Dog Behavior & Training

Whole Dog Training
Nan Arthur, CDBC, CPDT
El Cajon, CA
dogmomca@cox.net

&

Jessica Wheatcraft, CDT
San Diego, CA
waggingtailsinsd@yahoo.com

Nan Arthur, CDBC, CPDT and Jessica Wheatcraft, CDT

Nan Arthur, CDBC has been involved in the behavior and training field for more than 14 years with dogs and over 19 with cats, and has a deep
belief that her mission is to help pet parents and their animals understand and communicate clearly with one another using the science of
positive-only behavior and training methods.

As a foster home for Friends of Cats in the East County, Nan started her education and training in 1988, and several years later, opened her home as a foster to dogs from the county shelter system. Ultimately, Nan became a volunteer for the largest animal shelter in the San Diego area, affiliated with Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS). After a short time, she was hired as the first Adoption Counselor with FOCAS, all the while pursuing to quench her thirst for more knowledge about dog and cat behavior and training.

In 2000, Nan left FOCAS and was hired as the Sr. Behavior Trainer of the San Diego Humane Society, & SPCA and later added the title of Community Outreach Specialist, all the while designing and teaching many of the popular classes, including the Feisty Fido class, and her signature classes; How to Live Happily Ever After with Your Dog or Cat workshops and Puppy Fun Camp.

Nan is an 8-year member of the APDT, and a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), and holds many other certifications in the behavior and training field. She is also a certified Veterinary Assistant as well as an award winning writer and photographer.

And finally, Nan is the proud pet parent to Pepper, Goldie and Austin (dogs) and Billy Jean, Leyla, and Kelby (cats), all of whom came to her life with special needs and the opportunity to learn more about animals.

What is CDBC? Certified Dog Behavior Consultants are uniquely qualified practitioners with expertise in evaluating, managing and modifying a wide range of challenging canine behaviors.

Please visit IAABC for more information.

What is CPDT? Certified Professional Dog Trainers are certified by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and must complete an advanced criteria before taking a certification test.

Please visit APDT for more information.

Jessica Wheatcraft (and her Dog Harley!)

Jessica's dog training career began while she was still in high school. Jessica started volunteering at the local shelter, and it was there that she learned the awful truth about pet overpopulation. She became determined to try to make a difference in the lives of all the wonderful shelter pets that simply needed a second chance.

Shortly after graduation, Jessica moved to San Diego to pursue a degree in Psychology and that’s when she started to look for a dog of her own. She found Harley, a female pit bull from Los Angeles that was touted as “a lab mix.” It was love at first sight, but Harley had a rough start in life, which caused her to have a lot of anxiety, and it wasn’t long before Jessica sought help from Whole Dog Training. Jessica related, “I was referred to Nan to help me work with Harley, and she and I loved positive reinforcement training, and has since made a complete turnaround. On the day of our last training session, Nan told me I was a natural at training and that I should become a dog trainer. I was flattered but I never thought about it again.”

Later that year Jessica started volunteering for Pit Bull Rescue San Diego, and was passionate about doing her part to help change the common misperceptions about the breed. “I did anything and everything for the rescue, but my favorite part was fostering. It amazed me, the transformations the foster dogs made with just a little stability and a lot of love. One day it dawned on me that if I became a dog trainer I would be able to save the lives of more dogs by helping prevent the common problems that land them in the shelter in the first place,” she explained.

The idea of becoming a dog trainer really started to appeal to Jessica and she called me about the different options. Jessica went to school and has earned her dog training certification and graduated from Animal Behavior College with honors. Soon after, she was asked by Pit Bull Rescue to join their board team as their trainer/behaviorist, fulfilling a dream and waking up each day knowing that she is doing what she loves most, which Jessica says, “Is priceless.”

Through our commitment, experience, and expertise Whole Dog Training establishes a business relationship with our customers that will last a lifetime
Contact Whole Dog Training today!

Whole Dog Training ~ Nan Arthur, CPDT ~ P.O. Box 2928 ~ El Cajon, CA 92021 ~ Phone:(619) 561-2602 ~ Fax: (619) 561-2093