Sarah Connor

I am a 26-year old Accredited Dog Trainer with a passion for helping dogs and their humans live their best lives together.

In September of 2018, I founded a dog walking and pet-sitting business that I dubbed "Barks and Rec." I had begun attending CATCH Canine Trainer's Academy the month before in pursuit of a dog training certification. For several months, I attended both a local university (for film & theatre) and CATCH as a full-time student for both schools. In January 2019, after feeling dissatisfied with how dogs were being handled at the establishment I worked at, I decided to hit "pause" on my university education and dedicate all of my focus to completing my program with CATCH.

In August 2019, I took a leap and quit my part-time job to pursue running Barks and Rec full-time. I graduated from CATCH Canine Trainer's Academy in March 2020, with a Certificate in Dog Training and Behavior.

I very quickly fell in love with dog training, but soon realized that my education did not equip her to work with more severe behavioral issues. With a strong desire to help the dogs that seemed "hopeless," I set out looking for another avenue of education to give myself the tools I needed to address more complex behavior cases.

In July 2020, I joined the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and dove headfirst into the wealth of material that was provided to supporting members. Still, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to test my skills and further my knowledge in the field. So I decided to get accredited. After paying a fee and spending a grueling 60 days working on the extensive test, I passed with a score of 98 out of 100. I received my Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT) standing through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) on January 21, 2021.

In May of 2022, I accepted a job with Clever Critters, LLC. and now have the privilege of working with the most incredible group of women. I am continuing to see Behavior Modification and Basic Obedience cases through Clever Critters, and I am loving every second of it.

I am continuing to further my education and knowledge in the field every day through seminars, conferences, reading the most up-to-date, science-backed materials, and more. Dog training is my passion, and I owe all of it to my boy, Duke.