Our team will help you improve your pet’s behavior using force-free, scientific training methods that emphasize positive reinforcement.
Dale has been working with dogs for over 15 years, after spending the first 29 years of her career as a Supervising Chemist for the Rhode Island Department of Health Laboratories. A dog lover all her life, when retirement loomed, she quickly and luckily found herself involved in all things “Dog”.
Dale become a certified small animal massage therapist, graduating from Bancroft School of Massage in Worcester, MA and found herself working for several pet sitting services: Happy Dog Pet Sitting, Courteous Canine, and Paws Unlimited Pet Services. She also participated in pet rescue, volunteering for Friends of Homeless Animals, Inc. And most importantly, she became involved in dog training, working at several facilities: R.I. Dog Guy, Courteous Canine, Petco, and finally at the Potter League, where she has been one of our beloved trainers since 2012.
Dale is a firm believer of positive reinforcement training methods – the best methods get the best results. She has extensive experience with all sizes, ages and temperaments, ranging from puppies through senior dogs, special needs dogs, and all manners of behavior issues (aggression, separation anxiety, fear-based issues, etc.). In addition to teaching Basic Obedience skills to all ages of dogs and their parents, Dale also teaches AKC-sponsored classes like CGC certification and AKC S.T.A.R Puppy, as well as several types of sport classes.
Dale is the proud owner of 3 Boston Terriers: Tobey (14 years old), Booker (7 years old), and Emmett (2 years old). They’re what keep her going.
Alexandria, originally from New York, found her calling in Rhode Island as a dog trainer after graduating from Catch Canine Trainer Academy. Now settled in Newport with her loyal mixed breeds, Ashley Pants and Dolly Pockets, along with her playful kitten, Mac Bits, she runs AH Dog Training in the heart of Aquidneck Island.
Her training philosophy is simple yet powerful: she believes in fear-free methods grounded in encouragement and understanding. With a foundation built on hands-on experience in dog daycares and pet sitting, Alexandria brings unique insights into canine behavior to her practice.
Specializing in reactivity, body handling, and body language interpretation, she offers both group classes and private sessions tailored to each dog’s needs. She’s also a trusted partner of the Potter League, collaborating closely to educate our staff in proper handling and communication techniques.
Certified by CPDT-KA and CTA, Alexandria’s dedication to responsible training is evident. As an AKC CGC Evaluator and a member of the APDT, Pet Professional Guild, and Fear Free Pets, she’s committed to compassionate and effective training methods, shaping the lives of dogs and their owners for the better.
Dr. Michael Yencha is an applied animal behaviorist and recent Rhode Island transplant. He attended West Virginia University for eight years where he earned a doctorate degree in behavior analysis and acquired skills in both teaching and animal training.
Michael has been training animals since 2016 and has experience working with family pets, barnyard animals, service animals, and laboratory animals. Additionally, he provides behavior consultations to families with destructive, aggressive, or otherwise distressful pets. In his free time, Michael enjoys kayaking, biking, camping, and playing with his two dogs, Stella and Scout.
Katy first developed a strong interest in dog training when she was ten years old. Within a short time, she knew that she wanted to become a dog trainer someday. Today, she is one of three Certified Canine Behavior Consultants in the state of RI, and works near-exclusively with dogs demonstrating severe behavioral concerns (such as those with acute anxiety, or human / animal directed aggression).
Katy joined the Potter League in 2014, where she began training shelter dogs and volunteers, as well as hosting several off-leash playgroups. She has a special affinity for playgroups, and over the years has developed a knack for helping dogs integrate into group-play settings. Whether they are nervous and unsure, or rough and rude — Katy works to ensure that every dog is safe, comfortable, and having fun, while actively helping them improve their social skills and develop a healthy play-style.
When Katy isn’t training dogs professionally, there is a good chance that she is training them recreationally, as it’s truly something she loves to do. When she isn’t training, Katy enjoys spending quality time with her two kids, as well as caring for her family and small, eclectic menagerie of pets.
John is a Canine Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA) with a Master of Science degree in Anthrozoology and years of experience in training and helping to rehabilitate shelter dogs, preparing them for successful adoption. John is a volunteer trainer here at the Potter League and teaches our volunteer dog training classes.
Kaylee is a certified pet dog trainer, dedicated to helping dogs and their humans. Kaylee has been working with dogs for about 8 years now and every day she strives to learn something new from the dogs and people that she meets. Compassion, communication, and relationship-building are the foundation on which she builds all of my training.
Kaylee’s journey into dog training began after she adopted Copper as a six-year-old rescue pup, and transitioned from working with infants to working with dogs.
She is happiest when helping dogs reach their full potential and live their best lives and has a special place in her heart for giant breeds, senior pups, and dogs with fear and anxiety.
You will most often see Kaylee working with the shelter pups around the Potter League Animal Care Center lending a hand to our Behavior & Training team.
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