Tabetha Williams, KPA CTP
Owner/Lead Pet Professor
Tabetha has been training dogs professionally since 2011. She has developed her experience in the field by working with dogs of all breeds and ages, from 8-week-old puppies to seniors. She teaches both group and private classes, working to develop skills for service dogs, therapy dogs, and family pets.
In 2012, Tabetha’s passion for both training and understanding canine behavior drove her to continue her postsecondary education. She graduated in 2015 with honors, summa cum laude, from Drake University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in both psychology and business administration. Tabetha’s studies included extensive research on animal behavior, including the principles of behavior and applied behavior analysis. Further research included clicker training, canine temperament testing, and the effects of behavioral interventions in dog training.
In 2016, Tabetha served Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo as an Animal Care Intern. In her role, she expanded her knowledge of animal behavior by completing a project on the effects of environmental enrichment with the pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and observed their daily training sessions. Her favorite part was training with Ross, a resident Pacific Harbor Seal. Throughout her zoo experience, she also observed training of the giraffes, otters, tigers, snow leopards and opossums.
Following the completion of her internship, Tabetha was accepted to the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) for professional dog trainers. KPA students undergo extensive academic and workshop training to demonstrate their skills and expertise in dog training, including requirements to work with other species. Tabetha was no stranger to working with other animals; she had trained her betta fish, Frankfurter Peanut Butter (Frankie P.), to leap out of the water and target a ball on the end of a stick. For an added challenge to her experience, Tabetha chose Blue Poison Dart Frogs (named Kiwi, Kumquat and Carl) as another species to train. She completed the program in 2017, becoming one of just 1,800 KPA Certified Training Partners in the world.
Tabetha’s passion for the principles of learning is not limited to her relationship with animals. Her time as an applied behavior analysis specialist includes the rewarding experience of working with children with autism. Tabetha loved her time working with children and helping them prepare for the challenges they will face. Their individualized instruction focused on four domains: communicative, cognitive, social and behavioral. Under the supervision of Certified Applied Behavior Analysts, Tabetha was privileged to work with a team of professionals that helped each child and family achieve their goals.
Tabetha’s experiences, dedication to learning and continued education, compassion, and respect for each individual are central to her founding of Pet Professors. Each professor and teacher’s assistant shares these core principles, and you can be sure your pets are in kind, caring and knowledgeable hands.
Gary (aka Honorably Discharged Gary Monster RN AX AXJ NF CGC TKA)
Breed: Labrador Retriever
D.O.B. 10/26/2014
Gary began his career at just 8 weeks old, working for the Puppy Jake Foundation. He spent the first 2 years of life training to become a service dog for a military veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While he learned many invaluable skills and had many honorable attributes, a career as a service dog was not a good fit for Gary. Under the guidance of the Puppy Jake team, he was re-careered and adopted by his foster mom, Tabetha. He assimilated into civilian life easily and began training as an agility and sport dog. Gary adapted quickly and demonstrated that he is much better suited for civilian life. He soon earned multiple titles in agility and is currently working towards his Master Agility Champion (MACH). Gary is a go-getter that loves to run, be physically active, explore new places, and meet new friends. He has even done some work on set, doing print and commercial work for local companies. When he’s not in the spotlight or training in agility, dock dogs, tracking, rally, or trick training, he helps out around Pet Professors by providing doggie play dates, acting as a “distractor” or “neutral” dog for another dog’s training, and as a demonstration dog. In his spare time, Gary likes to wrestle, run and play with his brother, force his sister to love him, and take up as much space on the bed as possible.
Mayo (aka Mayostardmustardayonnaise AXP AJP OFP T2BP CGC TKI)
Breed: All-American
D.O.B. 5/7/2005
Mayo has dabbled as a career dog for most of his life. He has worked on basic obedience, tricks, and therapy work. He earned his Therapy Dog Certificate in 2010 and won some amateur contests, including the Pumpkin Jump/Recall at Grey’s Lake Grrreat Halloween Dog Carnival and the Fastest Fetch at the Angie Anderson Memorial Walk and Fido Fest. Later, he got a little more serious about his career and earned his Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate in 2011 and retested in 2013 to earn his CGC title. He started his professional agility career in 2013 when he was 8 years old. Mayo breezed through and earned his titles in the Novice, Open and Excellent levels. He was working towards his Agility Champion Title, but Mayo has since reluctantly retired from competitions when his advanced age forced him to slow down. He still enjoys training, though most training involves stretching and keeping his muscles strong in his geriatric years. When Mayo isn’t stretching and training, he helps out around Pet Professors by providing doggie play dates, working as a “distractor” or “neutral” dog for another dog’s training, and as a demonstration dog. In his spare time, he likes to sunbathe, play fetch, and take casual hikes through the woods. Mayo shares his home with rambunctious younger brothers, and a socially challenged younger sister.
Piper
Breed: Toy Fox Terrier
D.O.B. 9/11/2008
Piper is the queen of the house in every room she decides to grace with her presence. Fate decided she was best to be a stay-at-home career dog; early in life, genetics cursed her with luxated patellas, requiring surgery and social isolation. These factors created challenges that restricted her ability to train and participate in physical activities, but after meeting and training with Tabetha in 2011, Piper is now a much happier, less stressed, and more confident lady! She received lots of training to help with her fear-related behaviors, such as growling, barking, and lunging that were a result of her early isolation. Unfortunately, genetics played another cruel trick on Piper in 2015, cursing her with luxated lenses in both eyes. Thankfully, her veterinarian and humans caught it early, and she was able to keep both her eyes until 2018. She is slowly going blind in her remaining eye, but treatments and dedication have made her luckier than most dogs in her situation. This isn’t to say that she hasn’t had a full life, despite the obstacles she’s faced. While Piper can’t do agility to its fullest, she’s experimented with many sports. She’s dabbled in tracking and trick training, but her favorite seems to be K9 Noseworks, a sport where she shows her fellow students that you don’t need two eyes to work a scent, only a nose and a tenacious attitude! Piper can’t let her younger brother hog the spotlight. One highlight in her career was being in a print ad for Meredith Corporation in 2013. She beat out the competition with only three days of preparation and having never seen the set until show time. When Piper isn’t keeping her brothers in line at home, she can be found working with her human dad at his shop, sniffing out vermin in the back yard, and cuddling in the armpit of the nearest warm body.
