Victoria is a well-known dog trainer, television personality, author, and speaker who has appeared on a number of globally popular television programs, such as The Greatest American Dog and Is It Me or the Dog, which have exposed her to audiences in more than 100 different countries.
In order to reach more people and their pets, disseminate the advantages of positive education, and enhance the lives of future generations, Victoria launched VSA with the objective to educate, attract, and empower new dog trainers.
The faculty at VSA are thought-leaders and authorities in the subjects they teach. They all adhere to Victoria’s strictest delivery standards and have the same upbeat outlook. Your instructors will impart knowledge via two in-depth face-to-face sessions using multimedia presentations, group discussions, practical teaching and training exercises, live observation exercises, and field trips. While keeping you connected to other students and current on your studies throughout biweekly online classes, instructors will expand on important course subjects. You will collaborate directly with VSA teachers thanks to our small class sizes.
In order to deepen and enhance your knowledge of the content in ways that are just not feasible with distance learning courses, VSA instructors will immerse you in questions and observations from the “lens” of their expertise throughout your degree.
Irith, a biologist by training, finds science fascinating and delights in going to conferences and workshops. Irith has spoken at numerous conferences both domestically and abroad, including the VSPDT Conference, ClickerExpo, and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers Annual Education Conference. She has given webinars for APDT and the Association of Veterinary Behavioral Technicians and teaches at the dog*biz dog walking academy. She has also published articles in The APDT Chronicle of the Dog and Everydog and has written widely for online publications.
Irith works as a volunteer for National English Shepherd Rescue and is a member of the steering committee for the 2020 Healthy Pets Healthy Families Coalition of Los Angeles County, a single health initiative aimed at enhancing the health and wellbeing of people and their pets throughout Los Angeles County. Irith, the proprietor of the Los Angeles-based pet training business The Sophisticated Dog, resides with her husband Aaron and Franklin, a rescued English sheepdog.
Clinical psychologist Paula Bloom is also an author, TEDx host, and frequent CNN guest. She has been asked by the media to provide her opinion on a variety of topics, including national disasters, global events, and mental health issues like relationships, resilience, and well-being. Why Does He Do That? was co-written by Paula. Why did she act that way? In addition to writing for The Huffington Post and This Emotional Life on PBS, he has made appearances on CNN.com, Men’s Health, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, and Men’s Health.com. Paula is the fortunate owner of two puppies, a 35-pound Boxer and a 5-pound Chihuahua Terrier.