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My name is Joyce Clemens. I was born and raised in the Netherlands where I began my relationship with dogs. In Holland, dogs are considered to be members of the family. They are welcomed wherever their family goes, in restaurants, theaters, and even inside department stores. They are welcomed into these establishments because they learn good manners very early in their lives.

My husband and I moved to Georgia thirty-five years ago with our Golden Retriever, Goldie. Over the years as our family grew we gained human sons as well as canine “sons and daughters”. My love for both was tremendous so after the boys were grown I decided to make dog training my career. Georgia had a state-wide recognized program for the Master Obedience Trainer, and I became certified trainer in 1994. At the time many different training methods were utilized, but I used only positive reinforcement methods. I realized that the dogs were giving me an enthusiastic response yet still mastering all of their behaviors. Both canine and human students were enjoying themselves and having fun while learning! I continued my training with the Cobb County Adult Education center and became an independent contractor for Best Friends Pet Resorts, where I enjoyed many years as a trainer. Well Taught Dog is my private business and it is still active today. Training dogs and their companions for a longer-lasting partnership is my primary goal.

Canine training has many different facets, and I am now focusing my efforts on behavior consulting. I have been certified by the APDT since 2001 and the IAABC since 2003, both of which require extensive training and testing, and is used for those dogs who do not respond well to traditional training. I have a Reiki Masters and certification in Essential Oil Therapy for humans as well as animals. Here in Hawaii, I have also studied with Linda Tellington Jones and am a certified Tellington T-Touch practitioner. I will use positive reinforcement training in combination with alternate modalities to achieve my goal, which is a wonderful long lasting relationship between canines and their humans.