Over 20 years of

TRAINING EXPERIENCE

A life dedicated to the training and well-being of animals

Across my career I’ve devoted myself to the care and growth of animals. While my deepest passion is working with dogs, I’ve also worked with a wide variety of animals including cats, chipmunks, primates, raccoons, rats, porcupines, birds, and even penguins. At the age of 18, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in training animals for the entertainment industry, training at Moorpark College’s prestigious Exotic Animal Training program EATM(now known as The Animal Care and Training program at The Teaching Zoo). I’ve been lucky enough to work on numerous major Hollywood films and TV shows (credits linked HERE) spanning a 20+ year career which also included training and performing at Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Animal Actors Show” before it closed in 2023.

I began private dog obedience training in 2015 with the launch of The Courteous Canine. What started as a ‘side hustle’ while on hiatus from the entertainment industry to raise my two children (now aged 12 and 13), quickly became a major part of my life. I love helping people and animals work together for a better life for all.

I also enjoy volunteering my time and serving my community. Over the years I’ve worked to find hundreds of dogs and cats permanent homes, whether after entertainment projects, or by volunteering at rescues where I’ve helped train and introduce pets to new potential owners. I’ve also enjoyed spending time getting my own dogs involved in servicing the community through therapy dog work, visiting military veterans, retirement homes, and reading to the dogs with children at the local library.

TV Credits

Whether it’s a multi-cam sitcom or a single camera drama, television projects come up quickly & often with very little prep-time. Studio trainers learn to adapt quickly in chaotic situations; where one approach may have worked well in one show, it won’t necessarily work in another.

Agatha All Along
Becker
Blind Justice
Cane
Community
Cousin Skeeter
Criminal Minds
Days of our Lives
How I Met Your Mother
Hung

Last Week Tonight
Malcolm in the Middle
Mayans
Men Women & Dogs
Monk
Monster
Nip/Tuck
Parks & Recreation
Perry Mason
Puppy Place

Raising Dad
Terriers
The Closer
The Ex List
The League
Two and a Half Men
Wanda Vision
Welcome to the Family
Young Sheldon

Film Credits

Kristy has worked on numerous film projects ranging from large budget major studio films to low budget shorts. Every film carries with it a new and unique set of challenges that tests a trainer’s ability to adapt to both the environment & the needs of the film, as well as the animal’s individual needs.

Are We Done Yet
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
Dr. Doolittle 2
Evan Almighty
Feeding Mr. Baldwin
Frank McKlusky, C.I.
Garfield
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties

Hot Tub Time Machine
Hotel For Dogs
I Love You Man
Marmaduke
Pet Peeves
Night At the Museum
Shrink
Second Hand Lions

Shaggy Dog
Show Dogs
Strays
The Forever Purge
The Princess Diaries 2
Treasure Buddies
Yours, Mine, and Ours

Commercial Credits

Commercials are their own animal (pun intended). A photo shoot with an energetic puppy or a large TV ad shooting for only one day requires patience and understanding between animal and trainer.