Teri Mercatante MS, CBCC-KA
Teri’s love of animal behavior began over 30 years ago when she raised her German Shepherd puppy and began training him for the show ring and obedience competition. Along the way she trained and showed other people’s dogs, while studying for her Psychology degree. While teaching English to Chilean businessmen in Santiago, Chile, she combined her love of teaching with canine behavior and trained dogs for the German Shepherd Dog Club of Chile, in Santiago Chile.
Upon returning to the U.S., Teri earned her graduate degree in Psychology. Using that degree she continued to apply the study of behavior to canine behavior. She was a consultant for newly opened dog daycare facilities, developing and implementing the behavior protocols for off leash group play and teaching staff about canine body language to ensure a safe and fun play environment. She designed, developed and implemented the training and behavior programs while mentoring new dog trainers. These programs resulted in two successful canine centers with a safe track record.
Her focus is on the family pet. She has developed various courses focusing on positive, reward-based techniques, which are extremely effective in the enhancement of the bond and relationship of the dog and her human companion. She is a licensed consultant with Family Paws and works closely with dog owners who are starting a family.
Teri is a Certified Behavior Consultant – Canine, certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the internationally recognized certification program. Her area of interest and expertise is pet dog behavior problems such as separation anxiety, fear, aggression and social issues. She has helped countless dogs remain in their home by working with the dog, and coaching owners.
She is currently the owner of Teri’s Canine Companion where she continues to create happy and harmonious relationships with dogs and their humans. She teaches classes from puppy to adult, she makes house calls for issues or training that needs to be done in the home environment, and consults with trainers working in the day care field.
Teri serves as the canine behavior consultant and trainer for the “Responsible Pet Ownership Program”, a pet awareness initiative run by Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. She is the trainer, liaison and consultant for the Pets for Vets Houston Chapter, matching and companion training shelter dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD.
Teri served as project manager for the development of the first ever national certification examination for dog trainers, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Teri shares her home with her husband and best friend Mickey, and her three Italian Greyhounds, Paulie 13, Ziggy 7, and Leo 6. She is the behavior consultant for Italian Greyhound Rescue and conducts the behavior rehabilitation program for orphaned IG’s.