{"id":26496,"date":"2024-12-05T19:53:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T00:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/karenpryoracademy.com\/?p=26496"},"modified":"2024-12-05T19:53:22","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T00:53:22","slug":"december-kpa-ctp-of-the-month-danielle-winkelman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karenpryoracademy.com\/december-kpa-ctp-of-the-month-danielle-winkelman\/","title":{"rendered":"December KPA CTP of the Month: Danielle Winkelman"},"content":{"rendered":"

december 2024 KPA CTP of the Month<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Danielle Winkelman, KPA CTP, ACDBC, (she\/her) of Clyde, North Carolina (near Asheville), owns Intrepid Animal Learning. She offers board-and-train services for behaviorally sensitive dogs, private consults for all species, and workshops and retreats at her 32-acre farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Danielle’s space is designed for dogs that need space from other dogs or humans. Her professional education offerings range from training mentorships to lunch-and-learns for veterinary staff. C<\/span>urrently, Danielle is helping to care for animals impacted by Hurricane Helene in the Asheville, North Carolina, area. <\/span>She completed the KPA<\/span> Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program<\/span><\/a> led by Shelly Brouwer in 2018.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

\"KPA<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Tell us about the first animal you ever trained.<\/b><\/p>\n

The first animal I ever remember training was a lovebird named Indigo. I loved that parrot! Indigo taught me a lot about bird body language that has stuck with me!<\/span><\/p>\n

Was there a particular dog\/animal in your life that was your most important teacher?<\/b><\/p>\n

My partner and I adopted a dog named Helix (Dutch shepherd\/pit bull) that had survived a hurricane. Helix was incredibly important because he helped me build real empathy with families dealing with their pets\u2019 behavior concerns. He was also a wonderful help when I was testing and practicing behavior treatments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Helix was my DTP partner! He taught me about the bond that develops when you spend so much time learning together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who has been your inspiration in the animal training community?<\/b><\/p>\n

Shelly Brouwer and Lindsay Wood Brown\u2014I'm so lucky to have been able to work at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley where their legacies remain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Debbie Martin, Dr. E'lise Christensen, and Dr. Ariel Fagen have been my teachers in the veterinary behavior realm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ken Ramirez, Chirag Patel, Eva Bertilsson, Leslie McDevitt, and Melissa Millett are trainers who continue to inspire me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Digate is my mentor in the equine world!<\/span><\/p>\n

How has completing the DTP program and becoming a KPA Certified training Partner (CTP) changed your life and career?<\/b><\/p>\n

Through KPA and the DTP, I have gained a solid training foundation as well as trust in my ability to interact with animals and humans with positive reinforcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am so incredibly grateful for the KPA community! The KPA connections I have hold me to high standards and encourage me to continue questioning. The in-person portion of my program was at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, where I got to know some amazing people as a part of the behavior team. The DTP program also led me to Dr. Friedman's Living and Learning with Animals (LLA) program and to Rick Hester, who allowed me to volunteer collecting elephant data at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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I am so incredibly grateful for the KPA community! The KPA connections I have hold me to high standards and encourage me to continue questioning.<\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What do you do to continue your training education?<\/b><\/p>\n

I love conferences and have attended<\/span> ClickerExpo<\/span><\/a> every year since I became a CTP. Each conference is the chance of a lifetime to connect with colleagues, mentors, and friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

I take online courses and collaborate with other professionals. I am certified through the IAABC and Fear Free, have completed the LLA program and the Aggression in Dogs Master Course, and am a member of Animal Training Academy. I also find that teaching other trainers is a great learning opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have a memorable or touching training story you\u2019d like to share?<\/b><\/p>\n

A sweet and very sensitive German shepherd with a history of aggression was staying with me for board and train services when Hurricane Helene hit. I'm so grateful that we were able to keep this dog safe (she was with us because her person was displaced even before the hurricane). I was able to extend the dog\u2019s stay free-of-charge. She did a wonderful job learning how to be relaxed and responsive. Her person is so happy, and it's very touching to see how connected they are now!<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to a new trainer?<\/b><\/p>\n

Value yourself! I meet many animal care professionals who sacrifice to help animals and humans, and I want them to know how important they are. I want them to charge what they need to in order to have a comfortable life and to take time to restore and replenish themselves. We can build each other up by supporting these priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

I encourage other trainers (and myself) to consult with colleagues. I love having professionals as \"clients.\" We may feel shame or embarrassment about wanting or needing help with our animals, but each of us can benefit from another set of eyes! I'm happy to help encourage people; their quality-of-life matters, too. An outside perspective can be extremely valuable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there any species that you would love to work with?<\/b><\/p>\n

I am dying for the opportunity to work with marine mammals! Working with new species is something I really enjoy, which is one reason we have so many animals on the farm. I also volunteer with a nature center that has opossums, birds of prey, reptiles, and amphibians. I've have not yet had a chance to spend time around marine mammals, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the summer, I hosted a Wild Horse Retreat, where I brought in two wild mustangs and coached participants through the first steps of taming them and introducing positive reinforcement. We had so much fun; one horse was haltering and leading by the 5<\/span>th<\/span> day! I had a dog lovers' camp planned for October that had to be postponed due to Hurricane Helene, but I hope to be able to host it in the spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Outside of dog training\/dog sports, do you have any hobbies?<\/b><\/p>\n

Most of the rest of my life is centered on the farm. I garden, forage, and collect eggs. I love reading and try to listen to audiobooks while I am doing chores.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the farm, we have a flock of harlequin sheep; approximately 50 chickens, turkeys, and peafowl; mustang horses; and new baby cows and emus! The sheep are so much fun to train. They love their food and many of our woolly friends really enjoy human affection. I'm looking forward to winning over the calves and emu birds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tell us about your recent work in hurricane-damaged North Carolina.<\/b><\/p>\n

I live in western North Carolina and we were very lucky in my area. I've been doing what I can to help others. I continue to offer free behavior support to anyone affected by Hurricane Helene. I'm offering this service via video primarily, but I am also looking for spaces where I can set up near heavily impacted areas to help people who still don't have their utilities restored.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have taken in displaced animals, too. We've added a few new permanent residents, and we are fostering a herd of goats. We also have been offering housing to people displaced by the storm. We still have some opportunities, especially for people who would love to learn about animal training and behavior!<\/span><\/p>\n

How can people learn more about you?<\/b><\/p>\n

IntrepidAnimalLearning.com<\/span><\/p>\n

support@intrepidanimallearning.com<\/span><\/p>\n

Intrepid Animal Learning on social media<\/span><\/p>\n

Text - 828-554-2288<\/span><\/p>\n


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