The name of the company is The Educated Pet. This is not a misnomer. The name was chosen to reflect our commitment to the education of the pet, the owners, and ourselves to provide the best loving, humane, and scientifically based solutions of companion animal behavior problems. After all, some of our best relationships are with our pets.
The Educated Pet was founded in San Diego in 1998 to meet the needs of conscientious pet owners who are faced with uncertainty about how to forge a life-long relationship with their furry friends or how to deal with problems that threaten that relationship. The founder, Carol Harris, has been a devoted, life-long, dog and cat owner and has over thirty years of experience in animal training and behavior. Carol holds a certification in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington and has studied under one of the foremost animal behaviorists, James Ha, CAAB, Ph.D. Carol’s husband and partner, Michael Harris, holds multiple degrees in the physical and life sciences and has recently completed the certification for Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. There is no one better to enhance and protect your pet relations than The Educated Pet.
We work to solve behavior problems with empathy and compassion to increase the likelihood of a lasting and loving relationship with your pet.
The Educated Pet exists to enhance the relationships between pet animals and their owners in Southern California. We are against the use of painful compliance devices such as shock collars, pinch collars, and choke chains and do not permit their use in our classes. In addition, we do not employ, nor advocate the use of, so-called dominance techniques to train dogs. Our group classes and one-on-one counseling sessions are valuable tools for creating the responsive dog you love to be with. Rest assured that you have done the very best for you and your pet when you engage the services of The Educated Pet.
Truth, clear insights, honesty, exhaustive thoroughness, extensive professional resources, sympathy, and compassion are the values which drive The Educated Pet.
We specialize in personalized training for the pet you love.
CAROL HARRIS
Carol Harris has been a highly regarded trainer and evaluator of dog behavior in San Diego for over 25 years. Carol was trained by, and worked under a Veterinary Behaviorist, as an assistant in behavior consultations in San Diego and a coordinator in an investigative study of a prospective anti -anxiety medication. Carol subsequently began her own practice in 1998. She has contributed articles to pet-related publications and has co-authored chapters in the books “Cat Behavior and Training” and “Dog Behavior and Training”. Her classes have been attended by several veterinarians in the San Diego area and they regularly refer their patient’s owners to her for training classes and to resolve behavior problems. Carol is an evaluator for dog rescue organizations and providers of therapy dogs. Further, Carol was recognized as the best dog trainer in San Diego by San Diego Magazine and had been featured several times on the program “These Days” on KPBS.
Carol is a member of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), and has her Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior (UW-AAB) from the University of Washington in the Professional and Continuing Education program. The program is a rigorous and challenging course of study participated by students from around the world relating modern Behavioral Ecology Theory to dealing with companion animal issues. Students from this program are equipped to provide owners insights and solutions to their issues with their pets and to provide expert witness support in matters of civil and criminal litigation. Carol excelled in this program.
Professional affiliations: APDT, Animal Behavior Society, Animal Behavior Associates, University of Washington (Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior).
MICHAEL HARRIS
Michael Harris has been a professional chemist for thirty years, a Laboratory Director of an environmental testing business and has taught college level Chemistry courses in the San Diego area. Michael’s academic background includes a B.S. degree in Biology, awarded with highest honors and with distinction and emphasis in Genetics from San Diego State University, a M.A degree in Chemistry from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry awarded jointly from the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University.
For the past five years, he has been working with his wife of 28 years as an office manager and as an assistant trainer at The Educated Pet. He is a member of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), and holds a Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior (UW-AAB) from the University of Washington. Michael is also participating with Carol in research projects with Dr. James Ha, Professor of Research Emeritus, at the University of Washington, providing scientific and mathematical support.
The instructors of the requisite courses in the Applied Animal Behavior program are leaders in the field of Applied Animal Behavior. Dr. James C. Ha Ph.D. CAAB, is Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington in the Department of Psychology and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. He is in demand as a lecturer and as a consultant. His research in animal behavior has involved the study of primates, crows, parrots, killer whales and companion animals such as dogs and cats. Dr. James Ha also maintains a private practice. Dr. Renee Ha Ph.D. is a research Associate Professor at the University of Washington focusing on behavior of wild birds and their conservation.
ABOUT THE UW-AAB CERTIFICATE
The Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior is awarded, by the University of Washington, to students who have successfully completed its program in the Department of Psychology under the instruction of James Ha Ph.D., CAAB and Renee Ha Ph.D., who are recognized experts in the field. The curriculum includes the study of the different principles of animal behavior with the aim to apply this knowledge to animal care. Included is the examination of behavioral differences between animal species and how these reflect their evolution and habitat adaptation. Moreover, the program is geared to provide insights on evolutionary theory, learning theory and biology to provide better care for animals — particularly companion animals — and diagnose and treat a variety of behavior issues. The Certificate attests to the holder’s competence in:
Basic principles of evolution and natural selection as they relate to animal behavior
Application of animal behaviors to human-animal interaction
The latest scientific research on the training and care of companion animals
Methods to integrate theory with real-world practice in treating and improving behavior
ABOUT US
Personalized Training For the pet you love