We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexzandra Edberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexzandra, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The dog training industry is unregulated, meaning that anyone can wake up one day and call themselves a dog trainer. When looking for a dog trainer, it’s important to ask questions such as; What experience do you have? What methods are you using? What would you do if my dog is not successful with what we are asking of him? There are different certifications out there for dog trainers, so looking for a dog trainer that is certified through The Canine Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT), International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), or Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) etc. can be helpful when looking for trainers who follow scientific teaching methods. Certified with CPDT, I have to continuously add and update educational credits to maintain my certification, ensuring that I not only remember the core methods, but also stay up to date with the latest studies and breakthroughs in training.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Dog training should be accessible to everyone – not just people that “can afford” it. Low-income families with dogs need to have the same access to dog behavior advice as anyone else, this is how we keep both dogs and humans safe and happy in our society. I have heard so many horror stories of dogs raising havoc in families, or even biting children, and it could have been prevented if the family was able to afford a dog trainer. The goal for my business is to be accessible and affordable. I am working on creating “scholarships” and sliding-scale sessions so I can be more of a help to anyone who needs it. I also have free resources on my website. Dog training should not be a luxury.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My dad is visiting from Sweden in a week, and I am very excited to show him Colorado’s mountains! Driving up Pikes Peak, hike the Seven Bridges Trail, and soak in the hot springs. And of course it’s a must to check out Red Rocks! We are going to Sam’s No. 3 for an American breakfast, and the Brutal Poodle bar/grill for their amazing wings.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have had several mentors in my 10+ years of dog training, all amazing women and men that are dedicated to force and fear-free animal and human training. Colleen Tekamp was my mentor for a very long time, always challenging me with critical thinking exercises, and helping me excel as a dog as well as human teacher. A couple of books that helped me learn and move forward with my training was “Excel-erated Learning” by Pamela J Reid (PhD), and “Meet your Dog” by Kim Brophey. Of course, I need to give my husband Bard a huge shoutout for being so supportive of me through my career and all its up’s and down’s!

Website: https://ClickstartBehavior.com

Instagram: https://clickstart.my.heart

Facebook: https://facebook.com/AlexzandraEdberg

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.