Ring sport, currently with his rescue German Shepherd Malinois cross, Ryker.